March 2001 Volume 7 Issue 1B

➥ IN THIS ISSUE

Shinnenkai.......................1 Editor’s Rant....................2 Volunteers needed for JET Preparation Seminar........2 Newsletter Online @ jetaabc.bc.ca...................2 Hurry! Job Notice.............3 New Website Design....... 3 Hikes! Hikes! Hikes!........ 3 JET Mentor Network........3 Japan Day & Suitcase.....3 New Re-Entry Website....4 2001 JET Interviews........4 CLAIR News....................4 Japanese Lessons...........4 New Steering Committee.5 Yahoo eGroups News......5 Wacky Japan News.........6 Tatami Timeshare.............6 Consulate News...............6 Japan Suitcase................7 Important Events.............7 Sumo News.....................8 Alumni News... ................8 What is JETAABC?......... 8 Contact Information.........8

www.jet.org Next Issue Deadline: May 10th, 2001

Shinnenkai 2001: Year of the Snake!

by Matthew Fedoruk

Akemashite omedetou! JETAABC members and guests welcomed the Year of the Snake with another successful Shinnenkai in January. Although the crowd was a little smaller than in past years, everyone (including a few new faces from last year’s returnees!) enjoyed all the sushi and tons of Japanese food and fun.

Consul-General Kusumoto and his wife made a brief appearance and spoke enthusiastically about the success of the JET Programme as it enters its 15th year.

The AGM saw the election of many new genki members, including Secretary Carolyn Ali, Treasurer Ryan Butt, Events Co-ordinator Adele Pransky, and Events Member-at-Large Wendy McAvoy. Markus Lem has also enthusiastically volunteered to head up the JET hikes this year and Stephen Chobotar is working on a new and super-dooper JETAABC website. A big thanks to everyone who helped me organize and pulloff the Shinnenkai!

Here’s a little trivia about the New Year! Enjoy.

Chinese New Year is January 24th this year (it changes every year based on a lunar and a solar calendar), while Japanese New Year is January 1st. Eto (formally called Jikkan Junishi) refers to the Chinese zodiac symbols. Unlike the Western Zodiac which is divided into 12 months, the Asian Zodiac is divided into 12 years. Each year is named after an animal: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. It is said to have been adopted in Japan in 604 during the reign of Empress Suiko. The year 2001 is the year of the snake (hebi).

According to Chinese legends, before Buddha departed from earth, only twelve animals came in their devotion to him. Buddha honored them by naming the years after them in the order arrived.

Like the astrological zodiac there are all sorts of things which influence individual people. The Japanese believe that people who are born in the same animal year share similar personality and characteristics. For example, people born in the year of the snake were profound thinkers and have tremendous wisdom.

Editor’s Rant 2000 was a very busy year for the JET Programme, as well as JETAABC. The number of participants has topped 6000 from over 39 countries. JETAA around the world has remained very active, with over 11,000 members in 44 Chapters. JETAA also gathered in Tokyo for the 6th Annual JETAA International Conference, as well as a North American Conference in New York and Pacific North-West Conference in Seattle.

Locally, JETAABC has been as genki as ever. Our membership has risen to over 350 members, and our executive has worked hard to promote JET and Japanrelated events, especially our premiere event, the JET Preparation Seminar. Other successful events included Career/ReEntry Seminars, Welcome Back and Shinnenkai Parties, to name a few. Our Chapter continues our strong ties to the Consul General of Japan, assisting with JET Interviews, Japan Days, JET Information Sessions, and building stronger ties to the Japanese community around Vancouver.

Well into 2001, there are many exciting things coming up for JETAABC members to become involved in. This year we would like to make the JET Preparation Seminar better than ever, as well as build up participation in all events. We continue to grapple with the issue of how to attract more members to all JET related events.

To all those who contributed in 2000, thank you so much. If you have time and would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to come out to any event in 2001!

Ganbarimasho!

Ogenki de, Matt

A Call For Speakers & Organizational Volunteers The 2001 JET Preparation Seminar Saturday, June 2nd & Sunday, June 3rd at the Canadian College of English Language 1477 Pender St. (at Nicola St.) Vancouver, BC This event has a great reputation, but it’s only as good as its VOLUNTEERS! It‘s a chance to get involved and to give someth ing back to the JET Programme. It’s YOUR opportunit y as a JET Alumni to help new JETs prepare for their exciting new adventure in Japan. Please contact Liz Stephen at 738-3360 or at yaliz@ultranet.ca if you’d like to volunteer as a speaker for any of the following topics: Please contact Adele Pransky at 736-8979 or at adelesky@hotmail.com if you’d like to help organize this event or volunteer in other ways.

