Lahaina Sunset Rotary Inducts Two New Members

Joanne and Larry Laird, newest members of the Lahaina Sunset Rotary Club. Courtesy photo.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset has welcomed Joanne and Larry Laird as its newest members.

The husband and wife team moved to Maui in 2003 and have been Rotary members since 2005, when they joined the now closed Rotary Club of Kīhei Sunrise. During their time with Rotary, both have served in various leadership positions.

Joanne was the Kīhei Sunrise club president in 2009-10 and served as assistant district governor from 2011 to 2014. In 2015, she took over as the Youth Service Chair for Rotary in Hawai‘i and oversees all of the high school and college Rotary clubs, as well as all youth exchange programs for every club in the district.

Along with Larry, she has directed Maui’s Camp RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) since 2007 and has conducted additional student leadership workshops on all of the islands for over 6,000 students since 2004.

“Joining the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset is like becoming a member of the family,”said Joanne. “I had the pleasure of being the district governor’s designee in the formation of this new club two years ago and now I get to come join my new family members!”

Larry was president of the Rotary Club of Kīhei Sunrise in 2007-08. He has also served as Club Service Chair and Foundation Chair. At the district level, Larry has served as RYLA Chair, ethics chair and is the current assistant district governor for the Maui Coast Clubs and Lāna‘i.

He was the first employee of Read Aloud America when it expanded to Maui in 2009. In his role as director of operations, he is responsible for all budgetary operations, human resources and grant writing as well managing all neighbor island programs.

“I look forward to focusing on making a better world as a member of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset,” he said.

Sandy Schneider served as Joanne and Larry’s membership sponsor.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset is a volunteer service organization of community leaders. The club meets on the first, third and fifth Tuesday of each month at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kā‘anapali. Guests are welcome.

For more information, contact President Schneider at 662-2611.