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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.059 2012-2014 Page 1 of I PI CK.Nat. COUNTY CLERK 6PETTL ?4TC;Murashige, Laura Col« - Alt ,Cr, OP 7-3 From: J Marques [knccai @yahoo.com] rC. LnL:.47 Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 10:27 AM �I �AY 2 10' 3. To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Kau Rural Health Community Association, Inc. testimony Attachments: knccaiCouncilTestimonyMay30 2013.docx Attached is Ka ' u Rural Health Community Association ' s written testimony for Hawaii County Council Budget meeting on May 30, 2013 . This is to confirm that Jessanie Marques, Executive Director will be providing testimony in person . Mahalo, Jessanie Marques, KRHCAI Executive Director "Nothing will work unless you do", - Maya Angelou Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including an attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient (s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Comm. No _ :‘,51(1 Ref. To:Ref. Date NAY a 0 5/29/2013 Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. Mission: "Do Whatever It Take To Keep Ka'u Healthy" P.O. Box 878 Pahala, Hi 96777 Website: krhcai.com Email: krhcai@yahoo.com May 29, 2013 To: Hawaii County Council From: Jessanie Marques, Executive Director Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. Re: Request to Reallocate Ka'u Video Conference Budget funds & establish an alternate Ka'u Video Conference Site at the Ka'u Resource & Distance Learning Center in Pahala. Aloha, Council Chair and Council Members, My name is Jessanie Marques, Executive Director of Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. (KRHCAI). I am providing testimony on behalf of KRHCAI board Of directors to request "reallocation of Ka'u Video Conference Budget funds and Establish an alternate Ka'u videoconference site at the Ka'u Resource & Distance Learning Center in Pahala. KRHCAI board of directors recognize that although it would be ideal to have Video conference sites located in all three (3) communities, (Oceanview, Naalehu And Pahala), we understand that in this economic climate, it is not feasible at this Time and therefore request reallocation of funding instead of eliminating funds for The Ka'u video conference site. KRHCAI is a 501 c (3) Non Profit community based organization and has served the District of Ka'u for the past 16 years. KRHCAI is located at the Resource & Distance Learning Center in Pahala, next to Ka'u High School, library, near the shopping Center, post office, Senior Citizens housing/ Nutrition Center, Ka'u Hospital & Rural Clinic, CVS Pharmacy, Hawaii County Fire station, local agriculture / farming industry And financial institutions. Our facility is ADA accessible, with fiber optic cables, Internet, Wi-Fi connectivity, Mac and PC computer lab, conference / meeting rooms, business machines (fax, Copier, telephone), restrooms and a kitchen. KRHCAI is known for its ability to organize, mobilize, facilitate, and establish Collaborative partnerships with public/private sectors, local, state and national Government, and establish resource networks. These efforts have benefitted not only People of Ka'u but, generated revenues for the County and State of Hawaii. Ka'u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. Mission: "Do Whatever It Take To Keep Ka'u Healthy" P.O. Box 878 Pahala, Hi 96777 Website: krhcai.com Email: krhcai@yahoo.com Reallocation of budget funding to utilize Ka'u Resource and Distance Learning Center facility as the alternate video conference site would provide this densely populated "post plantation and economically distressed community" the opportunity to participate in Council meetings, and potentially enhance establishing A permanent infrastructure for the residents. With the help of our late Senator Daniel K. Inouye and in partnership with the University of Hawaii / Hawaii Community College, KRHCAI was a recipient of a rural Technologies grant that provided installation of fiber optic cables and access to free Internet connectivity for use in our community. Presently, KRHCAI is in the midst of a capital campaign to purchase our property, and believe our 16 years of achievements, serving our community and providing access to health, education, research opportunities and economic sustainability, justifies this request for consideration to be the next Ka'u video conference site. Mahalo, for providing KRHCAI the opportunity to share our mana'o, and strongly urge your support to 1) reallocate Ka'u video conference budget funds and not eliminate funding; and 2) establish the Ka'u Resource and Distance Learning Center In Pahala as an alternate site.