Florida JETAA
  • About
    • Florida JETAA Board
    • Regional Representatives
    • Our Bylaws
    • Joining Florida JETAA
    • Contact Us
  • Events
    • Language Meetups
    • Past Events
      • Tampa Natsumatsuri 夏​祭
      • Holiday Enkais 宴​会 2018-2019
      • Orlando Japan Festival 2018
      • Career Dev Workshop 2018
      • JET30th Reunion & Networker
      • JET30 + NatCon 2017
      • Yukata Pub Crawls, Hatsume Fair and More
  • JET Program
    • Verifying JET Participation
    • Florida JET Blogs
    • Pension Refund
  • Resources
    • Japanese Language
    • Job Opportunities
    • JET Furusato Vision Project
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Board news, etc.

Support the 501c3 Non-Profit Fundraiser

Florida JETAA News, Fundraising

We’re growing, and we need your help!


Donate via GoFundMe!


In the past few years, Florida JETAA has been growing quickly! Within the last year alone, we’ve had a successful JET 30 Reunion & Networking event, as well as our inaugural Career Development Workshop. We would like to continue expanding the programing we offer our members, but we need your help!

Unlike many organizations, we do not collect membership dues. We rely heavily on grants to conduct our events, but we’re limited in that area since we’re only a state non-profit. To expand our options, we’re now pursing 501c3 Non-Profit status! Attaining 501c3 will make us elligible for more grants, exempt JETAA-FL from taxes, and make any donations made to our organization tax deductible. 


Our Goal: $300.00 by February 28!


The application for the 501c3 Certificate is expensive. We already have half of the funds necessary, and the documents are ready to go. We understand that not everyone may be in the financial position to donate right now, but we would be so grateful for any amount you can donate to help us meet this goal.

Thank you for being a valued member – we’re counting on your help in expanding the scope and possibilities of Florida JETAA!

February 23, 2019/by admin

2019 Election Results – JETAA-FL Board

Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni

The results are in.

We have three newly-elected members to the Florida JETAA board. They are:

President: Gigi Ross

Vice President: Allan Mordetsky (will be returning for another term)

Webmaster: Lisa Play

Congratulations!

Thank you to all of our candidates for participating in this election and offering your time and talent to Florida JETAA. Also, appreciation is extended to our members who voted.

Our current President and Webmaster are busy preparing for the upcoming transition. Stay tuned!

 

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

February 2, 2019/by admin

2019 Elections – JETAA-FL Board

Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni

Vote Today!

It takes LESS THAN 1 MINUTE!

Cast your vote here!

Voting closes Sunday, January 27 at 11:55 PM. Any votes received after this date will be discounted.

VOTING ELIGIBILITY

  • ONLY former JET Participants and Registered Members of Florida JETAA are eligible to vote. To Register: https://floridajetaa.org/about/joining-florida-jetaa/
  • “Friends of JET” are not eligible to cast a vote.

Your vote will be kept confidential. Only the current Florida JETAA President, Lauren Sorondo (not running for re-election), will see your vote. We ask for personal information to verify that you are a JET alumnus.


Nominee Platforms

President

“GIGI” ROSS

My name is Geri Ross, but most call me GiGi. I was a municipal ALT from 2017-2018 in the tiny Kyoto town of Ujitawara-cho, the birthplace of green tea. My hobbies include traveling and singing karaoke, so I look forward to volunteering at events around the state and organizing some group karaoke sessions.

Prior to JET, I was an Asian Studies major at FIU and had visited Japan four times, twice on study abroad programs and twice on sponsorship for winning essay and speech contests. I was also the first recipient of the Omar K. Carrion Memorial Scholarship in honor of another JET alum who tragically passed away in 2013.

I credit JETAA members and events for my initial interest in the JET Program; it was former Florida chapter President Bahia Simons-Lane who first inspired me to apply. Because of the JETAA friends I made as an undergrad, I knew even before my program started that I wanted to be an active member of JETAA when I returned.

