Boyer gives way to Cody as Rotary holds induction ceremony

Associate Justice Perry Inos swears in the new Rotary Club of Saipan officers and directors during the induction ceremony on July 1 at the Pacific Islands Club. (Jayson Camacho)

“Here we go back, this is our moment, tonight is our night, will fight ’till it’s over, so we put our hands up and the ceiling can’t hold us.”

The ceremony, held at Charley’s Cabaret of the Pacific Islands Club, officially installed the local Rotary Club’s new officers and directors.

Boyer said her term was an “ambitious start” in transforming the club from within to serve the community to the best of its resources.

“This was a fruitful and productive year and as I said last year you are only as good as your team,” Boyer said.

It was during Boyer’s term that the club saw numerous achievements, including starting the groundwork on the Kagman Healthy Living Family Park, hosting the man’amko to a Thanksgiving lunch and movie, serving over 3,000 children in the annual Trunk or Treat event, donating toys to the CNMI Salvation Army in the Rotary Club’s annual Christmas party, holding the first Love on the Run fundraiser, distributing dictionaries to all third graders in the CNMI, organizing the first Rock-to-Read literary event for junior high and high school students, and continuing to support the Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.

Other achievements included creating new Rotary Club badges, hosting the first Rotary open house, cleaning up the youth skate park, fundraising for the Philippines and Palau for Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, donating to a Russian children’s hospital for the warm window project, participating in the 2014 conference in Tokyo, raising over $5,000 for the Rotary Foundation, organizing a large Las Vegas night fundraiser, and raising over $45,000 for community projects.

“We were recognized in the district for both growth and entertainment and we were No. 1 in the Pacific Group Basin. We doubled the size of the Marianas High School Interact Club and created the first Northern Marianas Rotaract Club,” Boyer said.

The new Tokyo Atago District Club also became a sister club of the Rotary Club of Saipan.

According to Rotary Club member Ben Babauta, newly elected president Richard Cody has “big shoes to fill.”

Cody acknowledged that, saying that Boyer is a tough act to follow. “I confess that not one single person could fill that void.”

Cody also noted the fact that Boyer was the first woman president of the Rotary Club. “Boyer and the outgoing directors were outstanding,” he said.

Aside from Cody, other Rotary Club officers and directors inducted Tuesday night were vice president Curtis Dancoe, secretary Lareina Camacho, treasurer Glenn Perez, director for club service Marcia Ayuyu, director for community service Brian Clayton, director for vocational service Thomas Thornburgh, director for international service Laila Boyer, and director for Rotary Foundation Pete Shilling.

Associate Justice Perry Inos administered the new officials’ oath of office.