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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.
Last edited by Architiki on Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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