Meeting Reminder! Tonight at 5:30pm

The highlight of this meeting is to present the opportunity to sign an MOU with Marianas RC&D that would create a partnership mutually beneficial to all Beautify CNMI! partners. We want your input!

For additional meeting information, please refer to the original blog post for this meeting.

See you tonight!

Beautify CNMI's Monthly Mtg for August Cancelled

Sorry for the late notice, but this month's Beautify CNMI! monthly meeting which was scheduled for today (August 12) has been postponed. We will resume our regular monthly meetings after our summer break next month.

I'd appreciate your spreading the word.

Thank you for your understanding.


---Cinta M. Kaipat
Volunteer PR Coordinator
www.beautifycnmi.org

Draft Meeting Minutes for June 10, 2010

MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 6:00PM
CIC Conference Room - JP Bldg, Beach Road, Garapan

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CENTURY INSURANCE (TAN HOLDINGS) FOR HOSTING THIS MONTH'S MEETING!

Note: All monthly meetings will take place at Century Insurance Conference Room, 1st floor JP Center, Beach Road at 5:30pm until further notice --- mark your calendars!

I. Introductions – around the table (3-mins)
1) Aric, Eli, Joe, Laurie (Marites via phone call)
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes (2-mins)
1) Move (Joe) and second (Eli) to adopt agenda
2) Move (Joe) and second (Eli) to adopt May 13 mtg mins
III. Committee reports (20-mins or 2-3 mins each)
1) Solid waste:
i. May Cleanup Brigade moved to clean up Koberville runway
1. On survey decided that getting volunteers will be too hard
2. Hopwood 340 lbs at PakPak beach
3. Kagman 120 lbs at Marine beach
4. PDM 1780 lbs at Paseo/Garapan district
ii. June
1. 340 lbs at Bird Island DEQ Cleanup Brigade
2. NOAA and CRM and DEQ and a church group from Guam pulled up 220 lbs from Old Man by the Sea
3. Marine Biology Club in Kagman – this coming Saturday
4. PDM – this coming Saturday
iii. Marine debris – recycle bin for Marine Beach w/DoCoMo as sponsor in partnership with Kagman Biology Club
iv. Litter Control officers
1. Feel like the fine is too high, so they don’t want to issue
2. Current penalties are $200-500
3. Director DEQ is looking at reducing the fine to less than $200
4. Litter control officers are scattered in amongst all the various agencies: DEQ, CRM, etc.
2) Tan Holdings – iServe iGive Back
i. 5 clean ups in May: CTSI & Fiesta postponed its scheduled monthly clean-up to give way to 2010 SCC Corporate Challenge, which was held 30-May
1. CTSI & FHB: Pavilion #1 – Kilili, 22-May, 7:30a-1pm, 25 volunteers, cleaning and painting and general repairs, 85 bags of trash, 772.65 kilos
2. Fiesta & G4S: Pavilion #4 – PauPau Beach, 26-May, 20 volunteers, cleaning and painting and general repairs, 8 bags of trash, 36.36
3. POI Aviation: Flametree Road, 27-May, 4-5pm, 44 volunteers, 23 bags of trash, 115.91 kilos
4. JP Center: Front of JP center to 13-Fishermen’s Memorial, 29-May, 6:30-8am, 37 volunteers, 46 bags of trash, 427.27 kilos
ii. Three (3) clean ups planned for June
1. 24-June: monthly hauling of recyclables from all Tan Holdings offices
2. 25-June: POI, 4pm, Herman Pan Road
3. 26-June:
a. JP Center, 6:30am, Beach Road
b. CTSI, 8am, Susupe Beach Park
c. Fiesta, 8am, Makaka Beach
iii. Eli will check to see if transfer station or dump is charging tipping fee; shouldn’t be paying; need to make sure that Eli gives Joe a vehicle ID so that fees will not be charged
3) PDM Promoters
i. Regularly scheduled clean up schedule for this coming Saturday
ii. Concerned about waste left by Chinese building owners
iii. Joe is going to look at how to inspect the building owners to enforce accountability
iv. Eli will ask Chinese Association to circulate information to the Chinese community to assist with waste disposal in Paseo de Marianas (Rose or Jerry)
4) First Friday Film – Aric Bickel/DEQ project
i. Film will introduce a theme for the month
ii. The idea is to focus all public outreach and activities on each month’s theme
iii. No schedule yet – but hoping to have it complete by next week
iv. Hopefully coalition partners will be able to collaborate on the subjects as they are planning their own events
v. Aric will email movies poster for blog post and download with encouragement to post at public places – LP to post on BCNMI website
5) Graffiti (via telephone report)
i. Marites has recruited volunteers
ii. Marites and Cinta will be working on a plan to initiate projects in the community
IV. Housekeeping (15 mins)
1) Does anyone have or keep a list of adopted locations?
i. Not renewed since 2008
ii. Some are still continuing responsibility even though there is no formal agreement
iii. Joe’s gonna share that via email
2) Recommend that Tan Holdings enter their events on the BCNMI calendar first then copy to their own so that it will show up on the public calendar
3) Joe is down to last 200 trash bags, no gloves
i. DEQ is not going to supply other govt agencies with supplies
ii. DEQ will assist schools and private groups on a limited basis
iii. Joe is recommending BCNMI buy more supplies
1. Laurie recommending 3 quotes
2. Aric and Joe noted that there is a company in CK that making recycled plastic products and we should support them
3. Bags are slightly more expensive – but the value is bigger in the bigger picture
4) 4th of July end of parade cleanup
i. Joe recommended that Neighborhood Watch group would conduct the clean up; they have decided not to
ii. Unless there is a group willing to take the lead, we may need to table conducting this project again until next year
iii. 2009 event was spontaneous and resulted in an immediately clean Beach Road, post parade, with only a handful of volunteers
V. Announcements (2-mins)
1) Laurie will have to resign from PR Coordinator effective June 30th
VI. Next monthly meeting - 2nd Thursday of the Month (2-mins)
1) July 8th
2) Time: 5:30p
3) CIC Conference Room, @ JP Bldg Beach Road

