No.194-7
Secretariat (General Affairs & Association Affairs Committee)
October 3, 2002, was a remarkable day for us. On that day, Meguro UNESCO Association opened a new office in one of the classrooms at Gohongi Elementary School. This became possible through the recognition and support from Meguro City, the Meguro Board of Education and Gohongi Elementary School. As membership increases, activities diversify and our home pages get richer in content, we see more inquiries and relationships with the general public. So, we empowered our committee with experienced and capable members to start a new office.
The secretariat supports the basis of the association, although many of our duties are trifling tasks. But we all proud of ourselves because we know that an association cannot exist without us! Since the new office opened, we have regularly held meetings (almost every week) to talk about how the secretariat should be. We are trying to decrease the burden on the president and certain other members, by building a system to enable the work to be shared. Also, as the new office is located in a school, we recognize the importance of attracting the children’s attention.
Although it is difficult for all members to meet at the same time, we can overlap and substitute for one another to make the committee more effective. Recently, our computer system was upgraded along with a new printer that can accommodate A3 size. It is as useful and as easy as a copy machine. Also, a projector has been installed that can be used in a classroom-sized room. Today many members can handle computers so well, and the equipment makes it possible to produce attractive fliers (mono color only) and effective presentations for the projector. Any member who is interested in such high-technology is very welcome. To transfer a message of peace, we are eager to make effective use of this equipment.
Main task
Membership and Accounting:
Keeping member lists, collecting membership fees, managing the accounts
and the property of the
association.
Public Relations:
Keeping contact with Meguro City, Meguro Board of Education, MIFA,
NFUAJ, UNESCO
Associations in Tokyo, residents’ councils and life long education
centers. Management of lectures
(UNESCO lectures, etc.) and other tasks not covered by other committees.
Daily tasks:
Handling mail, responding to inquiries and visitors, and the general
office tasks.
Monthly tasks:
Preparations for the board of trustees, liaison with new members and
dispatching newsletters.
Annual tasks:
Making a list of members, preparing for the annual meeting, etc.
Members of the Secretariat:
Jyunko Ashida, Shizuko Ootaka, Keiko Kajitani, Yukiko Katsuoka, Mitsuko
Kato, Shoko Kiriyama,
Hiroyo Kuniyasu, Namie Shiozawa, Yoshio Shimizu, Kimiko Shibutani,
Yoichi Shimosato,
Shizue Suzuki, Reiko Takahashi, Yoshiko Nakajima, Takeko Hashimoto,
Fumiko Harada,
Sadako Harada, Yae Honjyo, Fumiko Miyazaki, Machiko Yoshida.
Volunteers are wanted who can handle inquiries, paperwork, etc., during
Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Please call (03) 5725-6150.
Takeko Hashimoto, chairperson of General Affairs & Association Affairs committee
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Public Relations Committee
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Activity: ・Issue Short News <Japanese version> and <English version>.
For each version, 11 issues per year, four to eight A4 pages.
・Maintain the web site introducing activities of Meguro UNESCO Association
in addition to a web version of Short News.
・Issue pamphlets of Meguro UNESCO and fliers of activities, when needed.
Staff: 10 members for Japanese Short News, 9 for English version, 2
for home pages.
Meeting: Normally once per month.
Editing Policy:
Initially, the purpose was to announce the Association’s activities to members.
Today, our duty has spread to wider issues. Especially recently, we are eager to take up articles such as “opinions for a wish of peace” or “opinions from the minority”. Through the English version of Short News and the web site, we hope more people will get to know UNESCO activity.
Yukio Okusawa, chairperson of Public Relations committee
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