LIHU‘E — The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i poked its head through the mire of COVID-19 conditions and still had time to take care of its paperwork, taking time for a brief, pau-hana get-together to catch their breath and assess future projects.
“Since we were in COVID-19, we couldn’t do anything,” said Zonta Club of Kaua‘i member Cyndy Ayonon, who was bestowed the club’s Spirit Award.
“As soon as we could wear masks and gloves and help, I felt that I could contribute by engaging members in community service,” she said.
”We partnered with the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank in participating in four — the latest being Duke’s employee food distribution Wednesday — food distributions at local hotels and resorts for their employees on furlough.”
Ayonon recently handed off the Spirit Award to Laycie Love, elected secretary for the 2020 to 2022 term for the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i.
Love has been present at all three of the club’s participations in food distributions, including those at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort, Kaua‘i Beach Resort and Kaua‘i Marriott Resort &Beach Club, where media and Facebook exposure demonstrated the Zonta Club’s role as being good leaders in the community and serving the unemployed with their food insecurities.
“My intention is to serve the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i by honoring and expanding our goals of advocacy and serving the community into a broader audience through online media,” Love said.
Edie Ignacio Neumiller, only recently being appointed by Gov. David Ige and confirmed as the Zonta Area 1 Director, Hawai‘i, said the club has been engaged in Zoom meetings for its business that traditionally was held at the Ho‘ike Community Television offices in Lihu‘e.
Those distance meetings resulted in the election of officers, installation of new members — Shyla Ayau and Teresa Williams, and the appointment of the club’s foundation officers, while taking time to acknowledge the wisdom and contribution of its longtime members, Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano celebrating more than 90 years of life at the get-together.
“These community-service activities were an opportunity for our members to socialize with masks and social distancing,” Ayonon said. “We even recruited friends of Zonta members to help, and worked alongside the Kaua‘i Lions Clubs and became volunteer partners.”
Lori Benkert was elected president to lead the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i for the 2020 to 2022 term during those Zoom meetings. Regina Carvalho fills the vice president and membership slot, and Layne Beck Torgerson fills the president-elect spot.
Love is the club’s secretary, with Katherine Todd getting help from Marge Akana as the group’s treasurer and assistant treasurer, respectively. Directors include Wynde Thomas, Sue Kanoho and MaBel Fujiuchi.
Darrellyn Lemke is the chair for the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation, with Patsy Rapozo being the secretary. Ayonon is the foundation’s treasurer, with Neumiller and Jeanette Bonilla serving as foundation directors.
“I can’t wait to see what our future has in store for us,” Ayonon said.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
