Are Your Arms Hurting Also?

Aloha,

Judging from communications I have received from the Mayor's office regarding the planned waste facility, the name that comes up is that of Bob Martin.  This is the person the Mayor's office speaks to on this issue.  Hence, it is not a far stretch to imagine that he is indeed the prime mover (or perhaps the owner) of this project.  Moreover, this project fits right into the framework of a business consultant, that in fact he is (see Bob Martin's Bio below).  It appears, Bob Martin seems to have a great talent to identify individuals that become the front of projects, such as the Waste Facility.  I for one find it hard to digest that these nice folks, connected with this unwanted project, came up with the idea, that includes a horrible location of the proposed waste station, and gasification of trash.  Nor would they, I think, as good neighbors, on their own, piss-off an entire community, risking alienation by the entire community, they all love.  Especially, since it is said that they have nothing to gain,  and I like to believe that.

It is about time that we all know the man who professes to coordinate this planned waste facility, near Ainakea homes. Accordingly, I wish to share with you the bio, I found, published on the web.  (see Bio below)

Here are the words of Bob Martin, taken from http://www.northkohala.org/about.html
"What Projects Does NKCRC Support?
"Our whole concept is to do work that is guided, in fact, created by others with a focus on the community. We have never stimulated projects by finding someone interested in a certain area and twisting their arms until they agree to do a project. We don't set the agenda for public good in North Kohala. Our only agenda is that if a project appears to benefit the community we support it if it is presented to us."
- Founder, Bob Martin"

These are words 'Sigmund Freud' would have had a lot of fun with.  For example, if one is not a liar, there is no need to say so.  Another, if one does not twist the arms of others, there is no need to state it, etc.

A better and more believable mission statement would have been:
Which Projects Does NKCRC Support?
Our whole concept is to help others with projects, which focus on the benefit to the community.  If a project, presented to us, appears to benefit the community we support it. (proposed by FJM)

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I feel like somebody is twisting my arm to accept the idea that a waste facility very close to Ainakea homes is a benefit to our community.




Bio of Bob Martin, as seen on his web-site (http://www.northkohala.org/about_board.html)
Bob Martin (Treasurer)
Small Business Consultant, (also professed Coordinator for the Zero Waste Project) - underlined text added.

A retired executive from AT&T, Bob offers small business consulting in North Kohala, and is a partner in a local coffee shop. Bob’s community service includes six years on the Kohala High and Intermediate School's School-Community Based Management Council, President and Treasurer of the North Kohala Merchant's Association for three years each, Chair of the Kohala Country Fair for three years and member for six years, Advisory Council of the Kohala Intergenerational Center and Director of the West Hawaii Mediation Center. He writes grant proposals for nonprofits, has completed the Foundation Center’s Grant seeking on the Web and Proposal Writing courses in New York, and the one-week Grantsmanship Training Program with the Grantsmanship Center. Bob holds a Certificate of Professional Development in Nonprofit Management from Kapiolani Community College. Kohala Citizen of the Year, 2005. A twenty-one year resident of Kohala, he lives in Hawi with his wife Karen.

Bob Martin is very modest, apparently, because he did not include the fact that he is also the 'Business Manager' of our local newspaper, 'The Kohala Mountain News', as well as the Chair of the 'CDP Action Committee", which involves itself in land-use issues.  The Kohala Mountain News reported September 25, 2010, on page 12 that, "Chair Bob Martin reported on a meeting with Councilman Pete Hoffmann concerning potential capital improvement projects in North Kohala.  The Zero Waste Park, an equine facility, and Mahukona Park upgrades lead the list of possible projects to be included based on Environmental Assessments and other preliminary steps for each project."

Please share this blog with your neighbors, Bob Martin is a very prominent figure in our area, and he deserves to be known by us all.  He is involved with some good projects, I for one applaud him for that.  However, a man is not only judged by what he has done, but more importantly, by what he is about to do. (can't remember who said it first, maybe it was my wife).

Aloha, Frank