Fresno State dedicates maple trees as Japanese disaster reminder

Hello all.
This is Tomoki.

Yesterday, Takahashi-sensei and I attended a ceremony to plant three maple trees near the Maple Mall on campus to remind the Japanese disasters.

I found the Fresno State News article about this ceremony, so for more details, please read it.

Fresno State dedicates maple trees as Japanese disaster reminder (Click here to read the article)

This will be my last blog. I hope JSA becomes more active and good student club next year!!

Thank you.

Japan Relief Fundraising Closing Ceremony

On May 13, we had the Japan Relief Fundraising Closing Ceremony at Fresno State Science II Room 109.
We invited Mr. Yoshiro Tasaka, an offiver of the General Consulate of Japan in San Francisco to the ceremony and hand our check to him (actual check will be passed later).

The ceremony was started by the opening statement by Takahashi-sensei, and Katsuyo-sensei was followed by doing a speech about recognition of fundraising activities of other organizations.
Then, Jared and I presented the fundraising activities and the account activities of JSA,
and we handed our check to Mr. Tasaka.
Unfortunately, we could not make our actual check by this day due to the bank, so it will be hand to the Consulate later soon.

Finally, the ceremony was closed by the closing statement by Takahashi-sensei.

By the way, the final amount of donation is...

$9188.10!!

I would like to thank all members and people who helped our fundraising events, supported us, and donated money for the relief.

This event was also on the Fresno State News...
http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2011/05/students-present-9188-in-donations-for-japan/

Students present $9,188 in donations for Japan

MAY 13, 2011 – 3:28 PM   shareshare

California State University, Fresno students, led by the Japanese Students Association (JSA), presented more than $9,100 to a representative of Japan’s Consulate General office in San Francisco for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Yoshiro Tasaka, consular community affairs adviser, was presented the check Friday, May 13, by JSA officers Tomoki Ueda and Jared Kneefel, representing their group, Students of Public Health Association and the University Student Union, who gathered donations.

JSA alone raised $9,004 through such efforts as fund drives, partnerships with on-campus events, yard sales and a yoga charity event. Their most recent effort was a partnership with 18 Japanese restaurants where funds were collected from customers and the general public.

At the Phillip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert on campus featuring Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, more than $400 was raised through CD sales.

The other groups conducted a “Pass a Can for Japan” drive among public health students and placed collection stations in the Student Recreation Center.

Another drive on campus raised $4,750 sent to the relief effort earlier.

At the May 13 presentation, JSA officers recognized the Japanese minor program in the Department of Linguistics for its efforts. Those donations came mostly from students and their families, said Katusyo Howard, a counselor emeritus who coordinated the various campaigns with support from the Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning.

“I am very proud of the amazing efforts of our Japanese Student Association and other student clubs as well as all those whose generosity helped make this campaign a big success,” said Dr. Paul M. Oliaro, vice president for Student Affairs at Fresno State.

“The commitment of Fresno State students to the Japan relief effort is truly inspirational,” he added.

In April, deputy consul general Michio Harada visited Fresno State to view a samurai artifacts exhibit at the Henry Madden Library and applauded the students’ relief efforts.

(Copy by University Communications Christy Patron)

JSA Banquet

The last JSA official event in this semester, JSA banquet, was done at Sendai Sushi on May 12.
The lunch menu of the restaurant had "all you can eat," so we ordered as much as we wanted.

After we ate the lunch, a present was given from Takahashi-sensei to Katsuyo-sensei. Katsuyo-sensei or Dr. Katsuyo Howard had been the faculty advisor for JSA for a long time until last year and is retiring in this semester. I really appreciate her contribution to JSA.
After that, JSA board members of this semester got the certifications from Takahashi-sensei with her comments. I personally got 4th certification,

but I am wondering how many certifications Chris has.......

Anyway, at the last, new president, Robert had a short speech, and the banquet was done.

Good job all board members!!

