APRIL IN JAPAN IS THE TIME FOR ENJOYING THE beauty of sakura. The cherry trees blooming all over the country bring the charm of nature for which Japan is known worldwide. The short-lived beauty of the blossoms also signals the beginning of a new life, as the flowers are soon replaced by the appearance of fresh virgin leaves.

April also marks the beginning of the new business year and a new accounting period. The March General Membership Meeting approved the Club’s draft budget for FY2010, and the Club’s management is now in full preparation to begin implementing the changes in our policies, including one calling for a return to a 40-hour work week. Although the Club union has expressed reservations concerning the decision, the Board has moved ahead with the plan in response to the financial difficulties the Club has been facing in recent years. I would like to assure our hard-working and dedicated staff members that should there be any sustained recovery in the near future, the Club will reconsider the decision. As for an exact time frame, the present situation makes it difficult to predict when that might happen.

The March GMM also approved the report of the Audit Panel, which cleared up much of the confusion surrounding our past expenditures and also recommended a number of measures that will help the Club strengthen the mechanism of governance and avoid the reoccurrence of possible financial irregularities in the future. All these recommendations are very timely, and they deserve the attention of the membership for early implementation. One that is worth mentioning is the recommendation to allow Associate members to run for the position of Treasurer. The panel felt that Associate members could bring professional qualifications, particularly in the accounting and treasury functions, that would add much-needed managerial and business acumen to the deliberations of the Board. The recommendation was made more or less at the same time as the President received a letter from the Associate Members’ Liaison Committee pointing to the same need. I would like to thank the members of the Audit Panel on behalf of the Board and membership for their hard work on a difficult and potentially divisive issue, and request the membership to consider seriously the panel’s recommendations.

Since the Shadan Hojin panel is now engaged in discussions to find the best option for the Club under the new law concerning public-interest corporations that will come into effect in two years’ time, both the panel’s recommendation concerning the office of Treasurer and the formal request of our associate members are worth exploring.

The Board has decided to continue with the “Troika” leadership arrangement for the management of the Club for another six months starting from April. This will give the new Board, which takes office in July, enough time to come to a definite conclusion, taking into consideration the performance evaluation made by the current Board. The 2010 budget has designated ¥8 million for the hiring of a new GM.

I already mentioned in my March message the very successful fundraising event organized by the Club to help the earthquake victims of Haiti. I’ve received a letter of thanks from the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti, Jean-Claude Bordes. He writes: “It was indeed a wonderful evening full of compassion and generosity. I must also pay tribute one more time to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan as this is also thanks to you that an unprecedented movement of solidarity could be felt throughout Japan after my first press conference at your headquarters on last Jan. 14.”

It is particularly pleasing for me to note that our small contribution to ease the suffering of the people of Haiti has been generously recognized. Thanks go to all our members and well-wishers for raising the image of the Club, which does not hesitate to act in times of need.

Ernie Salomon

There is also another piece of mail I need to tell you about. Our Club is loved and enjoyed by all our members, and whatever we do is to try and make the Club a better place for everyone who joins the collective. We sometimes do not realize how deep people’s attachment to the Club is. A letter that the Board received from long-time member Ernie Salomon reflects perfectly that attachment with a rather sad tone. Ernie wrote the letter following an operation after being hospitalized. He expressed his desire to resign from the Club effective March 31 as he felt he would not be able to use the Club again. There was more. Ernie wrote:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the members and the activities of the Club since my first day on 26 November 1950 until now. As a token of my devotion I’m transferring ¥1 million to your bank account as a donation. Please use it as you see fit. Goodbye to all and cheerio.”

In a follow-up letter addressed to his relatives, friends and buddies, Ernie asked everyone: “Just forget about the unpleasantness that you had with me and remember the good moments. I’m sure we will all meet again, and I will have new jokes for you.”

As I was about to finish compiling this regular monthly message, I received the news of Ernie’s final departure on the night of March 21.

Thanks, Ernie, for being so nice to our Club. I’m sure what our members would like to say is, you remain in our memories as the same jolly good friend. And we definitely will meet again.

Goodbye until then, Ernie.

– Monzurul Huq