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

Draft Meeting Minutes for March 11, 2010

MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 11, 2010 – 5:30PM
Tasi Tours Conference Room

I. Introductions – around the table
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes
1) agenda adopted
2) no meeting minutes from last meeting - moved & approved to push adoption of minutes to next meeting: agreed!
III. Special Initiatives
1) Ogumoro-Uludong – SCS: Eco-Karnival
i. Saipan Community School is hosting
ii. Looking for community participation
iii. Mission to educate youth and community
iv. Booths from K-8: games, displays, Govt Agencies are going to be involved
v. Wants to invite Beautify CNMI
1. Thelma will follow up stickers
2. Try to prepare an info sheet that could distributed
2) Lisa Eller – DEQ: Garapan Stormwater Pollution Prevention Project
i. Water gets polluted by various human activities
ii. Goal is to teach community members that pollution is tied with coral reef health and tourism
iii. Businesses cooperate and get certified
1. Free training
2. Low cost remedies
3. Certified sticker for their window
iv. Some simple, affordable, beautifying ideas
1. Rain gardens
2. Rain catchment
3. Closing trash bins
4. Unclogging drain covers
v. Comments
1. Is the CNMI-wide plan being considered in this project?
2. Suggest splitting the businesses into two groups so that those who are already compliant are recognized
3. Others need to be shown how to fix the bigger problems
4. Blue Starfish is looking for business partners to help refine program and implementation
5. How can businesses open without being in compliance?
3) Aric Bickel – DEQ: Earth Hour a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) project
i. A world-wide endeavor
ii. Everyone around the world turns their lights off for 1-hour as part of global-statement
iii. Mission is to speak out about climate change
iv. Why here?
1. We aren’t guilty of causing or contributing like other countries
2. We are effected by ocean acidification and rising sea levels
v. Brainstormed ideas on how to get the most participation in the CNMI
4) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
i. Beautify CNMI! Is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI’s natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors.
ii. The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.
iii. The “Energy Star Program” – it’s a label and anyone can adopt to their own initiative…we are not a formal group, but a coalition of like-minded groups and individuals all contributing to the same focus
iv. Discussion
1. Background
2. Corporate functions are missing
a. Protection from liability
b. Implementation of accountability
3. Make sure that acknowledgment is given to the primary promoter
4. Is it a group or is it a campaign?
5. If it’s a group and should be a campaign there needs to be a transition
6. Cinta and Laurie are now council members for RC&D Marianas and part of the Saipan committee --- perhaps tuck BCNMI back under this non-profit where it was originally born --- it provides structure and allows there to be a group administering a campaign
7. Take discussion to subcommittee and report back to group at next meeting
IV. Committee reports
1) Solid Waste
i. DEQ: Clean Up Brigade 740lbs at CowTown; Kagman Marine Biology Club will clean up Marine Beach this weekend
ii. PDM Promoters: Garapan with Awadori and Tanapag families cleaned up in Garapan area (940lbs collected)
2) Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) – Marine Debris project update
i. Adopt-A-Bin launching March 27th
ii. Seven most popular beach sites – so far 4 beaches adopted
iii. www.minapacific.org for more information go to Projects & Goals from the home page to find the Adopt-A-Bin project
iv. Home recycling bins as incentive for volunteers who help spread awareness about bins
v. Tipping fees are waived for sponsor clean-ups
vi. Keep MINA informed of sponsor-organized clean-ups for promo assistance
vii. Tan Holdings adopted and CTSI cleans-up Susupe Park every last Saturday of the month --- maybe they need a bin?
3) Graffiti
i. No new meetings since the last monthly meeting
ii. Graffiti education - concept/vision remains the same
1. Celebrity “Graffiti Busters” (Neighborhood Watch, TrenchTech and Power99)
2. Graffiti Walls and contest (ISK8, Power99)
3. Car Show and ISK8 competition (ISK8, Power99)
4. Mayor’s office supports idea – try to set up judging and completion to coincide with Liberation Festival and Parade
5. Set up corporate relationships for village residences to help eliminate graffiti (Neighborhood Watch)
6. Need help with structuring plan so that it can move forward; we are in danger of losing time to make it all come together
iii. Navy Hill Lighthouse Restoration Project – no report
4) Junk Cars – not present
5) Friends of the Marianas Islands (FMI) – not present
6) New/Other – N/A
V. Coalition Housekeeping
1) Calendar of Events – asked AOV to correct “time zone” so that events will show up correctly on the link
2) Website
i. No further accomplishment to-date
ii. Please submit ideas for content so that we can make sure that its included; i.e. Projects, Key People, Coalition Partners, About Us
iii. Check with Tyler Yoshimoto to get started; Eli Arago also offered to help
3) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
i. Ran out of time
ii. Suggested/voted/approved trying to accomplish via email
4) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards (should be April)
i. Ran out of time
ii. Suggested/voted/approved trying to accomplish via email
VI. Announcements
1) Rotary Club Las Vegas Night looking for volunteers
2) Other - none
VII. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. April 15th Confirm or Change to April 8th
ii. Time: 5:30pm
iii. Location: Fiesta Resort & Spa (tentative) --- Lina and Eli will confirm…

