THE Rotary Club of Saipan on Tuesday night installed its new officers for the 2021-2022 Rotary year.
Associate Justice Perry Inos administered the oath of office to new club president Ivan Ilmov, president-elect Wendell Posadas, treasurer Glenn Perez, club service director Charles V. Cepeda, community service director Joann Aquino, vocational service director David Baker, international service director and immediate past president Sonya Dancoe, PE, new generations director Gregory Pat Borja and sergeant-at-arms Brian Clayton. Also installed but were not present in the ceremony were vice president Irene Holl, secretary Jessy Loomis and foundation director Das Krishnan.
In her remarks, outgoing club president Dancoe recognized and thanked the the officers and directors of the 2020-2021 Rotary year including vice president Posadas, secretary Holl, treasurer Perez, club service director Loomis, community service director Aquino, vocational service director Joseph Torres, international service director Ilmov, new generations director Borja, foundation director Das Krishnan, sergeant-at-arms Curtis Dancoe, Brian Clayton and Hiroko Stewart.
This year’s Citizen of the Year award went to the Salvation Army’s Anna Deleon Guerrero Gillespie while Joann Aquino was named Rotarian of the Year.
Making a difference
In her remarks, outgoing president Sonya Dancoe couldn’t hold back her tears as she thanked the club for giving her a wonderful opportunity to serve as president.
“It was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by friends who share the same vision and passion to serve others,” she said.
She said it is her desire to continue to work with other Rotarians so she looks forward to serving as the club’s international service director.
The Saipan Rotary Club, she added, will continue to change lives, spread peace, promote a safe environment, support education and help those with physical, mental and emotional challenges.
“I know that we, as Rotarians can make a difference by working together every day. This is why it means a lot for us to share fellowship and learn from one another,” Sonya Dancoe said.
For her, among the memorable Rotary events of the past year was seeing children and their parents smile during the club’s food drive and toy drive, as well the Thanksgiving event with the manamko’, the Easter egg hunt for members of the community, and the distribution of books among other community activities.
These events were such a great success, she said, but they would not have been possible without the dedication of the Rotarians.
“If there is one thing I’d like to leave with you guys this evening, it is the little kindness to change lives, which brings us to the theme of the incoming president’s term: ‘Serve to Change Lives.’”
The new president, Ivan Ilmov, said his passion is to help the youth pursue their dreams, and to not give up on their education.
Deeply humbled
Rotarian of the Year awardee Joann Aquino said she was “deeply humbled and honored” to receive the honor.
“The year was quite a challenge for all of us with the Covid-19 pandemic…. We still had a responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life of those in our community, and the commitment to carry out service projects that would be beneficial to all concerned. Because of the extended period of lockdown and the concern for the children’s mental health and well-being, I took the opportunity to coordinate with my fellow Rotarians, the Rotaract and Interact Club members, the mayor of Saipan, the members of the Legislature and various businesses, to implement the Rotary Club of Saipan’s first Easter Egg Hunt Event, which was held at Sugar King Park in Garapan, and it was a success.”
She said when she was asked by the incoming president, Ivan Ilmov, that she serve another term as director of community service, Aquino said she gladly accepted “because my work is not done.”
She added, “The theme for 2021-2022 is ‘Serve to Change Lives.’ This theme is great! That is our mission! We have submitted a grant proposal to NMHC-CDBG for the Kagman Community Park Project and waiting for a favorable response. We are also working with Reps. John Paul Sablan and Christina Sablan in developing and implementing a community service program in Susupe. We have other projects in mind and will be discussing them further with the club members at a later date.”
Aquino said she would like to thank all her fellow Rotarians, her husband Danny Aquino and her boss, Saipan Mayor David Apatang, for their service to the community.
Associate Justice Perry Inos left, swears in the Rotary Club of Saipan 2021-2022 officers during the installation ceremony at PIC-Charley’s Cabaret on Tuesday night. From left, Inos, club president Ivan Ilmov, sergeant-at-arms Brian Clayton, president-elect Wendell Posadas, treasurer Glenn Perez, vocational service director David Baker, new generations director Gregory Pat Borja, international service director Sonya Dancoe, community service director Joann Aquino and club service director Charles V. Cepeda.
The Salvation Army’s Anna Deleon Guerrero Gillespie, third left, is the Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year. With here are club past president Ben Babauta, new president Ivan Ilmov, Gillespie, past president Dave Sablan, outgoing president Sonya Dancoe, outgoing sergeant-at-arms and past president Curtis Dancoe, double past president Glen Perez and past president Gregory Pat Borja.
Rotary Club of Saipan’s new president Ivan Ilmov with his immediate predecessor Sonya Dancoe.
Rotary of the Year awardee Joann Aquino, right, speaks as outgoing club president Sonya Dancoe looks on.
