我孫子市国際交流協会

Date/Time: Sunday, May 1, 2010 from 2:00p.m. to 3:30p.m.

Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza, M.P. Hall

Mr. Jean Roy, Haitian, declared in Japanese the opening of the Nineteenth AIRA General Meeting.

Following an opening address by Mr. Ichiro Shiina, AIRA President, congratulatory messages were given by Mr. Junichiro Hoshino, Abiko Mayor, and Ms. Aiko Sawada, the Chairwoman of the City Assembly.

Two of the major agenda items, the Business Achievement Report and the Statement of Accounts Settlement, both of the fiscal year 2009, and the change of directors, auditor, executives and advisor were presented and unanimously approved by the members attended. Then Mr. Hayasaka, newly appointed president chaired the meeting for further deliberation.

A business plan and a budget plan for fiscal year 2010 were presented for approval, which were duly passed by applause.

A report on the change of advisor and an introduction of new executive members were also conducted.

A brief report on the draft of the report completed by the study group on the revision of the Basic Plan to Improve International Exchange Program of Abiko City was made, which would determine the direction of AIRA in the future activities, it was referred.

A report on the current status of the organization was made as follows:

1. Actual number of the membership as of March 31, 2010

Total 824; of them, male: 329, female: 495   Abiko residents: 712 Others: 112   Corporate members: 23.

2. New executive members

President: Mr. Mitsuru Hayasaka

Vice President: Mr. Takeshi Ideguchi, Ms. Fumiko Kitajima, Mr. Tetsuya Sugano

Manager, Administration Department: Ms. Noriko Adachi

Manager, Public Relations Department: Mr. Yasuhide Kadota

Manager, Interrelations Department: Ms. Zhang Hua

Manager, Culture and Education Department: Mr. Koichiro Beppu

Manager, Voluntary Activity Department: Mr. Tetsuya Sugano

Accountant: Mr. Yukikazu Someya, Mr. Masao Sumi

After the session, everyone in the hall enjoyed free talks over cup of tea or snacks on the table.

Mr. J. Hoshino talked about informal episodes in his younger days such that in about 40 years ago our town was called Abiko machi of Higashi Katushika-gun, and that school children was guided by the teacher to see the SL, old fashioned train running on the Narita Line.

As a bonus entertainment in the party, Ms. Miyoko Takahashi, town's popular modern ballet dancing teacher, led the people a dance with a peculiar and humorous movement to a state-appointed children's song "Furusato", which caused big laughters in the hall. (vol. 124)