Nakayoshi Monthly Update - November 2009

Hey everyone! Yup, it's that time again... Nakayoshi Monthly Update time! First, we'd like to thank everyone who came out to the Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer on the 24th. We were excited to meet all the new faces, and hopefully everyone who came out had a great time as well! In case you haven't done so already, please take a minute or two to leave us feedback on the event on our online event feedback survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iAVmYtr73Z9ZpEkl8uHRIQ_3d_3d

Nakayoshi finished out the month by spooking the children and passing out candy at the JCCCNC's Haunted Hallway during their annual children's Halloween Carnival. This month, we're starting with our monthly volunteer event this weekend at the Holiday Chocolate Show at Fort Mason, San Francisco. Our social event this month is a Friday night of dinner and karaoke on the 20th, to be followed by our final quarterly meeting of the year on Sunday the 22nd.

Nakayoshi is also getting involved with a couple ongoing projects in the greater Japantown community, so be sure to check out how you can get directly involved with the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood development plan, as well as Day of Remembrance next year!

In this update:
11/14/09 - Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
11/20/09 - Japantown Dinner and Karaoke Social
11/22/09 - Final Quarterly Planning Meeting of 2009
12/5/09 - Volunteering at SF JACL Spaghetti Crabfeed
1/22/09 - Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Saturday, November 14, 2009: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show

Nakayoshi has been invited to volunteer with Les Tso, host of the Holiday Chocolate Show on November 14th in the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. Showcasing 30-40 local chocolatiers, the event also benefits non-profits serving children and children's issues. SF Firefighters will be on hand to collect new unwrapped toys for their annual Toy Program and other non-profits will be tabling with informational booths. Expected attendance is 2,000-4,000 and they need Nakayoshi's help! Plus, this is a great way to get into the event for free!

Nakayoshi's volunteer shift is 10:30AM-12:45PM and you are invited to stay and enjoy the rest of the event (event time runs from 12:00-5:00pm). Meeting point is outside the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. For more questions and to RSVP, please email namailto:nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact Megumi at (916) 801-2104.

Please RSVP to volunteer no later than November 12th.

What: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
When: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 10:30am - 12:45pm
Where: Meet outside Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, 99 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=190550020934&index=1

Friday, November 20, 2009: Dinner and Karaoke in SF Japantown

Come on out to Nakayoshi's November social event on Friday, November 20th! We'll be meeting up in SF Japantown for dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in the Japan Center Mall) at 8pm and then move on for a fun night of karaoke at DoReMi Music Studio following dinner.

Please RSVP by Sunday, November 15 so we can get a headcount for dinner.

What: Dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro and Karaoke after at DoReMi Music Studio
When: Friday, November 20, 2009
Time: Dinner starts at 8pm, Karaoke at 10pm
Where: Dinner is at 1581 Webster Street (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japan Center Mall), San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1

Sunday, November 22, 2009: Quarterly Planning Meeting

Been meaning to get involved with Nakayoshi? Here's another chance to jump in! Help us decide future events, get involved with our committees, and have fun hanging out with the rest of the Nakayoshi core committee! It's our last meeting of the year, so come out and see what we've been up to! We could definitely use your help in making Nakayoshi a great success!

For questions, visit http://www.nakayoshi.org/ or email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact Megumi Kaminaga at (916) 801-2104

What: Nakayoshi Q4 Planning Meeting
When: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=199088597785&index=1

Saturday, December 5: Volunteer at SF JACL's Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed

Join Nakayoshi as we volunteer at the San Francisco JACL chapter's annual Spaghetti Crab Feed on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Christ United Presbyterian Church in SF Japantown. Volunteers will assist with setup and cleanup of the event, as well as help prepare and serve food and drinks. Past beneficiaries from the SF JACL's annual Spaghetti Crabfeed include the Nikkei Community Internship program and the Campaign for Justice for Japanese Latin American Internees.

Don't feel like volunteering? You can still support by buying tickets to the event and having a delicious crab/spaghetti dinner for $25/person, or $45 for 2! E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering or purchasing tickets.

What: Volunteer at SF JACL's Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed
When: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Christ United Presbyterian Church, 1700 Sutter Street (At Laguna), San Francisco, CA
Price: Free for volunteers, $25/person or $45 for 2 tickets
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=178910732693&index=1

Friday, January 22, 2010: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

Just another reminder to save the date! Nakayoshi is teaming up again this season with the Warriors for Asian American Heritage Night! The Warriors will be playing against Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets on Friday, January 22. Check back for details on how to reserve/purchase tickets, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you're interested. Tickets to last year's game were $40, so expect similar pricing this year.

RSVP for advance notice on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=272856850579&index=1

Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee

Day of Remembrance is the Japanese American community's annual memorial observance of the internment of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during WWII. Day of Remembrance 2010 will be held on February 21, 2010, with planning for the annual event by a consortium of Japantown community organizations and activists already underway. The planning committee this year is being co-chaired by Nakayoshi member Haruka Roudebush, who is calling out for anybody who would like to be involved with putting this year's event and program together. In particular, the committee is looking for people with creative graphic design, print layout, copy editing, videography and website experience. General members are also encouraged to get involved and lend a hand where they can. This event has several hundred people in attendance annually, so every bit of help is needed and appreciated!

Please e-mail Haruka at bayareadayofremembrance@gmail.com if you can help with this year's event. Committee meetings are generally every other Thursday evening in Japantown. Attendance at every meeting is not mandatory, but please come if you are available.

What: 2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Meetings
When: Next meeting: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: bayareadayofremembrance@gmail.com

Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Concerned young members of the community, including Nakayoshi members, have formed a committee to address the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan in the coming year. The committee is currently undertaking an analysis of the plan in order to coordinate outreach to the rest of the community and our peers about how the plan will affect future developments in San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood as well as how our generation within the community will be affected by the outcome of the plan. This is an opportunity for young people to build consensus on the issues presented and to take action in helping shape the future of our community!

We at Nakayoshi strongly encourage you to educate yourselves on the issue and get involved with this committee. The committee is currently scheduled to meet on Fridays from 6-8pm at the JCCCNC in San Francisco Japantown. To find out more about the youth/young adult committee, please contact Aya Ino at aino@jcccnc.org.

More general information and the current draft of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan is available for download at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=57149

Hope we see you guys get involved this month, and happy Thanksgiving!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.