Palau Community College

MESEKIU'S

NEWS

Friday, July 13, 2007                                     Weekly Newsletter                                       Volume 9, Issue 28

College Joins ROP in Celebrating Constitution Day,
Participates in Olechotel Belau Fair

Regardless of the foul and unpredictable weather, the Republic joyfully celebrated the 27th Constitution Day which coincided with the Olechotel Belau Fair (OBF) this year. All sixteen (16) states made booths together with the twenty (20) private organizations. Palauan hand-crafted items and unique Palauan dishes and delicacies were on display and available for sale in most booths. PCC-Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) also had a booth at the fair, showcasing their various research projects that included the famous shochu production, taro tissue culture, and Rabbit Fish (Meas) hatchery and rearing methods.

President Tellei (seated left) with Koror State Delegate Joel Toribiong, Takeshi Erungel, and Adalbert Eledui. Tellei, Vice Presidents Thomas Taro and Jay Olegeriil, and a number of College staff joined the two-day fair.

Ngaremlengui State First Lady, Mrs. Caroline Skebong (far right), joins other locals in trying her hands at the traditional Palauan method of preparing materials for use in making thatched-roof.

The PCC-Cooperative Research & Extension (CRE) booth in front of the old OEK building was a crowd favorite with its variety of displays and tasty samplers. The booth had on display aquariums filled with rabbit fish that were hatched and reared under the direction of Miguel De Los Santos of CRE. Also on display were taro plants germinated using the innovative process of tissue culture. Tissue cultured taro plants have been proven to be more resistant to diseases and yield high quality taro. The Family and Consumer Education (FACE) division of CRE gave visitors free samples of taro cookies (made with taro flour) and the famous PCC shochu.

A visitor gives a thumbs-up to CRE Extension Agent/Research Assistant, Lyndon Masami (c) and PCC alumni Gregory Meyar after sampling the PCC taro shochu.

Palau Woodcarvers Club showcase their art during Olechotel Belau Fair.

CRE Researcher/Aquaculturist, Miguel De Los Santos (r) explains the rabbit fish hatchery and rearing methods to a curious visitor.

Summer 2007
Enrollment Stats

New Mandarin Instructor Arrives

Fourth and Last AC
Training Concludes Today

One of the participants of the Air Conditioner (AC) Training applying his new skills at the AC & Refrigeration shop.

Eighteen (18) participants, from various schools in Koror and Babeldaob, participated in the fourth and last Air Conditioner training that concluded today. For the past several months, Operations & Maintenance Improvement Program (OMIP) has sponsored this training to employees of the state governments, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, U.S. Embassy, and Public Works. This training provides hands-on experience in installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and servicing of air conditioners.

Our Condolences
On behalf of the PCC Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, Staff, and Students, President Dr. Patrick U. Tellei would like to extend heartfelt sympathies and deepest condolences to the family of Late Wakakoro Sisior, most especially Larry Wakakoro.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time of sorrow and grief.
 

Su Wenling, a volunteer Mandarin instructor from the Republic of China-Taiwan arrived on island yesterday to take on a six-month teaching assignment with the College. Su Wenling replaces former volunteer Natalie Huang who returned back to Taiwan at the end of June after a successful three-month assignment. Su Wenling who is scheduled to officially start on following Monday (July 23rd) will teach a short-term course (5 weeks) in Basic Mandarin for the remainder of the summer. She will be on the regular schedule for Fall semester and is slated to lecture in two sections of the Basic Mandarin class.

Summer 2007 Teachers' Academy in its
Third Week at PCC

Esther Koshiba conducting Teaching Methodologies/Strategies, one of the five course series, to the Summer 2007 Teachers' Academy.

Twenty-eight (28) participants from Palau Community Action Agency (PCAA)- Head Start continues to meet at Baderirt Building for their Summer 2007 Teachers' Academy. The Academy provides the opportunity for beginning or aspiring teachers who are

high school graduates or current teachers who need refresher training. Instructor Jemmy Blelai taught Classroom Management last week while Esther Koshiba, a retired Koror Elementary School teacher and principal, taught Teaching Methodologies/Strategies this week, the third of the Academy's five course series offered this summer. The Academy began three weeks ago and will continue until July 27, 2007.

