President's message:

It's a busy, challenging
2009 holiday season

We apologize for peppering you with email messages, but there’s so much to say and so much information to collect and share. Thanks to all – more than 100 – who participated the second HANO-PHOCUSED survey on the impacts of budget cuts on nonprofits. We will share the results with you shortly.

We’ll send another brief but important survey shortly, about the value of your tax exemptions on contributions, donations and real property, for those who own real estate. Public officials have signaled that they may challenge these exemptions in 2010; so   HANO is gearing up.  Your responses will furnish vital information to shape policy as the issues unfold.

Be sure to sign for HANO’s annual meeting and mini-conference – it promises to be a great year-end convening of our sector. Keynote speaker, Jan Masaoka of Blue Avocado, will discuss best practices for nonprofits in challenging times. She has been named one of the "Fifty Most Influential People" in the national nonprofit sector, "Nonprofit Times’ “Nonprofit Executive of the Year" and Leadership California’s “California Community Leader of the Year.”

The conference will include an interactive session for participants to help shape what will become HANO’s State of the Nonprofit Sector Report, which we’ll  share with funders and policy-makers in 2010. There will also be a timely discussion of sector public policy initiatives. Representatives from arts and culture, health and human services, education, conservation and other sub-sectors will share their 2010 policy agendas, best practices, and opportunities to partner and leverage resources.

Thanks to all our sponsors, especially title sponsor, Hawaii Insurance Consultants, and gold sponsor, First Insurance Risk Management, gold sponsor, First Insurance Risk Management, a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance.

All of us at HANO wish you a safe and happy holiday season and commend you for continuing the work that makes a tremendous difference to so many. Enjoy our December newsletter – we hope to see you at the conference!

Mahalo,

Lisa Maruyama
HANO president & CEO