Saratoga News Hakone wins Packard grant, looks for executive director By Sarah Lombardo The search is on for an executive director for Hakone Gardens, thanks to a grant from the Packard Foundation. The $50,000 grant, renewable each year for five years, can only be used toward the salary of an executive director for the gardens, according to foundation president Daryl Becker. Donna Harris, who joined the foundation in June and is the chairwoman of the selection committee, said Hakone members already have worked out a job description for the new position and received a number of applications. "We want someone who can do development work, day-to-day management of the gardens, planning and management of the staff," Harris said. But, she added, the executive director also will have one very important role: "This person is being hired specifically to fundraise," she said. Finances have played an important role at the gardens since the Hakone Foundation took over management of the city park in June 1997. The foundation had always planned one day to manage the gardens independent of the city, and when the city faced severe budget cuts in 1997 after the loss of the utility-users tax, Hakone Foundation took over operations from the city. To keep the gardens in the black since going independent, the foundation has stepped up its rental program, hosting both business meetings and wedding ceremonies. First-year numbers, released to foundation board members in the spring, showed that revenues were on target with foundation goals. Hakone Foundation treasurer John Tauchi reported that the number of visitors to Hakone Gardens, located on Highway 9, was up 10 percent. Rentals, he said, were up 12 percent--just shy of budget projections, but still on target. The positive reports were a welcome sight to many members, especially after the Hakone Foundation's seemingly rocky start when it first took over the gardens. Calls for Becker's resignation, rumors of dissatisfaction with staffing changes and the resignation of longtime office manager Janet Kennedy marked the early days of the foundation's management. Members admit there are still bugs to be worked out, but according to Harris, help is on the way on that front as well in the form of the Management Center of San Francisco. The center has offered to perform a free evaluation of the Hakone Foundation. The assessment, which should be completed in about a month, will point out the strengths and weaknesses of the foundation and offer advice to make it stronger. "It will put in place everything about the organization," Harris said. The offer, he added, "dovetails beautifully into the hiring of an executive director." And it also provides plenty to be excited about. "I think we have a lot of good things happening," Harris said. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, November 4, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.