It’s a matter of
semanticsYESTERDAY was Secretaries Day, or if the Politically Correct Police have their way, soon to be International Association of Administrative Professionals Day. For 46 years, secretaries have offered little resistance to having lunch once a year with the person who signs their paychecks. Some probably even enjoyed it. But somewhere along the line, the PC Police have dictated "secretary" to be a word of denigration, despite the fact every employer I know says his office couldn't function without his. And even if the title were to be changed to "administrative assistant" or "executive assistant," what we're dealing with here is PC semantics...
THE American Marketing Association took Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO Paul Casey to lunch to honor him as "Marketer of the Year." The festivities began with an "airline safety video" which featured a bumbling Michael W. Perry as a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant and Larry Price as flight captain, which went over big. Hawaiian was recognized for marketing innovations such as the introduction of ticket coupons via Bankoh ATMs. When asked how they produced the TV spot showing a Boeing 727 on a downtown street, Casey quipped that it was filmed on a Sunday. Joining some 700 attendees at the luncheon were Gov. and Mrs. Ben Cayetano, House Speaker Joe Souki, and U.S. Reps. Patsy Mink and Neil Abercrombie ...
Office shenanigans
IT was his 43rd birthday, but Outrigger Hotels CEO David Carey showed up for work as usual, hoping to get through the day without anyone taking notice. Fat chance! He knew he was in for something when he couldn't open the door to his office -- it had been jammed floor-to-ceiling with balloons, courtesy of Tom Kiely of Team Unlimited. Carey slowly popped his way to his desk, thinking he might be settled in for a day's work. Not so! His staff whisked him off to a surprise lunch at A Pacific Cafe, which was capped by Marilyn Monroe look-alike Kelly Kaye of Legends in Concert. She gave him a presidential salute complete with a breathy rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." Carey was red-faced for a couple of reasons, not the least being the lipstick kisses planted by "Marilyn." Now then, back to work! ...YOUNG Patrick Hickey, a lad from Ireland who's now working at Murphy's Bar & Grill, told the boss the other day, "I think I (goofed) up." How so, asked owner Don Murphy? "I took a reservation for a table for 10 from the Cancer Society," he explained. "Did you write it down?" asked Murphy. "Yes," said Patrick, "but I asked, 'Smoking or nonsmoking.'" Murphy collapsed in laughter. (They went for "nonsmoking.") ...
Bard of Paradise
SPEAKING of birthdays, the 434th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, the "Bard of Avon," will once again be celebrated in Hawaii. And again, UH Department of Theatre director Terence Knapp will produce "Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare." The celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Kennedy Theatre. Knapp wasn't able to celebrate the Bard's first 406 birthdays here, but he's making up for it. This will be the 28th straight year he's demonstrated his love for Shakespeare by marking his birth. Call it both a classic case of dedication and a dedication to the classics ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.