‘Thank you and congratulations!’

Eighty golfers participated in 18 holes of double Peoria golf at the Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort’s west course, successfully raising funds for the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and its Resource and Collection Department, Circulation Materials, and Library Programs.

The Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library hosted the 2nd Annual Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Golf Tournament Fundraiser in beautiful Kagman, Saipan, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016. Over $10,000 was raised to support our CNMI state library and its affiliated Resource and Collections Department, Circulation Materials, and Library Programs.

The mission of the Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library is to promote the continued existence and effectiveness of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library to the community; to promote the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library as a vital informational, cultural, education, and recreational asset to the CNMI; and to raise funds when possible to supplement special items that are not provided by the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library budget. Our vision is to promote understanding and appreciation of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and its affiliated libraries where everyone enjoys, uses, and supports our CNMI State Library.

“2016 marks the 25thanniversary of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, and as we continue to work on raising awareness about the importance of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, the Rota Public Library, and the Tinian Public Library to the CNMI, fundraisers such as this—sponsored by Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library—greatly assist our CNMI state library. We wish to thank you all for your tremendous support here today!” said acting director Erlinda Naputi.

It is such an honor to host members of the Saipan Golf Association, the Korean Golf Association Marianas Golf Association, the Refaluwasch Golf Association, the Amigos Golf Association, and Xclusive Golf Association and three professional golf players who flew in from Guam to compete in our event! Thank you to our supporters and most especially our Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, our amazing corporate sponsors, Imperial Pacific International, Ltd., the Joeten Dai Dai Foundation, Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc, Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort, GREE Air Conditioning, Kilili for U.S. Congress, Triple J, MARPAC, Pacific Trading Co., Ltd., MegaByte, J’s Restaurant, Kanoa Resort, T-Galleria DFS Saipan, and Carpet Masters; Golf Committee members, Library Council, volunteers, Gov. Ralph Torres, Rep. John Paul Sablan, and legislators for supporting our CNMI state library. We couldn’t have done it without you all!

We are very fortunate to be able to host our tournament and lunch banquet on the island’s premier golf course, Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort, and to work with their professional team. We have 80 golfers in participation—that’s nearly double of what we have achieved during our 1st golf tournament fundraiser more than four years ago. We have over 12 corporate sponsors, pledging monies, donations, contributions, manpower, and support in ensuring this event be an overall success. For those of you who have never participated in our first golf tournament fundraiser, you are in for a real treat and those returning golf players, we welcome you back.

Following the success of the tournament, Naputi further said, “The 2nd Annual Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Golf Tournament Fundraiser was a huge success! The weather was perfect! The Lao Lao Bay golf course was in spectacular condition, and we are already looking forward to planning our 3rd Annual Joeten-Kiyu Golf Tournament Fundraiser.”

Tournament participants also enjoyed a variety of optional play/ side bet competition in addition to the 18 holes of double Peoria. Activities included closest to the hole (KP) #3, KP # 7, KP #13, and KP #17. KPs were sponsored by Triple J and Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan. The longest drive Hole No. 10 was sponsored by GREE Air Conditioning. All winners of these side games each received a $200 cash prizes. Moreover, $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and a brand new car 2016 Kia Rio EX sponsored by the Joeten Dai Dai Foundation was up for grabs in the hole-in-one competition. Unfortunately, there were no winners for the hole-in-one $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and brand new 2016 Kia Rio EX sponsored by the Joeten Dai Dai Foundation.

Immediately following the golf tournament, a beautiful outdoor banquet and awards ceremony was held at Lao Lao Bay’s driving range with raffle prizes galore.

On behalf of the Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, we extend our thanks and appreciation to the many individuals, organizations and businesses who have contributed to the success of our 2nd Annual Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Golf Tournament Fundraiser. 

We hope you all enjoyed your time with us. Now, we look forward to seeing all of you at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s 25th Anniversary Dinner Fundraiser scheduled for Dec. 19 at the Pacific Islands Club.Tickets are $50 and if you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, please call us at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library at 235-7323/235-7316. All proceeds will be going to the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library’s much needed Resource and Collection Department, Circulation Materials, and Library Programs.

Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library