The theme of the competition is “Fino’ Gualåffon: Sinostienen Guinahan Natibon Mari’ånas” (Moonlight Talk: Sustaining the Marianas Native Resources).”
This theme encourages discussion on the importance of sustainable use of land and ocean resources, the lunar cycles that affect them and their interrelationship with the people and the culture of the Marianas. Teachers are being encouraged to include this contest in their lesson plans.
The poster competition will be divided into four categories: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.
Selected winning entries from Guam and the CNMI will be featured in the first ever 2010 Marianas Archipelago Lunar Calendar, which will incorporate the findings and outcomes of the Chamoru and Refaluwasch Lunar Calendar Working Groups.
Crayons, paint, pencil, magic marker, collage, or other appropriate materials may be used for submissions, which should be on 8.5” x 11” or 11” x 17” paper in a landscape layout.
Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on Oct. 30.
Entries must be dropped off at the University of Guam, Division of Humanities, on the first floor located in the Humanities and Social Sciences Bldg, to the attention of Peter R. Onedera.
For more information about the Guam contest, call John Calvo at 671-649-3150 or e-mail [email protected].
For questions on the CNMI contest, including drop-off locations, contact Jack Ogumoro at 322-9830 or 322-9834, fax 322-2633 or e-mail [email protected].
NMHC enters agreement for housing relocation, stabilization services
(NMHC) — The Northern Marianas Housing Corp. entered into collaborative agreements with the Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc., the Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Coalition for Anti-Stigma of Mental Illness to assist in promoting and implementing the homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing program.
The program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is administered by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
The primary goals of the program are to (1) assist eligible individuals to maintain and/or gain stable housing through short-term assistance, (2) link program participants to community resources and mainstream benefits by way of specific outreach activities, and (3) help program participants to develop a plan for preventing future housing instability.
Total funding amount available to provide direct financial assistance to eligible applicants is $335,224.
“We anticipate that this money will run out fast, so we will serve eligible clients on a first-come, first-serve basis,” said Josh Sasamoto, NMHC corporate director.
“The types of assistance that we can provide for eligible participants will include rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving costs assistance, motel or hotel vouchers,” he said.
NMPASI’s staff said they expect the program to have a direct impact on their own clients with disabilities who are often in need of housing.
“We sought out this sub-grant with NMHC initially in reaction to the pressing housing needs of our clients and we’ve made it abundantly clear that we intend to be particularly aggressive in our efforts to reach out to and provide this assistance to our constituency of people with disabilities right away,” said one member of the NMPASI staff.
A person does not have to have a disability in order to qualify for the assistance under the program.
An eligibility criteria for people wanting to avail of this program will be available by this week. For more information, call NMPASI at 235-7273/4 or 235-7278 (tty). You may also visit the Web site www.nmpasi.com.
NMC human resources staff complete training to enhance employee database
(NMC) — Staff of Northern Marianas College’s human resources office recently underwent a week-long training session to use a software upgrade that is designed to enhance the employee database at NMC
This upgrade will enable HR staff to track down employee accomplishments and professional development more efficiently.
The training was for the Sage Abra HR & Payroll program, a software upgrade that the college recently procured, which will afford NMC HR staff access to a more secure and more user-friendly database.
The upgrade is also aimed at streamlining the processing time for personnel actions transmitted between the HR and finance and budget offices.
Attendees of the training finished the session equipped with the knowledge and skills to operate the upgrade, which will provide for a better records management and processing and will enhance the college’s ability to keep track of current and former employees’ portfolios and career patterns and changes.
“The training is part of the college’s overall efforts to continuously build staff capacity to improve the services that we provide to current and prospective employees,” said NMC President Carmen Fernandez. “This upgrade is instrumental to the college’s efforts to implement and maintain those services.”
The week-long training session, which was facilitated by Sage Abra specialist Elizabeth Holland of Holland International, also included demonstrations on the upgrade’s other features, such as the production of employee demographics reports and quicker actions on job applications made to the college.
Other components in the upgrade include the recruitment module, which will further enable HR staff to easily match prospective employees to vacant positions at the college, and the alerts module, which will automatically send reminders to NMC employees regarding pending personnel matters, such as evaluations.
‘John Gonzales Live’ October schedule
• Oct. 21
LIVE 7-8 pm; REPLAYS 10/26 and 10/27 @ 7-8 pm
TOPIC:
Accomplishments of the Fitial-Inos Administration
GUESTS:
1. Governor Benigno Fitial
2. Lt. Governor Eloy Inos
• Oct. 21
LIVE 8-9 pm; REPLAYS 10/26 and 10/27 @ 8-9 pm
TOPIC:
Preserving Indigenous Rights and Traditions
GUESTS:
1. Oscar C. Rasa – Fmr. House Speaker and Covenant Negotiator
• October 28
LIVE 7-8 pm; REPLAYS 11/2 and 11/3 @ 7-8 pm
TOPIC:
Challenges facing NMI health care and tourism industries, & environmental issues and highlight efforts, & accomplishments of these areas under the Fitial-Inos Administration
GUESTS:
1. Pete Untalan – Acting Secretary, Department of Public Health
2. Perry Tenorio – Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority
3. Sylvan Igisomar – Director, NMI Division of Fish & Wildlife
• October 28
LIVE 8-9 pm; REPLAYS 11/2 and 11/3 @ 8-9 pm
TOPIC:
Featuring Candidate for Mayor of Saipan
GUEST:
1. Mr. Roman Cepeda Benavente, Independent Candidate for Mayor of Saipan
Shows Air on KSPN Channel 2, Live text at 285-META; Live call at 287-4230, Live email: [email protected].
LIVE on Wednesdays – 7-9 pm
REPLAYS on Mondays & Tuesdays – 7-9 pm.
Graffiti subcommittee meeting rescheduled
(Beautify CNMI) — The regular meeting scheduled for today will be held on Monday, Oct. 26 Start time is 5:30 p.m. and the location is still Whispering Palms School on Navy Hill.
Live fire training
(EMO) — The U.S. military will conduct live fire training on Farallon De Mendenilla, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Oct. 20, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Oct. 21-22, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is strongly advising the general public, especially fishermen, commercial pilots and marine tour operators, to stay away from this area during the time and date indicated.
For more information, call the Emergency Management Office at 322-9528, 322-9529, VHF marine channel 16, or HF single sideband radio on 5.205.0.
Special Hyatt rate
(ARC) — The Red Cross is pleased to announce a special room rate at the Hyatt this coming weekend.
All Club 200 ticket buyers are eligible for $91 plus tax per night rate at the Hyatt on Oct. 24 and 25.
To secure your room at this special price, call Hyatt reservations at 234-1234 and provide your Red Cross Club 200 ticket number.
Disability council postpones forum
THE CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities has postponed the forum scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Saipan World Resort until further notice.
Tinian PTA meeting
(THS) — Tinian High School’s PTA will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
For more information, call 237-4167.
