1. Spring-colored lunch concert on April 7th (Sat)

We enjoyed French meals, and a marimba performance at Queen Alice Silk Road in the Nara Silk Road Interchange Museum on the east side of Kasuganoenchi in Nara Park. About 100 people attended the event. Although it was a little too early for cherry blossoms, we enjoyed meals made by Mr. Yokoyama in an exotic atmosphere, seeing new green leaves. Later, we all enjoyed a pleasant time with a marimba performance by Ms. Mariko Matsumoto. With cooperation from a lot of people, we also sold goods to provide support for areas affected by last year's Great East Japan Earthquake.

Greetings by President Kiyooka

Marimba performance

Mr. Yokoyama

2. Regular monthly meeting on April 17 (Tue)

In this month's regular meeting, the LAA committee hosted a study session for us. Last month, the Council for Gender Equality of the Cabinet Office and International Zonta Area 26 co-hosted a symposium to deepen understanding about gender equality. Following this, Nara Zonta Club also held a study session by the LAA committee. We discussed the current situation, and what we should do to create a society where both women and men can live comfortable lives continuously.

At the study session

＊Birthday present

Ms. Yukiko Nishida and Ms. Fukuda

1."Zonta Rose Day - Let's move on!" on March 8th (Thu)

March 8th is designated as International Women's Day by the United Nations. We also designated it as Zonta Rose Day to praise success and achievements by women, and have been engaged in activities to support women with a spirit of challenge. In this year's event, we presented the 7th Nara Zonta award to Ms. Machiko Ono, an actress from Nishi-yoshino Village (currently known as Gojo City). She expressed her hope to do her best as an actress.

Then, Ms. Tokue Ueda, Governor of International Zonta Area 26 (Japan) and a Nara Zonta Club member, talked about what she has been engaged in, and difficulties she encountered as the leader of Area 26 in the last two years. She said she learned a lot each day from being in the position.

Lastly, all participants and Zontians sang songs such as "Sukiyaki" together, and closed the event in a friendly atmosphere.

Ms. Machiko Ono

Governor Tokue Ueda

Chorus by Zontians

2.Charter night regular meeting on March 27th (Tue)

On March 10th, Nara Zonta Club welcomed its 22nd birthday. Nara Golden Z Club was also newly established on October 16th last year, and they have been challenging many things with the spirit of dedication.

Today, four members from Golden Z Club participated in our regular meeting, and made activity and financial reports. In addition, President Iwamoto expressed her hope on their future activities. Later, they exchanged opinions with Nara Zonta Club members.

Celebration with cakes

Golden Z Club members

Group talk

＊Birthday present

Ms. Chieko Izumitani & Ms. Shizue Matsumoto

1. Regular monthly meeting on February 21 (Tue)

Committees reported their activities. Also, we had a meeting to prepare for Zonta Rose Day (March 8th), and practiced singing in chorus in preparation for performing in front of everyone on the day.

During the meeting

Practice of singing in chorus

＊Selection and approval of new board members for the coming year

A nominating committee announced the names of candidates for new board members for the coming year, and they have been approved. Our new board members and commissioners are as follows:
- President: Junko Oshio
- Vice-president: Satomi Nakatsuka
- Clerical officer: Hiroko Mabuchi (correspondence) and Junko Aoyagi (record)
- Accountant: Mitsuko Nishida (general), and Chiyoko Nishida (service)
- Commissioner: Emiko Kiyooka, Sachiko Okamoto, and Ikuko Onishi

New board members for the coming year

＊Birthday present

Zontians whose birthdays rolled around in February

1. The 26th Fureai Sengen ("declaration of closeness") Time Marathon on January 15 (Sun)

Nine members of Nara Zonta Club, including our president, went to help this year's Fureai Sengen Time Marathon hosted by the Nara-City Council of Social Welfare. 620 runners, ranging from a 1-year-old kid to an 81-year-old person, participated in the marathon. The number of participants has been increasing every year. As in past years, we made mochi (rice cakes), and miso soup with pork and vegetables while all the participants were running.

2．New year's regular meeting on January 17 (Tue)

* Amelia Earhart Day memorial lecture

Lecturer: Ms. Mari Kitajima, Chairperson of a specified non-profit corporation "MS Net"
Subject: "Activities in the past ten years, aiming to create a place where all residents, including old and disabled people, can participate in their local society proactively, not passively.