Let’s make this year’s Preparation Semi nar another exceptional event for JETAABC.

Saturday, June 2nd Main Group Speeches: · From Now ‚Til Tokyo Orie ntati on · From Tokyo Orientation ‚Til September · Culture Shock & Adaptation · Money & Taxes Small Group Speeches: · Packing & Shipping · Computers & the Internet · Being a Married/Family JET · Being a JET of Asian Decent · Being a Female JET · Alternative Lifestyle JET · Japanese For Beginners · Japanese For Further Study · Travel In Japan NEWSLETTER ONLINE! · Travel Outside of Japan You can now very the JETAABC Newsletter · Your Health In Japan online in full colour at www.jetaabc.bc.ca! · Food In Japan Download as a PDF file. If you would NOT · Japanese Culture In Your Free Time like to receive a paper version in the future, e-mail the membership co-ordinator Albert Ngai <albngai@home.com> so we can save a few trees.

Sunday, June 3rd For CIRs: · CIR Meetings · Giving Speeches in Japanese For ALTs: · Japanese Education System · Team Teaching · Doing A Self-Introduction For All: · Etiquette in Japan for the First Timer · Etiquette in Japan for the Experienced

The Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver has an opening for a full time position in the Cultural Affairs Section.

JOB NOTICE! Duties: General duties on information and cultural affairs include handling information resources and inquiries about Japan and its culture, coordinating cultural events, and so forth.

Other duties will be assigned as the need arises.

Skills and Requirements: Have strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Be able to work under time constraints. Be computer literate. Knowledge of database program (Paradox) and web design is an asset. Japanese language ability is helpful but fluency is not necessary.

Resume should be mailed to: Consulate General of Japan 900 -1177 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 2K9 (Write "Resume Inside" on the envelope) Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Resumes will not be returned.

The application deadline is April 17 (Tuesday) 5 p.m.

Resumes arriving after the deadline will not be accepted.

No phone or e-mail inquiries.

Consulate General of Japan 900-1177 West Hastings St., Vancouver, BC V6R 2K9

New Website Design!

Stefan Chobotar has been working hard designing our new website. If you have any ideas or sugrestions please e-mail him at: stefanc73@hotmail.com You can check out the template at: www.alexander-interactive.com/demo/page1.htm

The JET Mentor Network Developed by Dan McKelvey & Linda Kennedy JMN, located on the Internet at: http://cheno.com/mentor, is a network of present and past JET Programme participants interested in professional networking to gather career information, find a foothold for future employment, or simply seek a "senpai" for some advice. Free to all JETs, JMN offers registered users the opportunity to search a database of JET mentors - JET Alumni who are users themselves - in order to network with people working in a preferred job function, industry, etc. Users can browse an entire list of mentors, or they can limit their search based on their personal preferences. A list of mentor matches is displayed after each search, and the user can send a message to any mentor through the web site.

Hikes! Hikes! Hikes!

Below is a tentative monthly hiking schedule for the coming year. We're trying to build up to bigger and better hikes so now's the time to get off the sofa you couch po-ta-tosu (you know who you are!). If you have any questions or suggestions for outdoor activities (such as ocean kayaking at Deep Cove, any interest?) give me (da new JET hike meister, Marcus Lem) a call at 738-6315. I prefer telephone to email because I'm a spaz and typing is painful for me. And I will sign passport applications, but won't look at rashes unless they're really interesting. Marcus (editor’s note: he’s a MD if you’re wondering...)

April: Seymour Demonstration Forest May: BC mountain Club Trail/Goat Mountain (back route) up Grouse - wusses like me can take the cable car down June: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park (Lynn Peak or Nairn Falls) July: the Chief (bom bom, ba-ba pom, da-da dada da-dum pom) Aug: Black Tusk (tusk, tusk, tusk) option for an overnighter if sufficient interest Sept: The Lions (grrr baby, grrrr) Oct: Burnaby Lake Nov: Campbell River Valley Dec. No Hike

JAPAN DAY & JAPAN SUITCASE PRESENTERS The Consul-General of Japan is seeking interested JET Alumus to present lectures to schools which help promote and explain various aspects of Japan.

