Interpreters Needed for Japan Local Government Center Webinar

The Japan Local Government Center (JLGC) is planning a series of webinars for local governments (prefectures and municipalities) in Japan with JET alumni as speakers. The objectives are as follows:

- To provide useful information for Japanese local government officials who are working on exchanges with the United States.

- To inform them about the activities of JET participants, as they are an important bridge (Kakehashi) between the U.S. and Japan.

In August, the JLGC held their first webinar with Mr. Ryan, President of the U.S.-Japan Washington Association, as their speaker. This page is in Japanese, but the main part of the webinar is spoken with consecutive interpretation.

Also this month, they held their second webinar with Ms. Lillian Hanako Rowlatt, co-founder of Kokoro Care Packages.

They will be doing more of these webinars in the future. Since it is aimed at Japanese local government officials, interpreters will be needed.

【Other Information】

・Interpreters need to be able to interpret both from English to Japanese and from English to Japanese. (Interpretation for speaker (English) + Q&A (Japanese and English))

・It will be done using Zoom.

・Honorarium will be paid.

・It is preferable for JET alumni, but if there are JET Friends who can interpret for us, we would like to be introduced.

・The date and time will be adjusted accordingly. The event will be held according to Japan time, so it will probably be around 7:30pm to 9:00pm (EST).

・The webinar will last about an hour and a half.

If you think you are able to assist with interpreting, please contact JETAA Chicago at info@jetaachicago.com by January 14, 2022!

Volunteer Opportunity at the Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago's Jackson Park!

JETAA Chicago is teaming up with the Japanese Culture Center to support the Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago’s Jackson Park!

With summer rapidly approaching, the Chicago Park District is looking for help with clean up and maintenance at the Garden of the Phoenix in preparation for all of its visitors this season!

Alumni are invited to participate in the 3-hour clean up on Monday, June 28, from 9 am CST to noon. Supplies will be provided, so all you need to bring is yourself and your can-do spirit!

More information and sign-up here!

You must RSVP by Wednesday, June 9, to participate. Once you sign-up, you will be sent a waiver from the Chicago Park District which must be completed in order to attend and help.

The JETAA Chicago Leadership Team understands that this is a transitional phase for our community and the Midwest community as a whole. While our alumni chapter is holding off on in-person social events for now, we have decided that in the interest of supporting our partners and one of the major links between Japan and the U.S. in our city, we want to offer this opportunity to be involved.

The event will be entirely outdoors, but if you choose to participate, we recommend wearing a mask/face covering and practicing social/physical distancing whenever possible. There are risk factors that we believe should be taken into consideration before making your decision.

• Are you high risk?—Are you or someone you live with at a higher risk for complications should you come into contact with someone that is COVID-19 positive?

• Are you experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19? - If so, please stay home and isolated to minimize exposure.

• Number of COVID-19 cases in your community—High or increasing levels of COVID-19 cases in the event location. Relevant data can often be found on the local health department website or on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker County View.

• Exposure during travel —Bus stations, buses, train stations, trains, public transport and gas stations are all places where physical distancing may be challenging and ventilation may be poor.

• Setting of the event—Indoor events, especially in places with poor ventilation, pose more risk than outdoor events. While this is not the case for the volunteer day, it should always be considered.

• Length of the event—Events that last longer pose more risk than shorter events. Being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more (over a 24-hour period) greatly increases the risk of becoming infected and requires quarantine.

• Number and crowding of people at the event – Events with more people increase the likelihood of being exposed. The size of the event should be determined based on whether attendees from different households can stay at least 6 feet (2 arm lengths) apart. Physical distancing at events can reduce transmission risk.

• Behavior of attendees during an event— Events where people engage in behaviors such as interacting with others from outside their own household, singing, shouting, not maintaining physical distancing, or not wearing masks consistently and correctly, can increase risk.

Please think carefully about the risk factors and your personal situation before deciding to participate.

Even if it takes a little longer, we look forward to seeing you again in-person one day soon!

Questions? Contact us at info@jetaachicago.com

NatCon Fundraising Lead: Call for Volunteers

JETAA Chicago is hosting the 2019 JETAA National Conference in September and we need YOUR help!

We're looking for an enthusiastic and passionate alum to lead fundraising efforts for the event. This includes seeking in-kind donations for breakfast, snacks, and swag items, as well as cash donations to support the conference and subsidize alumni nijikai. We'll have guides, resources, and volunteers to support your efforts.

If you're interested in serving as the Fundraising Lead or joining the fundraising committee, reach out to us at natcon2019@jetaachicago.com by Monday, July 15, 2019.

Want to help in a different way? That's great too! We'll need other volunteers to support with the conference events, so send us an email!