Tom Whitson
ACCJ President
twhitson@accj.or.jp
Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu! 2009 is finished, over, and done with! 2010 is a brand new year and ours to make something of for ourselves, our companies, and our communities. In early January we will have a Board planning session to develop our priorities and major initiatives for the year. We welcome member input to this process. Please submit any ideas, issues or concerns to the Chamber office so we can consider them in the Planning Session or later through a committee.
We have a new Board of Governors including new Tokyo vice presidents Andy Conrad, Jim Foster, and Jay Ponazecki. New Tokyo governors include Nick Benes, Jeff Bernier, Randy Krieger, Jeffrey Shimamoto, and Ira Wolf. The new Kansai leaders include vice president Jiri Mestecky, governor Alfonso Zulueta, and treasurer Richard Carlow. They join an experienced group of incumbents and re-elected leaders.
Our Diet DoorKnock, December 1-3, had over 70 ACCJ members meet more than 60 Diet members and government officials. Japanese government interest in meeting and discussing issues with the ACCJ is at a record high. We emphasized our desire for a Japanese financial recovery and the commitment of our member companies to the Japanese economy and society. Diet members seemed impressed with the number of Japanese jobs and Japanese taxes that ACCJ members are responsible for.
Our counterparts reaffirmed the importance of the Japan – U.S. relationship and the tone of the meetings was very positive. The Japanese government faces many challenges but the ACCJ is pleased to be an organization that they feel comfortable exchanging views with.
We have some exciting programs planned for 2010 in the areas of the environment, women’s issues, dialogue on economic competitiveness, and APEC. I believe that labor and employment issues are a priority of the new government and we will need to see how government proposals in this area are likely to affect our businesses. We will continue to develop and share information that our members need to do business better in the Japan market. Please join a committee that focuses on your business interests. We will also provide forums where our members can showcase their products and services, meet potential customers and suppliers, and network with businesspeople who can enrich their personal and corporate lives. If it isn’t planned and you think it is a good idea, let us know and we will see if we can make it happen.
We will not forget the ACCJ’s commitment to CSR activities in 2010. The 2009 Charity Ball was a success and raised significant funds for our designated charities. Now that we have walkathons in each of our three chapters, we can build on that concept of health, fun, and charity to heighten the profile of our organization. We will continue our efforts to make contributions to improve our communities and Japanese society.
I look forward positively to an exciting year in 2010 and hope that through our collective efforts, the ACCJ can make a difference and contribute to a richer life for our members, their companies, and the Japanese nation where we live and work.
