April 2008:
Letter from the Chair, Aloha Pride
Center
Aloha nui kakou,
A Big Mahalo to all of those who have contributed to the
Aloha Pride Center (APC) through the years and most
importantly during the first few months of 2008. Mahalo for
having vision and compassion for Hawai'i's community and
ohana. This is what I, along with your current Board of
Directors (BOD), strive and work for.
It was stated in February 2008 that the new Board of
Directors (all volunteers) had joined the board within the
past nine months. In the eight months that followed, the
board discovered that it had inherited many unknown
financial problems. Reducing spending became paramount.
Therefore, the Board of Directors (BOD) reluctantly made
the difficult decision to close the doors to the Aloha
Pride Center's physical office which was located at 614
South Street, suite 105. This is only temporary with your
help.
As Chair of the Aloha Pride Center (APC), it is my vision
that the APC help foster our Hawaii Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender community with Aloha. I would like to see
Hawaii's LGBT community come together regularly, not just
at the annual Pride Parade and Festival. I would like us
(APC) to facilitate a monthly Community Building Event such
as a barbecue, picnic, volleyball games, or even an
afternoon music jam session at an outdoor venue which can
bring people from all communities together. Whether our
participants come from the women's, mahu (transgender),
men's, bisexual, young person's, retired person's,
runner's, bear's, Polynesian, haole, heterosexual
communities is not as important as coming together as a
community and an ohana.
There may be some in our LGBT community that may have
recently come to the realization that they don't identify
as heterosexual. There are many more in our community who
have lived with that similar reality for years. I would
like that the Aloha Pride Center's BOD develop a support
program for our community members who are newly (I hate to
use the term) "out" as well as those who have been "out"
for some time to become empowered around their sexuality,
sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Some people have asked, "Why was the name changed? It was
just fine the way it was." Our former name was simply The
Center. If one had moved to Hawaii from either the
continental US or another country, there is a good chance
that they wouldn't know what we were unless you asked
someone. The BOD chose to change the name to reflect those
qualities that we strive to represent.
Aloha
to honor
the unique place where we are, Hawaii. It is defined as
"love, affection, compassion, mercy, kindness," one of the
first Hawaiian words people not of Hawaii come to acquaint
themselves with.
Pride is
defined as "the happy satisfied feeling one experiences
when having or achieving something that other people
admire." This is also a term that many have associated with
the LGBT community, especially in the summertime, when
metropolitan cities host their "Pride" Parades and
Festivals. Last but definitely not least, is the
word
Center. This
is what the BOD strives to create: a hub, a central middle,
not too far to the left, nor too far to the right, a place
where we all can come together and rejoice in our
similarities and come to understand and appreciate our
differences. It is not our desire to be the one deciding
voice for our Hawaii LGBT community. Rather the Aloha Pride
Center hopes to be one of many voices reflecting countless
experiences and aspirations of Hawaii's LGBT community.
How
can your Aloha Pride Center directors help to make that
happen? I have shared my thoughts and feelings. Now I am
interested to know what your thoughts and feelings are, our
community members and ohana. Please let us know by voicing
your ideas and thoughts on our blog at
Aloha Pride Center
Blog.
I invite you to kokua and help the Board of Directors
create the Aloha Pride Center that is right for you.
Mahalo a nui loa for your continued support and for taking
the time to read my letter to you.
'O au iho no me ka ha'aha'a,
Charles Mono Ah Nee
March 2008:
As stated in recent APC communications, the APC is having
serious trouble in meeting its financial obligations.
The APC has much to be proud of for what has been
accomplished since its inception in 1973 and for what will
be accomplished in the future with your help.
The new volunteer Board of Directors (BOD) all joined
within the past nine months. Over the past eight months, we
discovered that we inherited many unknown financial
problems and innocent business errors, and it's taken us
until very recently to understand what they were. As
daunting as they are, the volunteer board has diligently
tried to take corrective action by reducing spending in
order to keep the APC's doors open thus far.
Where we are now:
The single MAJOR financial drain on the APC over the past 3
years was a Lease for the South Street location of $3,200
per month plus utilities. This was entered into when there
were several grants, each providing some funds to the
organization's rent and operating expenses. The ability to
afford this space ended when those grants terminated or
were suddenly canceled. Fortunately the recent unexpected
change in ownership of the building as of December has made
it possible to end our lease early on February 29, 2008
which otherwise would have ended on October 31, 2008.
Accurate bookkeeping is always a difficult process. In
order to understand the true financial state of the APC,
the current board brought in an experienced accountant who
has subsequently created a financial profile for FY 2006,
FY 2007, and FY 2008, and provides the board with regular
and timely reports of the APC's financial picture. However,
this process was just completed in November 2007. Until the
books and accounts were setup and completed for FY 2006 and
FY 2007, we had no way of knowing how grim things really
are, nor were we able to complete and pay tax liabilities
for FY 2006, nor were we able to discover the magnitude of
unpaid bills, and that we are now operating in the red.
Where we want to go with the help of the community
($$$):
We are planning a smaller and all volunteer organization
(for now).
We have found and hope to move to a first floor commercial
site with disability access in Waikiki. It's located on a
major bus line for those who rely on public transportation.
Most importantly, the rent is approximately $800 per month
which includes basic utilities. Telephone and Internet
access would be additional.
To move forward, we need to raise over the next few weeks
$11,000 to pay off current financial
obligations and an additional $12,000 to
have one year's worth of rent in the bank before entering
into a new lease for a total of $23,0000.
(Note: we have new financial numbers mentioned above)
If successful, we can then focus our attention to
organizing new fundraising events and applying for new
grants to keep your Center operating in a sustainable mode.
Once operating out of the red and in a new location, we
will constantly evaluate the Community's needs and
implement new programs as the APC has done in the past.
However now it will be done based on solid business
principals and measurements of success.
WE NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW:
The quickest and easiest way to help is by donating using
the "Donate" button on the left and use
your credit card to make donations directly to the Aloha
Pride Center (The Center-Hawaii). Please don't be confused
by "Eduardo's" name on the screen, the money is directly
transferred to the APC bank account.
We will be selling used office furniture, couches, chairs,
book shelves, filing cabinets, and some office equipment
this Monday and Thursday at the office between 11 am to 4
pm. Call us for info at 545-2848 and other available
viewing or pick-up times.
You can also mail checks to our NEW "mailing" address:
Aloha Pride Center 677 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 226
Honolulu, HI 96813.
Please be sure to make checks payable to: APC-The
Center-Hawaii. All donations of any amounts are
greatly needed, appreciated, and are tax
deductible. Please forward this message to your
family and friends.
MAHALO for your Kokua!
Mahalo nui loa,
Your Board of Directors