Teachers' Academy students listen attentively to instructor Koshiba in their classroom at Baderirt building.

BITS AND PIECES...

Important Dates to Remember...

Last Day for all Withdrawals
("W" Grades)
July 17, 2007 (Tues.)

Last Day of Instruction
July 27, 2007 (Fri.)

Final Examination Period
July 30-Aug. 1, 2007 (Mon.-Wed.)

Grades Due
August 3, 2007 (Fri. by 11:00 a.m.)

College Bids Farewell to William "Myos" Mobel...

VP Jay Olegeriil (center-right) with PCC staff and Karen Mobel (seated second from left) during the funeral of William "Myos" Mobel, a former employee of the College and brother of Karen and husband of Anne Mobel (not picured) of the College.

Casket of William Mobel being carried to the burial site on the grounds of the family home in Ngerbeched last Friday.

Pate's Thesis Once Again Accepted to International Conference

Nino Pate, Institutional Research Analyst/Assessment Consultant.

Having his master's thesis entitled Technical Efficiency of Philippine Rice-Producing Regions: A Stochastic Frontier Approach first recognized and accepted to an international conference in Zimbabwe, Africa was a great achievement itself for Nino Pate, the College's Institutional Research Analyst and Assessment Consultant. However, to also have the same paper accepted to international conferences in Bologna, Italy; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; and now Slovenia, is an overwhelming success. This week, he was notified that his paper will be presented during the

Applied  Statistics 2007 conference in Slovenia at the end of September of this year. This will be the 5^th international conference to recognize his master's thesis.

The main goal of Applied Statistics 2007 conference is to provide an opportunity for researchers in statistics, data analysts, and other professionals from various statistical and related fields to come together, present their research, and learn from each other. The four-day program consists of invited paper presentations, contributed paper sections from diverse topics, and finishes with a workshop. The conference is organized by Statistics Society of Slovenia and University of Ljubljana in cooperation with Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia and is sponsored by the Slovenian Research Agency.

Congratulations once again, Pate! From all of us at the College.

Update on Dengue Fever- Community Advocacy Program (CAP)

A female Aedes aegypti mosquito engorged with blood while feeding. Through the feeding process, dengue viruses are transmitted and this is how one contracts dengue fever.

The Bureau of Public Health would like to inform the Public that the number of dengue fever cases has risen. As of June 26,2007, the number of confirmed dengue cases has risen to fifty-three (53), while the number of suspected cases is twenty-seven (27) while the number of confirmed cases is twenty-six (26). Although the number of confirmed cases is slowly rising, Public Health advises the community to continue taking preventive measures against Dengue Fever.

The EpiNet or Epidemiologist Network at the Ministry of Health continues to work together to keep track of the dengue cases. The Division of Environmental Health urges the community to make sure that their home surroundings are clean and do not contribute to mosquito breeding areas. Especially now that we've been having so much rain, there could be better chances of the dengue carrying mosquitoes to breed and cause more dengue fever in our community. The Bureau of Public Health continues to remind the community to take preventive measures like using insect repellents (with DEET), mosquito coils, and sprays to keep mosquitoes away. Especially the dengue carrying mosquitoes. If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 488-6073 or the Communicable Disease Unit at 488-2450.

          ALUMNI NOTES:

Class of 2003 & 2001 (PCC)
Chester Piyerigyal - 2003 PCC graduate with a Certificate of Achievement (CA) in Criminal Justice (CJ) and a 2001 graduate with a Certificate of Achievement (CA) in Agricultural Science (AG). Piyerigyal works at Palau Pacific Resort as an Orchid Specialist Assistant. He has been working there for the past two years.

