Minutes, 11-4-04

It will be the last time I type up the minutes, because we have a new secretary (not to mention a new first-year
representative): Be sure to congratulate Kei Hotoda, our Secretary, and Kentaro Asai, our First-Year
Representative.  Both Kei and Kentaro wrote excellent pieces about their Japan-related experience and ambitions.

The most pressing item on the agenda last night was our goal to raise funds for the Niigata earthquake victims.
Toshio has done a god job explaining and expounding on what we discussed.  Everyone, we have the opportunity here
to really make a difference and do something noble.  We need everyone’s participation and kyoryoku.  Please
everyone tell the listhost whether you would like to make flyers, contact a restaurant, or just help out selling
food in the RC.  I will be available to help sell from 10:30am to 12:30pm on MWF and from 12:00pm till it ends on
TuThu.

Secondly we talked about Iron Chef preparations.  As you probably know by now, Steve Dolinsky has told us that he
cannot make it, and his is the only response on judging we have yet received.  I have also sent requests to James
Ward of ABC 7 News, Pat Bruno of the Chicago Tribune, Phil Vettel and Carol Mighton Haddix of the Chicago Tribune,
and Masaharu Morimoto of Morimoto Restaurant in Philadelphia, himself an Iron Chef.  Toshio expressed doubt that
any of these ‘celebrities’ would respond, but there is a chance.  Also Shawn is asking a BJ dining hall staff
member, Mitcho is asking Ms. Lory of the EALC dept., and Aza is asking Master Sommelier Alpana Singh.  When
anybody gets a response, be sure to forward it to the executive mailing list.

Toshio said that maybe its time to pass on the Kaga role to someone else, and he expressed his shock at and
amusement with the amount of attention he received from strangers for playing the part last year.  We are now
counting on Mitcho to become either the Kaga or an MC!

Finally, we talked a bit about PanAsia, because I just went to a solidarity meeting on Wednesday.  They really
want RSOs to collaborate this year, and at that meeting UCJAS expressed interest in working with us to design an
event.  But we had some great ideas on Thursday: have a panel discussion to talk about the Free Trade Agreement
between Asian countries and others (Japan & Mexico, Japan & Singapore, maybe something with Taiwan, Korea, China)
or about relations between the US & Japan or the US & Asia in general.  Toshio suggested that we invite Econ
teachers and GSB Japanese to join in on the discussion.  If anyone would be willing to take charge of developing
these ideas, I would really appreciate your help.  The alternative is to show a movie (or as I said at the
PanAsia meeting, promote appreciation of Japanese filmography) like we have done in past years.

This is Mike, your former Secretary, signing off.