The Program is called “Japan Day” and consists of a series of lectures and demonstrations which take part at the Consulate in downtown Vancouver..

JETAABC has also been gathering Japanese “stuff” for a similar program called “Japan Suitcase” which would be more of a road-show idea. It is a great opportunity to share your Japan experience with a very enthusiastic audience. An honorarium that includes transportation fees is provided to presenters for their efforts. Interested JET Alumni should contact Ellie Nakano at the Consulate regarding “Japan Days” at 604-684-5868 ext. 240 Fax: 604-6846939 email: programs@consuljpnvan.com Contact Angela Tan at: angelkeik@hotmail.com if you interested in “Japan Suitcase” or have anything to donate.

Interested in brushing up on your Nihongo? Day and Evening classes are available through UBC Continuing Education, Vancouver Japanese Language School, and Nikkei Place throughout the year.

2001 JET INTERVIEWS

by Matthew Fedoruk

This year I had the pleasure of sitting on “the other side” as an interviewer for the JET Interviews from February 14-16th in Vancouver. With over 220 outstanding candidates, the selection and ranking process was a difficult one. I remember the nervousness I felt on my interview day in 1997, and I definitely sympathized with all those sweaty palms! This year the interview panel consisted of only 2, one JET Alumni and one member of the Japan-related business or academic community. This worked well, creating a more informal and relaxed environment, and more dialogue. On the whole, I was very impressed with all the candidates my interview partner, Tama Copithorne, and I interviewed;many well-spoken, intelligent, and motivated. I was disappointed however, with the lack of knowledge or insight of many people with respect to Canada and Japan, our history, peoples, current domestic and foreign affairs, and relationship between nations.

The selected and alternate candidates were notified at the end of March. 126 ALTs are approved to go with 59 alternates, and 5 CIRs with 1 alternate. I wish all the new participants success in Japan and look forward to meeting you all again at the JET Preparation Seminar, and other social events before August.

NEW RE-Entry Website Coordinator!

Carl Brodie has accepted to be the Re-entry Website Coordinator. Let's help him out with some topics returning JETs may be needing!

Here are topics on the list so far...

- where to live...different areas in the BC esp. Van. area -rent costs -where to buy Japanese food and appliances -how & what to pay as far as taxes go -good Japanese restaurants (cheap or not) -where to take Japanese lessons -where to study martial arts -where to meet Japanese people -any other cool ideas or information!!

E-mail him, please!! zashi_kyoto@yahoo.com

CLAIR NEWS Did you get your 2001 JETAA Directory?

The latest issue of JET Streams was mailed out in January 2001 along with the JETAA Directory.

If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to send your updated address information to CLAIR to ensure you receive copies of the “JET Streams” Newsletter and the JET Alumni Association Directory. Send your updates to: CLAIR: JETAA Liaison Shin Kasumigaseki Building, 19F Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, Japan, 100-0013 Fax: +81-3-3591-5350 E-mail: jetaa@clair.or.jp

JETAA Canadian Conference Edmonton will play host to the first ever JETAA Canadian Conference. Representatives from each of the 7 Canadian JETAA Chapters will meet in Edmonton at the end of April to discuss issues and share ideas, April 27th-29th, 2001.

www.clair.nippon-net.ne.jp

Who are these people?

Your New Steering Committee At the Annual General Meeting held on January 21st our new 2001-2002 Steering Committee was elected into office. Boy, do they look keen...

(back row) Ryan Butt (ALT) - Nagoya 1997-2000 Treasurer Hideaki Kawai - Vice-Consul and JET Programme Contact Markus Lem (ALT) - Yamanashi 1989-1990 Hike Coordinator Matthew Fedoruk (ALT) - Gifu 1997-1999 Newsletter Editor Albert Ngai (ALT) - Shiga 1989-1991 Membership Coordinator (front row) Carolyn Ali (ALT) - Nara 1996-1999 Secretary Elizabeth Stephen (ALT) - Fukui 1992-1995 President Adele Pransky (ALT) - Shiga 1995-1998 Events Coordinator Wendy McAvoy (ALT) - Yamaguchi 19951997 - Director at Large - Programs Paul Donovan (ALT)- Kitakyushu City, 1991-1994 Past President (absent) Boleyn Roleva (ALT) - Chiba 1994-1996 JETAAI Canada Representative/JETAAI Executive Committee Secretary Angela Tan (ALT) - Wakayama 1997-1999 Director at Large - Newsletter Alida Abbott (ALT) - Hokkaido 1996-1998 Vancouver Island Representative

