MEDIA RELEASE

Waimea Town meeting thurs., Sept. 9 to explore what a ‘LEED Platinum’ learning center and eradicating a poison invasive tree have to do with community well-being – all invited

Kanu o ka ‘Aina’s amazing LEED Platinum certified 21st Century Learning Center and a recent week-long swat team’s efforts to eradicate a nasty poisonous tree from Pololu Valley will top Waimea Community Association’s Town Meeting agenda on Thurs., Sept. 9, 2010.

But please note several important changes in this month’s town meeting plans:

• The date has been shifted from the usual first-Thursday to Sept. 9 to avoid the long Labor Day weekend.
• The location will move from Waimea School cafeteria to Kanu’s new Halau Ho’olako 6-12 grade campus and community learning center on Waimea’s Hi’iaka Steet (the back or south side of Kuhio Village) and everyone is invited.
• The time also is moved up to 4:30 p.m. to include a student-led walking tour of the exceptional new learning center. The meeting itself will begin as usual at 5:15 p.m.

To attend the tour and meeting, community friends should turn off Mamalahoa Highway (HWY 19) at the stop-lighted intersection with Kamamalu Street (near the police station). Drive south to the very end of Kamamalu past the fire station and senior housing. The road swings left and becomes Hi’iaka Street. Watch for the campus entrance on your right (Mauna Kea side of the road). The sign out front of the campus reads: Kauhale ‘Oiwi o Pu’ukapu and there is also a banner on the fence that reads: Kanu o ka ‘Aina.

Participants arriving at 4:30 will tour Kanu’s beautiful new learning center which is a 21st Century “model” of energy efficiency and conservation, and environmental responsibility. Then, during the meeting, program staff will provide an overview of Kanu’s recent 6-year WASC Accreditation, as well as its community learning offerings and life-long learning vision. Everyone is invited and everyone will be asked to remove their shoes in the new kauhale.

The meeting also will include an update by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and the Kohala Watershed Partnership who are combining their resources and expertise to combat a nasty invasive plant – Poison Devil’s Pepper Tree (Rauvolfia vomitoria) that is spreading across North Hawaii, threatening both native forest and agriculture.

Led by Melora Purell, the presentation will include details about this poisonous tree which is hard to kill, vigorously re-sprouts and can quickly out-grow other trees including natives. While there have been reports about the seriousness of this invasive plant, many still don’t yet realize how serious it is. “We know that between 1,000 to 2,000 acres are infested in North Kohala and the population is growing,” said Purell.

Participants in the meeting will learn to recognize the tree and be asked to report sightings immediately to 933-3345.

There is no charge to attend WCA’s monthly Town Meetings, but all who participate are asked to contribute to Waimea’s hard-pressed food pantries by bringing a donation – preferably cash or a check – or non-perishable food items. Cash or checks are given to the Waimea pantries to purchase needed staples or gift certificates from Waimea grocery stores so that recipients are able to buy fresh items such as milk, vegetables or fruit as well as other essentials. Checks may be payable directly to a food pantry so may be tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Also, Starbucks-Waimea will again contribute hot coffee with a suggestion that those enjoying it might express their gratitude by making a donation on the spot to the food pantry collection drive.

For information, call WCA President Sherman Warner (885-1725) or go to www.waimeacommunityassociation.org

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Bylaw amendment under consideration

MEDIA RELEASE

The more than 50-year-old Waimea Community Association’s Board of Directors will ask members to vote to open up participation in the organization by amending its Bylaws.

As required by WCA’s Bylaws, the proposed amendment will be presented to all attending the group’s Thursday, Sept. 9 Town Meeting to review and discuss, and then vote on during the following month’s meeting – on Thursday, Oct. 7. The amendment has also been posted on the association’s website and has been emailed to members and community friends.

The proposed change was initiated by the Board to redefine “membership” and break the link between payment of dues and eligibility to vote at community meetings.

“The intent of the change is to emphasize that everyone who is a part of our community is a part of the community association as well,” WCA President Sherman Warner said.

“Whether someone attends every meeting or just one meeting, whether they make a financial contribution or not, their opinion and their right to vote at association meetings should be equal to that of anyone else in the community,” he said.
The Bylaws change will eliminate references to “dues.”

“We will still depend on contributions, but after passage of the amendment, people who make donations will be called ‘supporters’ rather than ‘members,'” he said.

The rest of the current definition of membership will remain intact.

“The board urges current membership to support this change,” Warner said.