Rotary Club of Wahiawa-Waialua

Volume 6 Issue 23 – February 14th, 2019

6

District Governor
Winton “Win” Schoneman“Making a Difference in our Local and Global Communities”

President
Alexander “Alex” Kanamu

The strength of our Club lies in its members

Joy and Wisdom on the OtherSide of Suffering
Service Above Self – Making a Difference

Editor – PP Geoff Horvath

February is Rotary International
Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
Month
How Rotary Makes Help Happen
Rotary District 5040
We train adults and young leaders to prevent andmediate conflict. We aid refugees who have fled
dangerous areas. Rotarians also address theunderlying structural causes of conflict by relieving
millions of people suffering from poverty, inequality,
ethnic tensions, lack of access to education and unequal
distribution of resources.
In yet another program to achieve worldwide peace,
up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellows are selected to attend
Rotary Peace Centers to participate in master's degree
programs at one of the partner universities. Rotary
Peace Fellows study subjects related to the root causesof conflict and explore innovative solutions that
address real-world needs. There are more than 1,000
peace fellowship alumni are working in over 100
countries. Do you have a Peace Fellow candidate inyour community?

transportation, and all internship and field-study
expenses.

In just over a decade, the Rotary Peace Centers havetrained more than 1,200 fellows. Many of them now
serve as leaders at international organizations or havestarted their own foundations.
Check out the Rotary Peace Map to see where ouralumni are fostering peace around the world.

Each year, Rotary awards up to 100 fully funded
fellowships for dedicated leaders from around theworld to study at one of our peace centers
Through academic training, practice, and global
networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers
program develops the fellows into experienced andeffective catalysts for peace. The fellowships covertuition and fees, room and board, round-trip

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

The Rotary Club of
Wahiawa-Waialua

Our fellowships
Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50
fellowships for master’s degrees and 50 for certificate
studies at premier universities.
•

Master’s degree programs: Accepted candidates
study peace and development issues withresearch-informed teaching and a diverse student
body. The program lasts 15 to 24 months andincludes a 2-3-month field study, which
participants design themselves.

•

Professional development certificate program:Experienced leaders gain practical tools forpromoting peace and international development
during an intensive, 3- month program, which
includes 3 weeks of field study and peer learning
opportunities with a diverse group.
Is a peace fellowship right for me?
Peace fellowship candidates must meet theserequirements:•

Proficiency in English; a second language isstrongly recommended•

Demonstrated commitment to international
understanding and peace•

Excellent leadership skills•

Master’s degree applicants: minimum three
years of related full-time work or volunteer
experience, bachelor’s degree•

Certificate applicants: minimum five years ofrelated full-time work or volunteer experience•

A desire to work toward world peace

PP Oran Spotts

PP Geoff Horvath

Oli – PP Lilette Subedi

S
Outside D5K
None
Within D5K
None

RI President: Barry Rassin
District: Win Schoneman
Asst Dist Govr: Doreen Higa
Club President: Alex Kanamu
PP: Lilette Subedi
President Elect: Keoni Ahlo
Exec Secretary: Alison Dela Pena
Recording Secretary: Rene Mansho
Treasurer: Kate Butts
Sergeant-at-Arms: Dr. Carver Wilcox
Asst Sergeant-at-Arms: Austin Kanamu

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

Anniversaries

Dr. Lynn Goya – Clinical Psychologist – Prospective
memberRoger E. Breisch – Guest Speaker
Walterbea Aldeguer – Guest of PP Lilette Subedi
Maryilyn Spotts – Guest of PP Oran Spotts
Mike Butts – Retired Commercial Pilot -Guest of Kate
Butts

None

No inductions

No report

Hawaii Rotary YouthFoundation (HRYF)
We received a total of 11 applications. We will beholding our interviews on Saturday, February 23,
starting at 8:15am and ending at 4:30 pm. Theinterviews will be held at the Pineapple Crate
Conference Room
Dr. Lynn Goya

Recognitions for the week ending February 17, 2019.

