Panelists will include Rep. Tina Sablan, Gregorio Cruz, Irene Tantiado, NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez, Edwin Propst, Oscar Rasa, Viola Alepuyo and Sam McPhetres.
Attorney Robert T. Torres will be moderating the discussion as well as collecting questions from the community through the audience members.
The NMI Council for the Humanities is hosting the roundtable discussion as part of its We the People project on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at American Memorial Park Auditorium.
The public is invited to attend. No admission fee will be charged.
Those not able to personally attend the roundtable session can view and participate in the dialogue by logging on to www.wethepeoplecnmi.com, where the discussion will be streamed live.
The discussion will center on the federalization’s impact on local culture, particularly in light of other globalization trends: the widespread use of the Internet, the ease of travel restrictions around the world, the advancement of technology, and an economy that commands an international supply chain, and other agents of change.
How will the CNMI’s inevitable integration into the larger global structure impact local culture? And more specifically, given the agents of change mentioned above, what role would the recent federalization of labor and immigration play? As the CNMI becomes more a part of the bigger U.S. family, could federalization be the saving grace of local culture? Or, could it hasten its disappearance?
These are only some of the questions that will be discussed at the roundtable discussion, which is part of the NMICH’s We the People Project and organized by Taro Leaf Inc.
In addition to watching the discussion live on www.wethe peoplecnmi.com, community members can also submit their questions via instant messaging on the same Web site, call by phone to 287-7954, 7955 or 7957 or e-mail and send instant messages via Google Talk to taroleafgroup @gmail.com.
Manamko’ learn to use computers at NMC
(NMC) — Getting familiarized with the basic operations of a computer, becoming comfortable with the features of a keyboard, and understanding how to use word processing program were just a few of skills that many manamko’ students learned at a recent Northern Marianas College computer literacy course designed for senior citizens.
The course, offered through the Division of Community Programs and Services’ Community Development Institute, is part of the college’s mission to provide customized, continuing educational and professional development opportunities in response to community needs.
A total of 27 students, referred by the Department of Cultural and Community Affairs’ Office of Aging, are participating in short-term computer classes at NMC, titled “Understanding PCs and How they Work” and “How to Properly Use a Computer Keyboard.”
Many of the students mentioned that they are enjoying the new adventure and are interested in participating in future classes, according to CDI’s Carol Hosono.
“Northern Marianas College is committed to bringing computer literacy and other skills to our manamko’ in the commonwealth,” said NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez. “The ongoing classes will ensure that they reap the benefits of today’s technology and that they are active participants in the information age.”
The classes began on Aug. 25 and will last until Sept, 18.
For more information, contact David John Apatang at 234-5498
Regional ABE conference focuses on assessment
(NMC) — Assessment was the key topic at this year’s Insular Area Adult Basic Education State Directors Conference, which was hosted by Guam Community College on Aug. 17-20.
Adult Basic Education state directors and qualifying representatives from Pacific Insular Area ABE Partners from Guam, the CNMI, American Samoa and Palau participated in the conference held at the Guam Reef Hotel.
Forty-nine individuals attended the three-day training with four from American Samoa, three from Palau, eleven from the CNMI and the rest from GCC ABE’s community partners.
Last year’s Insular Area Conference focused on grant management, audit issues, disability awareness and resiliency.
However because of NMC’s firm stance on assessment, this year’s conference focused on the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System, also referred to as CASAS.
CASAS is the only Adult Assessment System of its kind validated by the U.S Department of Education in the areas of assessment, curriculum and instruction.
It is designed for real life context to include, but not limited to, employment and life skills in adult education.
In addition, the training also focused on hands-on training utilizing TOPSPro, which is a database system designed specifically for CASAS to track student learning outcomes, program outcomes, attendance, performance measures, and data management for both state and federal accountability.
The training also focused on family literacy to include successful stories of Guam’s Motheread/Fatheread Program.
Through collaborative efforts, NMC’s Adult Basic Education and the Motheread/Fatheread Program under the NMI Council for the Humanities hope to complete the planning process of Motheread/Fatheread Program by October.
Other training included mini-workshops on the GED Curriculum, ESL and Teaching Strategies in Adult Education.
Northern Marianas College is the designated state recipient of the ABE Insular grant for administrative purposes.
This ABE discretionary grant, specifically for professional development needs in Adult Education, is shared through a memorandum of agreement with the insular areas, including the CNMI, Guam, American Samoa and Palau.
The representatives from the CNMI included Lorraine Cabrera, Elsie Cabrera, Velma Mafnas, Leonard Morales, Maria Agoun, Martin Mendiola, Greg Quitugua, Mecedes Deleon Guerrero, Viola Deleon Guerrero, Monica Pangelinan and Martha Kintol.
Funding for this training is made possible by a grant received from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education.
