Nominated and seconded by:
Dennis Normile; Steve McClure

For the fourth time in as many years I am asking you, my fellow members, to elect me to the Board, this time as your president. There’s much we can achieve next term. After serving as a director for two years, and last year as 1st Vice President in charge of house and property, I believe I have what it takes to hit the ground running on July 1.
Topping the list of matters to address is how we improve understanding between our General Manager, the people that work under him and us the members. It is regrettable that our staff union felt a threat to strike was the only way to express their dissatisfaction. For the situation to deteriorate to this extent indicates a breakdown in communication and inadequate procedures to deal with staff grievances.

The people who serve our dinners, cook our food, answer our phones or tally our accounts are an important and valued part of the Club and are one reason why we are the world’s leading club for foreign correspondents.

The problem can be remedied and represents a chance for us to put in place changes that will ensure the smooth operation of our great Club in the future. If elected I will invite a member of staff, chosen by his or her peers, to attend regular board meetings as an observer, a privilege we already extend to our Associate members. I would also urge whoever is elected as 2nd Vice President to add a member of staff to the Human Resources Committee. Formalizing these arrangements and constructing an effective grievance procedure to quickly identify and deal with complaints would be the next step.

Better cooperation and communication will put us in good stead for what is going to be a financially challenging term. The simple fact is we are losing money. The economic downturn has left our members with less cash to spend.
For us journalists the recession has been particularly grueling. Some of us have lost jobs; others have had their salaries cut. And everybody is working under a cloud of uncertainty. During such harsh times the value of joining the FCCJ community and sharing the resources and network it offers is clear.

The deficit isn’t, however, a crisis. We can tackle it. To begin with we need to invite new members to join our club. We have a lot to offer and more active marketing should lengthen our membership roll.

Encouraging members to come to the Club more often to sample our fare and join in our varied social and professional events will also help. There are plenty of reasons for them to come.

Through the hard work of the Professional Activities Committee and staff, the quality and diversity of visitors we attract has improved greatly. In the past year we have entertained dignitaries such as Japan’s prime minister, Taro Aso, and the Dalai Lama. I don’t think any other venue in Japan can boast a better list of speakers. Also, we are a club that gives a voice to the less-well-known, ordinary and extraordinary folk who have important things to say about Japan. It’s a good balance and one I would preserve.

We must also trim expenses, cuts that can be made without getting rid of workers or diluting services. When we have to spend we should to look for new ways to keep expenses low. As an example, a major cost next year will likely be to replace our aging computerized point-of-sales system. It’s already on its last legs. Going to one of the well-known IT companies for a customized package will cost us dearly.

Using the skills of our staff and members instead to adapt off-the-shelf software could save us a lot of money.
Our Club, however, is not just about profit or loss. At the heart of our organization is a working press club, one that supports the efforts of writers, broadcasters and photojournalists. Library and workroom resources are better than they have ever been, and as a full-time journalist who works at the FCCJ most days of the week I know the value they bring to my job. I believe we can do even more to tap those resources. Our store of recorded press conference stretches back more than half a century and represents an unprecedented archive of Japan’s postwar history and the people that shaped it. Accompanying those tapes is a treasure trove of photographs snapped over the decades. They shouldn’t stay in their boxes collecting dust. I would propose establishing an archive committee to begin the work of preserving and digitizing that valuable record.

The FCCJ has been around for more than 60 years and will be around for at least as long again. We remain strong and our future is bright.

Once again, I humbly ask for your vote.

If any member wishes to ask me about where I stand on any issue you can e-mail me at tim.kelly@forbes.com or call me at 090-9850-1378