Rotary rounding out its end-of-the-year projects

After more than five years of fundraising efforts through their signature Las Vegas Night, the Rotary Club of Saipan is now moving to the next phase of their Kagman community playground and park project.

According to club president Curtis Dancoe, the next phase requires building designs and a scope of work that will be submitted to the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. by the end of November for certification.

He said the commemorative da’ok tree that was planted on the site and stolen three times has since been replaced and is still standing where the future Kagman playground will be built.

Club services director Elitza Stoilova said the club is working on an official website based on Rotary International requirements and it is being eyed to go live next year.

“We’re slowly recovering and gaining ground so we’re getting caught up with our service activities,” Dancoe said. “We’ve enjoyed a 20-percent increase in membership as well as an increase in participation. [Although] secretary Marcia [Ayuyu] is taking a leave of absence, she’ll be coming back and sharing in fellowship soon.”

Salvation Army ministry leader Wayne Gillespie said the Salvation Army will continue to have their annual toy drive in partnership with Rotary to collect toys mainly for the Division of Youth Services.

“We are looking for puzzles, games, books, and toys…DYS’ shelter is pretty full this year with a lot more kids than usual,” he said.

For the annual community Thanksgiving dinner, “we’re looking for referrals for people who do not have transportation and whose homes have been destroyed…because this year we would like to deliver the dinner to them,” Gillespie said.

According to Dancoe, Nov. 24, which is usually reserved as their Thanksgiving dinner with the man’amko, has been postponed due to the disrepair of the center after Typhoon Soudelor. Instead, Nov. 24, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 will be normal membership meetings at the Hyatt Regency Saipan with the final Dec. 15 meeting taking place at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort in conjunction with their annual Christmas Party.

The club will then resume normal membership meetings on Jan. 5 and hold Las Vegas Night at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort on Jan. 9.

The club is still looking for interested volunteer dealers for the night.

For more information on how you can purchase tickets or volunteer for the event, contact saipanrotary@gmail.com.