1994-1995 – University of Hawai'i Retirees Ohana

This is based on a history by Agnes Niyekawa written probably in 1995 or 1996, supplemented with documents from the following years. Corrections and additions are most welcome.

Following up on a suggestion made by Chancellor Dick Kosaki at a reception for retirees in the Spring of 1985, one Wytze Gorter sent out 341 questionnaires to retired faculty on September 16th to gauge their interest in establishing a retiree’s association. All but five of the 201 who responded supported the idea. All but one of them were willing to pay “as much as $5” dues, and 75 volunteered to help organize and/or operate the association.

The first meeting was held 22 January 1986, a party in the Campus Center Ballroom, with Gorter the first president. By that time, the FRA had changed its name to FRAUHM, but it was noted that the “Faculty” at the beginning of the name and the “Manoa” at the end were not meant to exclude retirees from other campuses, or retired staff.

Quick links to academic years:

Officers and Board members, 1994-1995

Elected Officers

President:

Jim Koshi

1st Vice President:

Don Char

2nd Vice President:

Agnes Niyekawa

Secretary:

Joyce Wright

Treasurer:

James Burgoyne

Board Members

(to 1995)

Mary Ellen DesJarlais

Paul Durham

Sueko Kimura

Norman Mellor

Toshio Yatsushiro

(to 1996)

Donald Corbin

Roy McArdle

Anastasia Palafox

Minoru Shinoda

Rohma Bowers

Consultants (Past Presidents)

Wytze Gorter

Sidney Townsley

Wally Mitchell

Ed Chui

Activities

09/15 Dr. Dan Boylan: “Election Eve Rumbling”
10/20 Dr. Patricia Blanchette, Prof. of Medicine, on “Medicare”
11/17 Dr. Anthony Lenzer, Retired Professor of Gerontology, on “Third Phase of Life”
12/12 Holiday Lunch Social at Treetops Restaurant (Members $10, Guests $12)
01/19 Mona Chock, Alumni Association Administrator, on the advantages of FRAUHM’s association with UHAA
02/16 “Death as a final healing phase” by Dr. Mitsuo Aoki
03/16 Planned but cancelled? Evangeline Dunbar on helping Alzheimer patients care-givers
04/20 James Pietsch, J.D.: “Legal Issues in Advance Care Directives”
05/18 Annual Meeting, at Waioli Tea Room

Important Board Decisions and Discussions

11/17 Approved subsidy of the Christmas party by $500. A. Niyekawa reported
the results of a survey. Of 240 questionnaires attached to the September
Newsletter, 41 (17%) had been returned. Many of them favored more socializing
and opportunities to keep in touch with former colleagues.
Mona Chock, UH Alumni Affairs Administrator, spoke to the board about tangible benefits
derived by members by FRAUHM’s affiliation with UHAA.

The March-May Newsletter included a one-page note on the advantages that could be
derived from FRAUHM’s affiliation with UHAA and a “Prefernce Response” form.
There were 24 responses. Six were already UHAA members, three were life members,
and 15 expressed interest in dual membership in FRAUHM and UHAA.