“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King, Jr
  
April is National Volunteer Month and the Senior Counsel Division got a head start by participating in the Hawaii Foodbank’s Senior Food Packing Program last month. Almost two dozen SCD members (and their family and friends) joined other community-minded organizations, like the United States Marine’s Single Soldier Program, in packing and loading almost 1,000 boxes filled with food for our low-income kupuna. Those who participated in this event were reminded that spending a few hours on a Saturday morning can serve as a reminder to those facing challenges in life that they are not forgotten. [The Hawaii Foodbank has been serving the community for over 40 years and has volunteer opportunities throughout the week (both days and evenings) and on Saturday. Please visit the Hawaii Foodbank website for more information.]

Another volunteer opportunity was mentioned by the Executive Director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific (MCP), Tracey Wiltgen, when she spoke at SCD’s monthly Coffee Hour on the first Thursday of this month. The focus of her presentation was MCP’s Kupuna Pono Program. In this program, MCP’s mediators help guide family members through the oftentimes difficult journey that takes place when the elders in the family need assistance by their children for their care. Communication amongst family members is crucial during this time and MCP’s facilitators are trained to help build pathways for better sharing of thoughts for all those involved. Tracey’s presentation can be found on Youtube by searching Senior Counsel Division’s Coffee hours. If you are in need of MCP’s services or would like to attend training to become a volunteer mediator, please visit their website.

Next month’s Coffee Hour presentation will feature attorney Terry Revere. He will be speaking on condominium law in Hawaii and some of his notable trials in this area. Having represented both HOAs and tenants in his almost 30 years of practice, he has become an expert in this area of law, as well as construction litigation, developer issues and association disputes. Be on the lookout for an email from the HSBA for a link to this interesting presentation or you can visit the Coffee Hour webpage to register.

SCD amended its bylaws last month to allow bar members on “inactive” status to serve the Hawaii State Bar by becoming SCD board members. If you are interested in being involved in the HSBA by serving as either an officer or director in the SCD, refer to the column below on how to get your name on the ballot.

Lastly, SCD is planning on joining the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) in their activities during law week. Volunteer attorneys for the Ask a Lawyer telephone lines are needed. This can be done from the comfort of your home or office and is greatly appreciated by the public. More information can be found in the YLD President’s column above.

In closing, it should be noted that April is also National Humor Month and Stress Awareness Month. With that in mind, I am reminded that old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal.

Aloha and thank you for your service.