By Kevin Nobuo Nakano, Florin JACL District Delegate

Time: 10AM to 4PM

Location: Eden Township Community Center  

Hosted by: Eden Township JACL Chapter

Delegate Comments:  The meeting was graciously hosted by the Eden Township JACL chapter at the Eden Township Community Center .  The registration was very well organized and fast.  The chapter provided a buffet of donuts, fresh fruit, juice and coffee for breakfast and a generous bento box for lunch.  The chapter also provided a raffle for fun. 

Meeting Notes:

• Roll Call – A quorum was established.
• Host Chapter Greetings – Welcome to Eden Township by Chapter President.
• Adoption of the Agenda – Tabled until next district meeting.
• Approval of the May 1, 2005 NCWNP District Meeting Minutes
• Administrative Reports
• Governor’s Report (Thaya Mune Craig thayajoyce@sbcglobal.net )
• District Board Vacancy – Alan Nishi has agreed to fill in for Edwin on district board.  Term ends in November 2005.
• 2005 JACL Tri-District Conference “Effecting Change” – Fri, Sept 9-11^th @ Irvine Marriott
• Conference and Registration Information: www.jaclpsw.org/tridistrict2005.htm
• Attendance - They would like at least two people from each chapter to attend.
• Advertisement – District voted to purchase two page ad in tri-district dinner.
• NCWNP Volunteered to do two workshops:
• DCYC Workshop (Kaminaga / Tanakatsubo)
• Hate Crimes Prevention (Teruya / Milo Yoshi no) – Based on “Not in Our Town” documentary.
• 2006 Golf Tournament (Jason Higashi) – Jason has been voted to chair the tournament and NCWNP district will host the golf tournament.  First planning meeting will be at NCWNP headquarters.
• 2005 District Board Elections (Thaya Mune Craig)
• If you’re interested in running for a board position, please begin to prepare. 
• Two year term. 
• Five positions up for election.
• Hokka Nichibei Kai Hall of Fame (Kim Nakahara) – Five inaugural organizations for creation of JA cultural Hall of Fame.  District will attend more information meetings to learn more about financial commitment and expectations.
• Tri-District Luncheon
• NCWNP nominate recipient for award
• Must be woman and prefer the person be a member of JACL. 
• No specific criteria were provided regarding selection of recipient.
• Member nominated Yuri Kochiyama.
• District will email to chapter presidents for nominations.  District board will make final selection.
• Award recipient will be sponsored by district.
• Suggested criteria by delegates:
• A JACL member.
• JACL activist.
• Regional Director’s Report (Patty Wada jacl-ncwnpro@msn.com ) – Life after Redress?
• Status: National Staff Positions
• Honor youth so they will understand why it’s important for JACL to continue.
• Flyod Mori of Salt Lake City will be moving to DC to staff national office.
• John Tateishi is interviewing for membership director for national JACL.  If you know anyone, please submit resume.
• District wants Youth Director hired if money becomes available. 
• National Hate Crimes Program
• Program Update: Website, College Workshop
• Website – National trying to create hate crime section on the website.
• College Workshops – Looking for youth liaisons for anti-hate network.
• New Publications - Free
• A Troubling Legacy – History of Anti-Asian prejudice and bigotry.  Free.  District would like local chapters to help distribute to educators.
• What It Means to Be an American – Draws parallels between JA experience to today’s Arab/Muslim experience post 9/11.
• Recent District Incidents:
• Lodi (Bill Hinkle) – Lodi Mayor said he is sensitive to Arab/Muslim community situation and unjust persecution.  Mayor said that the general community should not prejudge the Arab/Muslim community.  Cheryl Miles (Florin JACL), Andy Noguchi (Florin JACL) and Bill Hinkle (Lodi JACL) attended the meeting that was held at the Islamic Community Center to discuss current persecution of Arab/Muslim.  Five Muslim attorneys explained their rights (due process) if approached, questioned or detained by FBI. 
• Bill learned after the meeting that there are two factions within the Arab/Muslim community. 
• Bill also noted that FBI was documenting who attended the meeting, such as recording license plate numbers. 
