News

April 2, 2005

To: All Japan Exchange Participants

Fm: Pat Holt, Coordinator

Re: Update and Requests - Japan Exchange

Hi All,

First, we need a Team Leader for the South Central Chapter, replacing Barb Barnard, who was substituting for Ben Barwick until his return from China. Ben is chairing the Overnight Event and cannot take this on. The Team Leader forwards all my emails to participants, and if responses are required, tallies them before emailing me.

Overnight: Ben and Peggy Zalucha are researching sites and will give us results very soon. All Japanese guests wish to attend, whether or not their hosts attend. They will catch a ride with the hosts who will attend.

Fundraising: Interpreters, the Overnight and Book/Documentation costs are our largest expenses. Our grant requests have been rejected, and we have received few donations from the donor letters. Unless we can reduce some items in the budget, the artists will pay___ and family members ___, with__ or so of these fees earmarked for the Overnight. Are any artists in your chapters willing to photograph events and make double copies of prints? If so, we can greatly reduce the cost of making the scrapbooks - one for Japan, the other for WP&S. These books are required as documentation in requesting grants, donations, etc.

Please let me know who in your chapter is willing to do this so that the photographers can coordinate their activities to give us the fullest picture possible of all our events.

If any of you know of volunteers or students willing to videotape events at each location, please tell us about them. Their work is considered in-kind donations, and students might receive credits for doing this as part of their course work.

Interpreters: I await a response from Nan and Don Taylor re use of St. Norbert interpreters for the NE Chapter. Steve is preparing a contract with the professional interpreter within the next two weeks, so that we can count on her being available to us.
The exhibit sites are telling us when they will need her talents so that we can use her time most constructively.

Shipping: When Michiko checked with the shipping company the cost of door to door delivery the price was shockingly high, so Gary will need a truck or large van to pick up the work at Chicago customs for delivery to the sites and return. Has anyone in the SE or NE Chapter approached a Toyota dealer for a contribution? Perhaps they would be willing to donate a vehicle. Will you let me know who is checking on this?

Museum Contacts: Katherine, Tori, Lee and I have asked the sites how much time they will need interpreters for demos, their opening program, etc. Their replies will be posted on our website, so that all of you can see when you are scheduled to give a demo, and what each site's program will be.

Field Trips: Virginia Huber and her committee are obtaining information for hosts to use in entertaining their guests.

Publicity: Pacia and her committee have been hard at work. Have you seen the first issue of Asian Wisconzine? The article about our Exchange is excellent. Kathy Armstrong has volunteered to do our poster/brochure, which is a lovely gift indeed.

Participants: Aki Yamada, Tomo's husband, has suffered a severe stroke and is unable to join us. His work will be exhibited as planned. Aki was to be the interpreter for the South Central Chapter and the guest of Lee Holt. I have sent our best wishes to Aki from all of us. Tomo will come as planned to interpret for the NE Chapter participants. Kathy Armstrong, a hostess in waiting, now has a guest - Hiromi Watanabe. Some of you may remember her from 2002.

Things are humming along smoothly, thanks to all of your hard work and dedication. I am grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you.

Go Us!

Pat