What’s Happening: Beginning of 2013
Hello TEXOMA JETAA community,

It has been quite a while since our last mass email but we have lots to cover. I was informed by most of the alums in attendance at the returnee reception that, in fact, email is their preferred method of being updated on events, so I would like to depend more on a monthly email update than just on our Facebook group (but please join and check the Facebook page for smaller updates and events).

Here is what is currently in the works:

1) TEXOMA JETAA OFFICER ELECTIONS – CALL FOR PLATFORMS – Any and all Texoma area JETs are encouraged to submit a platform by Thursday February 7th for the the following positions:
*President
*Vice President
*Secretary
*Treasurer
*Webmaster and Site Editor
*Newsletter Editor

—-Further information about the elections can be found later in this email—-

2) PUB TRIVIA – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 @ PORCHSWING PUB – Pub Trivia is still alive and well but we are always looking for new blood. We have a regular group of about 4-6 JETAA members who play on the 1st Wednesday of the month (sometimes more often) but newcomers are more than welcome. Please remember that the team sizes are capped at 7 people so if you are not a member of the facebook group “Texoma Jetaa” please join and RSVP if you plan to attend so we can reserve enough tables and adjust team sizes accordingly.

3) LEO BAR COCKTAIL MIXER EVENT @ THE ASIA SOCIETY – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 – The Japan America Society of Houston’s Young Professionals Group is co-hosting the Leo Bar event for February. If you have not yet gotten to explore the new Asia Society building in the museum district this is a great opportunity to see the amazing building and rub elbows with a diverse crowd of youthful movers and shakers of the Houston area. No reservations or admission fees, so feel free to stop by. Leo bar link is below:

http://asiasociety.org/texas/leo-bar-asia-society-texas-center

4) JAPAN FEST – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – JET PROGRAM BOOTH
-The Japan festival will be held in April. There is a position on the JFEST organization committee open and if any JET is interested please let Ryan or I know ASAP. The position is for Opening Ceremony Coordinator.
-Online sign-ups will be live on the Japan Fest website soon for anyone interesting in helping to help during the actual events of the festival
-WE WILL BE NEEDING JETAA VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RUN THE JET BOOTH AND ADVERTISE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS

5) World Affairs Council of Houston’s Japanese Foreign Language
Luncheon

“This program will be held on Monday, April 22^nd from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. with approximately 85 high school students and their teachers celebrating the students dedication and hard work in learning Japanese in school. The students are carefully selected by their teachers.

The purpose of the program is to honor these students and reward them for their hard work. The program offers guest speakers, table hosts, a beautiful lunch, decorations and finally a certificate at the end of the program. Attached you will find a flyer that I have used for teachers to register their students. It can give you more detailed information. In April, we also celebrate six other languages as well – they are German, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, French and Chinese and this is our 13^th year of doing so. The business community continues to support us in so many ways not only monetarily but with their attendance as table hosts. The table host sits with 9 students at a table, speaks in the language of the day and helps the student to understand the many ways careers can be enhanced by learning a second language. The table host is important and key to the success of that student returning to his training and feeling motivated by its many benefits.”

Any professional JET Alumns with Japanese ability please let me know if you have interest being a table host

6) CONSULATE JOB OPENING – MESSAGE FROM RYAN –
JETAA: I have a new employment prospect that has come up, this time in our own Houston Consulate office. We are looking for a new Consular Service Clerk (Visa). Candidates must have strong written and verbal Japanese ability. Traditionally, this position has been offered only to local Japanese natives, but our office wants to open it up to the JETs. If you want to strengthen your language skills and spend time learning more about Japanese legal culture and researching interesting requests. Candidates who enjoy researching and helping others in addition to language and cultural ability will be considered. For a full summary of the position, please email me at jetcoord@ho.mofa.go.jp (mailto:jetcoord@ho.mofa.go.jp)

7) JAPANESE RELATED JOB FAIR IN NEW YORK –

—New York Career Forum 2013 —
Date: February 22 & 23, 2013 (Fri. & Sat.)
Place: The Altman Building (New York, New York)
http://www.careerforum.net/event/ny/index.asp?ref=201341〈=E (http://www.careerforum.net/event/ny/index.asp?ref=201341〈=E)

8) NON-HOUSTON JET MEET-UP OPPORTUNITIES-
If any groups or alums are starting to gather or want to start in any of the non-Houston cities, let us know and we might be able to provide some planning and financial support.

9) EVENT IDEAS-
We remain eager for any event ideas JET alums in the area might have. Let us know by email or post in the facebook group.

FINAL NOTES: Hopefully everyone is well and the recent returnees are adjusting to being back home. If you are not a member of the facebook group, it is called TEXOMA JETAA, and members often post short notice social events or just Japanese news or articles. Now that the new year is in full swing, we look forward to improving and expanding the offerings of our TEXOMA chapter. Hope to see or hear from more of you in 2013.

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ELECTION DETAILS:

President
Role: Coordinate all activities. Chair general meetings, monthly socials. Liaise with outside organizations.
Incumbent: Drew Himmelreich

Vice President
Role: Assist in coordination of all activities. Chair special projects as defined by the President or the Executive Committee. Manage membership requests and work with webmaster to update member list as necessary.
Incumbent: Jessica Parker

Secretary
Role: Record information from meetings, distribute minutes, assist Executive Officers in administrative tasks.
Incumbent: No incumbent running.

Treasurer
Role: Develop annual budget. Secure funding from CLAIR and MoFA. Provide guidance to the board members on funds available for activities. Monitor bank account.
Incumbent:
Adam Hammick

Webmaster and Site Editor
Role: Ensure function of website and mass e-mail system. Update member list and ensure website has up to date information.
Incumbent: Dusty Downing

Newsletter Editor
Role: Edit and publish quarterly newsletter.
Incumbent: Ryan Pauley

LOCAL CHAPTER VICE PRESIDENT POSITIONS
If you are interested in helping coordinate events in your area of Texas or Oklahoma, please contact us. We are particularly interested in setting up and supporting local chapters in the Austin/San Antonio area, the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.