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Japan Rotarians Contributed to COM-FSM Endowment Fund

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 14, 1997 - In an effort to help young adults of Pohnpei and to show cooperation among clubs, a delegation of Japanese Rotarians traveled May 28 to Pohnpei to donate through the Pohnpei club more than $85,000 to the College of Micronesia-FSM Endowment Fund, according to information from the U.S. Embassy here in Pohnpei.

Led by District 2750 Governor Kenjiro Nakumura, the four-member delegation presented a check totaling $85,616.44 to College of Micronesia President Susan Moses at the Village Hotel during a dinner hosted by COM-FSM in honor of the delegation and the Pohnpei Rotary Club.

In a speech during the handing over of the donation, Nakumura said he called on all clubs in his district to assist their small sister club in its efforts to develop the young adults of Pohnpei. Because of his plea, over 2000 Rotary Clubs in Japan contributed to the endowment fund.

The District Governor became aware of COM-FSM's Endowment Fund following a presentation by Pohnpei's President Charles Hillyer at a district meeting in Tokyo in April. On behalf of the Pohnpei Rotary Club, Hillyer appealed to its fellow clubs to assist the college in meeting its $250,000 goal. When the appeal was made the college was short of its goal by more than $100,000.

Federated States of Micronesia Vice President Leo A. Falcam, a guest at the function, said in his speech that among all the resources of the Federated States of Micronesia, the most important one to develop is the nation's human resource. Falcam thanked the Japanese and Pohnpei Rotary clubs for assisting in this development.

Besides Nakumura, Japanese delegation members traveling to Pohnpei for the presentation included Masami Takeo, District 2750 Secretary; Masahiko Ishibashi, Azabu University Professor; and George Baldwin, Pacific Basin Rotary representative.

Other guests at the function were Iris Falcam, COM-FSM Endowment Fund Chairperson; Podis Pedrus, COM-FSM Regent; Widel Edwin, COM-FSM Photographer; Jasmin Gonzales, COM-FSM Administrator; Alily Bualuay and Brandon Tara, students at COM-FSM; Lorin Robert, FSM Department of External Affairs; Ben Franklin, Pohnpei State Government; Paul Delaire, Rotary Club Tumon Bay, Guam; Feiko Fuketa, Japanese Overseas Cooperative Volunteer; and Pohnpei Rotary Club members.

On July 11, 1997, FSM President Jacob Nena expressed sincere gratitude to all members of the Rotary International District 2750 in Tokyo, Japan for their generous support for the COM-FSM Endowment Fund by making their contribution to the Fund. Not only does your donation contribute substantially to the future of the College, Nena says, but it also serves to strengthen the tie between the members of the Rotary International District 2750 and the federated States of Micronesia. Thank you for your friendship and your support for the College of Micronesia-FSM, Nena concluded.