REMINDER: Regular Monthly Meeting June 10th

Please be reminded that the monthly meeting is scheduled for this Thursday!

When: June 10th, Thursday
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Century Insurance Conference Room
JP Bldg, Beach Road

JP Center is the building where Saipan Tribune, Century Insurance (CIC), Century Travel are holding office. The CIC conference room is at the Ground floor. For directions, call at 234-0609 Ext 101 (Lina) or Ext 115 (Eli)

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Tan Holdings for donating their conference room space for monthly meetings. PLEASE NOTE that all monthly meetings will be held at the CIC conference room until further notice.

Have a question or need more info - contact Laurie Peterka at 483-7499.

Everyone is welcome --- please feel free
to join us if you can.

Draft Meeting Minutes for May 13, 2010

MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, May 13, 2010 – 6:00PM
CIC Conference Room - JP Bldg, Beach Road, Garapan

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CENTURY INSURANCE (TAN HOLDINGS) FOR HOSTING THIS MONTH'S MEETING!

Sign In – please make sure you get your name on the sign in sheet
I. Introductions – around the table (3-mins)
1) Cinta Kaipat – founder, volunteer
2) Noriko Watanabe – representing Hard Rock Café
3) Marites Castillo – representing FMI
4) Lina Dimaano– representing iServeiGive (Tan Holdings)
5) Steve Woodruff - volunteer
6) Laurie Peterka – volunteer PR Coordinator
7) N. Horiguchi – volunteer
8) Kathy Yuknavage – Marine Debris PM, MINA
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes (2-mins)
1) Cinta motioned to adopt agenda – none opposed
2) Kathy motioned to adopt minutes – none opposed
III. Committee reports (20-mins or 2-3 mins each)
1) DEQ – tabled; Joe is off island
2) PDM Promoters – Laurie reported based on website submission
i. May 8th Clean up reported on website
ii. 780 lbs of trash collected
iii. 15 volunteers
3) TSL - iServe-iGive back - Lina
i. In April - 6 groups participated in IWC
ii. Total 235 people
iii. Booth at Environmental Expo – shared what the company is focused on for projects; the 3-Rs for the kids
4) Neighborhood Watch – tabled; Frank/Eric didn’t make it
5) Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) – Kathy
i. Marine Debris project is moving smoothly
ii. As school comes to a close, things will slow down a little
iii. Kagman high school is looking for a corporate partner to help with marine debris project ….maybe Hard Rock Café?
iv. Additional funding is available to do more bins
1. PauPau
2. Aquarius Beach
3. Chalan Pio (behind CKBC)
4. Marine Beach
5. Schools are a possibility
6. Bins don’t have to be “on the beach” – all of the island qualifies
v. Need to invite Karen Cabrera – ckalena@gmail.com or Fran Castro to represent MINA at regular meetings
6) Friends of the Marianas Islands (FMI) - Marites
i. Monthly clean ups at LauLau Beach South to Picnic area
ii. $2,000 Mobil donation for equipment to cut the grass away from the road (5th year)
7) Graffiti – Cinta, Laurie, Marites
i. $2,500 NMC grant is available
ii. Project is ready to go to next steps, but needs a project leader
iii. Cinta/FMI going to take over lead of the committee
8) Junk Cars – Laurie reported update per news
i. Zoning announced last month that it would begin tagging cars
ii. Zoning reported that they will be working with mayor’s office
iii. Cinta mentioned that Zoning would like a BCNMI volunteers to inform them via a survey or report of some kind to help identify junk cars for removal
9) Hard Rock Café is interested in forming a group or finding a way to be involved with some type of environmental projects
IV. Coalition Initiatives (15 mins)
1) Signature Events
i. Laurie suggested that coalition partners share their calendar for the remainder of the year
ii. Laurie observed that several groups all have their cleanup on the first Saturday of the month –
iii. Discussion about possibly encouraging groups to spread out their regularly monthly cleanup plans so that something is going on every weekend
2) Identify a “calendar” person
i. Laurie suggested that each coalition member/partner should make the effort to join the BCNMI calendar and add their events
ii. Laurie suggested that someone could take responsibility for sending out weekly reminders on calendar items with an invitation to the public to join
V. Announcements (2-mins) - none
VI. Next monthly meeting - 2nd Thursday of the Month (2-mins)
1) June 10th - Time: 5:30pm
2) Location: CIC Conference Room (or other if volunteered)
3) Discussion and decision to keep the CIC Conference as the regular meeting place for the remainder of this year
i. Everyone agreed that consistency could help attendance
ii. Lina indicated that keeping the meetings at CIC is acceptable