ABE instructors undergo orientation
The orientation, held on Aug. 22 at the Palms Resort Hotel, commenced with a presentation by ABE State Director Lorraine T. Cabrera, who updated returning adjunct instructors of the requirements and expectations of ABE classes and assessment.
Pamela Buckingham and Barbara Merfalen, NMC instructors, were then invited to present on the topic, “How to Teach Adult Learners.”
They shared their own experiences, knowledge and insights about teaching adult learners.
Buckingham and Merfalen also incorporated learning activities that participants demonstrated to share teaching techniques and strategies that research and studies have found to be most effective with adult learners.
In attendance were NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez, COMPASS Dean Tee Abraham, ABE PC/instructor Elsie Cabrera, ABE PC/counselor Velma Mafnas, and ABE administration manager Lenny Morales.
ABE adjunct faculty include Jesus Taisague, Mercedes Deleon Guerrero, Mark Haag, Barry Wicksman, Lek Algaeir, Thomas Colton, Dominick Palestino, Candida Bahillo, Doris Chong, Monica Pangelinan, Dean Reedstrum, Thomas Tebuteb, Arnold Dision, Gonzalo Santos, and Maria H. Aguon.
ABE work study students include Livia Pangelinan and Anna Deleon Guerrero.
The staff and adjunct instructor training is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education.
For more information about the ABE Program, log on to www.nmcnet.edu or contact 234-5498 ext. 1723 or 1724.
Council accepting nominees for Humanities Awards
(NMI Humanities Council) — The Northern Mariana Islands Council for the Humanities is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor’s Humanities Awards.
The awards program is an annual event, undertaken in conjunction with CNMI Humanities Month in October, to recognize outstanding contributions to the humanities by individuals, organizations, groups and institutions.
According to the council’s acting executive director, Scott Russell, nominations may be submitted in one of five categories: Research and Publication in the Humanities; Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices; Outstanding Humanities Teacher (both classroom and non-classroom settings); Preservation of CNMI History; and Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities.
Russell said the most prestigious award — Lifetime Achievement — will go to a nominee who has made significant contributions in the humanities over multiple decades. He stated that this award may be given posthumously.
In order to be considered, the council must receive nomination forms and accompanying supporting documentation no later than 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 3.
Nomination forms are available at the council’s office in the Reyes Building in Dandan or from its Web site at www.nmihumanities.org.
Russell said the awards will be presented during a dinner ceremony tentatively scheduled for the last week in October.
NMC offers customer service and administrative training courses
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College, through its Division of Community Programs and Services, and the Community Development Institute, is offering short-term classes to interested individuals who wish to improve their customer service and administrative skills.
This is in line with the college’s mission which includes providing continuing education and professional development opportunities in response to community needs.
These short term classes include Basic Customer Service Skills, Etiquette in the Workplace, Workplace Communication, Time Management, and Stress Management.
The schedule and fees for these short term classes are as follows:
• Basic Customer Service Skills
Sept. 15-19
5-7 p.m.
Fee: $95
• Time Management
Sept. 22 & 24
5-7 p.m.
Fee: $40
• Work Etiquette Training
Sept. 23 & 25
5-7 p.m.
Fee: $40
• Communication in the Workplace
Sept. 29-Oct. 4
5-6:30 p.m., M-F
9-11:30 a.m., Sat.)
Fee: $95
• Stress Management
Sept. 6-11
5-6:30 p.m., M-F
9-11:30 a.m., Sat.
Fee: $95
For more information, call 234-5498 ext. 1005 or e-mail [email protected].
SHRM annual conference on Thursday
(SHRM) — The Society for Human Resource Management will hold its annual conference at the Sandcastle, Hyatt Regency Saipan, on Thursday, Sept. 18.
Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for registration.
Cost for members is $35 and $45 for non-SHRM members.
Cost includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and conference materials.
Individuals interested in attending this meeting should contact any of the following: Denise Montenegro at. 323-5866, Frannie T. Salas at [email protected], Polly Deleon Guerrero at [email protected] or Marlene Cruz at [email protected].
Candidates public forum
THERE will be a public forum for the candidates running for U.S. congressional delegate at the Kagman Community Center on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m.
Entrance is limited to 100 people. First come, first serve.
The format is as follows:
1) Candidate Introduction: You will introduce yourselves for a maximum of 2 minutes. You do not have to use up the whole 2 minutes.
2) Questions and answers: The audience will write down some questions, and the Kagman Komunidat Association will screen them for appropriateness.
The questions will then be asked by the two co-hosts. There will be nine questions asked. Each candidate will have 1 minute to answer each question. You will be timed and cut-off when time is up.
3) Final remarks from the candidates: You will have 5 minutes to convince the audience to vote for you through your closing remarks. You will be timed again.
Correction
THE Public School System needs four to six, and not 46 English teachers as reported in the story titled “PSS has 38 New Teachers, Still Lacks English Educators.”
