Rota Chamber hosts first general membership meeting

From left, Saipan Chamber of Commerce executive director Kim Camacho, SCC board director Alex Sablan, Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, Rota Chamber of Commerce board director Pedro Dela Cruz, RCC president Steven McCoy, RCC treasurer Jackie Manglona, RCC secretary Dana Calvo, RCC board director Kaye Christian, and RCC vice president Juan Pan Guerrero. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The Rota Chamber of Commerce hosted its first general membership meeting at the Puesto Grill Conference Room on Rota on March 9, 2023, serving as an occasion to introduce the organization to the Rota business community.

The meeting, held from 2:pm to 4pm, introduced the RCC board of directors and information on the different types of membership tiers and committees under its Chamber.

Rota Chamber president Steven McCoy announced that all businesses that sign up as an RCC member will receive a 50% discount on membership dues for the year and those that are startup businesses may avail of a free membership for the first year of their establishment.

The event’s guest speaker, Saipan Chamber of Commerce executive director Kimberly Camacho, shared insights on the programs and activities of SCC, with the hope that the information shared will encourage the Rota business community to support the development of the Rota Chamber of Commerce. She said the SCC is dedicated to supporting RCC.

Together with Camacho was SCC board director Alex Sablan, who also shared with the Rota business community the importance of action that needs to be taken in regards to the “touchback” rule that will be taking effect on Sept. 30, 2023, when select foreign workers will be required to exit the CNMI before the renewal of work permits could be processed.

Sablan invited the Rota business community to join the SCC Tourism and Commerce committee meeting today, Monday, where the committee will discuss and share ideas on actions regarding the touchback legislation, CW-1 quota reset legislation, current CW-1 and visa regulations and processes, among other items.

Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, who was also a special guest, shared infrastructure plans for the municipality, which include plans under the Capital Improvement Program, FEMA/Public Assistance, Local appropriation, and CNMI SCORP.

Other plans shared included the different grant proposals submitted and in progress for the island, current issues, as well as ongoing plans by the former mayor, Efraim Atalig.

Hocog said she is collaborating with Northern Marians Technical Institute CEO Jodina Attao in developing certification of instructors on Rota so they may gain certified instructors and begin offering certifications for various trades needed on the island.

For more information on the Rota Chamber of Commerce and how to join, contact their board treasurer Jackie Manglona at (670) 285-3559. (Saipan Tribune/PR)