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May 16, 2018

How about a change from all that sun and sand?  

The mountains around Bigfork, Montana
courtesy of Steve and Billie Moksnes
 
PREPARING FOR THE MEETING
THE MEETING
President John opened the meeting with a little fun. Since Elisa Rummel had listed a Thursday as one of our meeting days, John gave Elisa a joke calendar of the month with our Wednesday meeting dates highlighted, including today.
INSPIRATION
Joanne Doell

With what Madame Pele is creating on our Big Island—the chaos, the devastation, and the sheer beauty, it reminded me of a Rotary tour we took to our own Haleakala (Hele=house, akala=sun) and of our own Maui's last lava flow of a'a, the crumbly lava that cuts like glass in Makena, around 1790.

 

The crunch of cinders as we walked to the newest ahu or altar/shrine on the East rim echoed in my mind and transported me to another time. The same sound would have been heard by our ancient Hawaiian kupuna who frequented this place, the top of their world. Clothed in layers of kappa cloth against the cold, wearing plaited footgear and bearing gifts and food, they made their way over several days and nights up to the summit—to the place of sunrise and starlight. And most probably chanted a Sunrise ceremony early in the morning to aid the sun in its efforts to start a new day.

 

We drive there now and seek the same grandeur of sunrise or sunset, with no less awe at the spectacle. If you have done this, you know that expansive and mystic feeling of being one with the universe at the same time...as feeling as small as a grain of sand on our beaches as you view the starshine canopy above your head.

 

If you have not been there—hurry—to watch a sunset and a moonrise and to know your place on da aina, on the land, and let your spirit soar to the heavens. A ala e (pronounced...ay allah ay) = Awaken/Arise.

TODAY'S SPEAKER
Phyllis Robinson

Farm Apprentice Mentoring Program (FAM)

 

FAM was started by the Hawaii Farmers Union United Foundation in 2009 to grow new workforce farmers in Hawaii to help correct the vulnerability we would face in a food emergency since 90% of the available food on Maui is imported. It is a community of support for Maui’s beginning farmers with the purpose of expanding island food production while growing jobs and teaching regenerative&organic farming practices as whole systems. 

 

FAM has a five-point plan:

  • Workforce Development (FAM)

  • Regional Food Hubs

  • Regional Nutrient Cycling Centers

  • Affordable Farmer Land Trusts

  • Truth in Origin Labeling

 

There are now 11 chapters in the state with three on Maui. It is supported by private and county grants. FAM supports apprentices farmers in:

Building portfolios of organic & regenerative farming practices and experience

  • ​Having hands-on learning on a working farm – immersion into farm day to day

  • Connecting with resources through the farmers union network

  • Achieving successful agricultural enterprises

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The FAM program has two phases:

  • Phase one (December–May) has 118 Hours of classroom and applied workshop instruction, 44 hours of on-farm mentoring demonstrations, 39 Immersion hours on mentor farm

 

  • In phase two (June-December) the apprentice develops a working relationship on a mentoring farm. Mentors have an average of 20-years of experience. At this point, apprentices can launch their own farm or apply learning on an existing farm.

 

FAM builds a cohort support community for its interns through weekly reflection sessions with mentors and administration support, peer mentoring, checking on goals, checking learner outcomes, seeing what additional help is needed and emotional and learning support.

 

The program then has a 200-hour "Immersion Component" where apprentices work on one or more mentors' farms, decide on their goals for the immersion and are paid $15/hr. At this stage donors provide $2,500 scholarship and AmeriCorps, the U.S. Department of Labor jobs corps,  matches 33% of the donation.

 

On Maui, to cope with farming challenges like price competition with subsidized huge mainland farming corporations, FAM is establishing Food Hubs to help farmers distribute their produce. Phyllis encouraged us to buy directly from local farmers at farmers' markets like the 8–10 a.m. on Saturday on Lipoa Street. 

 

Phyllis also told us about the progress in correcting the policy that even with the gardening programs in most Elementary and Middle schools, the produce grown there cannot be served in the school cafeterias.

