Aloha Valley Isle Aquatics Ohana,

We have some very exciting news to share with you.  After two years of wavering about becoming a non-profit organization, and spending the last six months preparing, we have finally been granted our State of Hawaii Non-Profit status.  We are hopeful that we will attain our federal status by 2012. 

Entering into the Non-Profit arena is the beginning of a new adventure for us, which is thrilling, but also brings with it a greater responsibility, along with change. Change inevitably brings challenges, which we will meet with gusto.  We are ecstatic to be embarking upon a new chapter and look forward to all it has to offer.

While this is wonderful news for Valley Isle Aquatics, it also brings a sense of sadness and disappointment that Stacy Dugan-Wood has chosen not to take this ride with us and will be “going in a different direction.”  We wish her well and hope she finds success in whatever she decides to do in the future.  We will miss her, as will the children, however we support her decision to move on and find her own adventure.

The first step in this adventure is to select a Board of Directors President/Chair, which is Joseph A. Duran.  Our next step is announcing that Kelly E. Duell will be at the helm as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Ariel M. Duell has been offered the position of Instructor and Individual Lessons Coordinator beginning in May.  We have other instructors we are considering to join our team, however will hold off making those announcements until the contracts are negotiated.

Valley Isle Aquatics will be joining Maui’s non-profit alliance, the State’s non-profit alliance, and will be making its national debut in March at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention.  It is with great honor that Ms. Duell has accepted the invitation to be a presenter/speaker, join the Strategies Journal Editorial Staff, and sit on the committee to choose the national teacher of the year.

Through this transitional time, rest assured you will continue receiving excellent service and superb lessons.  We are hopeful that this will be a smooth transition with little noticeable effects for you.  We are recruiting folks for the ad-hoc committee, the board of directors, and various employment positions, so if you are interested in any of these, or would like to recommend someone, please do get in touch with us. 

Any questions or concerns should be directed to me.  Let me be the first to welcome you to our new non-profit organization!

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Duran

Board of Directors President and Chair