October 2022 Gleanings
Note from the Editor...
It’s time to sign up for our annual holiday luncheon and presentation of the Torch of Light to this year’s winner, Sen. Dru Kanuha. We’re also preparing to vote on a slate of officers for 2023, and we need to fill our committees. Every BIPC member can be involved! Have something for Gleanings? Email me: nclauer@gmail.com.
Sign up now for our holiday luncheon, Torch of Light celebration and annual BIPC members meeting
The Big Island Press Club earlier this year awarded its annual meritorious Torch of Light Award to State Sen. Dru Mamo Kanuha, a Democrat representing Kona and Ka‘u -- and we'd like you to join us for the award presentation and holiday luncheon!
BIPC selected Kanuha as its Torch of Light awardee this year for being the main introducer of Senate Bill 134 in the 2021 Legislature, which, if passed into law, would have prohibited the governor or county mayors from suspending requests for public records or vital statistics during a declared state of emergency.
Kanuha’s introduction of the bill, with Sens. Gilbert Keith-Agaran of Maui and Donna Mercado Kim of Oahu, came almost a year after Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation during the novel coronavirus pandemic that suspended the state’s Uniform Information Practices Act, a law that specifies government records are open to public inspection with limited privacy exceptions. Even though Ige, a Democrat, rolled back the blanket suspension of the UIPA in May 2020, he removed the deadline of 10 working days state agencies have to respond to records requests.
The bill died in a Senate-House conference committee, and Ige received the BIPC’s Lava Tube dishonor for his actions in 2021.
We are celebrating Sen. Kanuha and electing our 2023 slate of officers at this annual holiday luncheon on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona right on the ocean at Kai Eats + Drinks at their North Lanai. The lunch is Saturday, Dec.10, and runs from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Tickets for this event include a lunch entree you'll select upon arrival. It’s $30 for BIPC members and $40 for nonmembers. Please pay up your dues if you haven’t done that. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are included, as are gratuity and taxes. Adult beverages are available for purchase from the restaurant.
Make a difference! Join a committee or run for election to the board
BIPC has a number of committees, all charged with enhancing the voice of media in various areas. You don’t have to be on the board to make your voice heard and ensure good representation of the public and the press in so many important areas. Please consider your time commitments and ask to become involved in these committees: Outreach, PR/Marketing, Events, Social, Newsmaker events, Education and Governance. Just reach out to one of the BIPC board members listed below for more information.
If you have the time and commitment to attend a monthly board meeting and participate in projects and lead committees in between, please contact a board member for consideration.
Time to sign up for Springly
Your Treasurer, Michael Phillips, has been busy migrating our club roster, website, communications, and accounting onto a new platform from Springly.
IMPORTANT: Create your online & membership account on our new website at www.bigislandpressclub.org !
1) Click on the “JOIN US / MEMBERSHIP” links on the website.
2) On the page that describes the different membership types (Professional / Associate / General / Senior / Student), click on the yellow “APPLY” button. Even if you’ve been a member forever, you still need to “apply” to be one on Springly.
3) Complete a new membership by typing in your first name, last name, and type of membership you have/want for 2022. Press the yellow “CONTINUE” button to continue your application ‐or‐ click the red “Add a Membership” button if you wish to add additional memberships beyond your own, such as for a spouse, co‐worker, or business partner.
4) Create a password for your email address and click “Save”. The password must consist of at least one number, one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, one special character among: * ! ? # ; % $ ^ : / $ @ and must be at least 8 characters long. Click on the yellow “SAVE” button to save your password and continue.
5) Now it’s time to provide some required and optional information as part of the membership process. You have the option of uploading an optional profile picture that will be used on the website once you register. Then provide your landline or cell phone, birthday, and mailing address. Please also complete the Additional Information fields; describe your position and employer or school, or note retired, briefly describe your job responsibilities or journalism interest, list any social media profiles the Club should follow of yours, and then type out your full name to confirm you’ve selected the proper membership category type. Last, it’s time to pay dues:
PAYING DUES FOR 2022:
‐If you have already paid your dues for 2022, select “OTHER” and our treasurer will confirm the files and process your membership. You will get a follow‐up email from Springly, our new website platform, that you’re good to go. When it is time to renew dues, the website will alert you and you can process your payment online.
‐If you haven’t yet paid, select “CREDIT CARD” or “CHECK.” When the treasurer confirms your membership, you will receive an email with a link to pay online or instructions on how to mail us a check if you prefer that method. Once your payment is processed, you will get another confirmation email and you’ll be good to go.
‐If there is a new member in the mix (i.e.: you added an additional new member when you registered at the site), that application will be reviewed by the Board for approval. Once the Board approves the new membership, that person will get an email asking for dues payment.
6) Once your registration is processed and verified, you’ll have access to the new & improved club website which includes members‐only content such as photographs of our events, an archive of recent Gleanings, and more!
PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS? Contact BIPC Treasurer Michael Phillips for assistance: mphillips@weatherboy.com.
DUES are (past)DUE!
Want to pay your 2022 dues, but not quite connected to Springly yet? Don’t delay – the new platform will be a huge step forward for members. In the meantime, you may pay your dues via PayPal to payments@bigislandpressclub.org , or via paper check to Big Island Press Club, P.O. Box 1920, Hilo, HI 96721. Mahalo for your support!