The JETAABC Steering Committee is a group of dedicated volunteers all with a huge interest in maintaining and promoting Japan and JET-related activities. We are also fortunate to have an excellent relationship with the Vancouver Consulate and Consul-General Kusumoto. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the JET Programme and developing strong relations at all levels between Japan and Canada. The Steering Committee is always open to fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and most of all, participation! We all hope to see you at a JETAABC event this year, and, let’s be honest, we all need someone to reminisce about those “Japan Days” with! Be genki and come out. We don’t bite, honest.

Special Announcement regarding eGroups As you may already know, eGroups merged with Yahoo! in August 2000, now becoming Yahoo Groups. This is the email broadcast service JETAABC uses to communicate messages to JET Alumni Members who have subscribed to this service. It’s goal is quick and easy communication regarding JETAABC business and events.

Don't worry, all the features you know and love about eGroups have carried over and we've added some new functionality that we hope you'll enjoy.

- All eGroups email and web addresses will continue to work.

- All of your group information and membership has been maintained.

You will continue to receive and post mail, just like you always have in the past. If you haven’t joined our Yahoo e-mail group yet, send an e-mail to the Subscribe address below and we will add you to our mailing list.

Post message: jetaabclist@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: jetaabclist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: jetaabclist-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com URL to JETAABC Yahoo Groups Page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jetaabclist

This Week’s Tales of the Weird and Wacky from Japan! - Tokyo Q Magazine Akiko Donato, a 68-year-old woman with no party affiliation, got herself elected governor of Chiba, causing the political parties to brood. A survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun found that 77% of the electorate would be happy if Prime Minister Mori and his cabinet resigned immediately. There still seemed nobody willing to the take the job of prime minister over. There was an uproar over the prime minister's neglecting to attend a banquet hosted by the Emperor and Empress in honor of the visiting King and Queen of Norway, and instead going out for sushi in Akasaka with some young party members.

Economic news continued dismal, but at least it appeared the nation was making adjustments. Aiwa, the audioequipment maker, let 5,000 people go. As sales fell in supermarkets and department stores, their prices edged down. The Japan Times cut its cover price from 160 yen to 150. Carrefour, the cut-price French supermarket chain which opened its first outlet in Japan two months ago was said to be going great guns as is Uniqlo, the Japanese company which imports simple, well-designed, well-made clothes from China and sells them at what appear to Japanese consumers to be close-out prices. McDonald's, convinced that in tough times people think burger and fries, announced plans to triple its outlets to 10,000 over the next ten years. The government, stuck with its old game plan, said it is considering imposing import quotes on cheap leeks, shiitake mushrooms, and reeds for tatami mats, in order to protect inefficient Japanese producers of leeks, shiitake mushrooms, and whatever.

It was revealed that the new escalators now being installed in stations move at a leisurely 20 meters per minute as opposed to the escalators installed in times of more vibrant economic activity, which zip along at 30 meters a minute.

Mei Mei the crested ibis from China laid her first egg. A plan to start an Ainu-language radio station in Hokkaido was announced. A Tachikawa fireman got six years for starting 20 fires. His colleagues got suspicious because he was always the first to respond to the fires. Eight Omiya junior-high school students, wanting to leave their mark on their school before graduating, broke 300 windows. The country's prison population hit 60,000, the highest in 34 years, forcing prison authorities to put seven prisoners in cells designed for six. Keio Electric Railway reserved a car for women only on its late-night trains. The red-capped porters at Tokyo Station were phased out because these days luggage is backpacks or has little wheels.

In Tokyo, the cherry trees in full bloom were lightly dusted with snow.

NEWS FROM THE CONSULATE Hello from the Consulate, I'm updating my JETAA mailing list. If you finished your contract last year and returned to Canada, please email me following information.

Also, if you are not on my mailing list (if you are not getting a bimonthly JETAABC newsletter and wish one), email me!

I need following information from you: full name, mailing address, tel/fax, email, years on JET (start year and end year, e.g.1999-2000) assignment place, ALT or CIR Thank you!