Member’s Birthdays – None

Spouse’s Birthday

Dr. Lynn Goya, MEd, PsyD was inducted into our club
today. Dr. Goya found us on the web and came to oneof our meetings. She is sponsored by PE Keoni Ahlo
Dr. Goya specializes in animal-assisted therapy (using
a Therapy Dog in sessions), and in treating anxiety anddepression. With children, she utilizes play therapy tohelp them work through problems and build selfesteem. She also does Neurofeedback to help improveattentiveness, impulse control, decrease hyperactivity,
decrease anxiety, and enhance relaxation and sleep.
Dr. Goya has a 4-year-old West Highland WhiteTerrier named Yumi, who is a registered therapy dog.

None

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

The Rotary Club of
Wahiawa-Waialua

Dr. Goya specializes in Depression, Anxiety, Life
transitions including divorce, career changes,
graduation, retirement, Children's problems such associal or academic problems, low self-esteem, family
problems.
Dr. Goya serves communities on Oahu including
Mililani, Pearl City, Aiea, Kapolei, Ewa Beach,
Waipahu, Wahiawa, and Salt Lake. She provides
individual and family therapy for children, adolescents,
adults, and seniors and specializes in depression,anxiety, and family problems.
You can learn more about her and Dr. Goya atchildadulttherapy-mililani.com.

this concert. The girl responded to his calm soft words
and exchanged his tickets with two others. When helocated the seats, they were close to the front andlooking down on the stage, giving him a closeup viewof Kiss during their performance. Keoni told us thatinstead of getting upset and giving the ticket girl ahard time, he decided to be calm when he requested
the situation be handled (Proverbs 15:1, “A soft word
turns away wrath.”). For this exciting trip, Keonicontributed $10 to the Club.

HI
Mike Butts gave a HI $20 in celebration of PP Geoff
Horvath joining him in the Retirement Club, being
FULLY retired now!
PP Lilette Subedi gave a HI $5 for everyone showing
up for the meeting in the rain.

PE Keoni Ahlo made a whirlwind trip to San Diego to
make a Kiss Farewell Concert at his daughter Paige’s
San Diego College Viejas Arena. Before getting into
his trip report, Keoni told us that Kiss was his favorite
band, ever. His room was covered with Kiss posters.

To say Keoni was excited is an understatement. Thereis a “however though. However, the tickets he hadwere terrific near the front middle. But when he got tohis seats, he saw a bunch of cables coming down that
obstructed his view. Instead of getting mad and being
the true Rotarian Keoni is, he went back to the ticket
booth and explained his problem. He told the girl that
he was waiting 40 years for an opportunity like this,how big of a fan he is, flying in from Hawaii just to see

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

ROTARY MINUTE"EVERY ROTARIAN AN EXAMPLE TO YOUTH"
In much of the official literature of Rotary International
relating to service to young people, a special slogan
will be found -"Every Rotarian an Example to Youth."
These words were adopted in 1949 by the RotaryInternational Board of Directors as an expression ofcommitment to children and youth in each community inwhich Rotary clubs exist. Serving young people haslong been an important part of the Rotary program.
Youth service projects take many forms around theworld. Rotarians sponsor Boy Scout and Girl Scout
troops, athletic teams, handicapped children's centers,
school safety patrols, summer camps, recreation areas,
safe driving clinics, county fairs, child care centers andchildren's hospitals. Many clubs provide vocationalcounseling, establish youth employment program andpromote use of The 4-Way Test. Increasingly, drug andalcohol abuse prevention projects are being supported
by Rotarians.
In every instance, Rotarians have an opportunity to berole model for the young men and women of theircommunity. One learns to serve by observing others. As
our youth grow to become adult leaders, it is hoped
each will achieve that same desire and spirit to serve
future generations of children and youth.
The slogan accepted over 40 years ago is just as vital
today. It is a very thoughtful challenge, "Every Rotarianan Example to Youth.".

No CorrespondenceRoger BreischNo Report

Feb 21 – Murry Visser and James Ham – Global
Grants and the Nepal Water ProjectMar 7 – Steve Sue and Myron Nakata – Project
Lemon Tree – The Living, Outdoor Classroom
Mar 14 – Nicole Milia Coglietta – CEO/Founder ofCare Sift – Providing Support to Seniors and theirfamilies.
Mar 21st – Ms. Kay DeWeese – Maasai Girl School
Trip ReportFeb 21 – Golf Tournament Planning Meeting – after
regular meetingFeb 23 – HRYF Scholarship Interviews – Pineapple
Crate Conference Room, 1116 Whitmore Ave,
Wahiawa
Mar 31 – Annual Wakai-Wilkinson Golf Tournament
fundraiser at the Moanalua Golf Club
Ongoing – Jack in the Box Fundraiser. Each member
will be given 10 tickets ($100) to sell.

