{"id":14588,"date":"2010-11-10T12:16:52","date_gmt":"2010-11-10T16:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=14588"},"modified":"2010-11-10T13:32:10","modified_gmt":"2010-11-10T17:32:10","slug":"jetwit-diary-11-08-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2010\/11\/10\/jetwit-diary-11-08-10\/","title":{"rendered":"JetWit Diary 11.08.10"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong><\/strong><\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/strong>JetWit Diary<\/strong> is a new feature by Steven Horowitz<\/a> (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)<\/strong>, founder and publisher of JetWit. <\/em>Steven is available on a consulting basis to assist organizations with any membership building, social media consulting, creative communications and writing needs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Early November for JETAA chapters usually means welcome back receptions and career forums.\u00a0 It also means a great opportunity to gather JET-relevant info.<\/p>\n

Here in New York, one thing that was clear in Ambassador Nishimiya’s speech at the JETAANY Welcome Back reception is that JETAA has played a significant role in helping to communicate the value of JET to the Japanese public and that JETAA’s efforts have been noticed and appreciated.\u00a0 Those efforts have helped at the central government level to push back against some of the negative and often not-so-well-informed commentary that was getting out there.<\/p>\n

That said, I also learned from a recently returned Aichi JET that Aichi will no longer take on prefectural JETs as of the coming year.\u00a0 That news is a bit concerning.\u00a0 Because if budget cuts at the local level take a toll on the JET Programme, and in turn the future number of JET alums, then that means a shift in our priorities.<\/p>\n

Going forward, perhaps we need to focus our energy on local governments in Japan and finding ways to help them get a better return on their JET-vestment.\u00a0 It’s worth noting that many JETs are already giving back to their local governments in lots of ways.\u00a0 JETs have set up businesses, have brought tourists, have nurtured sister city relationships and done other things that have provided value.\u00a0 You may not have heard about most of them, but they’re happening.\u00a0 Which means on that level, the challenge is to identify them, gather them and make sure people know about them (e.g., by writing about them on JetWit, on chapter websites, in the media, etc.)<\/p>\n

But it also means that the JET alumni community may need to be more innovative and creative (just like that time you were asked to teach a class with 2 minutes’ advance notice and no lesson plan).\u00a0 It would be extremely helpful to our cause if we can figure out more ways to tap the energy of the JET alum community and channel it towards the benefit of local governments in Japan.<\/p>\n

The JET-Sister City List Project<\/strong><\/a> is one attempt in that direction.\u00a0 But the next step is to figure out what else we can do with it.<\/p>\n

Another simple but effective way to lay the groundwork to make things happen is to build up affinity groups such as the JET Alumni Travel & Tourism<\/strong><\/a> group, the JETAA Education Professionals<\/strong><\/a> group, the JET Alumni Non-Profits<\/strong><\/a> group, the JET Alumni Writers<\/a><\/strong> group and the JET Alumni Policy & Government<\/strong><\/a> group.\u00a0 And if you can think of another group that would be good to have, then go ahead and set it up and we can post it on JetWit.<\/p>\n

Whatever we do as a community, it’s clear that now is the time to step up.\u00a0 And keep in mind that every problem is also an opportunity.<\/p>\n

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