Ellie Nakano Consulate General of Japan Tel: 604-684-5868 ext. 240 Fax: 604-684-6939 email: programs@consuljpnvan.com

Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver has launched New Website! www.japancg-vancouver.org

TATAMI TIME SHARE Tatami Time Share has arrived in Western Canada. Get yourself on the list and start making plans for the summer!!

Easy on-line registration with utmost confidentiality at www.jetaabc.bc.ca.

Or send an e-mail to tatamitimeshare@jetaabc.bc.ca to receive a Registration Form so that we can start the process.

The Coordinator will match up your request then will have the host contact you. After your visit, come back to the site and let us know how it worked out. For now, we are trying the TTS Exchange in Western Canada. Should this prove successful, it may be expand nationally. As we get a healthy database, we may be expanding it to the US. If all goes well, we can open this up to all JETAA worldwide. We need you to help it run successfully.

1. We need Tatami Time Share Hosts. Contact us at tatamitimeshare@jetaa.bc.ca to get on the list.

2. We need a moderator to develop and upkeep the site.

Minimum commitment is 6 months.

Contact boleyn@canada.com for more details.

3. You need a place to stay while you visit another city? Contact tatamitimeshare@jetaabc.bc.ca to get a Host.

Events, Events, Events This year JETAABC has planned a very busy schedule of activities that offer Alumni many chances to get involved. The schedule is always subject to change, so be sure to check our website: www.jetaabc.bc.ca or subscribe to our Yahoo Group for the latest updates (see page 5). Please note that some events require an RSVP so we can make reservations in advance. Thanks!

April Date & Time April 29th (Sunday) - AM

Place

Event

Seymour Demonstration Hike with Mokuyokai Contact Marcus Lem Forest (carpool from marcuslem@netscape.net downtown if needed)

May Date & Time May 5th (Saturday) - 7pm 8pm - late May 6th (Sunday) - 11am May 7th (Monday) - 7pm May 26th (Saturday)-TBA May 27th (Sunday) - AM

Place Ridge Bowl - 2120 West 15th Ave. ph. 738-5412 Frog & Furkin 1941 W. Broadway TBA (Contact Adele) Liz’s Place, #4 - 1839 W. 5th Avenue TBA (Contact Adele) Grouse Mountain - BC Mountain Club Trail

June Date & Time

Place

June 2nd & 3rd - all day

Canadian College of English Language, 1477 Pender Street (at Nicola)

June 5th (Tuesday) - 7pm

Liz’s Place, #4 - 1839 W. 5th Avenue

June 24th (Sunday) - AM

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park (Lynn Peak or Nairn Falls)

Event Cosmic Bowling Night!

More info & RSVP to Matt Pub Night

NEED TO GET RID OF SOME OF YOUR JAPANESE STUFF? So you've been back from Japan for a while now and you still have a lot of cute, little Japanese items, which you couldn't bear to part with or couldn't give away as "omiyage" to your friends. They're lying around your place, cluttering up your place and basically collecting dust.

Well...here is the answer to your problem!

You can donate these wonderful items to JETAABC to go into the JET Prep Seminar Speaker "JAPAN SUITCASE".

Orientation What is this, you ask?

Monthly JETAABC Meeting Well, the JAPAN SUITCASE is a new program JET Prep Seminar Final which we hope to be starting Speaker Orientation soon.

It is basically a suitHike with Mokuyokai case full of Japanese items (contact Markus Lem) and information about Japan which could be used to educate children in elemenEvent tary schools in the Lower Mainland.

JET Preparation Seminar contact Liz Stephen If you would like to get yaliz@ultranet.ca involved, or like to donate a few items, Monthly JETAABC Meeting please email us at angelkeik@hotmail.com Thanks!

Hike with Mokuyokai contact Markus Lem

The Quirky Japan Homepage provides information about oddities such as the The Meguro Parasitalogical Museum, the Thousand Person Bathtub, Love Hotels, temple lodging, and the Yakiimo man (the ice cream man's evil twin). http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/index.html

Sumo News Takanohana won the 2001 Hatsu Basho by defeating fellow Yokozuna, Musashimaru, in a playoff. Akebono, the first foreign-born Yokozuna, announced his retirement as a result of prolonged knee injuries.