REMINDER: Regular Monthly Meeting May 13th

Please be reminded that the monthly meeting is scheduled for this Thursday,

When: May 13th, Thursday
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Century Insurance Conference Room

JP Bldg, Beach Road

JP Center is the building where Saipan Tribune, Century Insurance (CIC), Century Travel are holding office. The CIC conference room is at the Ground floor. For directions, call at 234-0609 Ext 101 (Lina) or Ext 115 (Eli)

Corporate participation is available in many, many ways. For example, donating a meeting space for any of our committee meetings or our reular monthly meetings. Coalition members appreciate having quiet place to get together to work on projects.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to Century Insurance for donating the conference for two Beautify CNMI! meetings this week!

Have a question or need more info - contact Laurie Peterka at 483-7499.

Everyone is welcome --- please feel free

to join us if you can.

Draft Meeting Minutes for April 8, 2010

MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, April 8, 2010 – 5:30PM
Fiesta Resort & Spa: Azucena I

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO FIESTA RESORT & SPA FOR HOSTING THIS MONTH'S MEETING!

I. Introductions – around the table
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes
1) Agenda adopted “as is”
2) Minutes of 03/11/10 adopted “as is”
III. Special Initiatives
1) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
i. Island Wide Clean Up
1. Total impressions sent out 03/08/10 - 1,500+: Email sent to 300+ private list, www.beautifycnmi.org blog note posted, FaceBook Group page + blog note to 600+, FaceBook Event Invitation sent to 600+
2. Coalition members encouraged to publically announcement their participation to help move the media’s attention and the competition amongst volunteers
3. DEQ needs to contact last year’s participants to acknowledge them and invite them to join again this year
4. What are we doing about supplies? DEQ has stocks for now, but we will need to replenish for any events beyond this one
5. Why Friday? --- originally DEQ was targeting govt employees and first event was on an “austerity” Friday
6. After the event – post photos and volunteer counts
7. Joe will check with EAC chair to see if event can be extended to into Saturday to accommodate the private sector; once he knows, he will inform LP and we will do a media blitz to alert the public
ii. Environmental Expo – part of the EAC April calendar
1. Targeted for schools
2. Posted on blog and Google calendar
iii. PDM Promoters
1. April 15th Awadori Festival
2. Students from Japan coming here to perform with local students
3. Collaborating with DCCA
4. Three title sponsors: DFS, DoCoMo, and Fiesta Resort
iv. Other
1. We need to look all the way to the end of this year and identify our signature events
2. Signature events need to be promoted all throughout the year from the beginning so that we can establish continuity.
2) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards (should be April)
i. Categories & Nominations
1. Champion Award & Steward Award
2. Joe and Cinta will find the criteria used before and start list of nominees
3. Last year: Tan Holdings (Steward) and Laurie Peterka (Champion)
ii. History of these awards
1. Banquet dinner; slide show highlighting year’s events
2. Jake concert
3. PAWS Wars
iii. Publicity & Deadlines
1. Post blog asking for nominations – 4/12
2. Close nominations on – 4/16
3. Make a decision – by 4/19
4. Order plaques – 4/19 with a 4/23 delivery date
5. April 26th Beautify CNMI 4th anniversary
6. Cinta will check into making the presentation of the awards at the Flametree Festival (4/22-25)
3) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
i. Nominate committee chair - tabled
ii. Determine next steps – tabled
iii. Discussion on
1. PR Coordinator concerns with public perception and nature of inquiries being received
2. Founder Cinta’s concerns and historical information
3. Joe commented regarding accountability because of donations
4. We need a volunteer accountant to facilitate fiscal accountability problem
IV. Committee reports
1) Solid Waste
i. DEQ
1. Schools
a. SSHS – picked up at Coral Ocean Point beach
b. Kagman – picked up at Marine Beach
c. Cleanups produced less volume than previous cleanups which means programs are working
2. Congr Basa’s office reported clean ups in District 5
3. Saipan Fisherman’s Association reported a clean up
4. Shirley’s Restaurant did a cleanup at Sugar Dock
5. We need to get photos to put up on blog
2) PDM Promoters
i. Monthly clean up this Saturday
ii. Koblerville kids – 25 going to join
iii. Maybe send reminders to LP on Monday before to post on blog
iv. Sending info on Awadori for blog
3) Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) – not present
i. March 27th ribbon for recycling and mixed waste bins
ii. Event posted on the blog
iii. Seven sites adopted out of eight
4) Friends of the Marianas Islands (FMI) – not present
i. Family emergency
ii. No report
5) Tan Holdings - iServe-iGive back
i. Encouraging employees to be volunteers
ii. Adopt-A-Pavillion program launched – March 20th
iii. Adopted Susupe Park in 2008
iv. April 17th – clean up at pavilion across JP Center to 13-Fishermans
v. POI Aviation – monthly clean up launched March 26th
vi. Coalition members should send their info to be posted at blog before and after events
1. Identify event?
2. Indentify if it is re-occurring?
3. How many volunteers do you anticipate or did you have?
4. Where is/was it?
5. Which Tan Holdings entity is responsible?
6. If trash collection – how many pounds?
7. If other kind of cleaning what is/was the goal and what was accomplished?
8. PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS!!!
6) Neighborhood Watch – not present
7) Graffiti – nothing new to report
8) Junk Cars – not present
9) New/Other - none
V. Coalition Housekeeping
1) Calendar of Events – LP is working with Angelo to fix the time zone issue
2) Making forms available for download from blog
i. Website – maybe we can use a Google site to be able to upload attachments and refer the link from the blog, but otherwise keep it dark?
ii. Need to investigate.
VI. Announcements
1) None
VII. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. May 13th Confirm or Change to
ii. Time: 5:30pm
iii. Location: LP to ask SCC for an email forward – make a plea to SCC members to participate in hosting one meeting a year
VIII. Meeting adjourned at 7:50pm

