News

Connections Supports Local Causes

Connections donated a total of ¥7.8 million to local causes this year.

Twelve organizations received funds raised through various Connections events, including November's International Bazaar holiday sale.

“The reflection of our hard work and support can be seen throughout our great city, from the delight of a child unwrapping holiday gifts to the free counseling services to those in need,” says Vanessa Thomas, president of Connections.

The nonprofits supported include Tokyo homeless shelter Sanyukai, Multicultural Center Tokyo, which helps immigrant children and their families, and the Salvation Army, which is using the donation to build another Connections-supported children's home in the city.

"Construction is under way and the new home's grand opening will be sometime in the spring," says the Salvation Army's Colonel Stephen Morris (pictured with members of Connections).

New Board Unveiled

Eight Members were elected to the Club's Board of Governors at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 15 (watch the recording here).

At the first Board meeting following the AGM, Jesse Green was reselected to serve as representative governor for a one-year term.

Member Satisfaction Up in 2022 Survey

The Club received an overall satisfaction score of more than 91 percent in this year's membership satisfaction survey.

Members Select Seasonal Wines at Taste-Off

More than 70 Members put their taste buds to the test at the recent Seasonal Wine Taste-Off.

From the selection of 16 European wines, two pairs of red and white wines were chosen as the Club's seasonal wines.

A Burgundian 2020 L. Tramier & Fils Mâcon-Villages Blanc and Decugnano dei Barbi's 2019 Villa Barbi Rosso from Umbria in Italy were voted the seasonal white and red wines, respectively, for this November to January 2023.

Another Italian wine, Picollo Ernesto's 2021 Le Rive Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG, made from the Cortese white wine grape, and a 2016 Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva from Spain's Catalonia region will feature on restaurant menus from February to April next year.

The Seasonal Wine Taste-Off takes places twice a year.

Board Election Slate Released

The Club's Board of Governors has approved the slate of candidates for this year's Board election.

The election will be held in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting on November 15.

The Nominating Committee-proposed list of candidates is as follows:

• American Citizens (up to five to be elected):
  Trista Bridges Bivens
  Ginger Griggs
  Ren Kuroda
  Mihoko Manabe
  Patrick McLeod
  Sam Rogan
  Dean R Rogers
  Edward Rogers
• Japanese Citizens (up to one to be elected):
  Tetsutaro Muraki
  Miki Ohyama
• Other Nationalities (up to one to be elected):
  Justin Keyes
  Pueyen Lee
• Connections (one-year term):
  Vanessa Thomas

Other Nominations
The Club received no floor nominations by the deadline of 5pm on September 8.