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2002-2003
Board of Directors and Professional Staff Message from the Chair Corporate Membership (as of April 29, 2003) 2002-2003 Year in Review The Japan-America Society of the State of Washington is a private, nonprofit, statewide organization founded in 1923. For more than 79 years, the Society has played a pivotal role in improving relationships between the United States and Japan and in helping the people of Japan and the U.S. better understand and appreciate one another and their respective cultures. The Society's American and Japanese corporate and individual members throughout Washington State support a diverse range of business and trade, public affairs, cultural, and educational projects to fulfill the Society's mission. The Japan-America Society of the State of Washington is a non-profit organization with IRS classification 501(c)3 (EIN 23-7282194). The Society is also registered as a Charitable Organization (JAA-M95-024) with the Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington. Mission Statement of the Society The mission of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington is to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington state by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. Goals of the Society The goals of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington are the following: 1. Provide leadership to increase understanding between the peoples of Japan and the State of Washington 2002-2003 Board of Directors and Professional Staff Note: During the 2001-2002 year, the Board of Directors voted to change Society By-Laws referring to organizational titles. Thus, the Board President became Board Chair, Board President-Elect became Board Chair-Elect, and Board Vice Presidents became Board Vice-Chairs. In addition, the Board voted to change the title of the Executive Director to President. Chair Sara Sandford, Garvey, Schubert & BarerChair-Elect Christopher Helm, Davis Wright TremainePast Chair Mic Dinsmore, CEO, Port of SeattleVice Chairs Shinji Kokage, Yamato Transport U.S.A., Inc.Honorary Vice Chairs The Honorable Tadahiro Abe, Consul-General of JapanSecretary Brendan J. Dugan, Port of TacomaTreasurer Andrew Read, Deloitte & Touche LLPAt-Large Member Susan K. Okamoto, Susan K. Okamoto, Inc. Kirsten Aoyama, CIBER-University of WashingtonClass of 2004 Thomas Andersen, KeyBankClass of 2005 Nobuki Ando, Nippon Express USA, Inc. Jeff Demetrescu, President Message from the Chair Sara Sandford, Chair, 2002-2003 Japanese version As most of you know, this has been a tough year for everyone and Japan America Society has been no exception. Still, our Society’s circumstances should be viewed as a cup more than half full – in fact almost filled to the brim! We have a lot to be thankful for this year. To start, we have stayed the course on our mission: We have promoted mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington State, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. In addition, this year marks our Society’s 80th anniversary and 150 years since the inception of relations between Japan and the U.S. In this time of uncertainty, such positive, sustained bilateral relations between these two largest economies is quite remarkable. We should not take the relationship for granted. It is through the efforts of so many like our members that we can celebrate these remarkable milestones! Further, our Society has been active. Last year at the annual meeting, I said I would make it possible for all interested members to participate. I hope that has proved true. We have had three dynamic committees: the Golf Committee, Holiday Celebration Committee and Planning & Membership Committee. We had sell-out attendance at our golf event and this year’s event promises to be just as great. It is set for July 14 at Mill Creek Country Club. We had fun and met budget at our lovely Holiday Celebration, as well. And our P&M Committee helped with planning, membership and exploring the possibility of a welcoming event for newly arriving Japanese. Attendance at the Society’s outstanding programs more generally was also impressive and our Japan in the Schools program continued its good work. JIS is a truly exceptional program that I hope each of you will support through volunteering and/or contributions of any size. Even with all these great activities, however, we are aware of the economic and business challenges that our members are facing and do not take the support we receive for granted. We are working on next year’s budget with a tight rein. We want to make sure our resources are used for things that members need and want. We want to make sure that the Society remains healthy and thriving. In conclusion, I must extend thanks where mere words do not really suffice. Our staff, board, committees and Executive Committee have all been terrific. We are very fortunate to have so many dedicated individuals in this Society. Jeff Demetrescu has done an excellent job with many challenges. Toshie Ando, our