American Moms
convention here

Among 300 attending are
33 named tops by their
home states

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Feeling an irresistible urge to give Mama or Tutu a card, a gift or a hug for Mother's Day? Blame it on the potent cosmic, psychic force that hits the island this week.

American Mothers Inc., for 66 years the official sponsor of Mother's Day, opened its national convention today at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Among the 300 attending are 33 who were named their states' mother-of-the-year and Diane Matthews of Mesa, Ariz., who will relinquish her national Mother-of-the-Year title to one of them Saturday night.

Hawaii's 1999 titleholder is Cha Thompson, who with her husband, Jack, raised their four children and eight others "who came along and needed our help and our love." The Thompsons founded and operate Tihati Productions.

The convention also honors mothers of young children picked by each participating state and names a national winner in that category. Tammy Huber is the national titleholder. Lisa Wagner of Laie, wife of Brigham Young University Hawaii athletic director Ken Wagner and the mother of three adopted children, is among the contenders.

Nancy Hawk, national president of American Mothers Inc., said she sees modern society "turning more to the importance of parenting" as evidenced by businesses and employers support of child care. "Society is much more accepting . . . that dads need to have time at home, too."

Hawk, an attorney and mother of nine, said violence by children, such as the Colorado school massacre last week, dramatizes how important parenting must be. "There are several instances in the last 12 months where terrible things have been done by kids. Parents who are paying attention should have realized that something was going to happen," said Hawk.

"In the wake of these violent events, people question the influences on children's lives by schools, entertainment, their peers. Hawk said "You don't see them saying to the parents, where were you?"

Hawk said American Mothers has been a "low-key, almost invisible" organization, but they hope to change that with projects such as a mother mentoring program under way. The interfaith organization was formed before World War II and still requires mothers' community service to include participation in some faith organization.

Hawk was South Carolina mother of the year and held the national title in 1989.

The closest thing to public competition is when each woman presents a 3-minute speech about her life and parenting philosophy. But much of the judging has already been done based on comprehensive portfolios the women prepared, full of their own writing about their children and their own accomplishments.

"It is so far from a pageant," said Patricia Lei Anderson Murray, Hawaii's 1998 mother-of-the-year. "It's women sharing their stories."

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS The national convention of American Mothers Inc. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is open to the public at $15 per day. Tomorrow 1 p.m. -- Art exhibit by Hawaii mothers opens. 1:15 p.m. -- Workshop on "Mother Mentoring." 4:30 p.m. -- Delegates attend high tea at Washington Place. Thursday 8:15 a.m.- 11 a.m. -- Can-didates for 1999 American Mother title present speeches. Friday 8:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. -- Candidates for 1999 Mother of Young Children speak. 2:20 p.m. -- Workshops on "The Teen-age Years," "The Special Needs Child," and "Parenting, Grandparenting and the Extended Family." 7 p.m. -- National Mother of Young Children named at banquet. Saturday 7 p.m. -- National Mother of the Year named at banquet.