Our guest speaker today, Roger Breisch is no stranger
to our club. This is his fourth visit! Each time he visits, hebrings new and interesting topics about life.
Roger has lived an eclectic life.
He holds a Master of Science in Mathematics from
Northern Illinois University and a Master of Science inManagement from the Sloan School at MIT.
During his career he taught high school, was a manager
for a Fortune 100 company, owned a management
consulting company, and, most recently ran the local
Chamber of Commerce.
In the midst of his professional career, Roger has
volunteered extensively. He chaired the local 4th of July
Fireworks for 17 years, has worked with teens in ananti-alcohol, anti-drug program for 12 years, and has
spent more than 3500 hours answering calls on a
suicide hotline over that past 16 years.
Roger speaks and writes extensively. He has spoken at
TEDxIIT and TEDxQuincy, and published a collection of
his essay in his book “Questions That Matter.” Today,
Roger focuses on helping others discover a “Life That
Matters.”
He and Judi, his wife of 36 years, have two grownchildren and live in Batavia, Illinois.
Roger started his presentation by reciting a couple oflines from the 13-century poem The Guest House, by
Iranian poet, Jellaludin Rumi. “This being human is aguest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, adepression, a meanness, some momentary awarenesscomes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome andentertain them all!”, and finished by reciting the pomein its entirety.

Affirming LifeJoy and Wisdom on the Other Side ofSuffering
Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

The Rotary Club of
Wahiawa-Waialua

The poem dovetailed right into what Roger’s main topic
was, Joy on the Other Side of Suffering
This poem by Rumi is something you will see and hearin mindfulness courses and retreats all over the world.
The poem expresses many things but its core message
is also one of the core message of mindfulness
meditation - to be with whatever life brings to us.
Whether it comes in the form of a joy or a great
difficulty, Rumi encourages us to open ourselves towhatever life brings us - internally or externally.
But whatever life throws at us, our attitude andcommitment to greet it without fear or loathing, andwith whatever subtle faith we can muster, allows us tobecome wiser, kind and more compassionate to self
and others.
From sagemindfulness.com blog.

The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary
awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently
sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each
guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them atthe door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes. Because each has
been sent as a guide form beyond.
— Jellaludin Rumi,
After reading the opening lines of the poem, Roger
asked us, “How do we come to understand the fullness
and wholeness of our humanity?” When we affirm life,
we find out what it means to be human. It isn’t until weaffirm all of life, the pain and sorrow as swell as thejoy, that we begin to peer into the fullness andwholeness of what it means to be human.” This is the
key of affirming life. When we try to circumvent thesuffering, we miss the fullness of our humanity. It slipsaway.
Roger has spent thousands of hours answering calls on
the Teen’s National Suicide Hotline, to assist and help
these teens understand how to deal with these
unexpected visitors in their life.
He told us about receiving a call from a young manfrom middle school, on Christmas, in pain and tears,
telling him that he and his father augured almost
constantly. The one thing he didn’t know, is whether his
father loved him or not. The call lasted for some time,and just before it ended, the young man told Roger, “I
don’t know you that well, but I know that I love you.”This is one examples of thousands of these calls that

