Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Volunteers,

明けましておめでとうございます(Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu)!  Happy New Year to all the wonderful volunteers at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i.  My name is Jennifer Seki and I have been the Volunteers Coordinator here at the JCCH since September of 2009.

On behalf of the entire JCCH staff, I would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication throughout the past year.  Without the assistance of our many volunteers, we would not be able to carry out many of the daily functions and special events here at the JCCH.  Your tireless efforts are always appreciated and we hope that the Year of the Tiger brings you much joy and good health.

My first priority is of course to support all of the JCCH volunteers, so if you ever have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 945-7633 Ext. 35 or volunteers@jcch.com.  I would love to be able to put a face to each and every name on the volunteer roster, so if you find the time, please drop by to say hello!

In 2010, I will be reintroducing the JCCH Volunteers Blog begun by my predecessor where I will post the happenings of volunteers at the JCCH.  It can be viewed at http://jcchtomodachi.blogspot.com/.  I will continue to relay important information by mail, telephone, E-mail, and the green volunteer folders at our receptionist desk, Resource Center, gift shop/gallery, and in the Collections room.

Jenny

Hajimemashite!

Hi volunteers!

My name is Jenny Seki and I am the Volunteers Coordinator here at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i.  We have over 250 volunteers on our roster and I think I have only met about 40% of you, so I hope we will have a chance to meet in the future!  Below is the introduction of me that was printed in the November issue of Legacies.

Jennifer (Jenny) Seki joined the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i as part-time Volunteers Coordinator  in September 2009. She has been a member of the Cultural Center and has volunteered at the New Year's 'Ohana Festival and Kodomo no Hi: Keiki Fun Fest for the past few years. Jennifer is excited to have the opportunity to help support and expand the Volunteers Program at the Cultural Center.

As a Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program participant from 2001 to 2004, Jennifer lived and worked in the small town of Kiyama in Saga Prefecture and gained not only an appreciation of the Japanese culture and people, but a love for teaching as well. She is currently pursing a Master of Education Licensure in Secondary Education degree at Chaminade University with plans to teach either middle school or high school science in the future.

In addition to her ties with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, she is active with the JET Program Alumni Association of Hawai'i and the Japan America Society of Hawai'i and hopes to facilitate more exchange between these organizations through volunteer activities.