Issue:
Dear members,
It took some time, but a full Board of Directors now represents the FCCJ and held its first meeting on July 15. I am serving as president, Randy Schmidt as First Vice President, Avi Gokool as Second Vice President, Anthony Rowley as Treasurer, and Kathleen Benoza as Secretary.
Other directors are Michiyo Nakamoto, Masayuki Watanabe, Michael King, and Taeko Nagayama, as well as Martin Fackler and Simon Farrell as our Kanjis. David Umeda will serve as Reserve Director.
I'd like to thank outgoing board: First Vice President Khaldon Azhari, Secretary David Umeda, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Shuri Fukunaga, and others for their service over the past year, as well as Yoshisuke Iinuma, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Khaldon Azhari, Hans Greimel, and Eric Johnston, who led the Election Committee over the last two months.
The new Board last month approved the largest number of Club applicants in recent memory, while also inking a tie up with A+E Networks Japan (The History Channel). We also unveiled the first joint video content taken from the FCCJ's archives that will be published shortly on A+E's and our own online platforms. In this, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and of the launch of the FCCJ, we will have much to share in coming weeks, along with a documentary on the Club itself. This is where history is made, and I encourage you to treasure it.
This week, for example, a group of U.S. journalism students from Los Angeles came to the FCCJ at the introduction of Japan Times’ correspondent Himari Semans. They peppered me with questions about our history and purpose, and the Club’s future, as well as about the latest news from Japan. It was an intellectual table tennis match that I would expect of the next generation of journalists, who are far more sophisticated in their knowledge and platforms than geezers like me. Journalism faces tremendous challenges, but there are young, smart people in the wings who recognize its value and service, and the essential role it plays in every democratic society.
I encourage you to reach out to me or any Board member to discuss your ideas for our organization, particularly if you want to be part of our many FCCJ committees and events, our fundraising campaign, or the 80th Anniversary Gala planned for later this year. We need your dedication and patronage. We’ll make a better Club together.
Dan Sloan
FCCJ President
