Community Briefs – Dec. 7, 2011

Free training today on selling internationally

John Holman, director of the Pacific Islands Hawaii Export Assistance Center, will be conducting a free workshop today, Dec. 7, 2011, on how local businesses can sell internationally. The seminar, which will be held at the American Memorial Park Museum’s VC Room, will be from 9am to 11am and will cover current trends, opportunities, and resources available to exporters.

Pacific Islands Hawaii Export Assistance Center is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Services. The mission of the Commercial Service is to assist local companies in selling their products or services in international markets.

Contact Linda T. Cabrera at the CNMI SBDC at 664-3018 or email linda@pacificsbdc.com to register for the event.

The same training will also be held on Tinian tomorrow, Dec. 8, 2011, at the Tinian Public Library, from 9am to 11am. Contact Phillip Mendiola-Long at the Tinian Chamber of Commerce at 433-2664 or email registration@TinianChamber.com to register for the event. (PR) 

Chamber meeting today at Fiesta

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly general membership meeting today, Dec. 7, 2011 at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Hotel in Garapan, Saipan. Luncheon will begin at 11:30am, and the general membership meeting will be called to order at 12pm.

Speaking to SCC’s membership at the luncheon will be the newly appointed chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Health Care Corp., Juan N. Babauta, who will make a presentation on what will be accomplished as a result of the creation of the corporation.

SCC will also be hosting its Student Exploration Day, and the 57 students being sponsored by SCC members will be attending the luncheon as well. A special guest will be introduced to the audience after the students are introduced. Luncheon is $15 for SCC members; guests and non-SCC members are charged $20. (SCC)

Rev & Tax to conduct workshop for employers 

This is to advise all employers that the Division of Revenue and Taxation, Department of Finance, will be conducting a workshop for the Annual Wage and Salary Statement, Form (W-2CM) for tax year 2011 and other 2011 year-end filing requirements. The workshop will be on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. The first seminar will be from 8am to 11am and the second session will be from 1pm to 4pm at the Department of Public Lands conference room in the Joeten Dandan Commercial Center. Businesses, employers and all payroll service companies are encouraged to attend. Confirm your attendance by calling the administration office of the Division of Revenue and Taxation at 664-1000 or via fax at 664-1015. (PR)

DEQ brigade seeks volunteers for cleanup 

The Division of Environmental Quality monthly cleanup brigade is deviating from its regular 1st Saturday of the month schedule and has scheduled its December cleanup on Dec. 17, 2011, picking up trash at Old Man by the Sea, Saipan. The beach is littered with float and jet-stream trash and it needs our help so DEQ is asking for more volunteers to join this particular cleanup.

If you would like to volunteer, please meet the DEQ representative on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8am along the road heading to Kingfisher Golf. Volunteers will split into groups and clean until 10am and break for drinks and then continue, if needed.

This month, outstanding brigade volunteers who participated in at least 10 monthly cleanups will receive a brigade cap and those who participated in at least three cleanups will receive a green brigade T-shirt. For more information about volunteering, contact the DEQ office at 664-8500/1. (DEQ)

Mañagaha gets green flag

The Division of Environmental Quality analyzed water samples collected from Managaha’s recreational beaches and dock this week as part of the regularly scheduled sampling. None of the samples collected contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria nor did they exceed the CNMI Marine Water Quality standards. Therefore, DEQ assigns all of the sampled beach sites a green flag.

The division analyzed a total of 11 samples from Managaha this week. DEQ welcomes all inquiries as to the quality of the beach water. The public is encouraged to contact DEQ at 664-8500 with any questions concerning this matter. (DEQ)