Greetings, members and friends of the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin. It is an honor to serve as JASGA's president, and it has been my pleasure to work with the many competent and dedicated volunteers serving on JASGA's board of directors and on its various committees.

The JASGA directors want members to know that board meetings are open to all members. The date, time and location of board meetings will be announced monthly on the JASGA website calendar, so please feel free to attend. JASGA exists for its membership, and the JASGA board welcomes and invites your participation.

In the coming months, JASGA will announce a Membership Poll to survey JASGA members on their expectations for JASGA, and on their willingness to volunteer. Please take the time to complete this survey when it arrives, and let us know what programs you want JASGA to offer, and how we can better involve you or your family in our activities.

Plans are under way for the 2006 Satsuki Matsuri (May Festival), set to take place Sunday, May 7, at Zilker Botanical Garden Auditorium in Zilker Park. The organizing committee needs volunteers to make this year's event as successful as last year's. To learn more about ways you can lend your time and talents, please review the festival planning committee's message in this edition of the e-newsletter, and keep an eye out for future e-mails and e-newsletters for progress on 2006 May Festival preparations.

Barry A. Cotton,
JASGA President

Former Texas Secretary of State turned consultant Geoffrey Connor will discuss current trends in the economic partnership between Japan and Texas during a special reception jointly hosted by JASGA's Professional Networking Committee and the Austin Japan Association. The program, which begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, will be in the Austin Room of the OmniAustin Hotel Downtown, at 700 San Jacinto Blvd.

Mr. Connor recently completed his term as Secretary of State, which is the highest appointed office in Texas and functions as the chief international officer and the chief border affairs officer. He is currently a principal at Texas Global, a strategic advisory and project development firm, and is of-counsel with Dallas-based law firm Jackson Walker. He is an advisory board member for the International Studies Center at Texas State University, a leader with the Houston Consular Forum, a member of the Austin World Affairs Council, Austin Council on Foreign Affairs, and a member of the board of directors of the Asia Society and other leading civic and international organizations.

Secretary Connor was chief liaison to the diplomatic representatives of more than 80 countries with consulates or honorary consulates in Texas. He welcomed and hosted dozens of heads of state to Texas including presidents, prime ministers and royalty. Secretary Connor led numerous trade missions and other initiatives overseas and has visited almost 50 countries, both personally and officially.

Secretary Connor has held several other senior government positions and served as a senior advisor to two Texas Governors. Additionally, he served as an analyst for the British government during the premiership of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He was a top aide to the chairman of the House of Lords' Foreign Policy Committee and to the chairman of the Lords Defence Committee.

Admission to the March 23 program is $15 for members of JASGA or AJA and $25 for non-members. Admission is free to those who purchase a membership at the event. There will be a cash bar and complementary hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail reception. Please RSVP by contacting Ms. Tomoko Hall at by noon Monday, March 20.

Volunteers Needed!

JASGA is preparing for the second annual Satsuki Matsuri (May Festival) on May 7, 2006, at Zilker Botanical Garden Auditorium. Last years' festival was a huge success with more than 700 attendees, television news coverage and a special focus in the Austin American Statesman. As JASGA's first-ever community-wide event, it was a great way to launch the new organization.

Now JASGA needs your help to plan an even bigger event this year. If you are interested in serving on one of the festival subcommittees, please email one of the festival planning committee co-chairs: Adriana Cruz at , or Chelsea McCullough at . And be sure to indicate on which subcommittee you'd like to serve. The 2006 Satsuki Matsuri subcommittees are:

• Program/Entertainment
• Food and Beverage
• Facility and Logistics
• Publicity/Communications
• Silent Auction
• Membership

As an all-volunteer organization, the success of our events depends upon the dedication of our members. So join one of our planning groups today, and let's make Satsuki Matsuri 2006 our best event yet!

Contribute Goods or Services for Silent Auction
One of the ways that JASGA raises program funds is through the Silent Auction at the annual Satsuki Matsuri (May Festival). Last year, JASGA raised more than $3,000 from the auction of several items, including two round-trip tickets to Japan provided by Continental Airlines. This year, the auction subcommittee hopes to raise even more.

If you have any goods or services that you are willing to personally donate, or if you are friends with, or connected to, any business owners who would be willing to contribute to the Silent Auction, please contact Silent Auction Subcommittee Chair Clyde Prestwood at .

Examples of potential auction items include: Bonsai trees, sports tickets, art work, interior design services, dance lessons, restaurant gift certificates, wine/food gift baskets, cases of wine, photography services, jewelry, massage gift certificates, golf passes, autographed books, gym memberships, hotel stays, limousine rides, personal chef services, childcare services, weekend getaways, use of a luxury car for one month, electronics, kimonos, silk floral arrangements, tickets to live musical or theater performances, autographed sports memorabilia, or a day with a celebrity.

Sixth Shizuoka International Translation Competition

All literary translation entries for the next Shizuoka International Translation Competition must be received no later than Dec. 10, 2006. For more information, including a list of works to choose from for translation into English, French or Chinese, please visit http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/shizuoka/translate/gaiyou6-e.html.

Job Opportunities

Tanisys Technology Inc. (www.tanisys.com) is looking for applicants with Japanese and English language skills to fill the following positions:

FPGA designer (EE or MSEE ) Design programmable special-purpose test engines in FPGAs, write and checkout interfaces/drivers to custom hardware and control applications for high-performance memory testers. Requirements: BS/MSEE/CE, proficiency in C (C++ desirable), Verilog, 2 to 5 years or more experience in digital high speed Xilinx FPGA development primarily related to testing or a similar field. Bilingual: English/Japanese.

FW Engineer (EE/CE) Create C++ based embedded applications running in Linux. Write and test interfaces/drivers to custom hardware and control applications for high-performance memory testers. Requirements: BS/MSEE/CE, proficiency in C and C++, 3 to 8 or more years experience in PowerPC embedded code development primarily related to testing or a similar field. Familiarity with PowerPC peripherals, TCP/IP communications and real-time embedded applications preferable. Bilingual: English/Japanese.

Application Engineer Diagnostics/MFG support Engineers (EE/CE) Create C++ based embedded diagnostic applications running in Linux. Write and test interfaces/drivers to custom hardware and control applications for high-performance memory testers. Requirements: BS/MSEE/CE, proficiency in C and C++, 2 to 5 or more years experience in embedded code development. Bilingual: English/Japanese.

For more information or to submit a resume, contact CEO & President John Bennett, Tanisys Technology Inc., at or (512) 257-5337.

You Oughta be in Pictures

Austin photographer Jack Hollingsworth is seeking individuals of Japanese ancestry, particularly adults above the age of 50, to be photographed for commercial purposes. Those selected for photo sessions will be paid and will receive copies of their photos. (Actors needing pictures for their portfolios are encouraged to apply.)

Applicants should be active, healthy, attractive, fun, easygoing and not shy! Photo shoots could be both in studio and /or on location in contemporary settings. If the shoot is on-location and lasts for a full day, models are generally paid between $150 and $200 for the day, with lunch provided as well as pictures.

No resume or previous experience is necessary, just a fun and open personality. To be considered for a photo shoot, please email a current photo of yourself along with your contact information to casting director Susana Alverdi at , or call (512) 394-1061. To learn more, visit http://www.jackhollingsworth.com.