(BIVN) – The Waimea Community Association is spreading the word about its next meeting, set for November 7. The WCA says:

North Hawai’i’s brave, dedicated first responders who put themselves in harms way every day toprotect our community will be in the spotlight at the Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 Waimea Community Association (WCA) Town Meeting – 5:15 to 7 p.m. in Waimea School Cafeteria.

“We all owe a great deal – sometimes including our lives and those of loved ones – to first responders who put themselves at risk daily to save and protect others,” said Patti Cook, WCA President.

“This will be our fifth annual mahalo potluck. It’s a small way to acknowledge the dedication of our first responders – police, fire and EMTs and others including lifeguards, sheriffs, Civil Defense personnel, Coast Guard, State DLNR DOCARE and DOFAW officers, Pohakuloa Training Area police and fire rescue crews, and even the life-flight crews that air lift individuals to Maui or Honolulu for emergency care.

“While many of these individuals humbly insist they are just doing the job they get paid for, these men and women deserve recognition,” said Lewis Dubois, WCA Director who is helping coordinate the gathering.

Many County, State and Federal first responders are quick to point to the more than 300 community volunteers who step forward island wide to help in emergencies. They say it’s these volunteers who really deserve recognition. Therefore, included in the honorees will be the community’s volunteer fire responders and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers.

All North Hawai’i first responders – including volunteers and spouses – have been invited.

Community members coming to thank these public servants can bring a potluck dish to share. They also are urged to bring their own re-usable plates, cups and utensils to minimize trash, butthe association will provide these items for first responders and others, and will also provide steamed rice and iced water and Starbucks will provide hot coffee. Tropical Dreams is contributing their delicious Waimea-made ice cream, so there is no need for deserts.

While most of the gathering will focus on first responders, the meeting will include a brief presentation by Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), a community education outreach non-profit dedicated to minimizing wildfires. Waimea-based, HWMO now works statewide in educating communities on how to reduce wildfire risks. As the month’s spotlighted not-for-profit, the association will pass the hat to encourage those attending to contributing to HWMO’s effective community education.

As always, there will be a brief public safety update by Community Policing Officer May Lee.

The entire community is welcome to all WCA Town Meetings. There is no charge but membership is encouraged and is $15/person; $25/family/business per year. Memberships paid for at this time of year will cover 2020.

There will be no WCA Town Meeting in December. Instead, WCA will help stage the 59th Annual Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 7, 2019. This year’s parade theme is: “Our Community…Our Kuleana At Christmas And Always.” For parade information, rules and applications, go to WaimeaTown.org.