The 100th Flame Tree Planted On Saipan In 2007

Tree planters: Rep. Cinta Kaipat & family; Angelo Villagomez (BC, MINA & RC&D); Aya-san Matsumoto & Hideo-san Honda (Isa-CNMI); Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI); Team Chura Talo; Juanita Fajardo; Little Miss Marianas 1st Runner Up Kassandra Tate Tudela Royal (not pictured but joined by Mom Bonnie & little sister Briana in making their 1st Beautify CNMI! cleanup/planting); and Dr. Daniel Lamar (who also made his cleanup/planting debut with Beautify CNMI!).

Welcome new volunteers/partners and thank you, salamat po, domo arigato, si yu'us ma'ase, and olomwaay to everyone!!!

Another Milestone

Today we planted our 100th Flame Tree of the 2007 rainy season!

Considering that we only planted 22 Flame Trees last year, this is a very significant number.

It took several groups and individuals collaborating to get these trees in the ground. We started way back in February. I asked Brad Doerr, a Mariana Island Nature Alliance member, to start growing Flame Trees for me. I told him that I didn't have money to pay him then, but by the time the trees were ready to plant, I would have figured something out.

We came up with an Adopt-a-Flame Tree program. For $20, anyone in the world could have a Flame Tree planted in their name. We sold trees at the Flame Tree Arts Festival, the MINA Annual Meeting, and online.

Over 100 trees were adopted.

We started planting on June 19, the one year anniversary of Beautify CNMI's first tree planting. Then each weekend we would plant a few trees. We've had help from MINA, Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office & Family, Isa CNMI, Friends of the Mariana Islands, and a few dozen community volunteers.

We're not finished, but a big thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone!

CNMI Green Power Alliance Newsletter # 1

The first meeting of the CNMI Greenpower Alliance was held Sunday July 15 at 6 PM. There were 17 people present, with the group diversely composed of business people, consumers, students, and government representatives.

The featured speaker was Alan Barak, Assistant Attorney General. In the past, Alan worked with Green Power Groups in the Eastern US and was instrumental in their success. Alan has been charged with writing the regulations for the implementation of Public Law 15-23, which allows for consumer-producers of alternative energy to generate and send up to 100 KW of energy back into the CUC grid and be compensated for it.

Alan described the law briefly, and listened to feedback from the group on what they thought was important to be included in the regulations.

You can review the law by going to our website at , where there are other links of interest as well. The website will soon feature a link to an online discussion group for members.

Sunday morning Alan plans to post his initial draft of the regulations on the website. You can review it there in preparation for discussion and feedback to Alan at the next meeting.

The next meeting will be held this Sunday, July 29 6 PM at Coffee Care. I suggest you arrive early as I anticipate there will be more present at this meeting and seating may be limited.

The agenda will include a discussion of the initial draft of the regulations with opportunity to give feedback to Alan Barak. The second item will be a presentation on Wind Energy. There is a link to AWEA (American Wind EnergyAssociation) on our website. It has a broad ranging menu. I suggest going to the "Small Wind" menu tab and reviewing the selections on "Frequently Asked Questions" or "Advice From An Expert". There is also a link to equipment vendors. This will put you in good shape to gain the most from the presentation and discussion on wind energy at the meeting.

After last meeting a small group stayed and and carried on informal discussions. Some ordered dinner as well. From my perspective, much useful information was shared during the aftermeeting discussion.

I encourage you to visit the CNMI Green Power Alliance website and register. This will not only help keep you informed about the activities of the group, but will give us an objective measure of the interest in alternative energy in the CNMI. Your participation in the group is appreciated and important. It not only serves your personal interest, but will help enable the creation of an effective voice in
favor of alternative, sustainable, renewable, environmentally friendly (Green) energy options in the CNMI. Your participation may also help these green energy solutions be cost effective and affordable.

Energy and environmental concerns are at the forefront of people's minds wordwide. We are at a critical decision making time regarding the direction the CNMI will take in solving it's energy issues.

History has shown that a small group of people can have a profound influence in determing the course of events, for better or for worse.

There exists here and now an opportunity for you to be part of a group that helps shifts the direction of energy policy and outcomes in the CNMI in a positve direction towards green energy solutions. Visit the website, register, and encourage other like-minded individuals to do the same.

More than perhaps you realize, what we do here in the CNMI has global implications. We are in an excellent position to be a showcase for the world. Think globally, act locally.

Hope to see you Sunday evening!


Daniel C Lamar ND, MD
CNMI Green Power Alliance

Zoning Workshop

The Zoning Office will present a workshop to educate the development community about the Saipan Zoning Law. The workshop will be held at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe from 8 am to noon on Thursday, August 2. Please contact the Zoning Office to reserve space at the workshop.

Phone: 670-234-9663

Mail: PMB 861, PO Box 10006, Saipan, MP 96950

E-mail: staff@zoning.gov.mp

You can download the Saipan Zoning Law, the Zoning Map and other materials at:

www.zoning.gov.mp

Making Koblerville Beautiful

Today we planted 28 more Flame Trees and 10 Plumeria in and around the Koblerville Youth Center. These 38 trees are in addition to the 36 trees we planted last week. Wee also continued removing little, picking up trash thrown out of people's car windows.

Seriously, can we stop throwing things out of the window as we drive? How hard would it to be to hold on to that beer can?

The Flame Trees planted today are part of our Adopt-a-Flame Tree program. We finished planting in front of the Youth Center, then planted a row in front of Koblerville Elementary, and then planted a row along Monsignor Martinez where it intersects Koblerville Road.

Cinta took a lot of pictures; look for her post!

July General Meeting Notes

Animal Welfare:
Shelter is being built, needs funding for training, staffing
Mayor’s office has to spend $75,000 by Sept 30, we still have concerns that Tinian was able to build a shelter for $8000. Why is ours so expensive?
Neutering Clinic killed by Doctor Tudor

Restoration:
Still doing weekly cleanups
13 Flame trees this year
Planting more on Sunday
There have been two articles in the Variety about the damage bush cutters are doing to Flame Trees
Continuing Lighthouse cleanups
Sam’s Class

Parks:
Had a meeting with Lynn Knight & Perry Tenorio
Not much to report

Grafitti:
I have a quote from Ace…I need to give to MVA
Painted several bus stops

Micronesia Challenge & Turtles:
No movement since the turtle meeting in May
Had a Micronesia Summer Camp with 15 students
Teny wants to have monthly presentations – we should invite Teny, Angelo, Katie will work on some conservation presentations with turtles perhaps

Media:
Sponsoring Friday Family Fun Night
PSAs on 103.9 and 101.1
We Love Saipan network has helped with creation of 100 blogs, been mentioned on Radio, MP Magazine, Marianas Variety

SAVE Club:
Will be meeting on the first Wednesday of every month at Java Joes
Will be Saipan wide, not just Hopwood
Goal is to have 100 members by December

Junk Cars:
Garapan first as a pilot
Moving on to other villages, starting in a few weeks

What is Beautify CNMI?

A lot of us who volunteer for Beautify CNMI take for granted that the world understands what it is that we are. This video should help explain.