• Lodi board decided to write letters to the Lodi Mayor regarding surveillance and harassment of Arab/Muslim community, but they recognize the volatility related to terrorism so they are being very careful with regards to what they write and to whom they write it to.
• Orinda (Judith Aono) – Over memorial weekend an elementary school ( Gloria Elementary School ) was defaced with Nazi and swastika symbols.  The authorities categorized it as a hate crime.  The school district superintendent did not respond to address this issue on a district wide basis.  The Orinda chapter wrote letters to the district and authorities offering to help with regards to sensitivity training and treating this incident as a teaching experience.  Orinda believes that the lack of responsiveness from district and authorities is due to the fact that the defacing was done most likely by kids.  The Orinda chapter will follow up with the school district to give them another opportunity to respond.
• Recent National Incidents: Tsunami Song, Newman’s Own, Missy Elliott
• Hate Network Liaisons/Campus Liaisons
• Hate Emails – Who do we deal with it?
• Discuss with National how to deal with hate emails?  How do we track who originated the email?
• 2006 Convention: Staff-Volunteer Changes – Nothing to report.
• Treasurer’s Report (Fred Okimoto fokimoto@comcast.net )
• Chapter dues update and status
• Pacific Citizen Report (Valarie Yasukochi vyasukochi@yahoo.com )
• Valerie’s term will end this year.  Two year commitment.  If you’re interested in her position as liaison, please contact her.
• Use of “Jap” by PC.  PC will use as relevant.  “Jap” will not be used in PC headlines or graphics.
• Chapter Submissions of Articles to PC – They do not have staffing as of now to provide receipt response. 
• Youth Forum & Articles – They have published almost all youth articles. 
• If an article has not been published, please contact them providing: Date, Author and Topic
• All article submissions should be emailed to: paccit@aol.com  Checked by Caroline, executive editor.
• If you do not receive a response, follow up just in case they miss it.
• Revenue: Exceeded all goals.
• Website: www.pacificcitizen.org will be launched in fall 2005.
• PC Reporter Position – There was a position open, but because of the JACL budget issues the PC has decided to hold off on advertising and hiring for this position. 
• 2005 Holiday Issue underway.
• PC Intern – She started June 28^th. 
• All letters to editor are published. 
• Special Guest Presentation –Jon Osaki, Executive Director, Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC)
• This year celebrated 35^th Anniversary.
• 100 employees.  Serve 5,000 young people annually.
• Nikkei Community Internship (NCI) Program (www.nikkeiyouth.org)
• Origins – Jon attended a 1998 meeting in LA “Ties that Bind.”  It was discussed how we will remain connected as a JA community.  Jon recognized that 1) The JA community has changed; 2) JA community business must change to thrive; 3) Student wanted to know what the JA community was going to do for her and what her role was in the community and another student wanted to be mentored by the JA community. 
• Formation – California  JA Community Leadership Council researched for 1 year on how to cultivate young leaders…out of this research the NCI program was created.
• About NCI
• Program has been in operation for 4 years.  Enables college students an outlet for activism and involvement with JA community.
• 8 Week summer program.  6 internships offered each summer.
• The main criteria for the selection process is finding people that want to contribute to the JA community.
• Each year applications for programs increase, so they have to turn away many youth.
• $2,000 stipend given.
• Based in LA and Bay Area. 
• Alumni network is in process of being developed. 
• Expansion of program requires more financial sponsorship for stipends.
• Applications found at www.nikkeiyouth.org.
• Lauren Kawabata – 2004 NCI Program Alumni – Tomodachi Day Care Camp Program .
• Jessica Kawamura – 2004 NCI Program Alumni – National JA Historical Society
• Member of Berkeley JACL, Youth Rep
