The General Assembly was held to determine AIRA’s management and action plans for FY2022.(No.22-3)Date & Time: April 25th(Mon), 2022 13:30～14:40
Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza Multi-Purpose Hall
The FY2022 General Assembly was held with preventive measures and avoiding 3Cs against the new coronavirus infection. Emceed by Ms.Adachi, Director of Administration Department, it started with an opening declaration by Ms.YOSHINO Maria Ellen from the Philippines, a student of AIRA Japanese Language Class.
Following the short speeches by AIRA President Ichikawa and Mayor Hoshino, who is Honorable AIRA President, acted by Vice Mayor Aoki for him, newly nominated Advisors (Mr. KAI Tokumitsu, City Council Chairman and Mr. KIMURA Tokumichi, General Affairs Planning Standing Chairman) were introduced and Mr. Kai made an address on their behalf.
President Ichikawa stressed the necessity of international exchange and AIRA’s activities over the past 30 years, referring to the good performance in fluent Japanese by Ms.YOSHINO Maria Ellen, and requested everyone involved to keep on their cooperation with AIRA.
Mr. Aoki, Vice Mayor, said that there is going to be the 4th vaccination against COVID-19 and asked the people concerned for their understanding and cooperation so that AIRA may carry out the activities scheduled this year smoothly.
Mr.Kai, Advisor, talked on what he expects of AIRA emphasizing the importance of international exchange on grass-root level, which he came to be aware of during his travelling overseas alone in his school days.
And then, President Ichikawa, Chairman of the General Assembly started the deliberation of the agenda as the emcee.
＊ Agenda No.1: Business Reports FY2021, explained by VP Kitajima
The 30th anniversary ceremony and the publishment of the 30th anniversary magazine were conducted while other events such as Abiko International Festival, Cross-Cultural Understanding Class, Japanese Language Class and Foreign Language Classes were held online or in person with preventive measures against COVID19.
Slovenian athletes who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games had a pre-camp in Abiko City and in this regards, AIRA dispatched interpreters to some events.
On the other hand, in order to prevent spreading of the infection, International Speech Contest, the bus trip, cross-cultural exchange at an elementary school, the year-end party, etc. were cancelled.
＊ Agenda No.2: Financial Statements FY 2021, explained by Mr. Yoda , Accountant, and
Inspection Results, reported by Mr. Yoneda, Auditor
Regarding the income, there was some decrease for such items as AIRA member fees, tuitions of the Foreign Language Classes and the sales profit at the AIRA Festival.
Regarding the expenditure, there was also decrease for AIRA Festival, the management of Foreign Language Classes and the wages for the secretariats by revising the working system. Under such circumstances, the 30th anniversary magazine was published utilizing the donation made by the World Doll Museum in 2020.
This donation, which was planned to be spent for International Exchange Speech Contest, was transferred to the next fiscal year due to the cancellation of the contest.
Both Agenda No.1 and 2 were deliberated together and approved.
＊No.3: Replacement Plans of Directors, Auditors and Officers, explained by Chairman Ichikawa and approved
The AIRA regulations stipulate that the working term of Director/Auditor is two years and officers are elected out of directors. This is the election year and Ms. KITAJIMA Fumiko was elected as the new President and Mr. SARUWATARI Hiroshi was nominated as the Director of Volunteer Services Department. (Refer to “FY2022 Abiko International Relations Association Officers”)
＊Agenda No.4: Business Plans FY2022
VP Murakoshi explained the plans as a whole while each director explained respective department plan.
Mr. Adachi for Administration Dept., Mr.Nakamura for Public Relations Dept., Mr.Hayasaka for Cross-Cultural Activities Dept., Mr.Uehara for Foreign Languages Dept. and Mr. Hesaki for Volunteer Services Dept.
In addition to Abiko International Festival and Speech Contest, each department is planning to hold Japanese Language Class, Foreign Language Classes, a bus trip, etc. though the pandemic is still not contained.
＊ Agenda No.5: Budget Plans FY2022, explained by Mr. Yoda, Accountant
The budgetary income was reduced as the number of AIRA members decreased while the other income was booked as usual expecting the activities will go back to normal.
As for the expenditures, the cost for the new prize for Speech Contest was added while the wages for the secretariats and the management expenses were reduced.
Agenda No.4 and No.5 were deliberated and approved together.
All the scheduled agendas were finalized and the directors were introduced by the emcee.
No question or opinion was given at Q&A and Ms. YOSHINO Maria Ellen declared to close the assembly after she told that regrettably no tea party would be held to prevent infection this year.
“ FY2022 Abiko International Relations Association Officers”
President: Ms. KITAJIMA Fumiko
Vice President: Mr. ICHIKAWA Hitoshi, Mr. HESAKI Yasuhiko, Mr.MURAKOSHI Koichi
Director of Administration Department: Mr.ADACHI Noriko
Director of Public Relations Department: Mr.NAKAMURA Takayuki
Director of Cross-Cultural Activities Department: Mr.HAYASAKA Mitsuru
Director of Foreign Languages Department: Mr.UEHARA Masamoto
Director of Volunteer Services Department: Mr.SARUWATARI Hiroshi
Accountants: Mr. IDEGUCHI Takeshi, Mr.YODA Isamu
(Translated by NAKAJIMA Katsumi)
