To Regular & Professional/Journalist Associate (PJA) Members

Temperatures are rising across Japan as spring gives way to summer.

Come have an ice cold beer (or two) and light finger food at the FCCJ Happy Hour, happening here at our very own Main Bar every last Wednesday of the month.

Bring your journalist friends and colleagues too for an evening of lively debate! For those interested in Club membership, tours of the facilities and explanations of the many Club membership benefits will be available.

Drinks and the buffet are free for one hour. Orders taken beyond the hour will be charged to members, and guests can purchase coupons (valid for the same day) at the Reception Desk to continue imbibing.

We look forward to seeing you.

Membership Marketing Committee

Monday, May 25, 2009
Starts at 6:30 p.m.
FCCJ 20th-floor Dining Room
Advance Reservations Highly Recommended!

2009's first FCCJ Red Carpet Party promises to be an exhilarating event indeed!

The stars of the evening are our new members who have joined the Club over the last 7 months, and all Club members are invited to help us extend a very warm welcome to these newcomers.

Also highly anticipated is the arrival of and culinary delights offered by our new Executive Chef, Paul Dodd, protégé of both Gordon Ramsay and Joel Robuchon. Paul joins the Club on May 11, so party attendees will be among the first FCCJ members to personally meet him and have a taste of some of his exciting, gourmet offerings!
Having most recently served with Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Paris, and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, London, Chef Dodd promises to add great excitement to our Club's food and beverage operations.

The FCCJ Red Carpet Party is also a great chance to invite your friends and colleagues who are seriously considering Club membership. Tour the facilities with a knowledgeable guide, and get the scoop on Club activities from Board members, Committee Chairs, the General Manager and many others. There is no charge for new and prospective members, and other members can enjoy discounts on drinks.

For reservations to this exclusive event contact the Reception Desk no later than Thursday, May 21st. Please give the full name and company/affiliation of any prospective members/guests. As seats are limited, we greatly appreciate your help in allowing us to prepare for the appropriate numbers.

Tel: 03-3211-3161
Fax: 03-3211-3168
Email: front@fccj.or.jp

Cheryl Ang
Membership Marketing Manager

Regular & Professional/Journalist Associate Members

The last Wednesday of April is a national holiday, and we are
celebrating a day late here at the Club!

The FCCJ Happy Hour will be happening on Tuesday April 28th, where you
can enjoy good times over great food and drinks with your journalist
friends and colleagues.

Tours of the facilities and explanations of the many Club membership benefits will be available. Drinks and the buffet are free for one hour. Orders taken beyond the hour will be charged to members, and guests can buy chits at the Reception Desk to continue imbibing.

We look forward to seeing you.

Membership Marketing Committee

To All Regular Members:

There will be a regular meeting of the General Membership on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.

The tentative agenda will be as follows:

1. Approval of the December GMM minutes
2. President's Report
3. Board Proposed Bylaw Change-Presentation by Membership Committee Chair

Paragraph 2-2 currently states, "For the purpose of Article 8, an actively practicing foreign correspondent in Japan is a person working for a news organization headquartered outside Japan, such as:". In order to expand the definition of actively practicing foreign correspondent in Japan to include journalists working for local news organizations that have achieved major international reach in non-Japanese languages via the Internet, cable, satellite or other newer technology, this is changed to read, "For the purpose of Article 8, an actively practicing foreign correspondent in Japan is a person working in Japan, for a news organization, in the production of non-Japanese-language news content whose audience includes a substantial overseas component, such as;"

Paragraph 2-5 currently states, "For the purpose of Article 8, a person having equivalent qualifications to the above shall be defined as someone earning a substantial part of his or her income from work as: (a.) A self-employed bona fide foreign author, freelance writer, photographer, online journalist or artist dealing with news for overseas distribution; (b.) an editor with the rank of department head or higher, employed by privately owned daily foreign language newspapers in Japan, subject to his or her continued employment by the same." In order to add a new retired regular category and to recognize that the existing (b.) will be no longer needed in view of the change in 2-2 above, this is changed to read: "For the purpose of Article 8, a person having equivalent qualifications to the above shall be defined as someone who either
(a.) earns a substantial part of his or her income from work as a self-employed bona fide author, freelance writer, photographer, online journalist or artist dealing with news for overseas distribution in languages other than Japanese; or
(b.) is a former veteran regular member who has largely or fully retired and is no longer actively practicing, and who is accepted into retired regular status at a reduced monthly rate. A 'retired regular' member may vote in elections but is not eligible to use the workroom. A retired regular may run for and serve as president, treasurer or kanji but, in order to maintain the Board dominance by actively practicing correspondents that is mandated in Article 27, a retired regular member may not run for or serve as director at large, secretary or vice president."

4. Approval of Operational and Capex Budget
5. House & Property Presentation
6. GM Report
7. Committee Reports
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business

If you cannot attend the meeting please sign the statement below and give it to another Regular Member to vote on your behalf. Make sure your proxy is planning to attend and does not already hold more than two proxy votes. No member may hold more than two proxy votes. If you send a proxy please do so by fax(3211-3168), mail or hand delivery since a proxy has to be a signed statement, according to our bylaws. Please don't send your proxy to the President, as she may not vote except in the case of a tie or a secret ballot.

Since we need a quorum of one-fifth of the regular membership for the meeting to be valid, please let us know your attendance by phone, fax to front desk, or email to kubo@fccj.or.jp

Catherine Makino
President

*********************************

PROXY STATEMENT

I am unable to attend the meeting of March 24, 2009 and in accordance with Article 22 of the Articles of Association and Paragraph 9-8 of the bylaws of the FCCJ do hereby assign

Proxy's name:
as proxy to vote for me on any and all business to come before the General Membership Meeting.

Member's name:

Member's Signature

Membership Number 　　Date

To Regular & Professional/Journalist Associate Members

Join us this Wednesday for a chance to share some good cheer with friends and colleagues. Introduce a new journalist to the Club and enjoy a free bottle of wine, as well as a chance to win a free weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Tours of the facilities and explanations of the myriad benefits of Club membership will be available. Drinks and the buffet are free for one hour. Orders taken beyond the hour will be charged to members, and guests can buy chits at the Reception Desk to continue imbibing.

Mark your calendar for future Happy Hours on the last Wednesday of each month in 2009.

Membership Marketing Committee

To Regular & Professional/Journalist Associate Members:

If it's the last Wednesday of the month, it's Happy Hour for Journalists!
Every Regular and Professional Journalist Associate Member is encouraged to bring a friend or colleague to an hour long food and drink fest. The price can't be beat, and it is a good opportunity to introduce other journalists to one of the most active press clubs in the world. Don't miss this chance to share some good cheer with friends old and new.In honor of the festive occasion, a bottle of wine awaits both you and your guest, if the guest submits a completed application form.

Drinks and the buffet are free for one hour. Orders taken beyond the hour will be charged to members, and guests can buy chits at the Reception Desk to continue imbibing.

Mark your calendar for future Happy Hours on the last Wednesday of each month in 2009: February 25, March 25, etc.

Membership Marketing Committee