Rotary Club of Wahiawa-Waialua

Vol 12 Issue 10 – December 15th, 2023

The Pineapple ClubThe Hulali“The Reflector”
Charted on March 9th, 1937

“Making a Difference in Hawai’i”

Mark Merriam

Marie Abatayo

The strength of our Club lies in its members"One restored or newly created hope at a time."
RI President Gordon R. McInallyService Above Self – Making a Difference

Editor – PP Geoff Horvath

An Al Wonder – ARC
Christmas Party!

December is Rotary International
Disease Prevention and Treatment
Month
OUR IMPACT ON DISEASEThe Rotary Foundation is changing the world byproviding grants for projects and activities around theglobe and in your own backyard.

$65 milin grants was given by Rotary to fightdisease99.9 %
reduction in polio cases since our program
started in 1985
Rotary makes amazing things happen, like:
Providing clean water: Rotary has worked withpartners to provide more than 80 percent of Ghana’s
people with clean water to fight Guinea worm disease.
Reducing HIV infection: In Liberia, Rotary members
are helping women get tested for HIV early in theirpregnancies. They used prenatal care to reduce newHIV infections in children by 95 percent over two years.
Ending polio: Rotary members have played a key rolein bringing the world to the brink of polio eradication.
Their efforts have not only ended polio in 122 countries
but also created a system for tackling myriad other
health priorities, such as Ebola.

Rotary – 118 Years of Service to the World!

Overall, Rotarians around the world combat diseases
like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis,
diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is
why we also focus on health education and bringing
people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.

-Wahiawa

An Al Wonder Christmas for Our Special
Guests the ARC at Wahiawa!
Today we held our 53rd Annual Al Wonder Christmas
Party for our special ARC Wahiawa family. This
tradition was started back in 1967 when, President, atthat time, J. Al Wonder (1967-68), hosted the first
Christmas party for the ARC clients.
The Rotary Club of Wahiawa-Waialua was also
instrumental in building the Wahiawa ARC facility.
This was a very special occasion, so we didn’t hold aregular meeting. It was all about bringing joy and cheer
to our special guests of ARC Wahiawa.
Since the end of COVID, we have been holding our Al
Wonder Christmas party at the ARC Wahiawa Facility.
Renee told us that it was easier for us to bring the party
to them. The guests are relaxed in familiar surroundings,
so can truly enjoy the party.
ARC Wahiawa has always been gracious hosts, and thisyear was no different! We were welcomed with open
arms by Renee Subee, her staff, and our special guests.

ARC at Wahiawa facility

Just what is an Al Wonder Christmas Party?!
The Al Wonder Christmas party is a Club tradition thatwas started 56 years ago by our 32nd Club President,
Dr. J A. “Al” Wonder (1967-68), a Wahiawa Jeweler.
The Al Wonder Christmas Party was held every yearwith the exception during COVID years. This tradition
still continues this year as we took time out of our busy
lives to give back to those who are a special blessing totheir families and to our Club, the residents and clientsof ARC in Wahiawa. Our affiliation with the Adult
Rehabilitation Center in Wahiawa has been going on
since the mid-sixties, when Dr. Wonder saw a need inour community. It is debatable as to who has more funand enjoys the program, our guests or our Clubmembers! As part of our program, Club members serve
our guests as well as sit beside them and have chats.
RI President: Gordon R. McInallyDistrict: Mark Merriam
Asst. Dist. Govt: Joshua Laguana
Club President: Mari Abatayo
IPP: Marie Abatayo
President Elect: Open
Secretary: Mark Anthony Clemente
Treasurer: Cross CrabbeClub Trainer: PP Doc Bill McKenzie &Marie Abatayo
Program/Speakers :PP Doc Bill McKenzie &PP Geoff HorvathMembership:
Foundation: PP Doc Bill McKenzie, Chris
Compisano

Rotary – 118 Years of Service to the World!

