(Left to right) Pio Utu, President of SkiTown USA Rotary in Steamboat Springs, Co. Kevin Kaminski, Curt Weiss, Rotary Club of Pago Pago President Jim Mahoney, Mike Sherril and Taulapapa Will Sword at the Lyons Park, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, when Pio Utu presented a $6,000 check to the local Rotary Club from Steamboat Springs residents. The check will go toward relief efforts for those who have been affected by the Sept. 29 tsunami and earthquake.
[Courtesy Photo]
Residents of Steamboat Springs, Colorado have donated $6,000 that will go toward helping victims of the Sept. 29 earthquake and tsunami. The check was presented to members of the Rotary Club of Pago Pago last Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.
According to Rotary Club President Jim Mahoney, last Thursday he and Rotarian Taulapapa Will Sword met with Pio S. Utu, who represented the community of Steamboat Springs.
Pio is the brother of Utu Abe Malae, who is also a Rotarian.
He was accompanied by Kevin Kaminiski, President of the Ski Town USA Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs and club members Mike Sherrill and Curt Weiss.
“Pio was here to personally deliver to the Rotary Club, the donation of $6,000 raised by the community of Steamboat Springs to provide assistance for the earthquake and tsunami victims,” said Mahoney.
He explained that Pio is a respected member and business owner in Steamboat Springs as well as the only Samoan resident of Steamboat Springs.
“He is well known in the close knit community for his involvement and dedication towards working with the...youth and his support and encouragement of youth activities,” said Rotary Club president. “When Pio advised the community of the natural disasters that struck American Samoa Sept. 29, the community of Steamboat Springs, its citizens, churches and civic groups came together to raise this donation to assist the victims in his childhood home of American Samoa.”
During the meeting, Mahoney said they discussed the disaster and the Club’s initial and ongoing efforts to assist the community.
The group was impressed with Rotary’s ongoing efforts in responding to the disaster, and Pio informed the local club that through conversations with his brother Utu Abe Malae, a past club secretary, it was chosen by the community to administer their donation.
The group was particularly pleased with the club’s recent efforts in the village of Tula, said Mahoney.
“We discussed further how we might utilize the funds in current relief projects and in the future to support a proposed project to prepare for future emergencies,” he explained.
Following a presentation of the donation at Lyons Park, Mahoney and the SteamBoat Springs visitors toured the village of Leone to view the damage and efforts at rebuilding.
“While much has been accomplished in cleaning up the debris, the extent of the destruction is still quite evident,” said Mahoney. “Following our visit to Leone the group then left for the eastern district for a visit to Pio’s village of Amouli.”
On Friday afternoon the group visited the Rotary Club’s Christmas tree sales at Cost U Less.
The Steamboat Springs group departed for Apia with plans to visit Savaii before returning home to Colorado.
