In last month’s “President’s Message” I wrote that while the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association is an important organization in the Nikkei community, we woefully lack administrative resources to adequately achieve our purposes. To my pleasant surprise, this comment elicited responses of encouragement and offers of support from several members of the community. I particularly want to express gratitude to Rika Uto, chair of the Vancouver Japanese Language School, and Kathy Shimizu of the Powell Street Festival for their words of encouragement.
Over the past two years, I have repeatedly singled out the virtual non-existence of office staff as a critical problem faced by the GVJCCA. It has resulted in Board members trying to cope with a workload verging on the unmanageable. Board members do not have an unlimited amount of time to devote to the GVJCCA. They need help. Rika and Kathy have encouraged us to look to volunteers to fill the need for office assistance. Kathy gave concrete examples of how volunteers can attend to administrative tasks for the GVJCCA. For example, one person could look after the mail, one person could do the books, and one person could check phone messages regularly. Kathy remarks that she knows of a few people who would be willing to step up to do tasks such as these and that we can try to rally others. Let this message be a rallying cry for the help of others.
One way that all members of the Nikkei community can lend their support to the GVJCCA is by renewing their annual memberships. I ask that you kindly submit your renewal or new membership early in 2014. By keeping your membership up to date, you can help fund of our community activities as well as publication of The Bulletin. Let’s strengthen the GVJCCA and support its significant role in the Nikkei community.
January is a month of special celebrations. The GVJCCA is a member of the Organizing Committee of the 2014 Nikkei Community New Year’s Party, or Shinennkai. The New Year’s Party will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 6:00pm (doors open at 5:00pm) at the Nikkei Centre Special Events Hall. One week later on January 18, 2014, the GVJCCA, together with Tonari Gumi, will hold our annual Keirokai event at the Nikkei Centre from 12:00noon until 3:00pm. The event honours seniors 70 years of age and older. Please phone Tonari Gumi at 604-687-2172 to register by Friday, January 10th. There is a registration fee this year of $5.00.
The past year has provided many instances of how people can make a positive difference to other’s lives and by extension to the community at large. I want to thank my fellow GVJCCA Board members for their generous and good-natured support in 2013. I want to thank the Human Rights Committee for their ceaseless devotion to the cause of human rights. I want to thank John Greenaway for the accomplished multiple roles he plays in publication of The Bulletin. And thanks to everyone who, in one way or another, makes this a great community to belong to.
Gary Matson, President, GVJCCA
