Update 08/14/11: See below for responses so far from various chapters.
This survey is intended to help figure out how much collaboration exists between JETAA chapters and the Japan-America Societies in their area.
It comes on the heels of having a chance to talk with and listen to Peter Kelley, President of the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS), and JET alum Marc Hitzig, Deputy Director of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., who both spoke at the JETAA National Conference in Washington, D.C. a couple weeks ago, as well as a recent conversation with Japan Society of Boston‘s President, Peter Grilli, and Program Marketing Manager (and JET alum) Bhaird Campbell.
*Please e-mail responses to Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94) at jetwit [at] jetwit.com or post in the comments section below.
From talking to JETAA officers at various conferences and in other contexts, it seems that each JETAA chapter has it’s own unique relationship with its local Japan-America Society (JAS). And of course every JAS has its own unique characteristics.
As a result, I’d like to ask JETAA chapters cooperation with:
- Gathering responses from JETAA chapters that comment on or share some of the collaborations with JAS that have been successful or beneficial in various ways; and
- Getting a sense of what the relationship history has been, whether any JET alums work for the JAS and any additional thoughts you might have on the topic.
For example:
- With respect to JETwit, I started just subscribing to all of the JAS e-mail lists which led to an ongoing and periodic Japan-America Society Round-up post, now written by Gail Meadows (Hiroshima-shi 2007-10).
- In Washington, D.C., the Japan America Society, among other things, runs the annual Cherry Blossom Festival which attracts thousands of people and involves many JET alum volunteers who play a very significant role in running the event. It also happens to have a JET alum, Marc Hitzig, working there, and another JET alum, Laurel Lukaszewski, who previously served as the organization’s Executive Director.
- In Minnesota, apparently there’s usually a JETAA Minnesota officer who is active on the Board of the Japan America Society in Minneapolis.
There are clearly many more great examples of collaboration and a lot more info to gather. By gathering the information here, I hope to get a bigger picture sense of the JETAA chapter relationship with JAS and figure out if there are ways to foster greater collaboration and sharing of info and ideas in the future.
As responses are received, I’ll add the text to this post so that it becomes a record and a resource available to JETAA chapters and to JAS.
Why? This ties in with the “Return on JET-vestment” concept as well as with big picture strategic thinking about the future of JETAA and JET. It’s a first step that will hopefully shed light on the topic and open up new ideas and opportunities.
*Please e-mail responses to Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94) at jetwit [at] jetwit.com or post in the comments section below.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
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Updated 08/20/2011
Apropos of nothing, here’s a great piece by Rick Ambrosio (Ibaraki-ken, 2006-08) about a recent film event at Japan Society in New York featuring an appearance by Sora Aoi.
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9. JETAA Heartland & The Heart of America Japan-America Society
Via JETAA Heartland President Warren McAllen:
I’m not sure how far back JET Alum involvement with JAS goes, but I do know that we have had members in common with The Heart of America Japan-America Society almost as long as there has been a chapter in KC and several of our members have held positions on the JAS Board over the years.
We have a joint event this weekend, HJETAA and HoA JAS co-sponsor the Japan Pavilion at the Greater Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival (http://www.eeckc.org/). We promote JET and recruit new members (and find some who have slipped through the cracks over the years) and help JAS with their fundraising efforts. We may, eventually, do our own fundraising at this event attended by 10′s of thousands of people.
We also sponsor networking events with JAS and other Japan-related org’s two or three times a year. Last year we organized a food tasting for the UMKC Jazz Band and JAS members who were selected to perform at the National Culture Festival in Kurashiki, Okayama, Kansas City’s Sister City.
Of course, we have a booth at the GKC Japan Festival and our members are involved in many phases of the organization and execution of the festival (I was almost it’s Executive Director, at one point). This year we have volunteered to do a presentation on JET and the Alumni Association on one of the event stages as well.
This year we worked with JAS to inaugurate the GKC Japanese Film Festival and look forward to continued cooperation on future film festivals. We also worked together on disaster relief fundraising
Naturally, we promote each other’s events and I recommend the JAS to all JET recruits and returning members. We’ve talked about reciprocal membership but we’re still negotiating.
