Monthly Update - June 2010

This June marks the 2nd anniversary of Nakayoshi's founding. We'll be kicking off Nakayoshi's 3rd year of operations this month with our 3rd annual Welcome BBQ. Join us as we get our third year off to a fresh start by welcoming in our newest class of recent college graduates and connecting them with the great activities and people that make up the Nakayoshi family!

We are continuing to do our best to provide monthly social and volunteer opportunities, and are looking forward to seeing new faces and encouraging existing members to get involved with Nakayoshi and the community! To all of you who have been with us the past two years, thanks for your part in making Nakayoshi what it is today! And to all the newcomers, we look forward to getting to know you all at the BBQ and our other upcoming events!

In this update:
6/13/10 - Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ
6/19/10 - Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby
Other Community Events:
6/19/10 - JCYC's 40th Anniversary
6/27/10 - NAAAP SF Summer Picnic

Sunday, June 13 - Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ

It's time again for Nakayoshi's annual welcome BBQ and picnic in Golden Gate Park to welcome new members and to kick off our 3rd year of connecting young professionals with the Bay Area Japanese and Japanese American community! The event is FREE for everyone, so come on out and bring your friends! We'll be grilling up burgers and hot dogs as well as providing additional dishes and drinks.

Come meet or catch up with other Nakayoshi members, learn more about our monthly social and volunteer activities, play games, eat great food, and have a great time on us! Please pass the word along about our BBQ and invite anyone who you think would be interested! We'll be at table #15 at Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park (at 30th Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive) from noon to 4pm. Make sure you RSVP on Facebook or by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you!

What: Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010

Time: Noon-4pm

Location: Table #15 at Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Price: FREE

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133136033363273

Saturday, June 19, 2010 - Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby

Nakayoshi's June volunteer opportunity will be at the San Francisco JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club's annual Youth Fishing Derby, held at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir in the East Bay. Volunteers will be needed to assist parents and other volunteers chaperone 20-25 youth ages 8-12 as well as to help set up and clean up the potluck picnic provided by the JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club members. No fishing experience necessary!

This is an easy and relaxed volunteer opportunity to spend the day having fun helping kids and a chance to enjoy a potluck picnic at the scenic reservoir! Please RSVP to volunteer by June 13. Email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you have any questions. We hope you can lend a hand!

What: Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm

Location: San Pablo Dam Reservoir, 7301 San Pablo Dam Road, Richmond, CA

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124254230939201&ref=mf

Other Community Events:

Saturday, June 19 - JCYC's 40th Anniversary

Come on out and support the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC), as they celebrate 40 years of providing non-profit programs, activities and social services for children and families in San Francisco Japantown and throughout the city of San Francisco! Their 40th Anniversary Gala will be a special evening in Japantown's Peace Plaza to celebrate their 40 year history of empowering young people for the future on Saturday, June 19, 2010, from 7pm to midnight.

The evening will be MC'd by Wendy Tokuda of CBS Channel 5 news and Jeff Mori, Executive Director of Asian American Recovery Services, and will feature live entertainment and a video reflection of JCYC from the 1970s to the present. Tickets are on sale; $100 for the all-night gala or $25 for the After-Hours Party from (9:30 pm-Midnight). Purchase tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104149

For more information on JCYC, go to: http://www.jcyc.org

What: JCYC's 40th Anniversary Gala

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Time: 7pm - Midnight (After Hours Party starting from 9:30pm)

Location: Peace Plaza, San Francisco Japantown (Post Street at Buchannan)

Price: $100 all night, $25 for After Hours Party

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104149

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120431264634212

Sunday, June 27 - NAAAP-SF Annual Summer PicnicNakayoshi is partnering with the San Francisco chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP-SF) for their annual summer picnic on Sunday, June 27 at Rengstorff Park in Mountain View.

Continuing on NAAAP's success from last year's Summer Picnic, Nakayoshi will be joining NAAAP as they gather again for their 2010 Summer Picnic and Volleyball Tournament event bringing diverse Asian-focused organizations and like-minded professionals from all over the SF Bay Area for a great day of food, friends, and fun!

About NAAAP:
NAAAP San Francisco is the Bay Area Chapter of the National Association of Asian Professionals. NAAAP-SF is an all volunteer non-profit organization. We serve and support organizations, associations, and enterprises committed to the betterment of the Asian American community. The National Association of Asian American Professionals is dedicated to promoting leadership development, professional networking, and cultural awareness on behalf of the Asian community. Through programs and leadership opportunities, NAAAP-SF is driving leadership development by providing hands on experience, feedback, and education. Founded in 1982, NAAAP has since expanded to over 25 cities and has grown to over 3,500 active members in North America. Over the years, NAAAP has established strategic, diverse, and collaborative relationships that further our commitment that "We Make Leaders!"

