Anti-cancer group elects new board members

The Commonwealth Cancer Association elected its 2012 board members during its annual general membership meeting held at the CCA conference room at the Gualo Rai Plaza Building on Jan. 31.

Lauri Ogumoro, Dave Rosario, and former CCA program manager Tina Sablan were elected at the meeting that was attended by over 20.

Ogumoro, who filled the post left by former board member Robert Torres, was re-elected while Rosario and Sablan, who are new to the board, replaced Bobbi Grizzard and Jocelyn Deleon Guerrero.

Grizzard served on the CCA board for over 10 years, since the program started, while Deleon Guerrero finished a two-year term.

“On behalf of the [CCA], we would like to express our big thanks to Bobbi and Jocelyn for the hard work and commitment they put into making CCA a better place for the Commonwealth,” said CCA assistant program manager Naomi Benjamin.

At the meeting, vice president Alex Sablan also presented the president’s report since CCA president Bud White was off-island.

He reported that CCA provided services in 2011 to 66 clients, 35 of them new clients. Services included dietary supplements such as Ensure, Glucerna, vitamins, and fresh milk; hospital equipment loans such as hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, and wheelchairs; fruits and vegetable vouchers; personal care items; and mastectomy bras.

Alex Sablan noted that the organization was instrumental in the certification of over 20 volunteers under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Outreach Project in August 2011.

“These volunteers went through six weeks of rigorous training being educated about the importance of early detection and prevention that will assist them in doing outreach in the community,” said Benjamin.

Meanwhile, board treasurer Maggie Camacho reported on CCA’s financials in 2011. She said CCA spent only 94 percent of its budget. Its total assets and net proceeds are at $156,675 and $67,000 respectively.

Alex Sablan expressed appreciation to all sponsors, volunteers, and donors for their monetary and in-kind donation in 2011 and looks forward to working with them this year.

CCA is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cancer awareness and prevention, providing patient support services, and serving as the liaison and advocate for cancer issues in the CNMI and the region.