On an individual basis, many of our members are also in JAS and are involved in varying ways from simple membership and volunteering to serving on the board, as I mentioned earlier, organizing events and making presentations.
8. JETAA Southern California & Japan America Society of Southern California
Via JETAA SC Secretary Maria Valenzuela:
Successful forms of collaboration: We have provided our local JAS chapter with volunteers for their events, namely the Kite Festival. Last year, they offered all JETAASC alums free membership for one year.
Historical relationship: JET alums have been a source of volunteers.
7. JETAA Music City & Japan-America Society of Tennessee
Via JETAA MC Treasurer Jennifer Butler (Shizuoka-ken, Hamamatsu-shi, 2001-04):
JETAAMC is involved with the Japan-America Society of TN mainly through joint Consulate events. For instance, for annual events, JETAAMC members regularly volunteer for the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival which is organized by JAST, the Consulate and the City of Nashville
Also, this year, JAST was our partner in our April Tsunami Relief Dinner event in which money was raised for the JETAA USA Relief Fund ($6,000) and JAST’s TN Tomodachi Fund ($3,000).
In the past, a former JETAAMC officer was also a Program Coordinator for JAST.
JAST Board Members are also regularly invited by the Consulate to events that involve JETs and JETAA. For instance the Pre-Departure Farewell Reception for new JETs and the Returners Reception for recent returnees. Naturally JETAAMC members are also present at these events.
Our chapter is so young right now (only 3 yrs old) and so much of what we do is still connected with the Consulate in various ways; it helps that the Consulate works so closely with JAST. However, it’s sometimes difficult to sort out all of the projects and how we are involved; especially since two of our chapter officers (Pres & Treas) are also employees of the Consulate!
6. New England JETAA & Japan Society of Boston
Via New England JETAA President Stephanie Simpson-White (Toyama-ken, 2006-09):
As you’ve already been in touch with Peter Grilli and Bhaird Campbell from the Japan Society of Boston, you are well aware of the strong relationship between JSB and NEJETAA. Bhaird is a former JET and former president of NEJETAA, and JSB events always feature JETAA members as participants and volunteers.
Both organizations are among the many very active Japan-related groups in JREX (Japan Resource and Exchange), which supports Japanese businesses and entrepreneurs; LEX/Hippo Family Club, which manages exchanges, homestays and language classes and is run by a former JET; the Massachusetts-Hokkaido Association, which also does sister-city events; and the Japanese Consulate, to name a few–that exist in the New England area.
One of my personal goals as president of NEJETAA and and an active member of many of these organizations is to see more co-hosting and co-sponsoring of events. With such a strong foundation and support from wide range of active members, we have an excellent opportunity to really make an impact on US-Japan relations both locally and internationally. I’m looking forward to seeing how we all come together for the big cherry blossom anniversary event next year!
5. JETAA Portland & Japan-America Society of Oregon
The Japan America Society of Oregon is $50 annually for an individual/family. It is even more for businesses to have a corporate membership. It seems that only through membership can you receive information on event details, unless you hear through a member.
In the past year, JETAA Portland has sent one or two representatives to a monthly meeting called J-ROC, which is Japan Related Organizations Coordinating group. This group has made it so that all Japan related groups know and can plan according to other community events. There is a dotCal calendar that keeps events of Japan related events in the Portland area, that all JROC groups can access.
It seems that there are only one or two active JETAA Portland members that are also active in the JASO community at a time for the past several years.
4. JETAA Hawaii & Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH)
Via former JETAA Hawaii President Kelsey Soma Turek (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-07), who works an Education Program Director at the Japan-America Society of Hawaii:
JASH and JETAA Hawaii have a good relationship. In fact, JASH has hired many JET alumni (there are currently four alumni working for JASH) in the past because of the great relationship with JETAA Hawaii and the excellent reputation (hard-working, experienced, friendly). Many JETAA Hawaii alumni also volunteer for our educational and membership programs (Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition, Annual Friendship Golf Tournament, networking events). JASH has also created a special, discounted membership category for JETAA Hawaii alumni. We are currently in the process of co-sponsoring a networking event for young professionals, including a guest speaker. JASH really values the relationship with JETAA Hawaii and hopes to continue fostering it in the future!