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

ends with joy and wisdom that comes out of the otherside pain.
Most of us do whatever we can to avoid the pain andsuffering that life brings us. This robs us of the joy andwisdom that awaits us on the other side.
One of the sad occurrences, Roger told is, was ourseniors that are placed in care homes or assisted living
facilities. People tend to turn their backs on these
special people, living in loneliness, pain and suffering.
They are forgotten.
Roger told us of an elderly women, in a beautiful
retirement community who heard him speak. When
Roger was done, she looked at him sadly and told him,
“Don’t get me wrong. I love it here and I’m well caredfor, and I have friends. Now that my family knows that,they don’t come and see me anymore.”
When human suffering is hidden, people seem to thinkit’s not normal for humans to suffer. And those that do
suffer, cry in silence. But when we start sharing ourvulnerabilities, our pain, and frailties with others, it
gives them courage and power to open up and do thesame. We become more resilient.
If we eliminate pain and suffering, we rob ourselves of
helping other people that are going through the same
pain and suffering as we went through. We know what
it is like and we can relate, in terms that they
understand, that after the pain and suffering, comes
wisdom to help others and the joy you feel when
helping someone else through their difficult time.
Pain and suffering make us stronger and gives us thepower to handle the next bout of pain and suffering. It
allows us to recognize, identify, and act to make itthrough.
Another story Roger told us about was of a mother who
lost her son in a horrible car accident. The death of her
son was the beginning. For the first year after Jason’s
death she felt so lost and broken that she could barely
left the chair in her living room.
Then, one day, she did get up, feeling Jason’s presencein her life, she got up, went back to school and got her
doctorate in physiology, finishing her internship threemonths after turning 60! Since then, she has beenworking for the VA helping veterans deal with thehorrors of war. Still feeling Jason’s presence in her life,
she moved to Boston to aid in helping those sufferingfrom the tsunami of the opioid epidemic.
Roger said he would give Jason back to Kathy in an
instant if he could, but what Kathy has become would
have been lost if she didn’t experience the pain andsuffering experienced by the loss of her son.
Roger emphasized, again, whenever we find ways tocircumvent pain and suffering, a bit of our humanity
slips away.
A friend of Roger told him of a young man that wasconsidering suicide. He had a Facebook account andasked Roger if he would Friend him. He did. As theymessaged back and forth the young man told him
about the difficulties of life. He said he was in so muchpain that ending his life would be easier.
After the messaging had gone back and forth for sometime, the young man asked, Roger, “Why are you
wasting your time on me? I don’t deserve it.
After an hour, Roger asked the young man if he would
like to talk to him over the phone. The young man
replied that he lived in Pakistan and couldn’t afford to.
It amazed Roger that this transcended all distancegenerations, culture, and so many other differences,
how this young man’s pain and suffering brought theessence of what it means to be human, regardless of
where you were born or age. Today this young man
has graduated from college and is living a productive
life, some of it, helping the poor children on the streets.
There was a young lady that had a very serious illness
that would eventually take her life. All her mother did
was to tell her what she would be missing in life. No
boyfriends, school proms, marriage, children, a career,etc. But while attending college, she realized how muchlife had to offer her as she battled her illness. She
stopped listening to what her mother said, and started
living her life as best as she could. She had experiencesin college that no one else would ever have.
Just think. What would our world be like without pain
and suffering? Humanity would suffer greatly, because
there would be no wisdom or joy in our lives.

(Go to our Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/96286297
3749303/ to view all pictures.)

Guest Speaker, Roger Breisch with PE Keoni Ahlo

Ace of Hearts

The Lovely Marilyn Spotts with Hubby PP Oran Spotts

Alison Kanamu won the draw and drew the three of
Spades.

Guesat, Mike Butts
Alison Kanamu with the Three of Spades

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

The Rotary Club of
Wahiawa-Waialua

Our Oli Maestro, PP Lilette Subedi

Alison Kanamu

PP Lilette Subedi with Guest Walterbea Aldeguer
PP Oran and Marilyn Spotts getting a great meal

One of Marian’s Catering Servers
Guess who? Our shy PE, Keoni Ahlo!

PE Keoni Ahlo assisting in the meeting setup

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

PE Keoni and PP Lilette Subedi discussing induction
porcedures

Members and Guests waiting for the induction of ournewest member

Members and guests standing during theinduction ceremonh

Induction of our Rotary’s newest
member. Dr. Lybnn Goya

“I do and I will!”

PP Geoff with the joke of the week

You are now a member of Rotary!

The Induction Ceremony

Any HI $5s?
Dr. Lynn Goy being sworn in by PP Lilette and PE Keoni

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

The Rotary Club of
Wahiawa-Waialua

Pineapple byMarilyn and PP Oran Spotts enjoying the meeting

Greeting our guest speaker, Roger BreischRoger Breisch going over Affirming Life with members

Joy on the other side of pain and suffering

Rotary – 113 Years of Service to the World!

Roger Breisch relating a story about a young man

Marissa Kerns

Roger Breisch telling us about a young man from Pakistan
using Facebook messaging

Mike Butts asking Roger a question