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JAO Photo Gallery
JAO Installation Banquet
Photos from PSED Quarterly,
JAO Community Meeting,
& JA Clippers Night
JAO Halloween Party
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October 11th, 2006
JAO Ricksha Newsletter Vol. 53, No. 2
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Date: Wed., Nov. 15, 2006
Time: 6:30 p.m. Cocktails,
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Venue: Taix French Restaurant
1911 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA.
Program: Anti-Terrorism
Ever since 9/11, terrorist attacks have been on everyone�s minds. Before 9/11, the thought of terrorist attacks on the United States were few, if any. Since 9/11, preventing terrorist attacks have been at the forefront of the news. It is only fitting that our next speaker will be Lieutenant Brian Johnson from LAPD�s Training Division. Lieutenant Johnson will enlighten us on weapons of mass destruction. We will find out what First Responders must train to do in the event of a terrorist attack. You won�t want to miss this meeting because not only will Lieutenant Johnson be speaking to us, but he will also be bringing some of the equipment the LAPD has to protect against terrorism here in Los Angeles. Please bring canned goods for JAO�s Canned Food Drive.
Shogun�s Words
Hi JAOers! I got the chance to attend the OI PSED Quarterly and if you haven�t been, I highly recommend you to attend one. I think everyone celebrates and gives their optimism in different ways and to be around such a gathering of the District and Club leaders is inspiring to my spirit of optimism. I�d like to thank Russ Fujii, Wayne Fujita, and Mark Yoshida for joining me.
The new seeds of our �community� optimism are spreading and none more successful spouts than at the Community meeting we hosted with Nikkei Bridge. I was very excited to see our past prez Craig Kotani among our members and board members in attendance; the support was amazing. But more amazing was to see the Bridge members showing their support and interest in working together with JAO. We both have different agendas and demographics for our organizations, but in the end, I believe we have the same purpose and I was impressed to see such a melting of our personalities and I hope our mutual relationship of support will continue. I�d like to thank Kristi Higa for organizing this successful event.
Well, it wasn�t a great Clippers game for JA Community Night, but the post-game scrimmage with some of our JAOers like Sky Tetsuka, Yato Tamura, Kristi Higa, Kim Hayashi, and Coach �JT� Tamaki made the night all worthwhile. Special thanks to JT and Yato for helping organize the LA Clippers Community Night.
As if that wasn�t enough, the following morning the kiddie ghouls came out to Maryknoll for some fun at the JAO Halloween Party. Seeing the looks of appreciation for the event we put together for the kids was priceless. I�d like to thank Sky Tetsuka and Tetsu Yamauchi and all those who donated for helping to bring such smiles to the kids� faces! And special thanks to Miss O Nikki for putting together my scarecrow costume. Sorry folks, my installation geisha costume disappeared that day for some reason. I hope to see more JAO faces at out next big event, the JAO Christmas Party!
So it�s Thanksgiving time and there�s a lot of good you can do this year. For the next JAO meeting, I would like to ask that members please bring some canned goods for donation. Also, Past Prez Terry Hara will be bringing out a fascinating guest speaker for you. I hope you will find the time to join me. Have a Happy Turkey Day all!
Optimism rocks!
Jeff
GO TROJANS!!!
GO BRUINS!!!
Last Meeting
President Jeff�s novel idea of a community meeting with Nikkei Bridge was a hit. Members of both organizations gathered at v2o in Long Beach for some appetizers, drinks, camaraderie, and fun. Members shared their thoughts about their organization and everyone mingled for a bit before v2o turned into a club (we had the whole place to ourselves until then). It was a good mixer, so look for more of these �community� meetings in the future. Thanks to Membership VP Kristi Higa for setting everything up.
Announcements...
Halloween Party
JAO�s Halloween Party was held on Saturday, October 28th at Maryknoll Church. Chairmen Sky �Hip Hop� Tetsuka and Tetsu Yamauchi did an excellent job of coordinating everything. Hot dogs, chips, punch, and ice cream are always a hit with the kids. Not so much so for the potato salad, but the adults liked that. The kids had a great time and many of them went all out with their costumes. Prizes were given to the best costume for girls and boys. Not all of the members dressed up for the occasion, but those that did definitely were creative. IPP Jae Lee was a Twinkie package and his wife Haewon was a Ding Dong package (those should have been reversed though). Keith Inatomi was appropriately a whoopie cushion, but the highlights were President Jeff as the scarecrow and Miss O Nikki as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Nikki even had her red shoes; the only thing she was missing was Toto. What a girl... she made those costumes, so guys, you know she�s creative and she can sew. Can she cook too? We�ll have to find out at the Christmas Party. Thanks to Eileen Yoshimura and her daughter for taking care of everything in the kitchen. And also thanks to everyone who donated candy for this event. The kids� dentists thank you!
YAO Installation
JAO now has a great grand-baby club, the Young Adult Optimist Club (YAO) which will be based in Long Beach. JAO started the Suburban OC, who started the Orange County OC, who started the YAOC. YAO�s first installation dinner will be held on Friday, November 17, 2006 at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Avenue, Seal Beach, California starting at 6:30 p.m. The new president of YAO will be none other than Michelle Ito, the 2005 Miss Tomodachi of the Nisei Week Court. It would be great if JAO can have a large contingency at this installation dinner, especially since YAO is a descendant of JAO. Please call President Jeff ASAP to let him know that you will be attending.
Christmas Party
Christmas is right around the corner and JAO�s Christmas Party Chairmen John �JT� Tamaki and Mike Hirahara have been actively planning for the party. The site will be Maryknoll Church and the date will be Saturday, December 16, 2006. JT and Mike are hoping all of you will be attending. The lunch will be a potluck, so you will need to contact Leiton Hashimoto to let him know what you will be bringing - whether it will be a appetizer, salad, main dish, or dessert.
Our Gang
If any of you have any address changes, please contact me with your current information at the E-mail address listed below.
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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Last Month's Ricksha
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