3. JETAA Northern California & Japan Society of Northern California
Via JETAA NC Communications Director and former editor of Pacific Bridges Mark Frey (Kumamoto-ken, 2002-06):
Our local Japan-America Society is Japan Society of Northern California. Currently JETAANC is only partnering on occasional joint Happy Hour networking events with their Young Professional Group (YPG). We also do a fair amount of joint media outreach, by which I mean we feature some of their events on our website and social media and they feature some of our events on theirs.
Some of our Executive Committee and Board members are good friends with their President, Dana Lewis, who is open to partnering on the right kind of events. I also personally am in contact with another member of their staff.”
At least 3 of our alumni have worked at Japan Society in the past.
Finally, we have also supported the World Affairs Council for their Japanese Reception, which was also sponsored by Japan Society. We lent them some yukata for volunteers to wear and some of our alumni may have volunteered, not sure.
2. JETAA Florida & Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida
Via JETAA Florida President Bahia Simons-Lane (Gunma-ken, Numata-shi, 2005-07)
This is indeed quite timely as I have been thinking a lot about getting involved with JAS after Peter Kelley’s talk. Unfortunately, there is only one JAS in Florida and it’s it’s located in Northwest Florida where there are only a handful of JETAA members nearby. It’s also very inaccessible to other regions of Florida where we have more JETs. I do hope to contact them and try to get involved in more of their events, but we haven’t been connected with them as of yet. I definitely regret that there are no JAS’s in other parts of Florida, particularly Miami where I live or Tampa/Orlando where we have a number of JET alums who could get involved with JAS activities. So, in summary, Florida JETAA would like to be involved in JAS and their activities, but have been unable to be due to the lack of JAS’s in the areas of Florida where we have more concentrated membership.
I hope that helps! I’ll give you an update when I get in touch with the JAS of Northwest Florida and see if it will be practical from Florida JETAA to get involved in their activities.
1. JETAA Pittsburgh Subchapter (of JETAA NY) & Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania (based in Pittsburgh)
Via JETAA Pittsburgh Subchapter Representative Amiena Mahsoob:
So far we have collaborated with the Japan America Society of PA by publicizing their events. Several of us go to their events anyway or volunteer with them, so it’s a natural fit.
Don’t see your JETAA chapter or Japan-America Society represented here? E-mail your info to jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
one comment so far...
I’m not sure how far back JET Alum involvement with JAS goes, but I do know that we have had members in common with The Heart of America Japan-America Society almost as long as there has been a chapter in KC and several of our members have held positions on the JAS Board over the years.
We have a joint event this weekend, HJETAA and HoA JAS co-sponsor the Japan Pavilion at the Greater Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival (http://www.eeckc.org/). We promote JET and recruit new members (and find some who have slipped through the cracks over the years) and help JAS with their fundraising efforts. We may, eventually, do our own fundraising at this event attended by 10’s of thousands of people.
We also sponsor networking events with JAS and other Japan-related org’s two or three times a year. Last year we organized a food tasting for the UMKC Jazz Band and JAS members who were selected to perform at the National Culture Festival in Kurashiki, Okayama, Kansas City’s Sister City.
Of course, we have a booth at the GKC Japan Festival and our members are involved in many phases of the organization and execution of the festival (I was almost it’s Executive Director, at one point). This year we have volunteered to do a presentation on JET and the Alumni Association on one of the event stages as well.
This year we worked with JAS to inaugurate the GKC Japanese Film Festival and look forward to continued cooperation on future film festivals. We also worked together on disaster relief fundraising
Naturally, we promote each other’s events and I recommend the JAS to all JET recruits and returning members. We’ve talked about reciprocal membership but we’re still negotiating.
On an individual basis, many of our members are also in JAS and are involved in varying ways from simple membership and volunteering to serving on the board, as I mentioned earlier, organizing events and making presentations.
There’s probably more, but that’s all I can think of right now. I’ll put it to the general membership and see if they can think of any more historical data that’s relevant.
Gambatte,
Warren McAllen