Don’t forget to join us at the AGM this Tuesday if you are interested in getting involved with the running of JETAA in 2011.  If organisation isn’t your thang, join us (non-ex-JETs also welcome!) for our Winter Walk on the 30^th.

JETAA London Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 25th January

What do you want JETAA London to do for you?  Now’s your chance to tell us!  Or, if you’re up to the challenge, get involved yourself.  All committee positions will be open for election, and we’re always looking for more volunteers!  Afterwards, we’ll all go out for dinner and drinks.

Date: Tuesday 25th January
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Place: Berne Union (27-29 Cursitor Street, London EC4A 1LT). Nearest
tube is Chancery Lane. Click here for a map.

The JETAA London chapter is one of the largest JETAA chapters in the world with 2000+ members. The committee consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Communications Officer, Events Officers and Careers Information Day Coordinator (for returning JETs in September), however, extra volunteers are always needed to help organise various events and activities throughout the year.

All positions at the AGM will be elected by ballot and anyone who wishes to stand for a post or wants to find out more about what being on the committee involves should email Josy, the current chair, on london@jetaa.org.uk.

We hope to see you there!

JETAA London Winter Walk – Sunday 30^th January

Following the popularity of our autumn walk, we’ll have a bracing Winter Walk through South West London.  Spend your Saturday enjoying the wholesome pleasures of a brisk stroll in the company of other JETAA members – although guests & non-JETAA are most welcome!

Date: Sunday 30^th January
Time: 12pm, meeting at Wimbledon Park tube station
Venue: A fine stroll from Wimbledon Park to Richmond.  Highlights include: lake of Wimbledon Park, the windmill on Wimbledon Common (this is a café – a good stopping off point for a coffee), and red and fallow deer in Richmond Park, waterbirds, and last but not least, Richmond’s fine riverside frontages.

For more details, and a map, visit http://www.walklondon.org.uk/section.asp?section=30

We plan to stop off in Richmond for refreshments, and then take the District Line back up to Earl’s Court to finish the evening with some karaoke at the Japanese-run OnBoard Karaoke Box!

Please register your interest at londonevents@jetaa.org.uk, include your name, plus dates, years on JET.  Please indicate if you are interested in joining us for the walk, the karaoke, or both!

JETAA Members Invited to Haiku Event at the Japanese Embassy

The Embassy of Japan is hosting an evening with expert haiku poet and Japanese cultural envoy, Ms Madoka Mayuzumi from 6.30pm on Tuesday, 1 February 2011.  Since receiving a promotional award for the 40th Kadokawa Haiku Prize in 1994, Ms Mayuzumi has contributed greatly to the revival of the popularity of haiku in Japan. Notable for its romantic and urban flavour, and for bringing new elements into the tradition, her work has been received with great acclaim.

Just what exactly is a haiku? What is its place in modern Japanese society? Why not attend this special event to find out the answers to these questions and more? The presentation will be followed by a reception.

Registration prior to this event is essential.  Register by emailing haiku@ld.mofa.go.jp with your name, affiliation, email address and telephone number, quoting ‘JET AA’ in the subject line. The deadline for registrations is 28^th January 2011.

JETWIT Tally

Nearly all of us had relatives and friends come and visit us in Japan. Some of us have brought student groups and organized other exchanges. All of this has provided tourism revenue for the Japanese economy. The goal of this project is to determine, at a minimum, the amount of tourism revenue for which JET is directly responsible.

This information is particularly important amidst ongoing discussions of costs associated with the JET Programme and the JET Alumni Association. Many of the short and long term benefits have simply not been factored in. So email visitors@jetwit.com with your responses and let’s make sure this info does get factored in to future discussions.

Here’s a simple way for every JET and JET alum to do their part to support the JET Programme and the JET Alumni Association:

• Just fill out this simple Google Form or, if you prefer….
• E-mail visitors@jetwit.com and tell us how many people you are personally responsible for causing to visit Japan (both during and since JET).
  Please make sure to include:

1.Number of tourists (e.g., Mom + Dad + two brothers = 4 people)
2.Total number of days they stayed in Japan (e.g., If Mom & Dad + two brothers each stayed for 10 days, that’s 40 total days of tourist travel)
3.Your name + position on JET (ALT/CIR/SEA)
4.Your Prefecture + city/town and years on JET (e.g., 2006-10) (this is vital info!)
5.Any comments, stories or additional info you want to share

Taiko Meantime’s 1-day Taiko workshops: Feb 5^th, 6th and 19th

This year’s series of Winter Taiko workshops for beginners and improvers will be in Bentley, near Farnham, Surrey.

Beginners – Sat 5th Feb, Sun 6^th Feb 2011

On 5th Feb we’ll be running a full-day introductory Taiko workshop for beginners. If you’ve ever wanted an exhilarating, fun and comprehensive introduction to Taiko drumming, this workshop is for you.

Improvers – Sat 19th Feb 2011

On 19th Feb, we’ll be running a full-day Taiko workshop for improvers – i.e. anyone who has some experience of Taiko and would like to refresh on the basics and build on their technique.

Both workshops will be held at the beautiful Bury Court Barn in Bentley, near Farnham in Surrey. This converted barn has the perfect acoustics for drumming, and is in an isolated position ensuring the focus needed for Taiko.

Just over one hour by train from London Waterloo.

Places are limited to 15 per workshop.

All details are on our website at www.taikomeantime.com.