Ms. Kitajima looked back on their activities in the past ten years, and shared stories with us. She said that everyone learned from, and inspired each other through cooperation, and that she would like to be involved in a wide range of activities continuously.

* Birthday present

Zontians whose birthdays rolled around in January

3．A special meal in celebration of the successful completion of last year's regional convention on January 26 (Thu)

In celebration of the successful completion of the regional convention that was held last October, we had a special meal at the Japanese restaurant "Yoshino" on the third floor of Nikko Hotel. Attending the meal were many Zontians from three Zonta clubs: Nara Zonta Club, Nara Manyo Zonta Club, and Wakayama Zonta Club. It has been almost three months since the convention. In her greeting, Ms. Mariko Matsumoto, Chairperson of the planning committee, expressed her gratitude to Governor Ueda for her passion to Zonta clubs, strong leadership, and to all committee members for their efforts. After that, we enjoyed dishes prepared with loving care.

Ms. Mariko Matsumoto, Chairperson of the planning committee

Governor Ueda

President Kiyooka

Nara Manyo Zonta Club

Wakayama Zonta Club

1. Presentation of book cards to international students studying at Nara Women's University on December 15 (Thu)

We presented book cards to 20 international students studying at Nara Women's University. They came from various countries including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Korea. They offered us an abundance of thanks in fluent Japanese, saying they would use the book cards to purchase reference books for their research.

Presentation of book cards

With international students

2. Regular monthly meeting on December 20 (Tue)

We presented grants to the Nara-City Council of Social Welfare, which hosts an annual Fureai Sengen ("declaration of closeness") Time Marathon, aiming to deepen exchanges among disabled people, enhance closeness between disabled and non-disabled people, and improve and maintain health. We will also help them on January 15th next year, when the next marathon is held.

Director Inooka and Vice-director Kobayashi

Christmas is coming this month. Ms. Hiroe, a Nara Zonta Club member, coordinated the tables in Christmas style. We had an exciting time in a resplendent atmosphere.

＊Birthday present

Zontians whose birthdays rolled around in November or December.

1. Regular outdoor meeting on November 15 (Tue).

For this year's regular outdoor meeting, we went to Ninnikusen in Yagyu no sato. First, we entered the main hall of the Enjoji temple, and heard a sermon by its chief priest. The temple was a wonderful place, where we enjoyed its garden and Buddhist statues as well as beautiful autumn colors around. Then, we had a delicious meal at a French restaurant, LeBENKEI, and had a wonderful time.

Enjoji Temple in autumn colors

Colorful flowers?

Chef Ogawa

“That was a delicious meal!” with a smile

1. Joint regular meeting with Nara Manyo and Wakayama Zonta clubs on September 20 (Tue)

This month's regular meeting was jointly held with Nara Manyo and Wakayama Zonta Clubs in preparation for the upcoming regional convention, and started one hour earlier than usual. The chairperson of the executive committee of the event presented a brief overview, and meetings were held by section.

Section meeting

＊Birthday presents

Since there was no monthly regular meeting in August, we celebrated the birthdays of Zontians whose birthday rolled around in August or September.

Zontians whose birthday rolled around in August

Zontians whose birthday rolled around in September

1. Get-together on August 23 (Tue)

We visited the Shoryakuji Temple for welcoming our new members as well as having a summer get-together. While we were in the reception hall of the Fukujuin Temple, which is designated as an important cultural property of Japan, hearing Chief Priest Koshin Ohara explain about the statue of Kujaku Myoo, and pictures drawn by Eiko Kano on fusuma doors and fanlights, a cool breeze from the Bodaisengawa river gently blew through the hall, and gave us a moment to forget the heat in summer like trees. We also enjoyed listening to his preaching, based on his experiences. After that, we had some delicious home-made shojin ryori cooked by Mrs. Ohara, who's a Nara Zonta Club member, and spent a great time together.

Preaching by the chief priest

Shojin ryori made by Mrs. Ohara

Say cheese together!

