Dear Editor,

We appreciate the recognition of the potential contribution to the Club from Associates, particularly in the areas of finance and human resources shown by the current Board under the presidency of Monzurul Huq. We are writing in support of the suggestion he raised in his editorial in the February issue of the Number 1 Shimbun that ways be found to enable associates to serve on the Board in these areas. This idea received unanimous support at the Jan. 18 general meeting of Associate Members
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In particular we wish to raise the possibility of opening up the position of Club Treasurer so that suitably qualified Associate Members can stand for election. We are now hearing many voices of experience and wisdom around the Club with both Regular members and Associates expressing this view, and feel that this could be one way for Associates to “give something back” to the Club.

In particular, we feel that in light of the current economic situation, recent issues that have required investigation, and the need for future stability and sound financial management as well as the upcoming change in legislation related to the Club’s shadan hojin status, it is vital for the Club to have a Treasurer with appropriate professional experience and qualifications.

Our proposal would be that the position of Treasurer be made open to candidates from among the Associate membership. Such a candidate would then stand for election with voting by Regular members as usual.

We know that adopting this proposal would require alteration to the Articles of Association of the Club, but we hope that Regular Members may agree that the potential benefits of this change would justify the effort involved in doing so.

Yours truly,
Joan Anderson
Co-chair, on behalf of the Associate Members Liaison Committee

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Dear Sir,

Having worked as a proofreader at a translation firm in the past, I admit that I’ve developed an acute sensitivity to the insults inflicted on the English language by our Japanese hosts. All the same, I was disheartened – nay, dismayed – to receive an announcement today for an event at the FCCJ entitled “Heartful Concert in Spring.” Heartful? It’s one thing for this kind of lexical tosh to pop up in poorly translated press releases that nobody bothers to read, but it’s a sad day when the Club stoops to tolerating it in its official communications. We should be setting a gold standard for English, not embracing the rot.

Regards,
James Hadfield