Committees

House & Property

Chair/Board Liaison: Peter Elstrom

The House & Property Committee is one of the standing committees of the FCCJ, chaired by the first vice-president of the club. It deals with most aspects of our facility management, except for IT equipment.

Human Resources

Chair/Board Liaison: Ilgin Yorulmaz

The Human Resources Committee assists the board and general manager regarding personnel and related matters, with the 2nd vice president as chair, understanding that all staff report to the general manager who implements all personnel policies and who reports to the board. The committee also acts as a grievance panel in staff disputes.

Finance

Chair/Board Liaison: Mehdi Bassiri

Assists the Board and General Manager regarding Club finances.

Membership

Chairs: Monzurul Huq, Peter O'Connor
Board Liaison: Peter O'Connor

The Membership Committee considers all applications for all categories of membership of the Club. It conducts regular reviews of all memberships to ensure members' qualifications are consistent with their status. The committee is actively concerned in maintaining and increasing membership and liaises closely with the Membership Marketing Committee.

PR and Membership Marketing

Chairs: Ross Rowbury, Keiko Packard
Board Liaison: Mary Corbett

To create  better understanding between the FCCJ and the public and undertake a broad range of activities to attract new members.

Food & Beverage

Chairs: Robert Kirschenbaum, Kantaro Suzuki
Board Liaison: Kantaro Suzuki   

The Food & Beverage Committee is dedicated to bringing the best in food and beverages to the Club, served at the Main Bar, the Pen and Quill, and the Masukomi Sushi Bar. 

Professional Activities (PAC)

Chairs: Tetsuo Jimbo, Pio d'Emilia
Board Liaison: Isabel Reynolds

The PAC Committee organizes press conferences and other events at the Club. Future events are decided by a group of working journalists that rotates every year.

Freedom of Press

Chairs: David McNeill, Ilgin Yorulmaz
Board Liaison: Ilgin Yorulmaz

The Freedom of Press Committee’s task is defined by Article 3 of the Articles of Association, which declares the FCCJ was established “to defend the freedom of the press and free exchange of information and, in so doing, to maintain and increase friendly relations and sympathetic understanding between Japan and other countries.

Library, Archives & Workroom

Chairs: Koichi Ishiyama, Christoph Neidhart
Board Liaison: Peter O'Connor

The Library Committee provides one of the most important services of the FCCJ-- organizing Book Break events on a monthly basis, inviting distinguished authors writing in English and Japanese, and compiling news resources and research.

Entertainment

Chair: Sandra Mori
Board Liaison: Suvendrini Kakuchi

The Entertainment Committee provides eclectic programs including cultural, musical, and educational offerings, as well as gourmet nights of international cuisine and sake tasting events that bring together and satisfy the divergent FCCJ membership.

Election

Chair: Reed Stevenson

The Election Committee acts as a neutral body to supervise all arrangements and procedures for the annual election, including verification of the eligibility of candidates, supervision of electioneering material, distribution of ballots in hard copy or electronically, provision of a ballot box or electronic voting mechanism, counting of ballots cast, and announcement of results.

DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Committee

Chair: Martin Fackler
Board Liaison: Suvendrini Kakuchi

The DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Committee advises the board on disposition of the Club's scholarship fund, organizes workshops for student with an interest in journalism, meets with students members of the FCCJ, holds a fundraising party and the DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Contest. We celebrate our anniversary each year to remind us of our beginnings and to raise money for the DeRoy Scholarship Fund which provides support for young aspiring journalists.

Associate Members' Liaison

Chair: Taeko Nagayama
Board Liaison: Simon Farrell

The Associate Members Liaison Committee promotes the integration of the 1,600 Associate Members and Professional Associates with the main journalistic and professional activities of the Club. The transition to a Public Interest Association included the election in 2014 of three Associates to the Board of Directors to also widen the overall management expertise at the FCCJ.