Finance/Membership Director, is indispensable. She is so dedicated! In addition, Yuka Furukawa has been this year’s coordinator for Japan in the Schools and done a wonderful job on JIS and providing general support. Finally, David Keller has worked ceaselessly on the projects on which we have enlisted his assistance. You all are amazing and we thank you! Finally, my undying thanks to our members. Without your support and participation the Society would not be. Thank you. Corporate Membership (as of April 29, 2003) Benefactor Boeing Commercial AirplanesPatron Bank of AmericaSustaining Achilles USA, Inc.Regular Acordia Northwest, Inc.Associate Academy of Languages Translation and Interpretation ServicesIndividual Members: 160 2002-2003 Year in Review April 2002 23: 2002 Annual Meeting. Keynote Speaker: Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato. May 2002 1: Quarterly Business Briefing with Professor Donald Hellmann, University of Washington. 8: Living in the USA: Managing a Multicultural Workforce with Yumi Asahara, Global Search USA. 10: Members Forum with Ed Lincoln, Brookings Institution. Arthritic Japan: The Slow Pace of Reform 19-22: IT/Wireless Mission to Japan. June 2002 5: Luncheon Program with Ambassador Clayton Yeutter. Observations on Business and Trade from a Recent Tour of Asia. 7: Financial Services JASIG with Dr. Yasuhiro Maehara, General Manager in the Americas Bank of Japan, Chief Representative Office in New York. Japan’s Economic Recovery: Still a Long Way to Go? 19: Members Forum with Mark St. Angelo, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, and George McCray, Senior Attorney-Advisor, U.S. Customs Service Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement in Japan and the U.S. July 2002 11: Japan’s Wireless Market Opportunities: Briefing on the 2002 IT Mission to Japan. A Panel Discussion and Networking Reception with Scott Blanksteen, Director, Product Marketing, Qpass, Sharon Chan, Technology Reporter, Seattle Times, Steve Clemons, VP and General Mgr.-Asia Pacific, Viair, Inc., Wistar Kay, IT/Software Manager, Washington State OTED, and Moderator Tom Bell, Partner (IT Focus), Perkins-Coie LLP. 19: Breakfast with Michael Michalak, Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy (Tokyo). By invitation only. 29: Board of Directors Farewell Luncheon for Consul-General Fumiko Saiga. August 2002 13: 42nd Annual Japan-America Society Golf Tournament Trophy Lake Golf & Casting, Port Orchard. 15: Members Forum with Kono Taro, Japanese Diet. How to Change Japan. 27: Breakfast with Kenneth S. Courtis, Managing Director Goldman Sachs. September 2002 16: Luncheon Program with ACCJ President Donald Kanak. Japan: Beyond the Headlines. 17: Quarterly Business Briefing. Chambara: Competing Future Scenarios with the National Center for APEC’s Craig Allen, longtime Japan businessman and President of Pro-Age International, LLC, Michael Birt, and Director of the Japan-Western Americas U.S. Secretariat, David Keller. 21: Wakabakai Potluck Picnic and Japanese Garden Tour. October 2002 1: Partnering with Japan for Biotech Success. A Panel Discussion and Networking Reception with Dennis George, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Dendreon Corporation; Kevin Kelly, Attorney, Shareholder, Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP; Mike Martino, President, Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Cliff Stocks, Vice-President, Business Development, ICOS Corporation; and moderated by Ken Tracy, Global Health Sciences, Ernst & Young LLP. 3: All JASIGs Meeting with Max Yoshimura. Expansion to Japan: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. 7: Japan-America Society Welcome Luncheon for Consul-General Tadahiro Abe. 12: Japan in the Schools Program Volunteer Training Workshop. Japanese Language and Culture Visits High School Program. 19: Japan in the Schools Program Volunteer Training Workshop. Japan in a Suitcase Elementary School Program. 30: Members Forum with Dr. David Matsumoto, Author. Japan’s Cultural Divide: The New Generation and a Changing Japan. December 2002 4: Annual Holiday Celebration Dinner and Auction. 21: Wakabakai Dinner at Shilla Restaurant. January 2003 19: Wakabakai Visit to the Tsubaki Shrine. 30: Quarterly Business Briefing with Marie Anchordoguy, U.W. Japan Studies Program. February 2003 19: Japan IT: 2003: Program and Networking Reception featuring Bruce Rutledge, Editor-in-Chief, J@pan Inc. (Tokyo) with Comments from Leslie Helm, former Tokyo correspondent for Business Week and the L.A. Times, and Sharon Pian Chan, technology reporter for the Seattle Times. March 2003 18: High-Tech JASIG with Tim Romero, Digital Garage (Tokyo). April 2003 8: Program and reception featuring Masaki Kinoshita, General Manager, NTT DoCoMo USA San Jose Office and SVP of its Mobile Multimedia Division. 29: 2003 Annual Meeting. Keynote Speaker: Wendy S. Cutler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs. 2001-2002 Annual Report 2000-2001 Annual Report |
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