Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,
 
For the past four years, I have had the honor of serving in my role as Executive Director, privileged to work with amazing people dedicated to The Outdoor Circle’s continuing legacy—to keep Hawaii clean, green, beautiful, livable and sustainable. It has been a pleasure to serve under our dedicated Board of Directors and the leaders and volunteers from our statewide branches who give so much of their time and energy to projects and initiatives in their communities. As a supporter of The Outdoor Circle, you play the most fundamental role of all, and we sincerely thank you for that continuing commitment. 
 
The challenges we face in our state are increasing, but we are more than up to the task to face them. Our reputation is part of our legacy and our resolve is to uphold and advance what we value. We accomplish this through the community projects of our many branches, The Outdoor Circle’s positions of advocacy, and the private sector and governmental agencies which consistently seek our input and advice on matters of concern to us. 
 
At our Full Circle Meeting earlier this year, a meeting between the Board of Directors, TOC staff, and representatives from the branches, we reaffirmed our Policy Positions for the organization, and heard from our branches on their initiatives and their wonderful accomplishments across the state. It is up to all of us, collectively and individually, to carry on the promise and vision of TOC’s early founders. 
 
The Outdoor Circle is blessed to have Jackie Wah, our Operations Director, and Myles Ritchie, our Programs Director, as part-time staff to support all the good work that The Outdoor Circle and its branches do. Those of you who know Jackie and Myles understand the professional devotion to the organization and excellence that they exemplify. They each share their intelligence, intuition, charm, and wit freely, and I have been grateful to be able to work alongside both of them. 
 
While we have a small staff, The Outdoor Circle’s strength comes from its volunteers, through the branch-based organization of our members. That said, we do rely on your generous gifts to keep the doors open and our organization thriving. Along with your annual gifts to TOC, please join many other thoughtful members by placing us in your planned giving arrangements. This allows for part of your legacy to be a gift of beauty and will enable TOC’s legacy to continue. Please see the “Give Beyond Your Years” page in this newsletter for more information. 
 
To help further our mission, we also ask that you give generously to our year-end appeal. You may make your donation now or any time by clicking on this link: www.outdoorcircle.org. To give a gift in someone’s honor or memory, please indicate this so that we may acknowledge your contribution.
 
Please enjoy this edition of the Greenleaf, and be sure to "like us" on Facebook and share with a friend.  For much more information, please visit our website at www.outdoorcircle.org where you will also find links to visit our branches around Hawaii.

​We wish you a happy holiday season and a 2020 filled with good cheer.

Warm aloha and mahalo,
 
Winston Welch, Executive Director