Final Results Wakakosho 6-9 Kotonowaka 5-10 Tochisakae 4-11 Takanonami 6-9 Chiyotenzan 8-7 Takanowaka 4-11 Kotoryu 9-6 Kyokutenho10-5 Kinkaiyama 6-9 Kotomitsuki 4-11 Kaio 10-5 Takanohana 14-1 Kyokushuzan 8-7 Minatofuji 6-9 Takatoriki 8-7 Daishi 7-8 Higonoumi 7-8 Tamakasuga 7-8 Akinoshima 7-8 Tokitsuumi 8-7 Asanowaka 8-7 Wakanoyama 9-6 Hamanoshima 6-9 Tosanoumi 6-9 Tamarikido 6-9 Tochiazuma 10-5 Tochinonada 9-6 Tochinohana 4-11 Kaiho 4-11 Wakanosato 10-5 Musoyama 9-6 Musashimaru 14-1

Thank You to this month’s contributors!

Carl Brodie Paul Donovan Daniel McKelvey Adele Pransky Liz Stephen-Baba David Wallace

Bruce Clarke - NAJETAA Markus Lem Ellie Nakano Boleyn Relova Angela Tan Tokyo Q - www.tokyoq.com

Alumni News Nobody wants me to know anything about them...so there’s no news...everyone must have something interesting happening in their lives! Come on people! Send it to me. Or I’ll start making stuff up. Okay, enough said.

2001-2002 Steering Committee Contact Information

President - Elizabeth Stephen Home: 738-3360 E-mail: yaliz@ultranet.ca Past President - Paul Donovan Home: 608-4345 Work: 837-7953 (cell) Fax: 608-6331 E-mail: paul@donovan.sh Secretary - Carolyn Ali E-mail : mike&carolyn@telus.net Treasurer - Ryan Butt E-mail: tootsbsl@hotmail.com Newsletter Editor - Matthew Fedoruk Box 174, 6335 Thunderbird Crescent, Vancouver, BC, V8S 2V5 Home: 228-2160 Work: 875-4111 ext. 68485 E-mail: mfedoruk@interchange.ubc.ca Director at Large - Newsletter - Angela Tan Do you have any exciting E-mail: angelkeik@hotmail.com news to share with Programs and Events Director - Adele Pransky JETAABC? E-mail: adelesky@hotmail.com Are you getting married?

Director at Large - Programs and Events - Wendy McAvoy New job? Moving? Please E-mail: wendymcavoy@yahoo.com let us know!

Membership - Albert Ngai Send an email to: E-mail: albngai@home.com angelkeik@hotmail.com Island Representative - Alida Abbott E-mail: genkiali@yahoo.com and we'll announce it in the Chapter and JETAA Canadian Representative - Boleyn Relova JETAABC newsletter!

Home: 522-8761 Work: 522-8761 Fax: 522-2937 E-mail: boleyn@canada.com Consulate General of Japan Contacts 900 - 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K9 Tel: 684-5868 Fax: 684-6939 Mr. Hideaki Kawai - koho@consuljpnvan.com Ms. Ellie Nakano - telephone ext. 240 E-mail: programs@consuljpnvan.com

questions or comments? info@jetaabc.bc.ca

What is this organization called JETAABC? So, you’ve signed up for JETAABC, now what? Luckily, you’ve signed on with one of the most active and organized JET Alumni associations in Canada.

This is a rough list of what we do: • Produce a newsletter every two months.

• Sponsor a pub night each month.

• Join the Mokuyokai on a hike each month.

• Organize an orientation seminar for new JETs in May. • Organize a re-entry and career prep seminar in November.

• Sponsor two roundtable discussions a year.

• Hold major gatherings in September, January, and June.

• Send a delegate to the JETAA international conference.

• Help produce the Cross Canada newsletter once per year.

• Keep a website up to date (for which we could use someone to help!!!!!!).

We do a lot, but we can always stand to improve. What are your ideas? What else would you like to see JETAABC do?

One thing I’d like to see is more contact with other Alumni chapters. Does anyone have contacts they could use or ideas on how we can interact more?

Let me know! Contact Liz Stephen our fearless President. yaliz@ultranet.ca

JETAABC CONTACT INFO: JETAABC Bentall Centre PO BOX 48121 Vancouver, BC V7X 1N8

WEB ADDRESS www.jetaabc.bc.ca Editor’s Telephone: (604) 228-2160