LUCY BIRMINGHAM Nominated by: Dennis Normile Seconded by: Suvendrini Kakuchi

Candidate for Secretary

Lucy Birmingham

Sleeping members: It's time to WAKE UP! I was formerly among you. Now I'm running for Secretary because I am extremely worried about our FCCJ. I am sure I can make a significant contribution.

During most of the 25 years I have been a member of the club as a freelance journalist - writing for many publications/Web sites including Bloomberg, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal Asia, Architectural Digest - I've felt confident that all was being taken care of properly. It's become obvious over the past several years that this is not the case. The club is now in a crisis. We need a deep revision on all fronts. The challenges can be met with a Board of Directors that respects governance and civility. A lack of board transparency and disrespectful behavior among the members has been miring board actions and general membership meetings - and threatening the survival of the club.

What I can offer as Secretary:

* Superb organizational skills for reporting on the GMM and Board of Director meeting minutes
* Japanese-language ability
* A deep and continuing commitment to the FCCJ
* Wide contacts throughout the business and culture communities
* Common sense
* Humility with a smile!

Here are some of the major issues:

* Finances: We're facing fiscal fiasco. The club is in the red and desperately needs fiscal rehabilitation to survive. Savvy financial leadership and a workable long-term plan are vital.
* Membership: To get out of the mire we need to reverse our shrinking membership. Along with attracting more young members, women, and Asians we need to offer attractive member packages to news organizations and corporations.
* Events: PAC events have been cited as top priority by most active members. We need more high-profile and news-relevant press conferences. More networking events and job informational seminars are also needed for the majority of us facing cutbacks and shrinking salaries in this challenged industry.
* HR: Did you know that our staff is so unhappy that a group held a protest in front of the Yurakucho Denki Building? The club's HR policies are a potential minefield. Diplomacy, and respectful, smart negotiations are a must.

We need you to AWAKEN to the crisis at hand and do your duty as a member to VOTE for the most competent candidates. I know I can help in a major way. The club's survival is in YOUR hands with this election.

Respectfully yours,
Lucy Birmingham