我孫子市国際交流協会

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2012  1:30p.m.-3:40p.m.

Venue: M.P. Hall, Abiko Civic Plaza

Philippine-born Ms. Imerda Ono declared in Japanese the opening of the 12^th AIRA General Meeting. Imerda san is known as the founder and an active member of the AIRA Cultural Dance Group that has been occasionally performing Philippine bamboo dances.

Mr. M. Hayasaka, AIRA President, gave an opening address as follows. “2011 was a special year that all the nation suffered from the fatal 3.11 East Japan Earthquake and subsequent disasters. The number of our foreign language teachers and foreign students dropped one time, however, fortunately the situation has been gradually normalized. It was our great pleasure that the AIRA 20^th Anniversary Ceremony was held as scheduled in November, 2011.”

Mr. J. Hoshino, Mayor of Abiko, made a speech referring to the foreign residents, “I wish AIRA’s incessant cooperation and assistance toward the 1300 of them for their warry-free daily lives, and also give your warm consideration to the young generations for nurturing sense of an international viewpoint.”

Mr. Y. Kawamura, Chairperson of the City Council, gave a congratulatory speech as follows. “First of all it’s my honor to express a congratulation to the 20^th anniversary. Being appointed as an advisor, I have come to know that so many volunteers are devoting themselves to various activities throughout the year. My view is that to guard and to be proud of our own country is quite  essential and implies of admiring foreign nations. Newly arrived foreign people must be feeling uneasiness. Your warm consideration toward them would be greatly trustworthy, so please help them as much as you can.”

Mr. Hayasaka chaired the session for further deliberation.

First, the fiscal 2011 Business Achievement Report and Statement of Account, a draft of appointment of director, audit, and executive committee members were submitted and unanimously approved by the attended members. Then explanations on the fiscal 2012 Business Plan and relevant Budget Plan were also fully supported. A report on a change of advisor was made. This concluded the deliberation of the whole issues on the table. Mr. Hayasaka sounded the members for any questions or proposals.

The following two proposals were raised by a member.

1.    In addition to the current 5 kinds of foreign language classes, he proposed new classes for German, Russian, Arabic and Italian to be started.

Mr. Hayasaka did not give favorable answer to this, giving reasons of room-securing problem and uncertainty of balance of income.

2.    As to the AIRA membership, the member urged that the current 756 persons should be increased up to 1,000, stressing of his own effort to be taken for this purpose. To this appeal, Mr. Hayasaka showed an understanding and assured that the management would continue their efforts toward the target.

AIRA membership as of March 31, 2012 shows 756; male 324, female 432, Abiko citizen 670, others 86  corporate body 27

Executive Members for fiscal 2012 follow:

President: Mitsuru Hayasaka

Vice President: Takeshi Ideguchi, Fumiko Kitajima, Tetsuya Sugano

Manager, Administration Department: Noriko Adachi

Manager, Public Relations Department: Yasuhide Kadota

Manager, Exchange and Community Department: Zhang Hua

Manager, Study and Culture Department: Koichiro Beppu

Manager, Volunteer Department: Yasuhiko Hesaki

Accountant: Yukikazu Someya, Masao Sumi

A post-meeting tea party was set at the same place.

After a little while, a bamboo flute playing was performed by Ms. Toshiko Kikawa, assistant manager of the Public Relations Department. She played Etenraku, a Japanese traditional court music, Air on the G String by J.S.Bach, El Condor Pasa, and the popular Ue-o-muite-aruko with singing of the people in the hall. Thus, the meeting was successfully completed.(vol.160)

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