Class of 1997 (PCC)
Karl Iekar - 1997 PCC graduate with a Certificate of Achievement (CA) in General Office Clerk (GOC). Iekar works at the Bureau of Land & Survey as a Technician 2. He has been working there for the past 10 years.

Class of 1989 (MOC)
Fritha Erungel - 1989 MOC graduate with an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Secretarial Science (SEC). Erungel is a homemaker and a successful entrepreneur, managing the family store for the past 13 years.

Alumni Notes showcases MOC/PCC alumni who contribute to the quality of life in their local community and are postive role models for other PCC students to emulate. If you are that alumni or know someone who is, please contact the PCC Development Office at telephone number 488-2471. We would like to feature you in future issues of the Mesekiu's News.

July 6, 2007
June 29, 2007
June 22, 2007
June 15, 2007
June 8, 2007
June 1, 2007
May 25, 2007
May 18, 2007
May 11, 2007
May 4, 2007
April 27, 2007
April 20, 2007
April 13, 2007
April 6, 2007
March 30, 2007
March 23, 2007
March 16, 2007
March 9, 2007
March 2, 2007
February 23, 2007
February 16, 2007
February 9,2007
February2, 2007
January 26, 2007
January 19, 2007
January 12, 2007
January 5, 2007
December 29, 2006
December 22, 2006
December 15, 2006
December 8, 2006
December 1, 2006

Youth Peer Mentors' Training

 Time:
July 30-31, 2007 from 4pm- 8pm.

Place:
Koror State Assembly Hall

Selection Criteria:
First 25 participants who sign up.

Call 488-1757 or 488-8618 to sign up.

Peer Mentor Highlights:

• Certificate in HIV/AIDS & STIs 101.

• Ability to coordinate activities with funding from the Health Information Resource Center.

• Gain unique knowledge and understanding through peer mentoring.

HIV/AIDS & STIs Prevention Program
Be an Important Asset to the Community

Scholarship
Opportunities

All recently graduated high school seniors as well as the current PCC students from Palau who will attend PCC this coming school year 2007-2008, applications for the following PCC based scholarship programs are now available this summer at PCC Development office.

1. Prince Leeboo Scholarship
2. Shell Company (Pacific Islands) Ltd. Scholarship
3. Pierantozzi Scholarship
4. Roman Tmetuchl Scholarship
5. Carita Asanuma Scholarship
6. Moylan's Insurance Scholarship
7. Library & Information Services Scholarship

Additional scholarship opportunities are available at Palau National Scholarship office adjacent to Palau High School. For further information, please contact the Palau National Scholarship office at telephone number 488-3608.

Celebrating Birthdays

Hilda Ngiralmau              July 14
Lesley Adachi                July 15
Marensia Edward           July 15
Don Hanser                   July 17
     
       Happy Birthday To You!

Customer Service "Gap in the Workforce" Workshop

Presented by: Global Resources

Synopsis: This workshop is to enhance knowledge in communication skills and understanding the diversity of your work environment by focusing on the age "gap" in the workforce.

Pre-requisite: Open mind, Smiles, and a Positive Attitude.

Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Time: 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m.

Place: PCC, Sebus Building Room #51

Fee: $20.00 per person (non-refundable)

Deadline: Monday, July 16, 2007 @ 5pm

Marketing & Sales Workshop

Presented by: Palau SBDC

Synopsis: The workshop will focus on helping individuals understand marketing as a tool to develop and promote successful businesses. It will highlight planning and conducting marketing research, developing marketing strategies, and an overview of how to use the marketing mix for one's benefit.

Pre-requisite: Open Mind and a Positive Attitude.

Date: Thursday, July 19, 2007

Time: 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m.

Place: PCC, Sebus Building Room # 51

Fee: $20.00 per person (non-refundable).

Deadline: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 @ 5pm.

Pre-registration for both above mentioned workshops is available now and seating is LIMITED. Please call the Palau SBDC at 488-6004 or email us at palausbdc@ palaunet.com to reserve your seat.