Summary

As we enter the cooler months of October, JETAA members can look forward to a number of events and things-Japanese happening around town. We kicked off this month with the Returnees Picnic on October 1st in Lincoln Park.

For any of you looking for a more formal networking opportunity with the JETAA community, or to broaden your career opportunities, mark your calendar now for our annual Job & Networking Fair on (Sat) November 5th.

This month you can also brush up on your nihongo, check out the Chicago International Film Festival, attend an art gallery, play indoor volleyball, bingo and more!

Officers for the 2012 JETAA Executive Board were elected on October 3rd! Be sure to give them a warm welcome.

Lastly, candidates for the 2012 JET Program year can apply this month through November, so be sure to direct those interested to the Consulate General homepage (here). Better yet, be a JET Ambassador in your hometown—see details below, or jump to that section using the links on the right.

Annual Job and Networking Fair

JETAA Chicago will host its annual Job and Networking Fair on Saturday, November 5th from 1pm to 5pm at the Japan Information Center in downtown Chicago.

This is a great opportunity for JETs that have recently returned from Japan, current JET Alumni, friends of JETs as well as professionals looking for new networking and career opportunities.

A lot of JETs return from Japan looking for ways to maintain and even build upon the experiences they made while living abroad and we hope to provide support in helping you reach those goals. This is also a wonderful opportunity for individuals that are interested in pursuing a new career and would like some guidance from current Alumni or other established professionals.

There will be an open table top session with booths from various Chicagoland companies and organizations as well as a wine and cheese reception. We are also planning on having a speaker to kick off the event so please stay tuned as there will be more specific information to follow!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our Social Activities Officer, Daniel Martin: social@jetaachicago.com

Location: Consulate General of Japan at Chicago (JIC – Japan Information Center), 737. North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL (map it)

Japanese Language Meetups

Former JET, Stephanie Pedretti (Nagano 2004-07) has been organizing a variety of Japanese Language meetups for those who want to speak in nihongo. The group always welcomes new members and can be found at http://www.meetup.com/japanese-10 (requires login for time and location).

Chicago International Film Festival

The 47th Chicago International Film Festival features a number of Japanese films, which you can check out-->HERE. That's just a sampling of the 150+ films from 50 countries that are being shown during the Festival, which runs October 6-20th at the AMC River East 21 Theatre in downtown Chicago (322 East Illinois Street-->MAP).

Keep up with the festival on Facebook and Twitter

Art Gallery...and Sake

Floating World Gallery (FWG) presents “Mountain Shadows: A Selection of Contemporary Masterworks” at the Gallery’s Lincoln Park location, 1925 N. Halsted Street, on Friday, October 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. Unveiling a freshly renovated first floor gallery space, the exhibition features newly acquired works by ceramic sculptor Sueharu Fukami (b. 1947), textiles by Shihoko Fukumoto, woodblock prints by Joichi Hoshi (1913-1979) and Tadashi Nakayama (b.1927), lithographs by Toko Shinoda (b. 1913) and mezzotints by Yozo Hamaguchi (1909-2000).

The opening night reception includes a Q & A with FWG Director of Exhibitions Elias Martin. Guests will be treated to complimentary sake flights guided by the expertise of internationally known sake enthusiasts Ryan Hart and Mason Horowitz, of Hart GP and Chicago Sake.

Floating World Gallery (link)
1925 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, Illinois (map)

Facebook: Exhibit Event Page

Indoor Volleyball League

Just a reminder following the earlier special announcement:

The Indoor Volleyball League starts next Tuesday, October 11th at St. Andrews Gym, 1697 West Addison, Chicago, IL (link) from 7:15PM. It only requires a one-time fee of $20 (payable on Oct 11), and letting our Social Chair, Daniel Martin, know your shirt size. Those interested should email him at social@jetaachicago.com.

Bingo at Heiwa Terrace

Thursday, October 20th is bingo at Heiwa Terrace!

Come volunteer your time to read bingo numbers and meet those staying at the community. It's really fun and everyone there is always so pleased to see us! It will be Thursday, 10/20, from 7-8.

Call or email Parry at (765)749-7694 or pkoriath@gmail.com with questions.

Heiwa Terrace
920 West Lawrence Avenue # 1
Chicago, IL 60640 (map)
(773) 989-7333

*right next to the CTA Red Line Lawrence stop.

Your 2012 Executive Board Officers

The results of the election, held at Tokyo Marina on October 3, are as follows, and will take effect in November of this year:

President - Robert Corder
Vice President - Steven Sundstrom
Secretary - Shannon Copp
Treasurer - Thomas Osugi
Events and Outreach Coordinator - Elizabeth Gordon
Social Chair/Activities Coordinator and Jobs Coordinator - Daniel Martin
Publicist - Jessie Spooner

If there are any volunteers to help with the website, the position for Technology Coordinator is still available. E-mail info@jetaachicago if interested.

November Executive Board Meeting

All JETAA members are welcome to attend our monthly Executive Board meetings. The next one will be held at the JETRO office (1 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL) on Wednesday, November 2nd from 6:30 - 8:00. Dinner is provided to all who attend.

JET Ambassador Program

The Japan Information Center is delighted to announce a new outreach initiative to bring Japanese culture to local communities: The JET Ambassador Program. As a JET Program participant, you brought American culture into Japanese classrooms. Now, you can share your knowledge of Japan with your local community! The JET Ambassador Program sends JET Program alumni into American schools, libraries, summer camps, businesses, community centers, retirement homes, places of worship, etc., to share their experience of Japan and Japanese culture with American students and community members! This is a great opportunity to give back to your local community and share your experiences and knowledge of Japan.

JET Ambassadors will be provided with a stipend, travel reimbursement, and budget for purchasing teaching materials. If you are interested in participating, please contact Austin Gilkeson at agilkeson@japancc.org.

At this point, we are trying to compile a list of JET Alumni who are interested and available to participate, so we can best match you to schools and organizations who can accommodate your schedule. As we are trying to spread word of this to local schools and other community organizations and entities, please let us know of any local teachers, schools, community centers, retirement homes, places of worship, etc. that you would be interested in visiting as a JET Ambassador, or that you think would be interested in having a JET Ambassador.

Austin Gilkeson
JET Program & MEXT Scholarship Coordinator
Japan Information Center
Consulate General of Japan at Chicago
737 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60611
P: 312-280-0434
F: 312-280-6883
agilkeson@japancc.org

Job Opportunities

Audit Senior - Bilingual (Japanese & English)

Plante & Moran, PLLC is looking for an Audit Senior who is bilingual in Japanese and English to expand their client services to Japanese businesses in the Midwest region. See their website for details: Link

Heard any good ones lately?

E-mail secretary@jetaachicago.com with any job opportunities to have them published in the monthly webletter. In the meantime, be sure to attend our Job & Networking Fair on November 5th!