Rotary Club to send up to $11K in cleaning supplies to Bavi-hit Rota

The Rotary Club of Saipan is preparing to send up to $11,000 worth of hygiene and cleaning supplies to Rota following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Bavi, with additional assistance also earmarked for Tinian, Saipan, and the Northern Marianas College School of Nursing.

Rotary Club of Saipan president Irene Holl said the club's board has approved allocating the largest share of its disaster assistance to Rota, responding directly to requests from Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog.

"We will divert mostly to Rota," Holl said during the global service organization’s meeting last July 14 at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, explaining that the initial allocation includes about $5,000 for Rota, $2,000 each for Tinian and Saipan, and another $2,000 for the Northern Marianas College School of Nursing. She added that additional donations from Rotary clubs in Japan and the Rotary district could increase Rota's allocation to about $8,000, bringing the total relief package to as much as $11,000.

Rather than sending cash, the club will purchase the requested supplies on Saipan before shipping them to Rota because many of the needed items are unavailable on the island.

"What mayor Aubrey requested from us is cleaning supplies, like paper towels, bleach, detergents," Holl said.

She said Rotarian Perry Inos Sr. has volunteered his boat to transport the donated items to Rota.

"It depends on what $10,000 can buy for now," she said of the volume of supplies. "We have to buy it here because they cannot buy it in Rota also."

The shipment will consist primarily of hygiene and cleaning products for Rota, while Tinian's allocation will be used to purchase butane fuel.

"So, the $2,000 will all be butane for Tinian," Holl said.

For Saipan, Holl said Rotary will continue distributing bottled water and other remaining relief supplies through local volunteers.

The donations will be turned over to the mayors' offices on Rota and Tinian for distribution to residents.

"That we will turn over to the mayor's office and let them decide," Holl said, noting that officials on Rota have estimated that about 600 households were affected by the typhoon.

Holl also encouraged Rota residents to remain hopeful, saying support continues to pour in from both local and international Rotary members.

"You're not alone. Saipan is doing [its] best," she said. "Just one Strong Marianas, we're one."

Beyond the Rotary effort, Holl said community fundraising is continuing, including an Aug. 15 dance fundraiser organized by her Fitbit Zumba group, while donation jars have already been placed in businesses owned by Rotary members to collect additional relief funds.

Meanwhile, the local Rotary club honored community volunteer Enoch Lim as its 2025-2026 Rotarian of the Year and recognized longtime community advocates Nelson and Donna Krum as its Citizen of the Year during the club's induction ceremony held last June 30 at the beachfront of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

The event, which happened a few days before Super Typhoon struck the Marianas, also marked the formal installation of officers and directors for Rotary Year 2026-2027, with Irene Holl taking over the presidency from Borja.

In her brief inaugural address, Holl announced that the club's local theme for the new Rotary year will be "Love in Action," complementing Rotary International's 2026-2027 theme, "Create Lasting Impact."

She acknowledged that the club continues to face challenges following Super Typhoon Sinlaku and emphasized rebuilding its fundraising efforts after two years without major campaigns.

Holl announced that the club's first major fundraiser will be held on Oct. 17, followed by the annual Zumba event in November, the Man'amko Thanksgiving outreach, the fourth cycling event in February with visitors expected from Japan and Taiwan, and a large pickleball tournament planned for late April.

Aside from Holl, installed officers for Rotary Year 2026-2027 are president-elect Catherine Attao-Toves, vice president Dr. Peter Gregor, secretary Joe Torres, treasurer Glenn Perez, and sergeant-at-arms Pastor Wayne Gillespie.

Board directors include Donna Krum (Club Service), Lim (Community Service), Das Krishnan (Rotary Foundation), pastor Stephen Dame (Vocational Service), Ivan Ilmov (New Generations), and Borja (International Service).