“Got Bag?” reminder stickers will also be made available to interested consumers. These stickers were created to help people adopt a habit of bringing and using their bags regularly.
The Green Business Initiative aims to promote greener choices, habits and lifestyles.
One of its goals is to help reduce the amount of plastic grocery bags that end up in the ocean by promoting the long-term use of reusable bags in the community.
The initiative also aims to partner with local businesses to encourage the use of reusable bags, and also raise awareness about consumer-related environmental issues.
The initiative is a combined effort of businesses, community groups and government agencies, including the Division of Environmental Quality and the Coastal Resources Management Office.
Adult Basic Education Spring 2010 Calendar
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College’s Adult Basic Education program, a program under the Division of Community Programs and Services, has announced the following academic dates for the Spring 2010 Semester:
Registration for
returning students
• Jan 25-26 – MT – 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Registration for new students:
• Jan 27-28 – WTh – 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Late registration
• Jan 29 and Feb 2 – FT – 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Student orientation
• Feb 1 – M, 5-6:30 p.m.
Add/drop for students
• Feb 3-12 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
First day of instruction
• MWF Classes – Feb. 3 (Wednesday)
• TTh Classes – Feb. 4 (Thursday)
• Sat. classes – Feb 6
• Sun. classes – Feb 7
Last day of instruction
April 30
For more information, log on to www.nmcnet.edu or contact the ABE Office at 234-5498 Ext. 1723 or 1724.
DCCA staff members show ‘real colors’
(DCCA) — The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs held a Real Colors staff development workshop on Jan. 6 and 7.
The CNMI was first in the region to implement such workshop, and there were 36 participants from DCCA —Division of Youth Services, Office of the Aging, Child Care Development Fund Program, Historic Preservation Office, and Chamorro/Carolinian Language Policy Commission — including Jaclyn Mendiola, a certified facilitator.
DCCA staff kicked off the New Year with skills for a high functioning team.
The workshop’s goal was to help revitalize and refocus the workplace by introducing skills of understanding and recognizing characteristics of individuals in the work field.
The National Curriculum Training Institute’s exclusive Real Colors is a workshop validated and grounded on the work of renowned psychologists and psychiatrists.
Participants first utilize the Real Color personality instrument, which is a simple and intuitive system, to identify the four temperament colors — Green, Blue, Gold and Orange — common to all people.
The personality instrument and fun workshop activities provide users with the knowledge of understanding human behaviors and motivators specific to each temperament.
With the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop participants learned to develop effective communication skills, build better relationships and rapport, learn their personal strength and recognize strengths of others, learn different ways people process information and learning styles, appreciate and value viewpoints of others, etc.
The participants will progress to Real Teams workshop and Real Stress workshop scheduled for this month.
Don’t let the flu get to you
(American Red Cross) — The H1N1 flu virus is still prevalent across the nation and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to get vaccinated against the virus, now that the vaccine is widely available.
National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is from Jan. 10 to 16, serves as an opportunity for people to learn how to prevent the spread of the flu and to encourage people and their loved ones to get vaccinated against both H1N1 and seasonal flu.
To find out where vaccinations are offered, call the Department of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center at 236-8797.
“The H1N1 flu continues to be a health threat, so this is no time to be complacent,” said Sharon Stanley, chief nurse and director, Red Cross Disaster Health and Mental Health Services. “The supply for the vaccine is no longer an issue, and we don’t know whether another wave of H1N1 will occur. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by being vaccinated.”
John Hirsh, executive director for the NMI chapter of the Red Cross, expressed their commitment to being proactive in getting information out there regarding H1N1.
Hirsh also noted that the chapter has passed out preparedness material to some of the larger employers on island to inform them and their employees about how to prepare to deal with the pandemic flu.
In the fall of 2009, the supply of H1N1 vaccine was limited, but now the vaccine is readily available.
The vaccine was developed in the same manner as the seasonal flu vaccine, manufactured using the same standards and quality control measures and is considered safe.
Even though the number of people getting the flu is decreasing, the H1N1 virus is still a threat.
In the past, seasonal flu usually peaked in January or February and occurred as late as May.
H1N1 first appeared in the spring of 2009, and reoccurred in the fall.
The Red Cross has educational tools available to help households, schools and workplaces be well-informed and promote healthy habits that help reduce the spread of the flu.
Visit RedCross.org or www.nmi.redcross.org for more information.
