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Ernst & Young donates to MY WAVE Clubs
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Posted on Jul 26 2004
Ernst & Young CPA, an international accounting firm, has joined the ranks of a growing number of companies and groups supporting MY WAVE tourism clubs, signing up for a bronze sponsorship package that would help fund various activities of the school-based organization.
MY WAVE clubs were created to teach children about the importance of the visitor industry to the CNMI.
Ernst & Young partner James Whitt and Saipan office manager Sinforosa Magofna handed a $750 check for the sponsorship package to the Marianas Tourism Education Council board during simple ceremonies held at the Marianas Visitors Authority late last Friday afternoon.
MTEC, in partnership with the Public School System, organized the MY WAVE Clubs in 2001 to help revitalize the tourism industry by raising awareness at the community level.
To date, there are over 600 MY WAVE Club members in 14 public schools, including Rota High School. Efforts are underway to expand membership to private schools, according to Pete Mesngon, a Dandan Elementary School teacher who also is president of the MY WAVE Club advisers.
MY WAVE Club activities include airport and hotel lobby greetings where the students mingle with tourists to give them the “hafa adai” spirit; beach cleanups; singing Christmas carols to tourists during the Yuletide season; tree-planting and village beautification, among others.
Other groups and companies who have recently signed up or agreed to obtain a MY WAVE sponsorship package are Tan Holdings Corp. and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The MTEC board is composed of MVA managing director Vicky I. Benavente; PSS Associate Commissioner Rita Sablan; James Whitt; and DFS-Saipan president Marian Aldan-Pierce.
Other members are Northern Marianas College president Tony DL Guerrero, NMC tourism instructor Larry Lee, Yoichi Matsumura, general manager of the travel and tour company Pacific Development Inc.; Dai-Ichi Hotel general manager Mark Swinton; Ray Dela Cruz, head of the Tinian Mayor’s Office’s promotions; Jon Cramer, director of the Pacific Islands Club’s sports and entertainment activities; and Lynne Michael of the Rota Dive Shop.
