2015 AIRA General Meeting

Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 015 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.

Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, Abiko Civic Plaza

 The meeting was started by an opening message in Japanese by Ms. Liu Peng, and followed by today’s emcee Ms. N. Adachi, manager of Administration Department.

Following a welcome message by Mr. T. Sugano, AIRA President, Mr. Akira Aoki, Deputy Mayor, made a congratulatory address, saying, “The internationalization of the city has been greatly driven by AIRA。 I expect further development based on free and broad way of thinking. Mr. Toyoji Sasaki, Chairperson of the City Council gave a warm speech expecting AIRA’s continuing activities for forming a comfortable living environment particularly for foreign people.

 Mr. Sugano chaired and started deliberations on various agenda.

 Reports on the fiscal 2014 business report and the statement of account settlement including inspection of the account settlement were duly approved by attended members. An announcement on the newly assigned directors was made.

 Detailed explanations on the fiscal 2015 business plan and draft budget plan were made by respective executive members. The following items were pointed out as new businesses for the fiscal year of 2015.

 1. In the coming Speech Contest, each speaker will be required to express a speech containing spirit of Peace in line with the historical 70th year since the war-end.

 2. An evening Japanese language class will be opened as a pilot scheme.

 3. A Japanese training course will not be held this year.

 4. The whole business budget will be 17.580 million yen with 240 thousand yen less than last year.

 Two questions were raised from the floor, the one was about the evening Japanese language class, and the other was a request for opening a German class. The both questions were duly responded by executives.

 The two main subjects were unanimously agreed by the members attended. Finally, Ms. Liu peng announced the closure of the assembly.

 The hall was quickly changed for social gathering. Mr. S. Iinuma, AIRA member and a veteran emcee, nicely guided the party. AIRA’s advisor, Mr. Ichiro Nishigaki, standing chairperson of the Administration and Planning Department of the City Council toasted to start the party with his word, “Amid the circumstance of more attention is paid for the international exchange and understanding¸ let me hope for wider and more progressive activities by AIRA members.” Listening to numbers of melodies played on the keyboard by Ms. Ke Mei Ling as the background music, gathered members and guests enjoyed chatting over glass of drinks and some foods. Still photos “AIRA by one year” were shown on the screen. Quizzes such as the number of visiting foreigners by country, consuming amounts during their stay in Japan, etc. raised by Mr. Iinuma puzzled answerers.

 At the end of the party all people sang together “The Flower Blooms” to the Ms. Ke Mei Ling’s keyboard playing.   (No. 15-3)