Marianas Variety Article

The Marianas Variety does not have an archive system, so I am reposting this article in its entirety. This article appeared in the Friday, June 9, 2006 issue.

Wanted: Earth Team Volunteers

By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

THE Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council are now looking for volunteers that will help carry out the agency’s mission, which is the conservation and improvement of the environment and natural resources.

Staff members of the organizations are promoting the Earth Team Volunteer Program which has been in existence since 1981.

Antonette G. Tornito, Earth Team state coordinator for the Pacific Islands Area-Pacific Basin, said they are coordinating with the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management, the Department of Public Works and other concerned agencies to encourage the spirit of volunteerism in the CNMI.

Tornito said they want to involve the community in conserving, maintaining and improving natural resources.

She said the job of conserving natural resources cannot be done by government alone.
The collective talents and energies of private individuals and groups are also needed, she added.

Tornito who attended the committee meeting of the Beautify CNMI program held in the DEQ conference room yesterday, encouraged the heads of each subcommittee and representatives from different government agencies to participate in the Earth Team Volunteer Program.

A volunteer must be 14 years old or older.

Volunteers will not get a salary but the Natural Resources Conservation Service can pay for incidental expenses that volunteers may incur.

Tornito said the NRCS will also provide protection to volunteers under the Worker’s Compensation Program and Tort Claims Act.

Tornito said 34,432 volunteers across the nation joined in 2005.