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Aloha everyone!
I first washed up on these shores back in 2009 after the first Ohana. I didn't meet too many of you that first year, but that changed in 2010, 11 and 13. As well as making new friends, I was smitten with the FOM's zest for life and its commitment to fundraising and helping others. Yes, I flirted with the idea of declaring my intent to join on a number of occasions, but, well, I got busy. That little word, busy, is a nasty one, however, and I'll get back to it.
By way of backstory, my name is Dave LeBlanc, I'm from--and live in--Toronto, Canada, and I've been interested in All Things Tiki since the late-1990s when I helped organized The Montreal Tiki Appreciation Society with John Trivisonno.
So, as I was saying, things happened, I remained busy (!) and skipped Ohana for three years. In a way, I'm glad I did. Back when I was a young'un in 2009/10 (and in my early 40s), it's likely my thoughts didn't go much beyond having some sort of structured fun and that I'd look good in a fez. Youth is wasted on the young, and all that...
A funny thing happened on my journey to being almost-50, however. Not only did I attend Ohana again this year, I started to really, really think about how grateful I was for all of the advantages I've been given in life, but I struggled to come up with ways to give back. As an architecture journalist, I've often found time to lead tours and sit on juries and what-have-you, but, as much as I love kitties, I was never able to "find" the time to volunteer at my local shelter, for example.
And then I realized something. Everyone is freakin' busy. Everyone has complicated lives. But some of us, like those in the FOM, have structure that allows them to give selflessly on a regular basis. They have each other to push them when needed and lend a hand. The have collective strength in numbers. This is what I need.
I work in radio, print, and have dabbled in television (actually Princess Pupule was kind enough to help me with a project recently), so I have some skills that could come in handy. I have been a retro sorta fella since high school, and I'm active in that community here in Toronto. In speaking with Tarana-Pete and Freda (and my lovely wife Shauntelle), we think that, perhaps, eventually, if the Tiki Gods are with us, a Southern Ontario chapter of the FOM is possible. We'd really like it to happen. We can do good things. And we can have fun doing them.
So: I HEARBY DECLARE MY INTENT TO JOIN THE FOM.
I do not have a sponsor. If any of the lovely FOM members I've met over the years would like to help me, I'd be forever in your debt.
_________________
Sinatra on non-drinkers: "When they get up in the morning, that's as good as they're gonna feel for the rest of the day."
Last edited by Architiki on Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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