Mental Health Association in Hawai'i

MHA/H's 58th Annual Meeting

Mar 28, 2001

The Mental Health Association in Hawai'i held is 58th Annual Meeting at Olivet Baptist Church on February 15, 2001. Volunteers, Board Members, and Staff were all on hand to participate in an evening that was a wonderful mix of business and pleasure. This year's program "The Awakening of a Constituency" featured Department of Human Services Director, Susan Chandler to speak about the growth of a movement towards social equality across diverse-abilities.

A big "Mahalo" is extended to Past-President Debbie Rivers for her outstanding contribution to MHA/H and the mental health community. MHA/H welcomes Ben Carroll as its new Board President and looks forward to working with him during 2001.

New Board Members include:

Puanani Burgess - Consultant/Mediator, One Peace at a Time; Board President, Wai'anae Coast CMHC; Wai'anae Coast, Hawai'i, Pacific, and Asian cultural community activist and mental health advocate.

Susan Cooper - Managing attorney, Maximum Legal Corp.; plaintiff attorney for Felix Consent Decree; Hawai'i Families As Allies Board member.

Kats Enoki - Retired pediatric nurse practitioner; MHA/Maui County volunteer interested in children's mental health issues in Maui County.

Wally Fukunaga - Pastor, Waiokeola Congregational Church; interested in promoting public education and public policy eduction about mental health issues in the religious community.

Bill Howes - Executive Director, The North Shore Country Market, Haleiwa; helps mental health consumers at the Haleiwa Club House grow gardens.

John Marsh - President TQP; management consultant with focus on outcomes and continual improvement; participated in mental health consumer-led planning for service system improvements in England (UK).

Cheryl Nakagawa - Long-time State employee, now with Child Support Enforcement Division, State Attorney General, Hilo; mental health public educator and consumer advocate for MHA/Hawai'i County.

Continuing Board Members include: Jean Adair-Leland, J. Kuhio Asam, Bud Bowles, Anni Campbell, Ben Carroll, Wally Inglis, Tasi Manicas, Greg Pai, Dennis Park, Anela Patterson, Mary Protheroe, Debbie Rivers, Suzanne Toguchi, and Sharon Yokote.

In addition to honoring new and returning Board Members, MHA/H awarded those who made a significant impact on mental health during the year 2000. Award recipients were Toni Tengan (Community Service), Federal Judge David Ezra (Social Justice), Senator Matt Matsunaga (Legislator-of-the-Year), and The Honolulu Weekly (Media).

Mahalo to Olivet Baptist Church for the use of their auditorium, Walter Miura of J.S.&B Catering for donating the delicious food, Members of Diamond Head Life Skills for coordinating the food and beverages, and everyone who attended for making it a great evening.