明けましておめでとうございます！

Happy New Year! Hope everyone is having a great 2010 so far. We have a new executive full of genki faces and already this year is shaping up to be full of fun and interesting events. Things to look forward to include Japanese cultural events like Ikebana, getting your fitness on at Lafleche Aerial Park, expanding your Japanese Language skills and much more! The first event is a Japanese Calligraphy workshop on Friday, January 22. See you there!

1) Some highlights of upcoming events:
  - Japanese Calligraphy workshop at the Ottawa Japanese Community Centre on January 22nd for JETAA members only. RSVP required.
  - Ottawa 67's Game Fundraiser Event at the Urbandale Centre (formerly the Civic Centre) in Lansdowne Park on February 7th at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited so please come out and support your JETAA!
  - Stay tuned for upcoming February Events including Ikebana Class and a new installation of the Speaker Series.

2) Are you interested in being part of the JETAA Dragon Boat Team in this year's Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival Race? This is a very social sport, a lot of fun and great exercise accompanied by fresh air on a beautiful lake. If you are interested, please send an email to jetaaottawa_events@yahoo.ca no later than January 28th – space is limited. If you have any questions, email Ala.

3) The Community News page will keep you updated about events like the Jan 11th - Mar 08th beginner-level brush calligraphy course “Sumi-e” at the Ottawa School of Art or the February 11th Embassy of Japan presentation of Violinist Mayumi Seiler and Pianist Jeanie Chung in Concert at the National Gallery of Canada.

4) Free Japanese Language Classes WINTER session
When: Intermediate/Advanced Classes on Mondays from Feb 15 - Mar 29, 6:15-7:45pm
            Beginner Classes on Wednesdays Feb 17 - Mar 31, 6:30-8:00pm
Where: Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guiges Street, Byward Market, Ottawa, ON
How: Please RSVP.
Cost: none (open only to JETAA members)
  With additional support from the Japanese Embassy, JETAA Ottawa is pleased to announce that we will continue to offer two evenings of Japanese language classes per week. We are very happy that Kubota Sensei will be returning to teach both classes. Take advantage of this great opportunity and don't let your Japanese slip away. *Although Feb 15th is Family Day, the Centre is open and class will be held.

5) Call for Platforms: Country Representative. Interested in getting more involved in JETAA? Want to take on a role that allows you to get to know other chapter reps and find out more about how JETAA works at the international level? Then running for national rep just might be your thing! Click here for the job description. The call for platforms has now gone out, and Heather Campbell, the returning officer, will be accepting submissions until February 15, 2010. She can be contacted at jetaacanadarepelection@gmail.com if you have any questions. The elections will be held in March. Good luck!

6) Do you have any great photos of Japan? We're looking for more submissions for our JETAA Photo Exhibit. Please email Melanie with your photos or questions.

For more information and details about all these events please check out the latest newsletter!

To learn more about the JET Programme itself, visit: http://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/jetcanada.html

UPDATED: Jan 19th, 2010