Oahu Wedding Association's saywhat: News, Information, & Gossip About Hawaii Wedding Professionals

FAQ: Oahu Wedding Association membership levels & rates

Nicole Escobido, a future Oahu Wedding Association member and Catering/Events Manager for Island Style Catering/Cheeseburger Restaurants, writes in with a fabulous question:

"What are your membership rates?"

Great question, Nicole!

REGULAR MEMBERSHIP is the level that most people sign up for. This gives you the best value for membership, which includes:

• Membership into a group of caring wedding professionals who share many of the same ideals, standards, and practices as you do;
• The opportunity to use the OWA brand in your marketing, which will help to make you stand out among others in your field;
• Participation in current and future advertising produced by OWA, including listings in our ads in Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine, Pacific Edge Magazine, and on the Internet, which helps to promote Oahu as a premier destination for weddings;
• The opportunity to network and meet other wedding professionals, who ultimately can help you expand your value to your clients;
• Frequent updates on what's going on in the industry, including what's happening with the DLNR wedding permit controversy;
• And much much more.

Membership is for the calendar year, from January to December. Regularly at $250, this is a fabulous bargain. If you are a business owner or sales executive who wish to be a part of our association, this is the level for you.

Please keep in mind that your dues help to support the advertising, educational, and support goals that your Board of Directors sets on behalf of you for your benefit! This is a completely volunteer organization; none of the directors receive any financial compensation for their time on the board.

Also remember that, while we pride ourselves in being a serious organization dedicated to helping our members grow their businesses and to promoting Oahu as a premiere wedding destination, we also like to have fun! Many have said that the Oahu Wedding Association throws the best monthly parties in the wedding/special events industry!

FAQ: How to Become A Member of the Oahu Wedding Association

One frequent remark the Oahu Wedding Association Board of Directors often gets is

"I really like this organization. How do I become a member?"

The first step is to attend a monthly party that we throw, so you can get a feel of what this association stands for and to see if it fits into your own values and business plan. At the very least, you get to network with an outstanding group of wedding professionals. Click here for the list of upcoming meeting dates and locations.

If you liked the party, and if the association fits your values and ideals, the next step is to find two Oahu Wedding Association members to be your sponsors. These members must be in good standing with the association and either have been a member of the association for one year or have a very solid reputation among their peers. The person who invited you to your first party is often a good sponsor. And if you've been a wedding professional in Hawaii for a while, you probably know many others who are current members in the association and would be willing to include you in the association. Simply ask! Our members are friendly and helpful.

FYI: Don't know who's in the association? You'll find a list of members to your RIGHT.

The next step is to download the Bi-Laws, read through them, and make sure you understand them. If you have questions, feel free to email your questions to the OWA Board, who will be happy to help you.

Next, download the membership application, fill it in, and mail it in either electronically or by postal mail.

The last step is the membership dues: you can either mail your check in with your membership application, or handle it by credit card via PayPal.

Once your application & dues are in, they are reviewed by the board for accuracy and merit. Your sponsors are contacted to verify your professionalism. If everything checks out, congratulations! Welcome aboard. You will receive the official welcome email from OWA President Karine France Matsumoto, get your membership packet a few days later, and you'll officially be a member of Oahu's premiere group of wedding professionals!

See how simple it is?

FAQ: Your monthly meeting dues for Oahu Wedding Association parties

Please note: As of 2011, monthly meeting dues are now $15 for each employee of OWA member companies, and $20 for guests.

A common question the Oahu Wedding Association Board of Directors gets is

"Where does my $10 monthly meeting fee go towards?"

That's a great question, and the answer is really simple: the $10 monthly fees goes to whoever is catering our meeting.  As much as our catering partners would love to sponsor our meetings for free, the reality is that they still have expenses, food costs, and (in some cases) kitchen/banquet/service staff that must be covered.  And for only $10, our partners are being VERY generous.

Which is why it's a good courtesy, if you RSVP that you are attending a monthly party, that you do attend.  If you RSVP that you are coming but something comes up and you suddenly can't attend, send someone else in your place (like your sales manager, office staff, etc.).  In that way, our catering partners aren't out of the money and time they put in to create your meal, and your company still gets some value out of your monthly investment (the networking, educational value, etc.).

And if you can't find anyone to attend in your place, it's still a good courtesy to cover the cost of your meal anyway.  In the end, everyone in the association pays for your no-show because the association is still obligated to cover the cost of your meal.  And that's good money that could be better spent on advertising the association, ultimately driving business back to YOU.

So getting back to the answer to the main question: your monthly fees goes to the our catering partner for that particular party.  If something comes up and you suddenly can't make it to the meeting, have a staff member or colleague attend in your place.  And if you can't find anyone, offer to cover the cost of  the meal anyway.  It's good for our catering partners, it's good for the association, and it's good karma for YOU.

FAQ: OWA Committees: What Are They, and Why Should I Join?

Darcie Wharton, a new Oahu Wedding Association member and lead consultant for Royal Weddings by Lavender LLC (a coordination company), recently asked a wonderful question:

"Could you please explain what are the purpose and responsibilities of the committees within the OWA? I would like to understand them better before committing to a specific one."

Great question, Darcie!

We have committees to encourage members to PARTICIPATE in the association and to share their knowledge and talents. After all, if everyone participated, it would make the organization much stronger, more productive, and more beneficial for all, wouldn't it?

Each committee has a distinct purpose, but the overall goal is to encourage you to become involved in your association, as well as to contribute your own talents. When deciding on a committee to join, choose the committee that best suits your own values and unique strengths, something you see yourself enjoying rather than dreading.

As a member of the MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, you will help to make sure that members' experiences with the Oahu Wedding Association are worthwhile and meaningful. From the parties we throw to the followup afterward, you are there to answer questions and make people feel "at home." If you are outgoing, organized, love to meet new people, and like to make people feel good, this is the committee for you.

As a member of the COMMUNITY & SERVICE COMMITTEES, you will help to organize service projects that get OWA members out into the community to volunteer their time and talents for good causes. As corporate citizens, the association does its part to make an impact in this wonderful place we live in. If you like to help people, do good deeds, and make a difference, you belong in this committee.

As a member of the WEBSITE COMMITTEE, you help our webmaster/committee chair Eugene Kam and the Blogsquad keep our website, blogs, Facebook, and Twitter accounts up-to-date and relevant. If you like to write, enjoy learning and sharing news (and gossip LOL), and want to "be current," this is the committee for you. (Having technical experience in HTML helps a lot too, but isn't really required. To keep up with the Blogsquad, having a great sense of humor is absolutely mandatory!)

If marketing and event planning are your specialties, then the MARKETING/SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE has a place for you! As a member of this committee, you help to decide how we promote the "Oahu Wedding Association" brand. Print ads or web? Tradeshows? Special events produced by OWA? Focus on the destination market this year or the local market? As a committee, you and your associates help to decide the feasability and efficiency of your association's marketing plan.

Whatever committee you join, the point is...JOIN! Choose the committee that best suits your values and strengths. Your participation and involvement makes our association better for you and for all. So join in the fun!