LIHU’E — Mayor Maryanne Kusaka named Betty Moore and Robert Rask as the 2000 Outstanding Older American Award recipients for Kaua’i. The announcement was made at the 34th Annual Older American Award Recognition Ceremony held recently at the County Mo’ikeha
LIHU’E — Mayor Maryanne Kusaka named Betty Moore and Robert Rask as the 2000
Outstanding Older American Award recipients for Kaua’i.
The announcement
was made at the 34th Annual Older American Award Recognition Ceremony held
recently at the County Mo’ikeha Building in celebration of May’s Older
Americans Month.
Moore and Rask were among eight seniors nominated for the
award and were selected by a judging committee for their outstanding volunteer
service to the community and personal accomplishments and leadership.
Moore was nominated by Adelino Valentin of the Sun Village Homeowner’s
Association for her involvement with a variety of community organizations
including the Kaua’i Hospice Beeper Team, YWCA Board, and the Agency on Elderly
Affairs Policy Council.
As the president of the Sun Village Homeowner’s
Association, Moore has organized many special events for the residents,
including an on-going program of providing meals from Wilcox Hospital which are
delivered to the homebound residents of Sun Village who request this
service.
Through Wilcox Hospital, Moore has contributed her time on the
Board of Directors, Wilcox Health Foundation, and the Wilcox Hospital
Auxiliary.
As auxiliary president, she coordinates the activities for over
a hundred hospital volunteers and supervises the operations of the gift and
thrift shops.
Moore also is instrumental is providing assistance to
visitors who are hospitalized and offers support to their families.
Rask,
nominated by Mary Lou Barela of Hale ‘Opio Kaua’i, Inc. and H.L. Martin of the
Contractors Association of Kaua’i, was recognized for his service to the
community through numerous organizations.
They include membership and
leadership roles with the Lihu’e United Church, Salvation Army – Lihu’e, Kaua’i
Business Council, and the Hawaii State Contractors Council.
He has served
as director and treasurer with Hale ‘Opio Kaua’i, Inc., an organization which
provides community services for children and youth.
Barela accepted the
award on behalf of Rask, . who was in Montana visiting family at the
time.
As a member of the Kaua’i Humane Society and his love for animals,
Rask and his wife were among the first Kaua’i residents to take dogs to Denver
last year as part of a program to find adoptive homes for the animals.
Rask
has provided numerous volunteer hours through the Contractors Association of
Kaua’i, serving as a member on a team of volunteers who assist the County by
reviewing construction plans for errors and cost-savings before the bid
process.
He also volunteered his time, expertise, and resources as project
manager for a home built in cooperation with the Department of Hawaiian Home
Lands, enabling a family to own an affordable home in Anahola.
Both
awardees will represent Kauai on June 9 at a statewide reception on O’ahu with
Governor Ben Cayetano.
