Guests
Ron Apanash, Chandalier, CA
Ed Wilkinson, Tuscon, AZ

 

 

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Maui Memory by guest Ed Wilkinson
"Every day in Maui is a great day!"

 

 

 

 

 

Hawaiian Word of the Day: Laulima: Many hands working together.

Lau = many, lima = hands; lining of arms together.

 

 

Announcements
Join Mark Harbison, who will be assisting at Queen Ka'ahumnu Mall on Sunday, September 16 as a Rotary greeter at the Maui Seasons for Peace Concert and Info Expo, starting at  1:05 p.m. There will be entertainment and prizes.

 

Next week's meeting, Wednesday 9/26 is not at noon, but instead is a "Talk Story with Rotary" 'Meet and Greet' doubling as a Pau Hana potluck from 5:00 pm till sunset on the Keawakapu Beach lawn next to the Mana Kai Resort and 5 Palms restaurant. This is a chance to bring guests as possible multigenerational members. Bring a chair, your own drinks, a dish to share and a possible future Rotarian.

 

Margie reminded us of club events: 

• A field trip to the Maalea Aquarium on Thursday, October 25.
   

• Our booth at the Maui Children and Youth Day Festival at Keolio Park in North Kihei on Saturday, October 13 from 4 to 8 PM.
   

• Mark and Barry encouraged everyone, especially new members, to attend the Rotary Fall training on Saturday September 23 from 8 AM to 2 PM at the Pacific Whale Foundation classroom at the Ma'alaea Ocean Center.
   

• Cynthia invited us to come to her 'Choosing Hope Over Hospice Fund' fundraiser on Friday, September 28 from 6–10 PM at Mulligans to help her raise money for upcoming $15,000 per month chemotherapy. It stars the royalty of Maui musicians:  Amy Hanaiali'i, Eric Gilliom, Lily Meola, Tom Conway, Soul Kitchen, Cheryl Rae, Gina Martinelli, Elua Kane, and Merv Oana. Tickets are  $20 online (click here) or, $25 at the door.
   

• The speaker at our October 3 meeting will be Gil McBarnet, a children's author. Bring a friend or colleague to the meeting. We'll celebrate October's birthdays and anniversaries.

 

 

New Member Induction
Mark Harbison inducted our newest member, Smita Martinez, who transferred in from the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa and read her bio...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My parents emigrated from the Mumbai region of India to the US in 1959. My life in Rotary began in 1974 when my family relocated from Pennsylvania to Miami, Florida. The move was based on my father accepting a position as a professor at a newly built University in Miami called Florida International University, which ultimately became my alma mater. 

 

He immediately joined the local Rotary Club and was very active in involving his family in community service activities. He is still a member of Rotary International and thrilled that one of his children is following his footsteps in giving back to people in need. 

 

His projects focus on funding micro businesses and various schools in small villages around India where the majority of funds comes from his own pocket. My mom is always by his side. In 2005, I went on a trip with them for one month and was involved in several of his projects. One of the best experiences of my life.

After obtaining my degree in Business Administration, I got a job as the Assistant to the CFO of an advertising agency in downtown Miami. My first office ever had an ocean view!

 

My son Derek was born in Miami and at the age of 5, we moved to Silicon Valley California where I worked as an Executive Assistant to CFO’s and CMO’s of various high tech companies including Sun Microsystems. I juggled being a working mom with taking the time to volunteer and be active in my son’s schools. 

Then I met the man of my dreams and relocated to Santa Rosa, CA to get married in 2006. Jobs there included Wells Fargo as Business Manager in the Mortgage division, Sonoma Resources Conservation District as Assistant Executive Director and Kid Street Learning Center, a non-profit charter school servicing low-income children. It was at Kid Street where I realized my true passion lies in helping children in need. My role at that time was as Assistant Executive Director. 

 

I started volunteering at various organizations in the community including:

• Wells for Life

• Co-managed 2 fundraising events to provide clean drinking water and health education to rural villages in India; oversaw the "Kids-Helping-Kids" around-the-globe project.

• Committee on the Shelterless, The Family Connection

• Developed a relationship with a mother and son for one year; sponsored and provided transportation for the child to participate in one semester of basketball class with my son; helped move the family to transitional housing.

 

In 2012, I decided to go back to school to obtain knowledge and credit requirements to work at a school. After 2 years of being a student, I applied for a Teachers Assistant position at Kid Street Learning Center and was hired immediately. My previous history with the school allowed me to come in with ideas of how I can help the Principal grow their programs and how I can help the children in need. 

 

Taking the initiative, I was able to grow the position into an Intervention Program Manager where I focused on teaching to the whole child through academic and socio-emotional support. 

 

I successfully implemented a robust volunteer tutor program, community service club, various fundraisers and the Kids Kloset program which is similar to the Keiki Cupboard here.  I was also responsible for public outreach where I went out to the community to give presentations about our school. Many were at Rotary Clubs.

Somewhere in there, I joined the Santa Rosa West Rotary Club where I accepted positions as Directors of the Vocational and Community Service Avenues of service. During the 5 years, I was with the club, in addition to being a Paul Harris Fellow, I was involved with:

•  Dictionaries Program - coordinate and manage the distribution of 3rd grade level dictionaries to schools

• Created a High School Career Mentoring Forum - coordinated and managed program for students to learn from and speak with professionals from the community who are in their career area of interest

• Annual Youth Scholarship Fundraiser – assisted with all efforts prior to and day of event

• Annual Crab Feed

• Rotaract Club of Santa Rosa Junior College, Advisor - work closely on fundraising events and community service projects

• Bayer Farms Community Garden - wrote and obtained 2 grants to sponsor a fruit tree farm, public workshops and ongoing tree farm support; coordinated fundraising event; coordinate bi-monthly hands on activities with the club members and family

Then life brought me to Maui this past summer. After our vacation in July 2017, my husband and I decided on a three-year plan to move here (I fell in love with the island after only 2 trips, he has been coming here for 30+ years). The fires in Sonoma County last October expedited our decision. 

Our son is a student at UC Davis studying Economics and Statistics and my husband has his own company and can work from anywhere that provides high-speed internet. And me? I adapt easily and will begin my job search after my son leaves.

 

No tethers allowed us to make a move within a year. We arrived with our 2 dogs and my 93-year-old mother in law. Of course, we couldn’t keep her on the mainland alone.

For fun, I love to paint with acrylics, scrapbook, spend time in nature, read, cook and always make time to hula hoop. Since moving here, my hula hoop comes with me to the beach where I hula hoop to sunsets! Plus, I can never walk by an empty swing without taking a ride! My 50th birthday present from my husband was installing a neon pink swing to one of our old oak trees in Santa Rosa facing the sunset view. I sure miss that swing. But life here brings it’s own unique beauty and connection to mother earth.

 

My Indian and Miami blood and spirit is loving living in Maui. Everyone here has been very welcoming and I look forward to getting to know all of you and being a member of this club.

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

Speaker

Duc Botton, National Boy Scouts of America, Maui Executive

 

 

 

 

 

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