REMINDER: Regular Monthly Meeting April 8th

This month's meeting will be hosted by Tan Holdings.

When: Thursday, April 8th
Where: Fiesta Resort & Spa at Azucena I (just north of the lobby behind the World Cafe)
Time: 5:30pm

Tentative Agenda:

I. Introductions – around the table (5-mins)
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes
III. Special Initiatives (30-45 mins)
1) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
2) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards (should be April)
3) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
i. Nominate committee chair
ii. Determine next steps
IV. Committee reports (15-mins)
1) Solid Waste
i. DEQ
ii. PDM Promoters
2) Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA)
3) Friends of the Marianas Islands (FMI)
4) TSL iServe-iGive back
5) Neighborhood Watch
6) Graffiti
7) Junk Cars
8) New/Other
V. Coalition Housekeeping (15-mins)
1) Calendar of Events
2) Website
VI. Announcements (2-mins)
VII. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting (2-mins)
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. May 13th Confirm or Change to
ii. Time:
iii. Location:

REMINDER: Regular Monthly Meeting March 11th

Beautify CNMI! monthly meeting --- everyone is welcome & encouraged to join!

When: Thursday, March 11th
Time: 5:30pm
Where: Tasi Tours Conference Room

Tentative Agenda:

I. Introductions – around the table (5-mins)
II. Special Initiatives (30-45 mins)
1) Lisa Eller – DEQ: Garapan Stormwater Pollution Project
2) Aric Bickel – DEQ: Earth Hour a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) project
3) Ogumoro-Uludong – SCS: Eco-Karnival
4) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
III. Committee reports (15-mins)
1) Junk Cars
2) PDM Promoters
3) Solid Waste
4) Graffiti
5) New/Other
IV. Coalition Housekeeping (15-mins)
1) Calendar of Events
2) Website
3) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
4) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards
V. Announcements (2-mins)
1) Rotary Club Las Vegas Night looking for volunteers
VI. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting (2-mins)
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. April 15th Confirm or Change to
ii. Time:
iii. Location:

Beautify CNMI! Committee Chairs Meeting Reminder

Our regular monthly meeting is this week!

Thursday, 5pm at the DEQ conference room

This meeting is open to anyone who is interested in joining!

Please bring a friend and see what you can do to help Beautify CNMI!

Note: You may have to enter from the stairwell in the garage if you arrive after 5pm. The conference room is on the second floor near the restrooms. Please call if you are trying to get in the building and cannot figure it out.

