candidate Christina-Marie “Tina” Sablan will present her platform, answer questions, and listen to concerns.
Next week’s gathering will be held at Tanapag Beach on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. All are welcome.
For more information, contact Tina at 285-3935, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.tinasablan.com.
SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS. Bridge Capital LLC donated $200 in support of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a production by the Friends of the Arts. Dr. Susan Fishman-Tudor, Friends of the Arts president, and Marilou Conner, secretary, accepted the donation. Representing Bridge Capital were Richard A. Pipes, vice president and chief legal officer, and Lily Nguyen, public relations spokeswoman and assistant to John K. Baldwin, chairman. Contributed photo
November is National Novel Writing Month
(NaNoWriMo) — There are some who say writing a novel takes awesome talent, strong language skills, academic training, and years of dedication.
Not true. All it really takes is a deadline — a very, very tight deadline — and a whole lot of coffee.
Welcome to National Novel Writing Month: a nonprofit literary crusade that encourages aspiring novelists all over the world to write a 50,000-word novel in a month.
At midnight on Nov. 1, 150,000 writers from over 90 countries — poised over laptops and pads of paper, fingers itching and minds racing with plots and characters — will begin a furious adventure in fiction.
By 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, tens of thousands of them will be novelists.
NaNoWriMo is the largest writing contest in the world.
In 2008, over 120,000 people took part in the free challenge.
And while the event stresses fun and creative exploration over publication, more than 30 NaNoWriMo novelists have had their NaNo-novels published, including Sarah Gruen, whose New York Times #1 Best Seller, “Water for Elephants” began as a NaNoWriMo novel.
Around 18 percent of NaNoWriMo participants “win” every year by writing 50,000 words and validating their novels on the organization’s Web site before midnight on Nov 30. Winners receive no prizes, and no one at NaNoWriMo ever reads the manuscripts submitted.
So if not for fame or fortune, why do people do it?
“The 50,000-word challenge has a wonderful way of opening up your imagination and unleashing creative potential like nothing else,” said NaNoWriMo founder and program director (and 10-time NaNoWriMo winner) Chris Baty.
“When you write for quantity instead of quality, you end up getting both. Also, it’s a great excuse for not doing any dishes for a month.”
This writing challenge has a foothold in the tropics.
The region known as “Elsewhere::Micronesia” currently includes writers in Saipan and Guam.
“In the past, writers from Palau and the Marshall Islands have also participated in NaNoWriMo,” said Jane Mack, four-time winner and the region’s Municipal Liaison.
So far this year, six adventurous, brave and noble writers have signed up and set the Micronesia region as their home region.
Two-time winner Joe Race is back, as are others trying to improve on their prior records and newbies joining in for the first time.
Although six writers don’t sound like a lot, Mack is confident there will be more NaNoWriMo participants in the region.
“Students at SSHS and at Kagman Elementary are showing signs of joining in,” Mack said.
The kick-off “party” will be held on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at Oleai Beach Bar and Grill.
If you would like more information about National Novel Writing Month, or would like to talk to participants from the NaNoWriMo chapter in your area, visit the Web site at www.NaNoWriMo.org and set your region to Elsewhere::Micronesia, where you can visit the online regional forum.
Or just come to the kick-off party. You can sharpen your pencils or dust off your laptop now, but writing starts only on Nov. 1, 2009!
SHRM half-day event
(SHRM) — The Society for Human Resource Management will hold a half-day event with various presenters to speak about essential topics that affect the employers and employees in the workplace:
• “Increasing Employee Productivity,” presented by the Members of the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition;
• “CNMI Smoke-Free Air Act (Public Law 16-46): Employers and Employees Responsibility,” presented by the Community Guidance Center Prevention Office and the CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition; and
• “Domestic Violence: It Is Your Business” presented by the Northern Marianas Coalition for Domestic Violence Awareness.
Other topics to discuss are the “Cost of Staying Healthy and Not Healthy,” “Where is the CNMI Workforce Now,” “Innovative Ways to Stay Healthy in the Workplace,” “What Wellness Activities are Offered in the CNMI,” informative session on the Smoke-Free Air Act and enforcement, and a presentation on how to detect, counsel and provide other resources to employees who are affected by domestic violence in the workplace.
The meeting will be held at the Giovanni’s, Hyatt Regency Saipan, today, Oct. 29. Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for registration. Cost for members is $35 and $45 for non-members.
NMI welcomes return of school groups
(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority is hoping recent trips by large groups of students from
Japan is marking the return of school groups as fears of H1N1 are allayed.
Last week, over 222 students and 18 teachers from Ueda Nishi High School in Nagano prefecture Ueda City, Japan visited Saipan.
At the same time, 60 students from Iino High School in Mie Preceture, Suzuka, Japan were on island.
“We take this trip as a sign that schools in Japan and other destinations are regaining confidence in safe travel for their students,” said MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio. “Especially now that the H1N1 vaccine is available, we are looking forward to the return of school trips to our islands for cultural exchange, religious ceremonies, and other activities.”
Tenorio personally welcomed the Ueda school group at Saipan World Resort.
During their stay, the students visited island sites, enjoyed cultural exchange with students at Marianas High School, and participated in a memorial service for Japanese military personnel and civilians who died on the island during World War II.
The trip was coordinated on island by PDI.
Iino High students, whose trip was coordinated by Nippon Travel Agent, had a cultural exchange with Mt. Carmel High School.
PDI was expecting another group of 60 students and five teachers from Iino High School on Tuesday.
In Sept. 2009, 3,359, or 21 percent, of those who responded to the MVA’s visitor survey were students.
Of these, over 3,000 were from Japan.
This figure includes both school trips and children traveling with families.
Earlier this year, MVA formed the Destination Education Ad Hoc Committee to develop strategies to attract more student trips to the Northern Marianas.
Marianas Agupa
THIS Saturday, Oct. 31, Marianas Agupa Chamorro Radio Talk Show on Magic 100.3FM hosted by Mr. Glenn H. Manglona will feature the following special guests:
• 9:05 a.m.-9:20 a.m., a report from Rota by Thomas D. Mendiola.
• 9:25 a.m.-9:45 a.m., a report from Tinian by former Sen. David M. Cing.
• 9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Raymond Camacho, Frank Camacho and. Eric Atalig, members of the Neighborhood Watch.
• 10:15 a.m.-11 a.m., Jesus Taisague and Danny Quitugua from the group, “Citizens for retaining Article XII.”
The phone line at the radio station will be open for question during the show. Live Internet broadcast on www.magic100radio.com will also be available.
Farmers meeting
(DLNR) —The Department of Lands and Natural Resources and the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District will conduct a meeting to elect district board administrators on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Garapan Fishing Base.
The event will be conducted by Dr. Ignacio T. Dela Cruz, DLNR secretary, and will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Farmers and ranchers who would like to know more about this meeting can contact 234-6180 and ask for Diana Gabaldon.
MY WAVE. Members and advisors of the My Wave Club of Hopwood Jr. High School take a photo after their beach cleanup with the Division of Environmental Quality on Oct. 17. The cleanup was from McDonald’s Garapan to Fiesta Resort & Spa. This club activity aims to beautify the CNMI, attract more tourists to the islands, and protect the environment. Contributed photo
