Rotary Club of Saipan earns District 2750 Award for Excellence

The Rotary Club of Saipan has received an Award for Excellence from Rotary District 2750 for its service activities and club operations during the 2025-2026 Rotary Year.

The recognition was announced during the club's regular meeting last Aug. 25 at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

The award citation said the club “has achieved remarkable results in both service activities and club operations” based on goals established by Rotary District 2750 for the 2025-2026 Rotary Year.

The award was received by Greg Borja, who served as Rotary Club of Saipan president during the 2025-2026 term for which the club was recognized. The club also received recognition for its financial support of Rotary's End Polio Countdown History Campaign.

The recognition came as the club welcomed Joe Rios, Pacific Basin Group administrator and a former District 2750 assistant governor, who spoke about Rotary's history, values, membership, and emphasis on community service.

Rios has been a Rotarian since 2003 and has twice served as president of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam. He has also served in several district leadership roles focused on strengthening clubs and supporting their leaders throughout the Pacific Basin.

During his presentation, Rios encouraged Rotarians to look beyond their individual clubs and identify needs throughout their communities, including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

“Rotary takes action and we just don't want to wait for someone else to do it. We'll definitely take action to help our community,” Rios said.

He said Rotary's work is rooted in service, integrity, fellowship, leadership, and collaboration, with members encouraged to use their professional skills to help their clubs carry out community projects.

Rios also encouraged the Saipan club to pursue projects that can continue beyond a single Rotary year and leave a lasting impact.

“What is that service project that you're going to do this year that you carried on from last year that you want to accomplish and achieve so that you can create lasting impact for that legacy project in the following year?” Rios said.

Toward the end of the meeting, Rios pointed to projects undertaken by the Rotary Club of Saipan and other Pacific Basin clubs as examples of Rotary's community work. He cited playgrounds built by the Saipan club, donated medical equipment, generators purchased for a hospital, peace projects, benches, and other projects throughout the islands.

“Every Rotary here should be very proud because of the work and the projects that you guys were able to accomplish,” Rios said.

Rios also discussed efforts to encourage younger members to remain involved in Rotary. He said Rotaractors may become Rotarians and that clubs have flexibility in developing membership fee structures to accommodate younger members. Rios said District 2750 dues for members age 34 and younger are half the regular district rate.

Rotary Club of Saipan president Irene Holl, meanwhile, announced that the club's Las Vegas Night fundraiser has been confirmed for Oct. 17. Holl said Rotary clubs on Guam have committed to helping sell tickets for the fundraiser as the Saipan club moves forward with ticket sales.