Laurie 483-7499
Joe 285-8509

Draft August Minutes

Beautify CNMI August 2009 Meeting
DEQ Conference Room
Thursday, August 6, 2009
3:30 PM

I. Attendees: Angelo Villagomez, Tyler Yoshimoto, Joe Kaipat, Carl Brachear, Lian Brachear
II. Agenda Adopted
III. July Minutes Adopted – Angelo will post on website
IV. Committee Reports
a. Restoration – Angelo
i. Laolao tree planting day is on August 16. Looking for 100 volunteers to help
ii. CRM is providing food
iii. DEQ is providing water, t-shirts. They are also doing press releases and fliers.
iv. Forestry is bringing trees.
v. Angelo will coordinate the donation of coconuts and will bring some Beautify CNMI t-shirts
vi. Hoping that USDA will provide Earth Team Coverage
vii. Angelo will need help finding volunteers.
b. Junk Cars – nothing to report
c. Solid Waste – Joe
i. Kathy could not make the meeting, but updated Joe on the MINA grant. They are still waiting on approval
ii. July 4 cleanup – volunteers cleaned 2500 lbs of trash along the parade route
iii. Kagman Biology Club cleaned up 1200 lbs of trash in July. Scheduled to do another cleanup on August 15.
iv. DEQ cleanup brigade got rained out this month
v. A company donated 12 empty oil drums. Joe wants to donate them to Parks and Rec or the Mayors.
vi. Dandan Community Watch is doing a cleanup of the Dandan Children’s Park this Saturday at 8 AM. Will clean the park and plant trees. We are donating trash bags and gloves.
vii. We are still waiting on our order of rubber gloves from Brabu.
viii. PDM Promoters did their cleanup.
d. Parks & Trails – nothing to report
e. Graffiti – Tyler
i. Created an email notification list. Discusses the ideas behind the graffiti campaign, the background of the reasons for the campaign. There are 18 people of the committee so far.
ii. Will contact DYS to participate
iii. Planning on having a meeting before August ends.
iv. ISK8 is meeting on August 6 to discuss graffiti. Hoping that they start a weekly graffiti cleanup.
v. MegaBYTE is going to donate 50% of the cost of a pressure washer and will store and maintain it.
vi. Had an idea to take picture of graffiti on a business and show it to the business owner. Ask the business owner for support if we help them.
vii. Will eventually looking for business support and government support. Several people threw out some ideas.
V. Miscellaneous
a. Bumper Stickers – We will do a bumper sticker and slogan contest starting in September. Will use $150 Bridge Capital donation.
b. PIC Fundraiser – PICpalooza on August 29. 80’s theme. $25 per person, funds to be split by PAWS and Beautify CNMI. A portion of this money will be used to purchase the bumper stickers in October.
c. RC&D Handouts – Angelo handed out papers from RC&D discussing their program. The organization is looking to rebuild in Saipan and is looking for Saipan Island Committee members.
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment

Approved July Minutes

Beautify CNMI July 2009 Meeting
DEQ Conference Room
Thursday, July 2, 2009
3:30 PM

I. Attendees – Angelo Villagomez, Kathleen Hermann, Joe Kaipat, Ken Kramer, Sharisse Rivera, Aya Matsumoto, Laurie Peterka, Sonia Silva
II. Adoption of Agenda
III. Assignment of Secretary – Angelo Villagomez appointed group Secretary
IV. Committee Reports
a. Restoration
i. Historical areas – nothing to report
ii. Reveg (Kathleen Hermann) – Laolao planting day planned for August 16 at 8:00 AM. NRCS, Forestry, CRMO, DEQ, and Beautify CNMI met to plan the event
1. Forestry is growing 400-500 plants
2. DEQ is purchasing 100 t-shirts and flyers
3. CRMO and Angelo are going to look for money to pay for food
4. Sharisse is going to write a press release, look for volunteers at NMC. Angelo will also help recruit volunteers
5. Angelo made a site visit, will forward results to partners. Planting coconuts at the site was brought up. It was suggested that people bring coconuts to the event.
6. An illegal road has been plowed into the reveg site.
7. Angelo asked about the $3 million grant for laolao reveg. Kathleen said that $2.5 million will pave road. $0.5 million will go to reveg, marine monitoring, signage, local coordinator & staff.
8. Restoration committee will have a meeting at the beginning of August to finalize the event.
b. Junk Cars – nothing to report
c. Solid Waste (Joe Kaipat) – Grant to MINA to support marine debris is on hold until stimulus money arrives
i. Grant will put garbage bins on beaches.
ii. Looking for community support. Planning community meetings. Going to ask people to pay for bins at beaches, perhaps in villages.
iii. Ken asked about the coral reef video made by DEQ. Asked about running it on TV.
iv. Weekly cleanups with FMI. 360 lbs last week.
v. PDM Promoters has a cleanup this weekend.
vi. Joe suggested Beautify CNMI cleanup at the end of the parade in t-shirts. The group liked this idea.
vii. Meeting with Parade group today. Angelo will promote the event if we get permission.
viii. Garbage bags and gloves are available for cleanups at DEQ.
d. Parks & Trails – Dan Lamar submitted written report. Available on Beautify CNMI blog at: http://beautifycnmi.blogspot.com/
e. Graffiti (Laurie Peterka) – Tyler and Laurie met before he went on vacation. Drafting an email to recruit volunteers. Email explains concept of committee. Gives background on why we are pursuing this and some background. Have been researching projects from other communities. ISKI, Rotary, MVA, MTEC, Mywave, local schools, PDO, AGO have been talked to. Going to talk to Legislature, and Crimestoppers.
i. Angelo suggested talking to LEEP, JPO, Crime Prevention DPS.
V. Miscellaneous
a. Bridge Capital Donation – Bridge Capital donated $2000 to Beautify CNMI. The funds are in the PAWS bank account. Angelo will purchase supplies and PAWS will refund him.
b. PAWS WARS – A very successful event was held.
c. PIC Fundraiser – August 29, 80’s theme, all proceeds to benefit PAWS and Beautify CNMI. $25 per person.
d. Champion & Steward Awards – Handed out
e. Bumper Stickers – Angelo has had a few requests for bumper stickers.
i. The group is going to have a slogan/bumper sticker contest to end the first week of September. Angelo will coordinate this.
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment

Beautify CNMI Meeting Next Week

The first Beautify CNMI monthly meeting in about a year is scheduled for next Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 3:30 PM. This will be a reorganization meeting. We're not going to change too much, just bring everyone back to the table to see how we can continue to work together.

I will start the meeting off with a short synopsis of our different programs over the last 3 years.

CAMI CNMI

There will be a CAMI CNMI meeting tonight at the BenCam Building in Garapan at 6 PM. Contact Jeanne Rayphand at jeanneesq@yahoo.com for more information.

Meeting Reminders

There will be a Beautify CNMI General meeting tonight at 7 PM at Cafe in the Park in Garapan.

There will be an Beautify CNMI Chair meeting tonight at 5:30 at Abyss in Garapan.

See you there.

Angelo

August 2007 General Meeting Notes

August 2007 General Meeting

Restoration – Angelo Villagomez with help from Cinta Kaipat

Planted 100 Flame Trees so far, about 25 ready to be planted
Purchasing supplies for more plantings with RCDs NFWF grant
Upcoming Obyan Planting – Sept.
Upcoming Laulau Planting – Sept.
Saipan Southern HS painting on Aug. 11
MHS Tree Planting on Aug. 10
Year of the Coral Reef mural contest
-Reina needs a budget/proposal
-Cinta wants to have a one day painting
-We need to talk to Officer Seman

Micronesia Challenge – Angelo Villagomez

Panel Discussion on MC on Aug. 24. May have to postpone one week due to American Samoa conference – I’ll find out tomorrow
Reserved www.micronesiachallenge.com – redirects to the Unofficial MC Blog
Photo contest has 11 submissions. We need more.

Parks & Trails – Angelo Villagomez for Ken Kramer

Working with BSA to restore Banadero Trail
Coordinating with RCD, MINA, HPO, and DFW
Next meeting is on August 17, 1 PM at USDA NRCS

Animal Welfare – Angelo Villagomez, read an email by Katie Busenkell

- We are still working towards opening a humane shelter with the Mayor's office. So far, the Mayor's office is unwilling to entertain the idea of re-designing the shelter. Chair Katie Busenkell objects to the Mayor's current design plan because: (1) it is absorbing too much money and appears to be ill-designed; and (2) No one from the Humane Society, or with experience operating a shelter, has been consulted about the design plan. Proper design is extremely important, as ill-designed shelter can quickly become death traps that cultivate and host diseases.

-Passing anti-cruelty legislation. A presentation to the Senate/House Committee will hopefully take place sometime in the next couple of weeks. With approval from the committee considering the bill, AWC members and PAWS members will be invited to attend the presentation;

-PAWS President.AWC Chair Katie Busenkell just returned from a conference in Samoa, hosted by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), a United Nations Partner. The conference focused primarily on educating children about responsible pet ownership and government methods of animal control.

PAWS will be hosting a general meeting in September wherein the conference will be discussed in greater detail. All are invited to attend and participate in discussions and endeavors. The date and time will be announced later.

-Katie mentioned the Turtle Conservation Project to WSPA representatives. They will send AWC what materials they have about turtle conservation/preservation.