Find out more about NAAAP-SF at http://www.naaapsf.org

What: NAAAP-SF Annual Summer Picnic
Date: Sunday, June 27
Time: 10:30am
Location: Rengstorff Park, Mountain View
Price: Early Bird Special (expires 6/11)$12 NAAAP Members / $17 Non-Members; Regular (Online only): $17 NAAAP Members / $22 Non-members; On-Site: $22 NAAAP Members / $27 Non-members
To Register: http://www.naaapsf.org/Events/EventCalendar/tabid/1960/vw/3/ItemID/1044/d/20100626/Default.aspx

That's our June monthly update! We hope you can make it out for some picnics and BBQing this month. Keep your eyes open for our other events in the works for later this summer, including Obon festival volunteering and our annual camping trip!

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.

Job Opening - Nichei Bei Foundation - Business Operations Manager

Our friends at Nichi Bei Foundation are searching for a new Business Operations Manager, if you or someone you know is looking for work and wants to get involved with an organization that is deeply devoted to community, please forward this information along.

Business Operations Mgr. at Nonprofit Asian American Media Org. (SF's Japantown)

The Nichi Bei Foundation, an educational and charitable nonprofit organization, is seeking an intelligent, motivated, and creative individual to serve as the Business Operations Manager for a groundbreaking start-up with an unmatched historical legacy in the Japanese American community.

About the Organization
With the impending closure of the historic Nichi Bei Times in September of 2009 — the oldest Japanese American community newspaper in Northern California — some Nichi Bei Times staff and contributing writers, media professionals and community leaders formed the Nichi Bei Foundation to create the first nonprofit ethnic newspaper of its kind in the country, the Nichi Bei Weekly.

This pioneering new media organization — which is in the process of creating and launching an innovative Website — will also continue to hold educational forums as well as community events designed to help fulfill its mission of keeping the Japanese American and Asian American community connected, informed and empowered.

Job Description
Applicant will plan, organize, and manage daily office operations including, but not limited to, the coordination of customer service/sales support, purchasing office supplies and finance.

Applicant will also assist in the budgetary and funding initiatives, strategic business planning, fundraising and grants development of the organization, including the Website project expected to launch in August of 2010.

Applicant should provide positive solutions for customer needs, ensure client and vendor file integrity, and maintain general oversight and ensure accuracy of internal accounting records including accounts receivable and accounts payable.

Applicant will also assist in the development of tools to increase the company efficiency and risk management; and will be expected to take on various ad hoc projects
This position reports directly to the President.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree or higher in business-related major preferred
• High proficiency in accounting and database software such as Intuit Quickbooks and Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical skills and ability to draw conclusions based on data
• Ability to investigate, analyze and solve problems, and clearly communicate results
• Skills in business and financial management ideal
• Excellent proven interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Ability to work well under deadlines
• Proficiency in software such as the Adobe Creative Suite is highly desired
• Past experience working with CRM applications ideal
• Japanese language skills (speaking, reading and writing) preferred

Send cover letter and resume to:
Kenji G. Taguma, Nichi Bei Foundation president, at jobs@nichibeifoundation.org

No calls, please.

Hiring Organization: Nichi Bei Foundation

Volunteers Needed: Honoring our Past, Remembering those who have passed on..

Our friends at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is organizing a youth and family community Clean-Up Day at the Japanese Cemetery in Colma on Sunday, May 22nd.

When: Saturday, May 22nd
Time: 10:00am – Noon
Where: 1300 Hillside Blvd., Colma, CA 94014

Directions: http://www.jbens.org/index_e.html

The JCCCNC will supply, garbage bags, tools, cleaning supplies, watering buckets, drinking water, rags, bento and flowers (please bring your owns gloves)

The day will start with a brief history of the cemetery. This year represents the 150^th Anniversary of the arrival of the Kanrin-Maru in San Francisco, the first ship to come to America. This event lead to the start of our Japanese American history and communities in the United States.

The Japanese Cemetery is located in the quiet town of Colma on the San Francisco Peninsula. It takes about 20 minutes from San Francisco by car. The 3-acre cemetery is the final resting place for more than 5,000 people, and the tower commemorating three crewmen from the famous ship Kanrin-Maru is there as well. In 1901, the Japanese Benevolent Society of California was established with a grant from the Meiji Emperor of Japan to provide "for the relief of sick, disabled or destitute persons of the Japanese race" in California and to provide "a suitable burial ground for deceased Japanese."

The Society performed its historic mandate over the years, assisting those in need and acquiring land in Colma, California, for a Japanese cemetery. It also served as a unifying force in the Japanese American community by bringing together the Buddhist, Shinto and Christian religious organizations, and by participating in local historical, cultural, and memorial events that honor the Japanese heritage in the United States.

To volunteer, please RSVP, by contacting the JCCCNC at (415) 567-5505.