• NCI allowed her to continue her involvement while she was in college.
• Youth/Students
• National Youth/Student Conference Report (Megumi Kaminaga) – See report.
• Upcoming DCYC Activities (Heidi Tanakatsubo)
• Nikkei Community Internship (Fukuda) – Ask for District funding.  Tabled for next meeting.  Analysis of program and benefits.
• HOST CHAPTER PROGRAM (Lauren Kawabata, Eden Township JACL)
• Eden Township Basketball & Youth Group
• 2^nd Grade – 12^th Grade
• Membership
• 1st Half 2005 Results (Endow/Kobayashi)
• Membership Training Skits (Emily Teruya/ Miles Yoshino) – Increase Membership!!!
• New Members – We fail to get new members because we forget to simply “ask” our friends, family and associates to join. 
• Membership Renewal – District is encouraging the local chapters to “call” lapsed members to encourage them to renew. 
• Served my time – Large membership = power in politics.
• Financial limitations - $59 annual membership fee.
• What’s in it for me? – Legacy for family in the future: Civil rights watch dog, education, scholarships, etc.
• Student/Youth New Members – Explain social benefits (meeting people your age), travel (conferences), free food at events, leadership opportunities for college applications, career networking, etc.
• Continuing Business
• 2005 District Dinner De-Brief (Larry Oda)
• Net $30,000
• Silent auction grossed $7,500 – Popular items were dinner prepared by district officers and electronics (iPod)
• Cultural (Thaya Mune Craig) – No report.
• Education Committee (Greg Marutani)
• SB414 – Elaine Alquest – Provide financial incentives for special training for math, science and history instructors.  Issue is that supplemental materials (JA experience) will not be included in the special training.  A letter will be written regarding including supplemental materials.
• Civil Rights/Public Affairs (Goral/Teruya) – No report.
• Aging & Retirement (Yamada) – No report.
• 2006 National Convention (Larry Oda)
• Resolutions/By Law Changes
• Awardees – Chapters are encouraged to submit an application.
• Candidates – Anyone want to run for a National position?
• Convention Committees
• David Kawamoto – He’s on a committee that is working on changing the sequence of National convention from current to an annual convention.  It’s easier to solicit corporate sponsorship on an annual basis.
• Min Yasui Oratorical Contest – Nominations will be made at second quarter meeting in 2006.  Chapters are encouraged to start thinking about candidates now. 
• National Council Resolution – Chapters are encouraged to review and be prepared to discuss at next district meeting.
• Review of National Board Meeting (Thaya Mune Craig)
• 1st Half 2005 Budget Update (Mark Kobayashi mmk@braodcom.com ) – See Report.
• Audit Committee – No Report.
• Personnel Manual (Larry Oda) – Presented to board March 18, 2005.  October 18, 2005 board will meet to discuss.
• Legacy Fund – No Report.
• Washington DC Representative – See E-mail.
• JACL Jr. Olympics – District officially closes JACL Jr. Olympics program.
• JACL Events
• District/National
• September 9-11, 2005 – JACL Tri-District Conference ( Irvine )
• September 23-25, 2005 – National Board Meeting ( San Francisco )
• November 4-6, 2005 – National Board Meeting ( San Francisco )
• November 13, 2005 – 4th Quarter District Council Meeting ( Lodi )
• February 5, 2006 – 1st Quarter District Council Meeting
• May 7, 2006 – 2nd Quarter District Council Meeting-Min Yasui Oratorical Contest
• Early June 2006 – 2006 Pre-Convention Meeting ( San Francisco )
• June 21 – 24, 2006 – 2006 National Convention ( Phoenix )
• Chapter & Community
• Announcements
• Next District Meeting: November 13, 2005 @ 9 AM Registration, 10 AM Meeting- Lodi , CA
• Adjournment

Questions regarding the District Meeting notes should be directed to:

Kevin Nobuo Nakano 

District Delegate, Florin JACL

kevin@nakanorealty.com

Work: (916) 628-1044

These notes are available at www.FlorinJACL.com. 

General NCWNP District Questions - Patty Wada , Regional Director
Northern California Office, 1255 Post Street, #805, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 345-1075
jacl-ncwnpro@msn.com