Here are some highlights from this year’s annual Tampa Natsumatsuri, this June.
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!
As many of you know, there have been many victims of devastating floods in Western Japan over the last few weeks. Florida Jetaa has decided to support the donations campaign created and monitored by #USJETAA. If you are looking for a safe and reliable way to get funds to Japan, we encourage you to go through US JETAA!
Since the beginning of this fundraiser, USJETAA has received overwhelming support and has almost reached their goal of $5,000 to support Japan Platform （ジャパン・プラットフォーム） and their great efforts connecting funds to organizations on the ground in western Japan.
If you haven’t donated yet, please consider helping them reach their goal. #prayforjapan #westernjapan
https://usjetaa.networkforgood.com/projects/55620-western-japan-flood-relief
Thank you.
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.
This newly launched FREE webinar series is intended to provide guidance and instruction to JET alumni across the country on a variety of careers, professional development topics, and unique challenges and how to navigate them. This webinar is on how to become a Japanese teacher after JET. Current JETs and JET alumni are both welcome to join. For those who can’t attend, a recording will be available after the webinar at: https://usjetaa.org/programs/webinar-series/
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 23, 2018 | Tampa Natsumatsuri | Tampa, FL,
Christ the King Church, 821 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa
Our 2018 flyer is up and ready. About a month and a half to the festival. Join us for this celebration of Japanese culture on a Florida summer evening. Bring the family and enjoy the many vendors, presenters and games. It’s a great time and you’ll be part of an awesome community of friends of Japan.
We’re still looking for volunteers. If you are available to chip in with set-up, break down or during the event, your help is much appreciated! Please contact Tom Gregorich (Orlando@floridajetaa.org).
Some representatives of Florida Jetaa in West Palm Beach were invited to have tea with the First Lady of Japan, Mrs. Akie Abe! Thank you very much for dedicating time to sit with us during Prime Minister Abe’s visit with President Trump.
Thank you, also, to Mrs. Sugiyama (Wife of Ambassador of Japan to the U.S.), Consul General Ken Okaniwa (Consulate General of Japan in Miami), and Ms. Tanaka (Executive Assistant to Mrs. Abe). We thoroughly enjoyed discussing the impact that JET has had on our careers and our views of Japan, and how the JET Alumni network can further contribute to mutual, cultural understanding and foreign relations.
【Photos Copyright: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan】
May 12, 2018 | Yukata Bar Crawl | Winter Garden, FL (Near Orlando)
Let’s explore the craft breweries of Winter Garden. Japanese summer festival wear is highly encouraged, so grab your yukata and go!
When: Saturday, May 12, 4:00 p.m.
Where: A selection of bars in downtown Winter Garden starting with Crooked Can Brewing Company. Please see below for full lineup.
Contact/RSVP: Dolly Sanborn (webmaster@floridajetaa.org)
Pub Crawl Lineup:
1) Crooked Can Brewery – 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
2) The Attic Door (on plant street) – 5:00 – 5:45 p.m.
3) Moon Cricket Grill (right next door) – 5:45 – 6:30 p.m.
4) Tony’s Liquors (this place is a straight dive bar, so only the serious pub crawlers will be left at this point!) 6:30 -7:00 p.m.
For tips on how to put on your yukata, see here!
Voting for the 2018-2020 Florida JETAA Board is complete and the results are in! We would like to thank everyone for voting and congratulate all new officers.
Treasurer – Sean Beckwith
Secretary – Kyle Litow
Information Officer – Hartley Haft
Current Officers who will be up for re-election in 2019:
President – Lauren Sorondo
Vice President – Allan Mordetsky
Webmaster – Dolly Sanborn
Read bios of our officers, view contact information, and find out more about JETAA-FL here.