Renee Subee directs operations and management ofthe ARC in Hawaii, Wahiawa Branch, along with her
caring and dedicated staff. Renee has been theDirector of the ARC Wahiawa for 27+ years. She is
known for her patience and kindness toward her clients,
putting their needs first. Assisting her are her dedicatedstaff, and Liz, their visiting RN.
The agenda was:• Greeting our guests• Singing Christmas Carols• Dinning• Arrival of Santa• Giving of Gifts
This year, the excellent lunch was provided by Lanakila
Catering through Ruvi Apa, at a reduced cost, part ofthe cost being absorbed by Ruvi! The meal was enjoyedby al!
One of the fun parts of the party is singing carols withour special guests. The year, PP Ken Uyeno was our
Choir Director, with PP Geoff Horvath as backup vocal!
Gifts were purchased by individual members, andwrapped.
Thank you to Whitmore Economic
Development Group (WEDG) for providing gifts for ourspecial guests.
This year, as in past years, our Santa was none otherthan our PP Keoni Ahlo! He was the hit of the party,
handing gifts out to individual guests, with a little chatand a photo with Santa.

The facility was nicely decorated by ARC management
and their clients. They did all the decorations in just twoweeks, consisting of murals and a fancy refrigerator
dressed up as a snowman!
Club Service: Marie Abatayo
Community Service: Derek Conselva, PatCompisano
Intnl Service: PP Doc Bill McKenzie
Youth Services: PP Geoff Horvath
Vocational Service: Derek Conselva - PP
Geoff Horvath
Public Relations: Rene Mansho
Sergeant at Arms: PP Geoff HorvathFundraising: Marie Abatayo
PP Doc Bill McKenzie,
PP Geoff Horvath
HRYF: PP Geoff HorvathSocial Media: Arthur Hughes
Newsletter: PP Geoff HorvathFrosty the Snowman?

Mission: The ARC in Hawai'i provides services forpeople with intellectual and developmental disabilities
on Oahu. Together with its affiliates, The ARC in Hawai'ipromotes and protects the rights of people withintellectual and developmental disabilities and actively
supports their right to be included and fully participate
in the community throughout their lifetime.
The ARC in Hawaii offers community-based support andday services to more than 200 individuals in theHonolulu, Pearl City and, Wahiawa areas. They
provide individualized services that include respite andrehabilitation support and supported employment.
They also offer residential services through more than
12 developmental disabilities domiciliary homes andseveral apartment buildings. The ARC in Hawaii staffedmembers are trained and certified by the state of
Hawaii’s Department of Health Visions Program.
Wahiawa office was opened 27+ years ago and has
been providing care to about 54 clients. Some live athome, others live in foster homes. For the past 18 years,
the facility has been in the capable hands of Renee
Subee.

One of the man murals

Thanks to ARC Photographer, Stephen “Edgar”
Cabradila, President Marie Abatayo, and PP Geoff
Horvath for the photos.
The ARC
The ARC in Hawaii Chapter, part of The ARC of theUnited States, was founded in 1954. The ARC of theUnited States was founded in 1950 by a group ofparents of children with intellectual disabilities. The
organization is a nonprofit agency that serves people
with intellectual and related developmental disabilities
in nationally and here in Hawaii. ARC in Hawaii is partof the largest national organization devoted solely toworking on behalf of people with intellectualdisabilities.
An estimated 7.39 million Americans have intellectual ora related developmental disability.
Throughaggressive advocacy at the local and national level,
The ARC ensures that these individuals have access tothe services and supports they need to grow, develop
and participate in communities across the country.

Pineapple by

ARC Director Renee Subee

Rotary – 118 Years of Service to the World!

Santa and Mrs. CSpecial Christmas tree
Office Manager Ulyssa (sp)Santa’s Sleigh and seat

PP Marie Abatayo and ARC Director Renee Subee

Mark Anthony

Rotary – 118 Years of Service to the World!

Chris Compisano

Servers PP Ken Uyeno, Mark Anthony, and Chris Compisano

Santa unloading gifts

A great lunch provided by Lanakila

Servers Chris Compisano. Mark Anthony, PP Geoff Horvathand PP Ken Uyeno
Santa, PP Keoni Ahlo and PP Doc McKenzie,

An artistic Guest

PP Doc McKenzie, President Marie Abatayo, Andrew Burgos
PP Geoff Horvath, and PP Ken Uyeno
Renee Subee and PP Doc McKenzie,

Rotary – 118 Years of Service to the World!