GREG Borja will assume the presidency of the Rotary Club of Saipan starting July 1, after he and the incoming leadership were sworn into office on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza.
This will be Borja’s second term as president of the Rotary Club. He succeeds outgoing president Joann Aquino.
Joining him are president-elect Brian Clayton, vice president Catherine Attao, secretary John Z. Arroyo, treasurer Glen Perez, sergeant-at-arms Curtis Dancoe, director of club service Das Krishnan, director of community service Enoch Lim, director of vocational service Joe Torres, director of international service Wendel Posadas, director of new generation Ivan Ilmov, and director of Rotary Foundation Irene Holl.
The incoming team was sworn in by Associate Justice Perry B. Inos, who is also a Rotarian.
Borja told Variety that his priorities for the coming Rotary year include aligning the local Rotary Club with the overall mission of the Pacific-basin group of Rotary Clubs, which is to “address health in the Pacific.”
To that end, he is looking to promote a Rotary Club Fun Run, the End Polio Now cycling event, and the general promotion of bike riding for health and wellness.
He also said the Rotary Club plans to host its biggest fundraiser, Las Vegas Night, sometime in August.
Additionally, the Rotary Club of Saipan will engage local youth in two cultural exchange trips to Tokyo and is exploring a potential exchange with the Rotary Club of Fairbanks, Alaska.
“Just to give our students on island an opportunity to see what it’s like to go to school in far-off places that are much different in climate and culture than the CNMI,” he said.
Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony was described as “informal,” with a formal induction scheduled for late July, following Borja’s return from the Pacific Mini Games in Palau where he will serve as an official. Officers will be formally inducted into office during the Rotary Club’s annual Installation Night, when the Citizen of the Year and Rotarian of the Year awardees will also be recognized.
Borja said he accepted the call to serve as president out of a sense of duty.
“The club needed someone to take the helm for the coming Rotary year, and when I was asked — Rotary’s motto is ‘Service Above Self’ — it wasn’t really a want but a need to help the club out,” he said. “I’m willing to help the club in any way.”
Outgoing president Joann Aquino ended her term on an optimistic note.
“I know that we are going to continue to do good for our community,” she said. “We still have a lot of projects coming up, and I feel confident that we’ll continue on despite the local economic situation.”
She noted that over the past year, the Rotary Club of Saipan reduced its monthly meetings from four to two.
Aquino had initially been concerned that fewer meetings might impact the club’s effectiveness, but she said they were still able to achieve key goals: organizing a three-year strategic plan, launching a new website, installing a playground in Laly 4, hosting a Thanksgiving feast for the manamko’, and more.
“Looking back, we did pretty well considering we only met twice a month and the economy wasn’t doing great,” she said. “As long as the members stick together and stay focused on the mission, I think we’re going to be okay.”
From left, Greg Borja, Das Krishnan, Enoch Lim, Catherine Attao, Curtis Dancoe, Glen Perez, Wendel Posadas, John Arroyo and Irene Holl.
Justice Perry Inos, left, swears in the new officers of the Rotary Club of Saipan.
