Report of Regular Meeting January 2004
Tsuyoshi Hosokawa, Secretary
The BF-EF night began, presided by Mr. Chino, with the opening chime by the president Mr. Tanaka. Y's song, Y's principles, reading of the Bible and prayer by Mr. Sugo, introduction of the guests and the visitors were carried out. Mr. Kenji Iwata, director of the Toyocho Center of the Tokyo YMCA, greeted and thanked us for our cooperation for his Christmas opening house December 23rd; there visited 4000 people, the most visitors among the past.. Mr. Norihiko Oyama, member of the Tokyo Sunrise Club, informed us their fifteenth anniversary celebration on April 10th.
Next, information from committee and YMCA. Mr. Ryozo Matsumoto reported on the first half term of the Tokyo Y's Fund; he appealed about the later half term. He requested the donation of the time of fast in the regular meeting in February, the CS donation by the New Year Greeting Postcard and our cooperation to prepare for the after next term of the Toshin District.
Next, Mr Yamanaka talked that the special story of the Kyoto Shimbun "I don't discourage", which introduce the person who lives sturdily in this depression, carried Mr. Daimon, member of the Kyoto Capital Club, our DBC. He sent round the article. Mr. Kuroiwa, chairman of the Club Service Committee appealed about the 2nd book auction of this term. Mr. Matsuda, chairman of the EMC Committee explained the overview of the member workshop and appealed. Mr. Haga, secretary of the Tokyo YMCA, requested the cooperation for the 2nd fund-raising campaign of this year in front of Shibuya station on February 14th and the Valentine campaign collection box ( milk pack ). Then, the collection box of the Iranian big earthquake urgent relief fund toured the meeting place. Mr. Hiroyuki Sakurai, DSD of fund-raising of the Toshin District, appealed for the BF, EF and TOF.
Next, the BF hour. Mr. Yoshioka, chairman of the BF Committee explained the way of BF donation. He presented the beer in whose development his son-in-law was participated. We had a donation time while we heard a pleasant music.
After singing the "Daily Bread", we took dinner, talking. After cleaning up the table, we celebrated the "Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!"
[Speech of Mr. Asami]
Next, the guest speech. Mr. Takao Asami, member of the Tokyo Green Club, made a speech entitled "the Outline of Y's Men's Club". He began by the preface: Mr. Yoshioka asked him to talk not about the snake, but about the Y's Men's Club and the BF. He greeted, talking that he was recommended as the RD of the after next term of the Japan-East Region. He went on the pleasant story. He was born in Kuramae, Tokyo. He became a charter member of the Tokyo Green Club. When they linked the IBC with the Manila Downtown Club, he learned the meaning of the hoisting of the club banner and the national flag in Philippines. He visited many clubs several times and he gained various experiences. He heard various opinion and he understood deeply the Y's Men's Club. He changed the subject of the Chinese herb medicine. The starting point of the herb medicine is in the period of the Later Han Dynasty in China about 1700 years before. The herb pickers who came from Kudara around 554 A.D. brought it to Japan. He explained the herb medicine. The mind seemed to exert much of the influence on the body. He continued an extremely interesting story: the phlebotomy, the medicine for health, and the medicine for treatment. 90 % of the import of snake depends on China. Because of the SARS, the raw snake doesn't enter by the exportation limitation from April of last year. He took over his family business to his son. He talked of his pension. He talked about the quiet operation of kudzu(pueraria) root in detail. He came to a conclusion: it goes wrong to do something immediately. He talked an extremely interesting story: they concluded IBC agreement with the Manila Downtown Club 27 years ago; they began with the exchange program of Y'sling; they learned so much things from these relations; the children in Asia whose eyes were brilliant have changed greatly now. The last, the BF activities. He told the present situation of Japan: only Japanese are collecting stamps in Asia to make the BF fund; we get out of date.
Next, the smile fund. After that, Mr. Hitomi presided a peculiar speedy auction with the loud voice. We made successful bids one after another. We excited greatly. We sang the song of YMCA last. The closing chime of the President, Mr. Tanaka, closed the meeting.