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White steps down; NMSA elects new board of directors
Outgoing Northern Marianas Sports Association president Michael White, right, confers with Robin Sapong, center, and Ross Igitol during the election of NMSA board of directors last night at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Northern Marianas Sports Association has selected its new board members and Michael White was not on the list, as the long-time NMSA president withdrew his nomination before the election took place last night.
White stepped down after 16 years of leading NMSA.
“Thank you for putting your trust in me in the last 16 years,” White said after presiding over the NMSA meeting for the last time yesterday at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
White was initially among the 11 individuals nominated for the board, while two more names were listed before votes were cast. In the end, seven were named to the NMSA board, including Justin Andrew, Valerie Hofschneider, James Lee, Ray Tebuteb, Laurie Peterka, John Hirsh, and Jerry Tan.
The new officials will meet soon to elect its officers who will be on the NMSA board for two years. Justin Andrew, the outgoing NMSA vice president, will preside over the board meeting.
Meanwhile, NMSA members thanked White for his service and wished him good luck in his next endeavor.
“Thank you for putting the time and effort in serving NMSA and for representing the CNMI in meetings in the Pacific Games and other sports-related events,” Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association official Jeff Race said. “Thank you for walking us through some developments at NMSA and the Oleai Sports Complex.
With White at the helm of NMSA, the group managed to put up a lottery program that finances the CNMI athletes and officials’ participation to off-island competitions and give monetary incentives to athletes. It was also under his leadership that the management and maintenance of the Oleai Sports Complex was handed to NMSA and the Commonwealth won the hosting rights for the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.