SAVE JAPANTOWN YOUTH LEADERS

Nakayoshi members involved with nihonmachiROOTS have been busy launching a weeklong campaign to lobby the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, to reallocate funding for the JCYC's Japantown Youth Leaders program. Find out more on how you can join in the efforts, and how important this program is to Japantown's future.

SAVE JAPANTOWN YOUTH LEADERS (JYL)

Background: Recently, JCYC was informed by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) that the only funding allocated for youth services in Japantown will not be cut in 2010/2011, but completely eliminated. For the past 12 years, the Japantown Youth Leaders (JYL) program, formerly known as JAYS, has brought hundreds of youth to Japantown on a weekly basis to participate in community service, leadership training, and personal development. The youth who consistently support our community festivals and events such as Cherry Blossom, Nihonmachi Street Fair, and Kodomo no Hi, are current or former participants of JYL.

Why You Should Care: Despite the city’s budget crisis, other communities will still be receiving funding from DCYF. In 2010/2011, DCYF will allocate $20 million for children and youth services and has decided that Japantown is not worthy of even a small amount of those resources. This decision demonstrates a blatant disregard for our community and sets a very dangerous precedent for the future. We believe it is in the best interest of our community to collectively take a stand and make it clear that the needs of Japantown can not and will not be dismissed by the city of San Francisco.

How Can You Help: The Mayor has the discretion to restore this funding until June 1st when his office, by law must submit a budget to the Board of Supervisors. We have the rest of May to let the Mayor know that it is not acceptable for the city of San Francisco to dismiss the youth of Japantown.

Continue to check back to JapantownNOW.com or visit nihonmachiROOTS' Facebook page to see how you can help us send this message to the Mayor.

It's Not Too Late! Purchase SF Giant's Heritage Night Tickets Today!!!!

It's not too late to make those last minute purchases for SF Giant's Tickets for Friday's game!

Make sure you come out to one of the 2 Japanese American Heritage Night's with the SF Giants! It's easy to purchase your tickets!

Call (415) 972-2298 or purchase online at www.sfgiants.com/specialevents and mention that you're with NAKAYOSHI YOUNG PROFESSIONALS!

And join us afterwards as we celebrate an amazing game with the rest of the Nakayoshi crew at 21st Amendment!

Hyphen Magazine Release Party for Inside/Out Issue - 5/14 @ SOM Bar

Hyphen Magazine, a nationally distributed, nonprofit magazine that focuses on the Asian American community, is hosting a release party for their latest issue Inside/Out at Som Bar this Friday, May 14th. If you're not joining Nakayoshi at our monthly social at the SF Giant's Heritage Night game, definitely support this amazing publication.

Party begins at 9pm and expected to last til doors close at 2am. This release party will be a great chance to meet and mingle with fellow Hyphenites and friends. Additionally, Hyphen will have a great lineup of local DJs and live performers, food, and live art, so you don't want to miss it!

Nakayoshi has signed up this year to be a media sponsor for this year's events, so show them that we're great at spreading the word and get on down there to party with some amazing community folks.

For more questions, contact us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact our friends at Hyphen Magazine at http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/.

Donate. Subscribe. It's worth it.

2010 ASCEND West Coast Conference

Nakayoshi is a Supporting Organization of the Ascend leadership conference and gala dinner, “Inspiring across Generations” on May 7-8, 2010. Our role as a Supporting Organization entitles you to a $50 discount to the event!

We encourage you to join us for this unique networking and career building program. Information about the conference is below.

ASCEND Northern California, in cooperation with chapters in Los Angeles and Seattle, presents its 4th annual leadership conference and gala, “Inspiring Across Generations.”

The 2010 conference theme is “Reinventing for the Long Term.” The business world is undergoing rapid change, propelling and disrupting new careers and industries. How do you stay relevant and flexible? What skills enable you to anticipate risk, uncertainty, and change? Who can help guide your transformation? A top-tier panel of speakers and mentors will share tactics and strategies on how to successfully navigate these turbulent times and build lasting relationships.

The conference consists of a day-and-a-half of leadership and mentorship workshops with panel discussions, mentorship circles, keynote speeches, and networking. We include opportunities for both emerging and seasoned leaders to engage with our community partners and corporate sponsors and to meet our members and conference attendees. The conference ends with a gala dinner and entertainment. We expect another sell-out with 600 attendees. Workshops and panels have limited space, so register early! Price increases May 4, 2010.

Dates & Times: May 7, 2010; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
May 8, 2010; 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Intercontinental Hotel
888 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Conference website: http://www.ascendwestconf.com/

Registration: http://ascendwestcoastconference2010.eventbrite.com/

Facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21032791579

Twitter
http://twitter.com/AscendLeader

LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=95571

About ASCEND:

Ascend, a non-profit organization, aims to be the premier professional association for enhancing the presence and influence of Pan-Asian business leaders.

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.ascendleadership.org/.