At Work For You!

Here in Hawai`i, at YOUR office, we're busy working for you every day. As we approach the end of our 1997-'98 Membership Year, it's time for an update.

It's Dues Time
Your 1998-'99 Membership Renewal Is Due By July 1. For new members, our Membership Year runs from July 1 through June 30, each year. Dues are $26. If you want First Class in the US (instead of slower Bulk Mail) add $2 to cover postage; if you want Airmail (Europe and Pacific Rim) add $6 to cover postage. Otherwise, it's a 4-6 week wait to receive your Quarterlies by sea. PLEASE by prompt this year, because...

Hawai'i Office Will Be Closed In July
We're taking a much-needed vacation break this year -- first time since HSGA's office moved to Honolulu in 1993. What does this mean? NO phone message line; NO faxes, NO e-mail; NO postal responses from approximately July 5 through August 5.

In other words, your HSGA office will be totally out of communication for one month. We will provide a "dire emergency" phone reference on our phone message line while we're "gone fishing". Your letters will be answered, but not until August.

Will You Be HSGA'S "Member Of The Year"?
YES, if you're the member who refers the most NEW members who join HSGA on or before July 1. What's in it for you? A GREAT HSGA T-Shirt, with "Member of the Year/1997-98" printed right on the sleeve. We have Duke Ching to thank for creating and masterminding production of the shirts. (He also had some special ones made for HSGA Directors-- you'll see them worn at Joliet convention.)

Colors? Hawai`i's Royal Colors -- golden yellow shirt with dark red printing. AND a permanent plaque with your name on it, AND special acknowledgment of your rarefied status at the Joliet convention in October. (You DO plan to be there, don't you?) The winning member will receive two identical shirts -- one for your proud spouse, or a "change" for yourself.

HURRY! We already have several serious contenders. Just invite folks to hear you play, or to go listen with you, at local Hawaiian/steel performances ... send friends in other parts of the world an application blank, and your opinion of your HSGA membership ... or write to us, and we'll do it for you (we've enrolled many new members this way).

Joliet '98 - Election Time
It will be time to elect your Board of Directors during the General Membership Meeting at Joliet '98 convention. A mail-in Ballot will be printed in the Summer '98 Quarterly, with space to write-in a nominee's name, if it's other than the slate proposed by the Nominating Committee.

HSGA Convention Photos - For "Sale"
The HSGA office is in "overkill" on convention snapshots -- from 1993 (and before) to date. As many of you know, when Clay Savage was alive, he did an impressive job of taking still shots of everyone; we've used many of the prints in the Quarterlies over the years, but many will never be used. Same with the dedicated photo shoots Paul Weaver does for you, now.

YOU folks should have these pictures of yourselves. So, HSGA's Directors unanimously approved, at the Winter Board meeting, to offer the extra snapshots for sale, for five cents each, at the Joliet '98 convention. First come, first served, of course. Donations for the photos will be set aside to seed HSGA's Educational Events & Programs fund.

HSGA Bumper Stickers!
For all of you who've asked over the years: YES! An HSGA bumper sticker (for your car, RV, motor home, truck - whatevah) will be available at Joliet convention. Your esteemed President designed it, and Mary Faith Rhodes at Breezy Ridge has offered to have it produced. Nice, yes?

Educational Programs
Our "outreach" programs are growing. (Read about "HSGA's May Day on Moloka`i" in the Summer Quarterly). Members who will be here for May Festival week will fly to Moloka`i on April 30, to present the Seniors group with a steel guitar, made by John Tipka, and entertain, as well as provide steel information to both Seniors and teenagers wanting to learn steel guitar.

"And that's just the beginning," says Alan. "HOT LIX Hawaiian Style", HSGA's annual steel guitar Ho`olaule`a, which is May 3 at Kapi`olani Park Bandstand, will include at least one new "Superteen" steel player. "I'm awed by the natural talent and commitment to learning among these young people in my Kamehameha music classes." Alan says. "And they're doing it on their own, listening to CDs -- no lessons yet." (Does Hawaiian steel guitar have a "future" or what!)

HSGA * HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION
KAMAKA TOM, President
45-600 KAMEHAMEHA HWY * KANEOHE, HI * 96744
PHONE/FAX (808) 235-4742
EMAIL: hsga@lava.net

Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net)
Last updated: 07/23/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu)