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December 12th, 2006
JAO Ricksha Newsletter Vol. 53, No. 5
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Date: Wed., Dec. 20, 2006
Time: 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Venue: Philippe The Original
1001 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA.
Program: �Unofficial� Meeting
The holidays are a busy time and since the JAO Christmas Party is on December 16th, President Jeff has cancelled the 2nd official meeting in December. However, for anyone that is interested, President Jeff wants to get together for an �unofficial� meeting at Phillipe The Original in downtown Los Angeles. Phillipe is known for their yummy French dip sandwiches, but the rest of their menu is very tasty too. The setting is casual and it will give anyone who shows up a chance to hang out and spend some time with the JAO membership just before the hectic holiday season. Please join Jeff at Phillipe and experience one of downtown LA�s long-standing eating establishments.
Shogun�s Words
Hi JAOers! I hope all of your Thanksgivings were both joyous and filled with turkey! The holiday season is in full swing and we seem to spread our optimism like the joy of the holidays. I can now say that for a birthday present, actually I received both a cake and a survival knife. Might be just what I need for being president of this group... I�m kidding! Anyways, we have a very special program for the Kids� Christmas Party hosted by three of our favorite JAOers - �JT� Tamaki, Leiton Hashimoto, and Mike Hirahara. I hope you all find the time to come out! Also, if you still want to join me for welcoming the Optimist International President, Mrs. Ronnie Dunn, at the President�s Dinner in Long Beach on December 29th at 6 p.m., please let me know. If I don�t happen to see you, I�d like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!
Optimism rocks!
Jeff
Last Meeting
The last meeting was somewhat short, but sweet. It was our annual gift exchange meeting and to start off the night, Miss O Nikki Kodama did the invocation. For those of you who were there, now you know why she teaches Sunday school at her church. Speaking in front of our membership is probably like teaching her Sunday school class, right Nikki? As we were eating our sherbert, Nikki surprised President Jeff with a birthday cake to celebrate Jeff�s birthday which just passed. Then it was time for the gift exchange. Everyone chose a gift from the table and cautiously opened their gift, not knowing what they might find. As usual, some of the gifts were normal, some were funny, and yes, there were some that were a little dirty, but there were no real nasty gifts. The members must be taming down. One thing for sure... Doc Maehara has a new Halloween outfit for next year - Aargh!. Past Miss O Kim Hayashi made an appearance at the end of the meeting and accompanying her was NOT past Miss O Jamie Mizuhara, but her twin sister, Dawn. C�mon guys... after all these years, can�t you tell the difference between Dawn and Jamie???
Announcements
Christmas Party.
By the time you receive this Ricksha, the JAO Christmas Party should be within a day or the next day. The location is the same as it has been the past few years, Maryknoll Church, and the date is Saturday, December 16th. Chairmen John �JT� Tamaki and Mike Hirahara are hoping all of you will be there since we�ll need a lot of help to take care of the approximately 130 kids that will be attending the party. In total, there should be about 200 people, so not only is help needed for the various activities taking place, but servers will be needed for the food and Santa will definitely need helpers passing out the gifts. Members should plan on being there at 10 a.m. to setup and the kids are supposed to start arriving from 11:30 a.m. Lunch is a potluck, so if you haven�t already contacted Leiton Hashimoto to let him know what you will be taking to the party, please do so ASAP at (310) 890-1166. We still need more main dish and appetizer-type foods. You�re not going to want to miss this party because there will be different types of entertainment, and wait until you see who�s playing Santa this year! And there will be others dressed in costume too (for the holidays, of course).
OI President�s Dinner.
The Optimist International President�s Dinner will be on Friday, December 29th, at the Long Beach Marriott at 6:00 p.m. President Jeff, along with several of the Board members will be attending. If anyone is interested in going, please call Jeff ASAP.
Shinenkai.
JAO�s New Year celebration, Shinenkai, is scheduled for January 3, 2007 at Reikai�s Kitchen at Little Tokyo Towers. Ways and Means VP Jerry Fukui is chairing the event and he�ll need to know if you�ll be attending. See the enclosed flyer for the details.
Youth Dental Month.
The month of February 2007 is JAO�s Youth Dental Month where JAO�s member dentists go to various schools in the Los Angeles area and teach the children proper dental hygiene. If you�re available, the participating JAO dentists who include Dr. Nolan Maehara, Dr. Marty Ono, and Dr. Brian Okamoto would welcome your participation. Look for more information in an upcoming Ricksha.
PSED 2nd Quarterly.
February 9-10, 2007 are the date of the PSED 2nd Quarterly which will be held at the Fiesta Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nevada. The room rates are $49 for 2/8, $59 for 2/9-10, plus $4.95 room tax per night. There are only 50 rooms reserved at these rates, so if you would like to join President Jeff at the Quarterly, please contact President Jeff ASAP.
JAO Girls� Basketball Bingo.
February 17, 2007 is slated as the date for the JAO Girls� Basketball Bingo Night at Nishi Hongwanji in Little Tokyo. Keith Inatomi is chairing the event and he promises that everyone who attends will enjoy themselves and have a great time, whether they�re playing bingo, eating, or possibly winning some of the great prizes that�ll be there. Look for more information in an upcoming Ricksha.
Our Gang
Thank you to Yae Nakajima for her generous donation to JAO in memory her husband and JAO founder, Tosh Nakajima.
Membership VP Kristi Higa wants to remind all JAO members to bring a friend to an upcoming JAO meeting or event. Her goal is to have a whole new crop of new members for President Jeff�s year. Help her reach her goal!
Keith Inatomi has begun his year as Nisei Week Foundation president. Support Keith and the other JAO members on the Nisei Week Board - Jerry Fukui, Terry Hara, Leiton Hashimoto, Rodney Kageyama, Miss O Nikki Kodama, Michael Lee, Past Miss O Deanna Nakamura, Past Miss O Helen Ota, John �JT� Tamaki, Hayato Tamura, and Past Miss O Diane Tanaka; and Committee Chairs Alan Miyatake and Billy Wing - as they assist Keith in having a great year.
MAY ALL OF YOU HAVE A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BE A PROSPEROUS AND HEALTHY 2007!
MELE KALIKIMAKA & HAUOLI
The Ricksha is published twice a month for members and friends of the Japanese American Optimist Club of Los Angeles. News and comments are welcome, but you can keep your silly complaints to yourself. Send publishable material to Leiton Hashimoto, Ricksha Editor; [email protected]. Thank you. Mahalo & Aloha
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