THANK YOU TASI TOURS for hosting this month's meeting! We look forward to our corporate partners continuing to help with donating their conference room just one night out of the year to help us keep Beautify CNMI! active.

Beautify CNMI Selects New Committee Chairs

During their regular meeting on June 4, 2009, Beautify CNMI partners brainstormed on projects for 2009 and selected chairs to head four committees.

Joe Kaipat of Division of Environmental Quality and Kathy Yuknavage of Mariana Islands Nature Alliance are to co-chair the Solid Waste Committee, the goals of which are to increase the percentage of solid waste recyclables collected, reduce littering, and remove solid waste from local beaches, roads, and villages.

The Solid Waste Committee has plans to develop an adopt-a-spot program in conjunction with a marine debris removal and recycling campaign.

“In the next year we want to take the success we’ve had with keeping Wing Beach clean and spread it to at least seven other beaches,” explained Yuknavage. “We have plans to work with the community putting recycling and trash bins next to some of the most popular beaches on Saipan.”

Angelo Villagomez of the Rotary Club of Saipan, Ronnie Rogers of Historic Preservation Office, and Kathleen Hermann of Division of Environmental Quality will co-chair the Restoration Committee, which will focus on re-vegetation projects and maintaining historical sites.

The committee plans to continue work on the Laulau Revegetation Project started by the CNMI Watershed Group in 2005. They also want to start a volunteer corp who will maintain local historical areas.

Dr. Dan Lamar of FHP Saipan will chair the Parks & Trails Committee, which seeks to create a system of local, state, and national parks under a Commonwealth Parks System.

“A Commonwealth Parks System connected by a series of trails would be a great draw for tourists,” according to Lamar. “It would also attract professionals who look at quality of life issues when deciding where they want to practice their profession.”

Laurie Peterka of Practical Solutions and local student Tyler Yoshimoto were named as the co-chairs of a new Beautify CNMI Committee that will launch a campaign uniting youth, the community, artists, and businesses to combat graffiti.

“This is something that I’ve been working on with the ISK8 Society for quite some time and I’m really excited to make it a part of Beautify CNMI,” said Peterka.

All of the coalition partners agreed that youth education and development through coalition building and partnerships should be an integral part of Beautify CNMI.

“It is so important to work with the kids,” said Hopwood Junior High School teacher Kimberly Vaillancourt.

Beautify CNMI! is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI's natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors. The coalition was a recipient of a 2007 EPA Environmental Award and received a Certificate of Commendation from the United States Congress in 2009. For more information visit them online at http://www.beautifycnmi.org.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

This morning 77 volunteers helped Beautify CNMI! remove 2,580 lbs of trash along the stretch of beach between Aguingan Point and San Antonio Elementary School. In terms of volunteer numbers, this was not our largest cleanup of 2007, but in terms of pounds of trash removed it was.

Inside one of the bags of household trash we found along the beach, one of our volunteers noticed a pair of receipts from Hollywood Video.

On January 7, 2007, somebody named Vany Andonius rented Miami Vice and Jet Li's Fearless. On January 11, Vany Andonius rented Crank, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Invincible (click on the scan of the receipts for a larger version).

After watching the movies (were they any good?), Vany chose to dispose of his (her?) household trash by dumping it on San Antonio Beach.

There is nobody named Vany Andonius listed in the CNMI Phone Book, so I need the readers of this blog to do me a favor:

If you know her, please call Vany Andonius' mother and tell her that Vany has been illegally dumping on our public beaches. I trust DEQ and DPS to do their jobs, but there is no greater authority than Mom.

Thank to everyone who showed up this morning to help us pick up trash! Thank you to Hopwood Junior High School for hosting the event and thank you to CAMI-CNMI, MINA, Marianas RC&D, Saipan International School, ISA CNMI, Rep. Kaipat, Rep. Tenorio, and Rep. Waki for bringing volunteers!