Annual Silent Auction in November
Show your support for our volunteer grassroots efforts to malama our island home.
Every year the Oahu Group holds its major fundraising event in the form of a silent auction. Our active outings program, membership programs, environmental litigation, and other sponsored activities would not be possible without the financial support of our members. Please join us in November, and also consider donating items for the silent auction or becoming involved in our planning committee: contact Naomi at 227-8694.

Donations are solicited from various sympathetic community businesses and friends, and there is always something for everyone, as items range from gift certificates to art, native plants, hiking and camping gear, and even personal guided hikes. The Silent Auction is a great place to do your early Christmas shopping!

Come and meet fellow members, enjoy savory pupus and spirits, socialize with your Sierra Club leaders, and party all at the same time! We will also be hosting talented musicians and a hula performance.

This year, the event will be held in November at the YWCA's Café Laniakea, 1040 Richard's St. downtown Honolulu. Tickets will be $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Look for your invitation in the mail and bring a friend! We look forward to seeing you!

New Member Reception and Home Composting Workshop: Wednesday Sept. 22
This class is especially dedicated to new and renewing members, and will include reception and refreshments. All other interested Sierra Club members are also invited to participate.
Don't waste your yard waste! Learn how to turn it into rich, useful soil, improving the health of your plants and saving natural resources. Betty Gearen will be teaching the first class of a new "sustainable living" series, oriented towards giving people hands-on advice for how to live more lightly on the earth. This workshop will cover: the biology and ecology of composting, what materials you can and can't compost, the types of bins to buy or build, and how to use finished compost. Meet and greet fellow like-minded conservationists! Sept. 22, 7 - 8:30 pm at the YWCA Richards St., downtown Honolulu. See lobby bulletin for room number.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Good News! Honolulu's BRT plan federal funding has been approved by the O`ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization policy committee! The funds amount to $20 million for the first leg of the BRT project. O`ahu Group testified at the committee meeting in support of federal funding approval, and was instrumental in advocating for the BRT project.

Eco Fair
This event is sponsored by Malama o Manoa and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. The emphasis is to provide the community with information and incentives to become better stewards of our watershed. We were invited to provide specifics on Bottle Bill implementation and our Chapter Blue Water Campaign. Come and participate or visit us at our booth Saturday, October 23, 9 am - 2 pm at the Manoa Valley District Park Gym.

Volunteers Needed!
The O`ahu Group is seeking a volunteer Web guru for monthly website updates and web design. Please contact group chair, Naomi Arcand at 227-8694 if you have the skills and would like to apply. Please also contact us if you are interested in planning and facilitating our new Sustainable Living Series, educational programs, and other environmental topics, as our volunteer Programs Coordinator.

Upcoming Executive Committee Elections [please box this paragraph]
The O`ahu Group Executive Committee will have 5 seats up for election this January. Anyone interested in serving in a leadership capacity on the O`ahu Group board is invited and encouraged to run. Terms are 2 years and involve meeting once monthly to discuss actions, determine policy, and uphold the environmental vision of the Sierra Club. For more information contact vice-chair Isaac Moriwake, or feel free to attend our monthly group meetings, the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Sierra Club office at YWCA on Richards St. Those interested in running, please submit a short (no longer than 5 sentences) paragraph on your background and interests to Isaac Moriwake at isaac.moriwake@hawaii.sierraclub.org.