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Click on bottom arrow to start slideshow.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MEALS ON WHEELS

Contact Karin Carlson if you would like to help deliver food to homebound Kihei residents in the Hale Kau Kau Meals on Wheels program.

 

DONATIONS FOR KAUAI FLOOD AN BIG ISLAND VOLCANO DISASTER RELIEF

John told us that donating through our District 5000 website ensures that all donated funds will go directly to the needs on Hawaii island. Both donation links are on the D5000 home page at www.RotaryD5000.org.

 

GOLF BALL DROP

Harlan Hughes had tickets for the Upcountry Glub Golf Tournament golf ball drop, which has a $5,000 first prize. All the earnings go to Women Helping Women. For tickets, contact Harlan at (808) 878-6356.

SUNSHINE REPORT
Gloria Lukens
  • Cynthia Clark is still visiting family and friends on the East Coast.

  • Lois Prey contacted Gloria and says hello to everyone.

  • Past president Lis Richardson has been on the mainland for her grandson's 8th grade graduation.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
HAPPY DOLLARS
  • Bless Young is happy to be going with her husband on a bus trip in Croatia

  • Jay Satenstien is just happy.

  • Jeri Grazier was happy that an update on a young lady who had a similar "Brain Train" surgery showed good results.

  • Ed Jellen was happy to be here.

  • Charlotte Smith is happy to be making videos as part of her business restart.

  • Beth King is happy for her daughter's graduation and her son's progress.

  • Sandi Reynolds is happy to see her friend's daughter tomorrow.

  • Auriol Flavell is happy that her 77-year-old daughter is retiring as a University provost.

  • Harlan Hughes is happy that two club members purchased ticket packages for the golf ball drop.

  • Phyllis Robinson is happy that she has two new rescue kittens.

  • Stuart Karlan was happy that the start of the meeting tech problems were all resolved.

  • Scott Johnson was happy that he got to do a ukulele jam session with his neighbor, Lucky, a professional.

  • Joanne Doell was happy that her sister is in Hilo for a graduation and that Pele is making new land that she sees in the spirit of "step back and bow your head".

THE DREADED PRESIDENT'S QUIZ
Going with the farming topic of our speaker, John asked us to guess about all kinds of records set by different fruits.
MAGIC MARBLE
Since the draw was won last week, Bless Young started the drawing all over with all 52 blue marbles and $105 in the pot. Today our speaker drew Charlotte's ticket and Charlotte Smith picked the one gold marble right out of the bag! Congratulations Charlotte!
CLOSING THE MEETING
​We ended the meeting with our club Aloha song and the Four Way Text.  

UPCOMING PRESENTERS

​

 

 

  • May 23,    Richard Hogeboom, Stanford PhD., Barcelona, Spain Crisis

  • May 30,    Pau Hana
     

  • June 6.    Kelly Trang, 

  • June 13,  Kai Pelayo, Monsanto

  • June 20,  Colin Yamamoto,  Ocean Safety, Resue Tubes and Full Face Mask Safety

  • June 27,  No Speaker
     

  • July 4,   No Meeting

  • July 11,   Melodie Ulman, Executive Director, Caring K9 Therapy Dogs

  • July 18,   Dr. Nancy Long,  Hospice

  • July 25,   Mark Barry, End of Life Planning

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING DUTIES

Wednesday May 23, 2018

 
Setup:  Gary Redfern
Breakdown: Mark Harbison
Greeter/Inspiration:  Janet Walker
Cashier: Paige Fontaine
Happy Dollars:  Elisa Rummel
Reporter:
Audio/Video:  Stuart Karlan
Photographer: Erica Tait
Magic Marble: Joe Mitchell
NEWSLETTER REPORTER
Stuart Karlan
NEWSLETTER PHOTOGRAPHER
Stuart Karlan
NEWSLETTER LAYOUT
Steve Moksnes
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Stuart Karlan
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