1. The 50th anniversary celebration of Tokyo I Zonta Club on July 3 (Sun)

In 1961, Tokyo I Zonta Club was established as the first Zonta Club in Japan. On July 3rd, they held a ceremony and feast to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Ms Naoko Yamazaki, an astronaut who used to receive Zonta's Amelia Earhart Fellowship, delivered a memorial lecture. Zontians gathered from around the nation, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club, admired its footage, reflected on its earliest days, and promised their strong progress toward the future.

Greetings by Governor Tokue Ueda at the ceremony

2．Regular monthly meeting on July 19 (Tue)

We welcomed a lecturer to our regular meeting this month. Mr. Saburo Yagi, a full-time instructor at Tenri University, delivered a lecture.

◆Lecture: “Volunteer activities in modern society” by Mr. Saburo Yagi

According to Mr. Yagi, the accident that he had at the age of 14, forcing him into a wheel chair, made him interested in social welfare. He said, "Social welfare consists of three elements: public, mutual, and self-assistance. No one can live alone, and everyone lives by helping each other. Mutual assistance is important in modern society. A volunteer activity is based on the idea of accepting both those whom you support and yourself, and its pillar is mutual-assistance." He also added, "When you support people, it's important to pay attention to what they can do."

We would like to make use of his story in our future activities.

＊Birthday presents

Three Zontians (Ms. Nishida, Ms. Sawabe, and Ms. Wakisaka), whose birthdays rolled around in July.

Ms. Nishida, Ms. Sawabe, President, and Ms. Wakisaka

Glass candle stand

1.Regular monthly meeting on June 21 (Tue)

We made a new start with the first regular meeting for 2011. We had a study session with Governor Ueda, and learned once again about Zonta, from its birth to now. We were able to learn many things that we still didn't know. To our great joy, we were also able to welcome two new members!

*New member welcoming ceremony

We welcomed two new, young members. Ms. Mori joined our Publicity Committee, and Ms. Shimamoto joined our Program Committee. We’re expecting their active engagement.

Pledge

President Kiyooka, Ms. Mori, and Ms. Shimamoto (from left to right)

*Birthday presents

Ms. Kano, President Kiyooka, Ms. Sakurai, and Ms. Shimamoto

The birthdays of three Zontians (Ms. Kano, Ms. Sakurai, and Ms. Shimamoto) rolled around in June. This month’s birthday presents were glass candle stands.

* Practiced singing the song “Tomodachi Wa Iimonda (It’s nice to have friends)”

Led by Ms. Mariko Matsumoro, we practiced singing to prepare for a regional convention.

2.An event to watch “Amelia” at the Community Center in the Higashimuki-kita shopping promenade on July 5 (Tue)

The Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee hosted an event to watch the DVD of the movie, “Amelia”. Amelia Earhart was a member of Boston Zonta Club, and has been a very important woman in Zonta’s history. She was a legendary aviatrix who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, she disappeared during an attempt to fly across the Pacific Ocean. “Amelia” is a movie that depicts her life. We were moved and impressed by the fact that she stuck to such a free way of living as long as 74 years ago. We would like to emulate her.

1) The 3rd Area Meeting of Area 3 of Zonta International District 26 on May 21 (Sat)

The 3rd Area Meeting of Area 3 of Zonta International District 26 was held in Kyoto. 179 members (58%) gathered together for a briefing and a training session by a lecturer. With strong regard by Ms. Kuniko Hayakawa (AD for Area 3), Kyoto II Zonta Club meticulously enabled us to have a fulfilling day as a host club.

Ms. Nobuko Hagiwara, a professor at the Graduate School of Kyoto Notre Dame University, delivered a keynote speech to talk about cervical cancer prevention that we have focused on.

Keynote speech

Comment by the Governor

Nara Zonta Club members

2) Regular monthly meeting on May 24 (Tue)

The 2010 General Meeting was successfully finished. All committees reported their activities in 2010, and suggested our activity plans for 2011, all of which were approved after deliberations. Also, we will host the 11th regional convention of Zonta International District 26, which is scheduled to be held in our prefecture this fall. We will become single-minded in our efforts to extend a hearty welcome to those who visit here from around the nation.

At the 2010 General Meeting

Birthday present

3) New member welcoming ceremony on May 27 (Fri)

Belatedly, we held a welcome party for our new members at Hiraso "Tamayura". We had an unusually great time, enjoying delicate and wonderful meals ahead of early summer, and singing, exercises, and games by our members.

New Zontians