My current work is not related to Japan, so I view this position as a way to stay involved with Japan and express my passion for the JET Program. I hope to not only support current JET alumni, but also inspire future JET participants to apply. I believe that my high energy and forward momentum will be great assets to the Florida chapter.


Vice President

ALLAN MORDETSKY

Greetings and Salutations FLJETAA!

I’ve had the pleasure of being our Vice President and enjoyed it so much I’m running again. I remember being in Japan and many people, some whom I didn’t know, helped me on my journey and time in my second home. Now, I pay it forward in FLJETAA helping our organization and supporting our President, officers, and Jetlings. I hope to continue helping and ask that you consider me for VP during this election. Take care ya’ll and hope to see you soon!

 

 


LESLIE WIER

Leslie was a High School ALT on JET from 2013 – 2017 in Hiroshima City. While there, she also served as the National AJET Director of Professional and Education development for the 2015-2016 term. Following her return to the U.S., she completed a Master’s in Education from the University of Missouri in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. She now works as a health coach for a quickly growing start-up.

Since her return, she has served Florida JETAA by delivering JET information sessions at Florida universities and volunteering on the committee for the organizations first Professional Development Workshop. Leslie has a passion for contributing to organizations with a focus on positivity, transparency, and growth.  She’s excited for the opportunity to contribute to Florida JETAA as its VP and looks forward to helping it grow into an organization that provides comprehensive support for Florida JET Alumni.


Webmaster

GABRIELA CUEVAS

My name is Gabriela S. Cuevas. I was in Niigata Prefecture, 2017-2018. I’m currently a store manager. I enjoy spending time with my family. I’m very passionate about movies. I try to go almost every week to the movie theater. I’m a big foodie and enjoy discovering new restaurants.

 

 

 

 


LISA PLAY

Lisa Play is a recent JET returnee after spending two years in Haha Matsu, Shizuoka Prefecture from 2016 to 2018. As Webmaster, Lisa strives to provide relevant and meaningful posts that keep Florida JET alumni connected to fellow JET alumi, their Japanese communities, and ongoing cultural activities throughout the state. An aspiring librarian, she is aware of how stories can bring together communities and motivate them towards future endeavors. Lisa lives in Tallahassee, where she is pursuing her Master in Information Studies.

 

 


VOTE NOW!
January 18, 2019/by admin

2019 Board Nominations OPEN: President, Vice President, Webmaster

Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni
Read more
December 5, 2018/by admin

WANTED: Tampa Region Rep

Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni

Florida JETAA is looking for a new Tampa Region Rep! Region Reps are our JETAA contacts to welcome alumni that move to their areas, and promote community there. Minimum requirement is to host ONE (1) event per year in your region – and it can be anything!

If interested, please email President@floridajetaa.org!

November 4, 2018/by admin

NatCon 2018, Denver CO

Education, Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni, JET Programme, National Events

We are SO PROUD and GRATEFUL of our Info Officer Hartley Haft and our Superstar alumnus Aiyana Mathews for representing Florida Jetaa at the 2018 JETAA National Conference this past weekend! We’re looking forward to hearing the great things they learned, and using their ideas to create an even better experience for our members in the coming year.

Thanks, also, to the JETAA Rocky Mountain for hosting the conference this year, and JETAA USA – JET Program Alumni Association, as well as all the other wonderful organizations that make these annual conferences possible for our alumni chapters to learn and grow.

NatCon 2018, Colorado

NatCon 2018, Colorado




NatCon 2018, Colorado
NatCon 2018, Colorado

NatCon 2018, Colorado

September 19, 2018/by admin

2018 Pre-departure Orientation

Consulate Communications, Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni, JET Programme

JET Farewell Reception 8-3-2018, Official Residence, Miami

On Friday, August 3, several of our Florida alumni joined the outgoing group of JETs for Pre-Departure Orientation.  Wendy Lo, Allan Mordetsky, and Bryan Barber gave presentations to the group, preparing the 52 new JETs leaving from Miami to Japan the following day. Also in attendance at the Consulate’s reception was Lauren Sorondo (JETAA-FL President & JET Coordinator) and Kyle Litow (JETAA-FL Secretary), as well as many other alumni.

