Hawaii Betsuin held its annual membership meeting and New Year’s party on the afternoon and evening of January 30, 2016. The event included the installation of the 2016-2017 board of directors, a membership meeting and award presentation, a silent auction, dinner, and bingo. Unlike in recent years, the event was held on a Saturday instead of after Sunday services to avoid overlapping with preparations for Scout Sunday.

Board members first met in the hondo (the main temple hall) to appoint a President for the new term, as well as two new board members. At the time of the November elections, there was no candidate for President. But Jerry Tamamoto, who served as president in the 2012-2013 term, later agreed to be a candidate for the new term. He succeeds Arthur Nakagawa, the president in the 2014-2015 term.

In addition to appointing Jerry, the board also appointed former Betsuin Executive Director Ron Suzuki to a regular board member position and Glenn Yokoyama, a retired construction appraiser/estimator, as a non-member director. (The bylaws authorize the board to appoint up to five board members who are not Betsuin members but who bring special skills and experience to the board.)

Rimban Toyakazu Hagio (our chief minister) then installed the new board for the 2016-2017 term. During the ceremony, each board member held a candle while pledging to follow the eightfold path in serving the temple and sangha.

The membership meeting followed in the social hall, with President Jerry Tamamoto as emcee. We welcomed our new minister, Rev. Joshin Kamuro with a presentation of lei, as well as his wife Minako and young son. Executive Director Stacy Bradshaw delivered brief remarks about Betsuin highlights in 2015, and Board Secretary David Atcheson summarized proposed changes to the Betsuin bylaws. The biggest change was going from a two-board system (executive board and full board) to a single board that meets monthly. The changes were approved by the membership in a voice vote with no objections.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Betsuin member and long-time, active volunteer and board member Carol Yamamoto was honored with an Asoka Award. This award pays “tribute to the recipient’s generosity, dedication and constancy to the temple… so that the the Jodo Shinshu teachings continue to be perpetuated through the temple services, programs, and activities.”

A buffet dinner and bingo game followed the meeting, with bidding on a tempting array of silent auction items continuing through the evening.

Mahalo to all the staff and volunteers who worked hard to organize and present this important evening of rededication, fellowship, and fun. May we continue to support each other as we take to heart the Hongwanji 5-year theme and 2016 slogan, “Embrace Change: New Vision.”