July 2020 President’s Message

Hi Hawaii Kai Lions, CIS’s and All, 

I am honored to become president of the Hawaii Kai Lions Club, and thank all club members for putting their trust in me. I vow to do my best.

In a way this job is like cashing in on an inheritance. 

• Our club would be nothing without the backing of Lions Club International and it’s 1.4 million members, it’s training and support system. 
• Our good fortune continues as we are part of Lions District 50 (Hawaii), with its resources, leadership training and other support mechanisms. I wish our New District Governor Garrett Ogawa the best on his term and thank Lion Angelita Haramoto (now Past District Governor) for her service this past year. 
• And if the year couldn’t start any better, our Zone (Region V, Zone II) will be Chaired by our own Immediate Past President Lion Ellsworth Fujii.  He has a tough act to follow after Lion Gary Nip did such a good job.
• I’m also very lucky to have a great board of directors to work with the next 12 months. This years board consists of veteran board members and some that are new to the board, this combination will be helpful in navigating a lot of different conditions never seen before. I look forward to working with them all.
• I’m also fortunate to have committee chairs/cochairs that know their projects and take the initiative to make sure the correct communication, planning and reporting is done in a timely manner. 
• The best part of the inheritance is the “club”, 54 individuals united by the concept that together we can make the world a better place. We have so many differences and so much in common which just makes it all that much more interesting. 
• I can’t leave out the “club behind the club”, the Companions in Service (CIS’s) who love us and support us no matter how much time Lions eats up when we should be paying more attention to them. My CIS Nancy will need all her psychological skills to get me thru this year. I thank her in advance. 
• Did I mention the East Oahu Community? They know us, love us and support us. We cannot let them down. 

Writing this makes me realize how easy my job as President will be, I have support of immediate family (53 club members), cousins (zone club members), Second cousins (D50), 1.4 million distant relatives (lions worldwide), countless CIS’s and the Hawaii Kai community. 

Here’s the “Action Plan” for July, 2020. 

1. Stay healthy! I urge everyone to determine your own level of interaction based on guidance by health and government officials. Most of all follow your instinct and please don’t put yourself in Lions social gatherings or projects that you feel are risky, and respect the comfort level of others. 
2. Know where you stand in the club:
   1. Members verify what committees you are on or chair
   2. Committee chairs verify who is on your committee, what is the purpose of the committee and what will be the effect of current health concerns on the committee. 
   3. Chairs also reach out to the community you service and determine your action plan and budget request for the year. 
3. Board members, learn your position. If you are new to it reach out to the board member you are replacing for guidance 
4. Everyone make sure you are able to meet virtually this month as the 2 scheduled meetings (board and regular) are on ‘Zoom.’ Call or email me and I will insure you get a personal trainer to get you connected. 
5. Take advantage of an easy month to study Lions resources and think about ideas for a year that is not going to be the same as usual.

Here we go. I wish you luck and please wish me luck as we enter uncharted territories. I’m confident we will end this year more connected, more focused and more productive than ever….

OK to have fun too.

Eric