Shizuoka AJET

 Hey folks! Your co-president, Sally, here.
 
On Friday, the AJET committee (sans prez Michael Davis, who's in Oz) met for the second time this year to discuss all sorts of important things: Membership, Kakegawa Orientation, upcoming events, & the website. Here's a rundown of what we've got in store for you.
 
Membership!
In the past, it was Y1000 to buy a ShizAJET membership your first year, and Y700 after that. But unfortunately, nobody ever kept a database of who had bought memberships, and the renewal memberships were rarely bought. I've asked around, & it seems like part of the reason nobody bothered to buy a renewal was because there weren't enough new events to make it worth it. This year, we want to change that.
 
Starting this year, it's Y1000 to buy a lifetime ShizAJET membership. This will be good for the duration of your time on JET.
 
However, because nobody kept a database in the past, we don't know which recontracting JETs have bought memberships. I've been told that for the last 2-3 years, about 85-90% of the new JETs bought memberships at Kakegawa Orientation. The AJET committee has decided that for this year only, recontracting JETs entering their third year or above will automatically be given an AJET membership. (We have the list from last year, so 2nd years who did not buy a membership last year will be given the opportunity to do so if they want to at any AJET event.)
 
We will keep a database of everyone who has bought or been given a membership & it will be kept with all the other important AJET information that gets passed down, like Fuji climb logistics and website access information.
 
We're also excited to announce that we already have lots of events lined up for you!
 
Events!
First of all, there's Atami Fireworks on Sunday, August 22. Next up, the Mt. Fuji Climb, Aug 28-29. This is the first event that will get you a discount of a whopping Y500! That's half the membership fee right there!
 
In September, we'll have a Costume Karaoke event in Kakegawa (discount available!). There will also be 1 or 2 surfing events, held by the lovely Kat Brown at Shizunami Beach in Makinohara, and a picnic in Sumpu Koen in Shizuoka.
 
In October, we're hoping to go camping (discount!), most likely in either Kawane or Fujinomiya. Later in the month we'll have the (mild) White Water Rafting (discount!) on the Fuji River. We'd also like to get a Halloween Party going.
 
In November, we're hoping to get some regional Thanksgiving Parties going, as well as some fall colors sightseeing.
 
In December, look forward to some regional Holiday Parties, as well as an onsen trip.
 
And that's just what we've discussed so far!
 
Website!
We want to build up the website to make it more useful for you. Here are some of the things that we're planning to add to it in the near future.
 
Useful links about life in Japan or Shizuoka in general.
 
Travel tips: information on how to travel cheaply (or at least conveniently) in or out of Japan.
 
An FAQ section, which will mostly be built around information for incoming JETs. However, if we find that there's other information that people would find useful, we'll try to get that up as well.
 
Let us know if there's something else you'd like to see us do for you! See you guys soon,
Sally