Issue:
Dear members
The Finance Committee, Board of Directors, and General Manager are in a critical period drawing up our next budget, to be presented at the General Membership Meeting at the end of March. Again, all members are invited to the GMM. Separately, I encourage you all to visit the Club over the next weeks for events such as films, professional speakers, and our outstanding entertainment and exhibitions.
I recently attended a Book Break for the first time in years and found it to be a great night with a different set of members and guests. I also attended our monthly film preview. In terms of what’s already on the agenda, we have a film screening of This Place on March 2, a press conference with Japan’s newest Nobel laureates on March 3, an already sold-out “What is washoku” night, and a variety of WBC game screenings and Saturday Night Live guests throughout the month.
The Professional Activities Committee is fresh from its post-Olympics coup in bringing Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara - Japan's first Olympic gold medallists in pairs figure skating – to the FCCJ fresh from their return from the Milano Cortina Winter Games. It goes without saying that "Riku-Ryu" attracted a full house and lots of media coverage.
More must-attend events are in the offing. On March 17 we will welcome back H.I.H. Princess Takamado, honorary president of BirdLife International, who will be speaking with Dr. Stuart Butchart, the organization’s chief scientist, on the subject of Birds as Messengers of Climate Change. Don’t miss it.
Finally, with just three months before our next elections, I would kindly ask you to consider running for the Board of Directors or volunteering to serve on one of our many committees. We would all welcome new blood to take on leadership roles in our organization, and I trust you will find it worth your time and commitment.
Dan Sloan
FCCJ President