I was really glad to work with all of you!!

Last JSA meeting

We had the last JSA meeting in Spring 2011 semester on May 6.
In this meeting, we had the election to decide new board members, and they were decided.
New board members are...

President: Robert Zeng
Vice President: Drew Henderson
Treature: Jared Kneefel
Secretary: Christopher Bolanos
Media: Steven Gerking
Activities: Alex Greiner, Antonio Corona, Andrew Bedford-Hart
Culture Night Coordinator: Taylor Smith

I thank new board members to be in charge of the jobs next semester. I hope they can be active and improve JSA more!!

River Park Fundraising & Yard Sale

Hello JSA members.

This is Tomoki.

On April 30, we had a fundraising event at River Park.

We set up a table between Teazer's and Yoshino and collected donations.

I thought more people walked the pass way, but many people walked by the cinema or near Target, so we had to move around.

But I think we could successfully finish this event. We could get a few hundred dollars and hand out about four hundred flyers for the yard sale.

Thank you, Chris, Christina, Jared, Madoka, and Takahashi-sensei for helping this event.

On May 1, our last fundraising event, JSA yard sale, was done.

We started preparation at 6:30 a.m. and started the sale at 8 a.m. Since we handed out several hundred flyers, many people came to buy the items in the morning. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to set up fishing games and to cook onigiris until around 10 a.m., we could not get good sales from food and games. 

However, we could collect good items to sell, we sold more than $1,000!!

And our last event was successfully done.

I really appreciate members who helped this event, especially, Chris, Jared, Madoka, Kyle, and Takahashi-sensei. They came there in early morning and stayed until the end.

JSA Yard Sale Tomorrow!!

As you know, we have a big event, JSA Yard Sale, tomorrow!!
We are still looking for volunteers who can help to sell the items, to make onigiris and snow corns, and to supervise game spaces, so if you can help, please let us know or just come to the parking lot.
Or you can come to the event and have fun!!
We also have games like scooping bouncy balls.

JSA Yard Sale

Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011
Time: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (We need volunteers for preparation starting around 7 a.m.)
Location: Fresno State, Parking Loc C (Shaw & Maple)


So far, the pictures below are the examples of the items I have for tomorrow...

I hope I can see you tomorrow!!

JSA 11th Meetiing

Yesterday (4/29/2011), we had 11th meeting of this semester.
Sadly, we only have one more meeting this semester.

In this meeting, we had announcements, had nomination for the next year's officers, and watched the Death Note II.
In this weekend, we have River Park fundraising on Saturday and yard sale on Sunday. We still need more volunteers for both events, so if you have time and can help, please let Tomoki know ASAP.
Also, we are accepting to nominate someone for next year's officers by Sunday night, so please let one of our officers know if you have any persons you want to nominate. We will have election next Friday, so please come to the meeting because it will be a very important meeting.

Upcoming Events

JSA General Meeting

Date: Friday, April 29

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: Science II 109

We will talk about our events which will be held in the rest of this semester, and we will have nomination for next semester's officers. Also, we will watch a movie. So please come to know what will happen in last couple weeks, especially this weekend and to nominate future officers!!

River Park Fundraising

Date: Saturday, April 30

Time: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Location: River Park, near Yoshino (Japanese Restaurant)

We will collect donations, make origamis, and do calligraphy for people who donate. So if you are available and can help, please let us know.

Yard Sale

Date: Sunday, May 1

Time: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Location: Fresno State, Parking Loc C (Shaw Ave. & Maple Ave.)

As a last big event for fundraising, we will have a yard sale on campus. We will also have some event game booths, such as bouncy ball scooping game, water yo-yo fishing, balloon modeling. This event will be fun, so if you can help, please let us know, so just stop by and have fun!! Also, please inform this event to your friends and family.

JSA Banquet

Date: Thursday or Friday, May 12 or 13

Time: Lunch

Location: Sendai Sushi