This week at the Oahu Country Club, we heard a fascinating presentation from Jean H. Lee, Presidential Chair of the East-West Center, about her current work and her time spent as a journalist in North Korea. A number of attendees told me how much they enjoyed the discussion and the speaker. In addition, we had a very uplifting report from Nancy Youngren about the international service project in central Vietnam, which was ultimately productive and enjoyable although it was also not without its challenges. I was pleased to see all of Don Anderson, Grace Sheckler and Dave Shanahan, among the dozens of others who joined us. After the meeting Carolann Biederman and I discussed her plans for the coming year and how I can support her in the preparation to be President of our Club. Many great things to come!
We also had another great Beerfest last Friday (Halloween), with a satisfying number of participants as well as volunteers, our support for which helps provide funds for our Club to do its great work. (We received $5,704.20 for our time at the Beerfest in June.) Further opportunities to give to our community include the collection of gift cards for young people by Family Programs of Hawaii (thanks to Jake Jacobs for championing this) and the Secret Angel project which hopes to provide a bit of holiday joy to houseless children on Maui (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset). For those of you anticipating our next RAT Pack project, we plan to do some painting and other light work at the Palama Settlement next Saturday (November 15) and the following Saturday (November 22), in a project proposed by Jim Harrow and led by Oliver Bartlmaë and Tom Coyne. So many ways to contribute!
Remember, this coming Tuesday will be our Veterans’ Day project together with three other clubs in District 5000, and I look forward to seeing some of you there at Barber’s Point. The following Tuesday (Nov. 18), we will be back at the Pacific Club hosting our District Governor, Nancy Cabral, who will be introduced by our District Governor Elect Nominee, Rich Proctor. Note that we will not have a regular lunch meeting this Tuesday, and those who will not be joining the US VETS Center event should remember to take a moment to appreciate those who have served and are currently serving to preserve and protect our freedoms as Americans.
I will end with the poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox with which Reese Liggett inspired us this week:
With every rising of the sun; Think of your life as just begun. The past is canceled and buried deep, All yesterdays there let them sleep. Concern yourself with but today, I say, Go forth brave heart—attain, attain.
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