Club services director Laila Y. Boyer, one of the three local Rotarians who presented the club’s programs at the Presidents-Elect Training Seminar or PETS on Guam last week, said Tuesday that other clubs have inquired how the Saipan activities are done so they could do the same in their areas.
Boyer said PETS, an annual training meeting for presidents-elect to help them prepare for their year as club president, gave the local Rotarians the chance to present Saipan projects for 2010-2011.
The projects aim to strengthen the club’s presence in the community and help bridge the widening gap of volunteer service due to the worsening local economy, she added.
She said the club’s efforts paid off, resulting in the recruitment of 10 new members — the largest increase the local club has seen in 10 years.
Among the completed club’s projects is the annual Las Vegas Night Fundraiser which raised over $37,000 last weekend. Part of the proceeds will be used for the club’s other community projects.
Also completed are the distribution of 1,000 dictionaries for third graders on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota; the refurbishment of the Garapan Youth Skate Park; the Japan tsunami relief donation; the Warm Windows project in Vladivostok, Russia; Trunk or Treat; the annual Manamko’ Thanksgiving luncheon; Christmas in the Marianas CD fundraiser; Christmas Toy Drive; and the 2011 Parade of Books.
The club’s ongoing projects include the school drive safety signs which will install 10 “Drive Slowly” signs at busy traffic points near schools. Rotary community services director Josh Sasamoto and sergeant-at-arms Richard Cody are handling this project.
Also ongoing are the Marianas High School supply center drive which raises funds and accepts donations of school supplies for students from low-income families; the Micro Beach park playground refurbishment; and the 20th annual Rotary Youth basketball league.
