President's message:

New year; new beginnings

As 2010 began, HANO welcomed three new board members: Robert Masuda, former DLNR Deputy Director and retired YMCA executive at the world, national and local levels who lives on the Big Island; Heather Piper, senior VP of Central Pacific Bank, and Jani Sheppard, CEO of Maui Family Support Services. In addition, we were delighted to have Jerry Rauckhorst, president CEO of Catholic Charities Hawaii and founding HANO member, return to the board.

Regretfully, we also said farewell to Christopher Pablo, who passed away on Dec. 9. Chris, an attorney with Goodsill Anderson Quinn and Stifel, had served on HANO's board for just one year, but had a tremendous impact in that short period of time on HANO's Public Policy Committee. We will miss him.

We all know 2010 will be a tough year. Some nonprofits are in survival mode, painfully deciding what can stay and what must go while constituent needs grow and resources diminish. Many seek creative ways to become less reliant on state and foundation funding, while others have found opportunities to grow despite the troubled economy. All, including HANO, are learning what the “new normal” means.

For assistance with difficult conversations or finding strategic direction in today's changing landscape, HANO can help. Our consultants have worked with hundreds of Hawaii clients statewide, facilitating group discussions of complex, thorny issues, coaching executive directors and working with boards and staffs. For more information about HANO services, contact Jennifer Cornish Creed, (808) 529-0453 or jcreed@hano-hawaii.org.

Learn more about the strategic planning process at our workshop on strategic planning on Wednesday, Feb. 24, featuring Lily Bloom Domingo -- and please enjoy this month's newsletter.

Mahalo,

Lisa Maruyama
HANO president & CEO