From September 2017, when the JET application process began, to the Pre-departure Orientation, JET Coordinator Lauren Sorondo played a major part in guiding these individuals to their new roles of cultural exchange. With the support of the Consulate General of Japan in Miami, they were well prepared to represent Florida on the JET Program.

Wendy Lo giving cultural etiquette tips to the outgoing JETs.
Lauren (JETAA-FL President & JET Coordinator) discussing expectations for the first few weeks in Japan.
Bryan Barber giving a brief history of US-Japan Relations!

2018 Outgoing JET Group
Allan Mordetsky gave a special speech with a great takeaway about how you touch people’s lives on JET (sometimes, without knowing it!)
Farewell reception at the Official Residence, hosted by Consul General Okaniwa.

Farewell reception at the Official Residence, hosted by Consul General Okaniwa.
Farewell reception at the Official Residence, hosted by Consul General Okaniwa.
JETs, New and Old! — with Kyle Litow, Haras Daut, Miguel Angel Rischmaui, Shantel Acuña and Allan Mordetsky.

Florida Jetaa Presenters, board members, and Consul Zaima from the Consulate General of Japan in Miami.

 

August 11, 2018/by admin

SAVE THE DATE: Career Development Workshop presented by FL JETAA

Education, Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, JET Alumni

September 8, 2018 | Career Development Workshop | Orlando, FL

Florida JETAA will be holding our first ever Career Development Workshop. More event details to come! Stay tuned!

July 24, 2018/by admin

HELP WANTED! Tampa Natsumatsuri

Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, Japan Connections, JET Alumni

Looking for help with the Tampa Natsumatsuri (Sat. 6/23)!
This #FREE Japanese festival is organized by JET Alumni from central Florida, but you don’t have to be Alumni to be a part of the festival! Help is needed to run game booths. We are also looking for people to join a Festival Committee to plan next year’s Natsumatsuri. Sponsored by the Florida JET Alumni Association (non-profit) and the Consulate General of Japan in Miami!

Please contact Festival Director Tom Gregorich if you would like to volunteer.

June 14, 2018/by admin

WANTED: Natsumatsuri Festival Committee

Florida Events, Florida JETAA News, Japan Connections, JET Alumni

Did you know that the Florida JETAA Natsumatsuri in Tampa has is our largest event each year? What started 13 years ago as a small, local festival run by former JETs has turned into a huge community event that draws over 800 guests! Most importantly, it remains a FREE community event run by volunteers.

After 13 years, John McGee and his family, who spearheaded and led Tampa Natsumatsuri, are returning to Japan. We are sad to see them go, but are excited for a chance to see the festival grow with a newly established Festival Committee under the leadership of Festival Director Tom Gregorich. You don’t have to live in Tampa to participate!

To Join

MESSAGE Tampa Kumicho or email Tampanatsumatsuri@gmail.com.

New committee members that join by June 5th will have a chance to shadow/learn from John directly how he has prepared the festival each year.

Positions

-Floor Manager
Arrange, direct, and monitor set up for festival. Main contact for vendors.

-Festival Treasurer
Keep budget, man front desk at festival

-Inventory Chair(s) (2) 
In charge of storage unit and inventory

-Activities Chair 
Coordinate all FLJETAA activity booths, recruit and direct volunteers

-Stage Manager
Coordinate all on-stage activities. MC.

June 6, 2018/by admin
Page 1 of 512345

News Categories

  • Consulate Communications
  • Education
  • Florida Events
  • Florida JETAA News
  • Fundraising
  • Japan Connections
  • JET Alumni
  • JET Programme
  • JETAA Newsletters
  • Job Openings
  • National Events
  • Uncategorized

Helpful Links

  • USJETAA
  • JETAA USA
  • JETAA International
  • Consulate General of Japan in Miami
  • Arts Japan 2020
  • Tofugu – A Japanese Culture + Language Blog
  • JETwit.com
  • JQ Magazine
© Copyright - Florida JETAA - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • About
  • Events
  • JET Program
  • Resources
  • Latest News
Scroll to top