Legislation & Zoning – Cinta Kaipat

Cinta submitted a Global Warming bill
Zoning hearing on August 14, 6:30 at the Multipurpose Center

Solid Waste – Steve Hiney

The project has been slowed because there was no property to work on the cars and no permits from DEQ
Bali Steel and DPL signed Lease on August 3, they now have land.
They are writing a permit application for DEQ
Going to do a survey of the area next week looking for cars
Mayor has not responded, may have equipment, but hasn’t confirmed
There are some issues concerning what to do with the parts of the car that can’t be sold as scrap metal – it will probably end up in the landfill

Minutes of Meeting, 6/14/07

Present were Cinta Kaipat, chair, Angelo Villogomez, Ken Kramer, Teny Topalian, Steve Hiney, Ruth Tighe and Dennis Cabrera.

Restoration Committee: Angelo said that in light of the cutting down of diseased flame-trees, planting more should be a priority. A flame-tree planting is scheduled for June 19 on Beach Road to mark the anniversary of the first tree planting, and purchasers of flame trees will be encouraged to plant their trees themselves. Over 2,000 trees have been planted by Beautify CNMI! in the year since the program started.

Several bus stops have also been repainted since the last meeting.

Turtle Conservation/MC Committee: The Resource and Conservation District has developed bags and bumper stickers in support of turtle conservation, carrying the slogan, "What we do on the land can affect our marine environment." Making a video as an educational tool was discussed, with concern expressed not only about what phase of turtle conservation to include (does showing tagging give away how to capture a turtle?), but also about distribution. Angelo will talk to Mike Tripp about suggestions, ideas, but it seems likely a grant will be needed to make the film and get it distributed. The turtle poaching of the previous week was mentioned.

Access to a boat for turtle projects was raised, but it was concluded that while CRM, Fish and Wildlife and NMC may have vessels, the liability risk militates against using a government owned boat for Beautify CNMI! projects.

Triggered by Angelo's suggestion that turtle-decorating contest winners from Guam be brought to Saipan, holding a local contest was discussed, perhaps of creating turtles, to be exhibited at the Paseo. Though using only re-cycled materials was proposed, it was decided not to limit the materials that could be used. Angelo will discuss this further with PDM, Masako-san

Cinta reminded everyone that the turtle issue began with Lynn Bruzesse's interest in having Ulithi join hands with the CNMI in turtle conservation programs that perpetuate traditional approaches to preservation and protection. The idea of establishing a turtle hatchery was discussed.

Status of the solar-powered restroom on the Beach Path: Water and sewer connections have not been made. Since it is allegedly on the right-of-way, the Department of Land and Natural Resources cannot use its park money as it had intended, to make the connections. Ken will be meeting with Thelma Inos of the Energy Department and Dr. Dela Cruz of DLNR to see if a solution can be found.

Angelo noted that the Marshall Islands, from which he had just returned, face the same problems Beautify CNMI! does: the difficulty faced by NGO's in being invited, being able to participate, in issues related to the NGO mission.

Animal Welfare Committee: Cinta reported on behalf of Katie Busenkell, who was not able to attend. The stateside veterinarian Katie has been communicating with is due to arrive on Saipan in August for a week to check out facilities, etc. The spay and neuter clinic is now tentatively scheduled for February or March 2008. Katie distributed an extensive list of items needed for such a clinic that had been drawn up by the group that sponsored a similar clinic on Guam. This project has been killed.

Legislation Committee: Cinta reported that there has been no progress on amending the litter law, as DEQ had requested, and as was discussed at last month's meeting. She said legislators are adamant that fines be increased, despite the concern about blanket fines for minor or major littering and the reluctance of "litter cops" to write tickets. The law should have been tiered, suggested Steve.

Ken Kramer announced that forestry training is being conducted by DLNR. He noted that Dr. Dela Cruz said the department has $150,000 that must be committed or it will be lost. Several suggestions were made for its use: a chipper, a pull-behind trailer for re-cycling use.....

Steve Hiney said he'd asked several vendors to submit proposals for patrolling Middle Road and Beach Road for four hours twice a week to picking up road kill but had gotten no response to date. Angelo said the real need was to have someone available on call. It was suggested that the informal request for proposal be broadened, and not restricted only to trash collectors, or to specific times and frequencies.

Re-cycling: Steve reported that a place to put junk cars would be available in two weeks, and what was needed was a place for someone to take phone calls relating to the location of the cars, etc. Angelo offered space and phones in the MINA office.

Steve said that while there now is no specific slot on the agenda of the EPA annual meeting in American Samoa for a discussion of Beautify CNMI!, he will be referring to it as a repeatable model in his talk re: regionalization.

In closing, Cinta asked about a float for the 4th of July. Apparently, the project has fallen by the wayside.

May General Meeting Minutes

Thank you, Ruth, for taking the minutes.

BEAUTIFY CNMI!
General Membership Meeting
Minutes, 5/09/07


The meeting was held in the conference room of the DPW transfer station in Lower Base and chaired by Representative Cinta Kaipat. It was observed that the general meeeting attendance seemed to be declining, but that attendance at committee meetings was growing. In providing Scott Crockett, Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist and first-time attendee, of an overview of the function of Beautify CNMI!, Angelo explained that BC has no by-laws, no officers, no formal organization. It is intended to to serve as a model for problem solving, the steps being: identify the problem/need, identify the solution, find the means to apply the solution, and then do so.

Angelo welcomed Scott, noting that Scott's office has funding the BC could tap into, and that in turn, the BC could offer his office a network of do-ers, and a means of providing outreach.

The report from Solid Waste, Recycling and Junk Cars committee was deferred due to the absence of its chairman.

Chairperson Angelo Villagomez presented the report from the Restoration and Graffiti committees. Instead of "grafitti," Micronesian Mural Challenge should be used, he said, to put the emphasis on creating art, to encourage positive artistic talent. The MMC committee will solicit art work, identify places to be painted, and provide paints. The project is under the leadership of DPS Crime Prevention Unit's Tricia Semen.

The flame tree replacement program has received funding for 50 trees from Attorney Jed Horey, and for 21 more from individuals to date. The trees will be planted when rainy season starts. Ken Kramer suggested that an embossing stamp be created, for placement on the ground as a means of identifying tree donors. Angelo said he would look into it.

A comment was made re DPW's cutting down of ailing flame trees - that it should wait until the trees have finished blooming. Cinta said she'd follow up on that.

Herminia Fusco reported that Roy Sablan, of HPO, has money to restore the bell tower, which had been one of the Restoration committee's concerns.

Cinta, in her capacity as Legislation Committee chair, reported that she had been asked to amend the littering law to lower the fines for littering, since litter officers were reluctant to impose the $200 fine now in the law for lesser infringements. There was considerable discussion, but all agreed it was important to enforce the principle that littering be against the law - no matter how small. In addition to discussing the pros and cons of lowering the fine, the group suggesting including a mandatory requirement for community service. Publication of the names of litterers, and having them wear identifying vests (labelled "litter bug") were also discussed.

Chris Parke was called upon to for an update on Zoning Board activity - she noted that the zoning board will hold an open house from 2-5 the next day on tentative plans for Garapan and the Beach Road area. Consultant John Owens from Seattle, Oregon, had conducted a 1 1/2-day workshop and the presentation was based on its findings. Among the suggestions coming forth: that the island's architecture reflect its island location.

Angelo noted that the Micronesian Challenge committee had focused on turtle breeding site protection. He note that some government agencies working on the Challenge do not seem to be on the same page as BC.

Scott was then given the floor, and mentioned two specific programs he administers that BC might find useful: EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program), which promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals, and WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program), which encourages the creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife of national, state and local significance. Both provide funding, for which matching can be done with labor and locally supplied materials. The programs, said Scott, could help leverage BC funds by providing technical assistance and funding in the areas of conservation, forestry, ecology and land use planning.

Discussion focussed on the trail, earlier proposed by Carl Brachaer - dubbed the "Pacific Crest Birdwatching Trail" - whose construction Scott said could be assisted by both the NRCS and RCD programs, under the rubric of creating, enhancing and restoring habitat. Ken Kramer was named head of the Trail committee.

Katie Busenkell reported the Animal Welfare Committees' upcoming pet show, to be held on Saturday at the airport football field, and the committee's project to make presentations on pet care in every school on island. The next PAWS Meeting will be held at Bobby Cadillac's on 5/16 at ll:30 a.m. Nominations will be sought for PAWS Board members.

The new committee chairs named are: Ken Kramer, Trail Committee and Tricia Semen, Micronesian Challenge.

Angelo reported that BC had collected $1200 from ARC, received a $500 check from Bank of Guam, another $500 from Nancy Rushmerand $700 from the Flame Tree festival, plus $1420 from the sale of flame trees to date. About $1400 of the money has already been spent to pay for the awards, some t-shirts, and buttons and stickers from the fundraiser at Aqua Resort.

Cinta reported on the extensive plans San Vicente Elementary School has made for the week of May 21, starting with a full day dedicated to cleaning up the SVS adopted beach at Lau Lau on that Monday.

She reported that Ken Concepcion (KC) is working with Koblerville families to get the Koblerville Youth Center up and running. Among the plans: to hold Friday night family fun programs along the lines of the street market, complete with a stage for performances.

She also mentioned Tanapag's Tataga Fundraising event - BC will be donating a tent for use at the event, and making available information about BC activities and projects. She asked for volunteers to help man the booth between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 26.

It was decided to enter a BC float in the 4th of July parade - Marites Castillo was asked to chair that project/committee.

Lastly, Angelo announced that there will be a clean-up of the Okinawa War Memorial on Saturday, the 26th, in preparation for the arrival of an Okinawan group of visitors.

Steve Hiney, chair of the Solid Waste, Recycling and Junk Cars committee arrived as the meeting was ending. He assured attendees that the junk car project was still alive, and expected to be implemented shortly.