Hofschneider inks four proclamations

Children, parents, supporters, and CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities attend the proclamation signing on Feb. 28 2014, declaring the month of March as CNMI Disability Awareness Month. (Jayson Camacho)

Acting governor Jude Hofschneider dashed off four proclamation signings on Friday on Capitol Hill, with four different organizations that want to raise public awareness on different issues.

Over 80 people attended the proclamation signings. Among them were government agency officials, representatives, community members, supporters, and the media.

All proclamations designated March as the official month to highlight the specific objectives of the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities, NMI Girl Scouts, American Red Cross, and CNMI Woman’s Association.

CNMI Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

More than 50 people showed up for the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities’ proclamation signing at 10am.

“This is a time for us to focus on helping the public better understand the important contributions of our citizens with disabilities,” said Hofschneider.

The proclamation, which designates the month of March as CNMI Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, seeks to raise the community’s awareness of disabilities that affect more than six million American children and adults of all ages.

The CDD’s major goal is to undertake progressive advocacy, capacity building, and systemic changes to ensure that individuals with developmental and other disabilities, together with their families, participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance promoting self-determination, productivity, independence, integration, and inclusion in all facets of community life.

The CDD states that residents with disabilities shall have equal access to all government services, employment, communication, labor, housing, public accommodations, education, transportation, health and child care, and recreation.

“We shall undertake reasonable actions necessary to carry out its principal mandate,” said John Deleon Guerrero Demapan Jr., acting CDD chair. “Look at us as people with abilities and not disabilities.”

Girl Scout Month

The CDD proclamation was immediately followed by the Girl Scout’s proclamation at 11am, which designated the month of March as Girl Scout Month. The occasion will also mark the 102nd Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA on March 12, 2014. March 9 to March 15 will officially be Girl Scout Week.

The occasion will honor the Girl Scout movement, which has been a channel for girls of all ages to make important contributions to their communities, including here in the Commonwealth. The group also enables girls to develop self-esteem and leadership skills, and provides them with an atmosphere of warm and true friendship. It not only reflects the enduring values and standards that have been part of an organization since 1912, but also lends itself to the special and unique situation of girls in the new millennium.

Sisters Meanne Hembra, 9, who is in 4th grade, Mariel Hembra, 7, who is in 2nd grade, and Rania Boyer, 7, also in the 2nd grade, said they joined Girl Scouts “to help people, animals who have been hurt, and save our people.”

Hofschneider said, “I encourage everyone to support in every way the activities and endeavors of the NMI Girl Scouts.”

American Red Cross Month

March has also been designated as a special time for the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter to recognize and thank the everyday heroes who reach out to help when they are needed. They have been doing many community outreaches over the year and will cap of the month on March 29 with the American Red Cross Walkathon.

Representatives of the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter invite the community to participate in this year’s edition of the walkathon. The walkathon usually attracts about 3,000 participants every year.

At the proclamation signing, the focus was on the “everyday heroes” of the Northern Mariana Islands who give so much to help people in times of disasters by delivering emergency food, clothing, shelter and a shoulder to lean on.

“When an injured service member ended up in a hospital far from home, the American Red Cross offered comfort. When a hospital patient needed blood, American Red cross blood donors helped them. When a lifeguard jumped in to save a drowning child or someone stepped up to help a heart attack victim, the American Red Cross was there,” the proclamation states.

Hofschneider encouraged the community of Saipan, Rota, and Tinian to support the organization and its noble humanitarian mission.

CNMI Women’s Month

March is also CNMI Women’s Month and March 8, 2014, has been designated as CNMI Women’s Day. It is a global celebration of the economic, educational, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future.

The CNMI Women’s Association is the beacon and strength for all women of the CNMI and is committed to advocating, guiding, and lighting the way for the continued progress and prosperity of the CNMI.

They will host a series of events during the month of March highlighting the accomplishments of women and honoring their role in shaping the course of the nation’s history.

Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota) said, “Women of the CNMI continue to serve our nation at the highest levels of government and our armed forces and have made contributions to the growth and strength of our community.”

Hofschneider called upon the people of the CNMI to unite and support equality for all women, and participate in the events, programs, ceremonies and activities scheduled in honor of CNMI Women’s Month and Women’s Day. (Jayson Camacho)