gunmajet.net

Hello, Gunma!　　

Gunmania is currently accepting submissions for the 2008 Autumn editon. Please submit your contributions to:
gunmania.editor@gmail.com before October 31st. Some suggested topics are:
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-Travel Writings
-Place Reviews (restaurants, interesting places to visit, etc)
-Fun Activities
-Interviews
-Party Reviews
-Recipes
-Advice for Newcomers
-Hints on how to stay warm in the impeding cold weather
-Concert Reviews
-Rants
-Pictures of JETs and/or interesting places
-Have an idea? Drop me a line!

You can check out past issues of Gunmania here: http://gunmajet.net/gunmania

Want to see some changes in the JET Programme? Take these surveys - open to all current JET participants - and you can make a difference.
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Twice a year, CLAIR gives the JET community a valuable opportunity to present its ideas and concerns on how to improve the JET Programme. The only way to be a part of this important process and to ensure that your voice is heard and create change is by clicking here to take the surveys.
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Team Teaching Materials Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=p8klTo4O_2ffm_2frLHZMpW9Jg_3d_3d
Handover Procedures Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aPyaimYGrUEwuKojPt4kPQ_3d_3d
Pre-Departure Japanese Study Materials Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=4dIRkpb3r4TI1QsX85w7Qg_3d_3d
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Each survey should only take about 5 minutes of your time and will be invaluable in preparation for issues that AJET and CLAIR will be discussing this November. The results will be available to the JET community after the meetings.
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Surveys will close Friday, October 3rd, 2008.
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Thank you in advance for your help as we prepare for the Opinion Exchange Meeting with CLAIR and the three ministries that administer the JET Programme.
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Questions or comments regarding these surveys can be directed to:
Sarah Lineker, National AJET Chair, chair@ajet.net
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Privacy Statement: These surveys are designed so that the information you give us will not identify you or put you at risk of being identified by people who see the survey's results. Where we ask for extended comments, you do not need to provide us with your name or identifying information. Please feel free to phrase your responses so that you maintain your privacy as you wish.

For those wanting to test the mettle of their Japanese skills, the JLPT application deadline is September 12th this year. Just a tad over a week away, so if you're planning on taking the test this year get on it!

There are currently 4 levels, with 4 being the lowest.

With some work even people that have entered Japan with no Japanese could pass the 4th level. If you want a good motivation technique, or at least a goal to work towards this is it!

Applications are available at Kinokunya in Keyaki Walk, and possibly other locations.

For more information:

http://www.jees.or.jp/jlpt/en/jlpt_guide.html

Gunmania is awaiting your contributions!

The theme is Summer in Japan. Please send your articles, stories, essays and photos by July 30th to gunmania.editor@gmail.com

Some possible topics are:
- Welcome to Gunma/Advice for new JETs
- Summer festivals/Events in your area
- Travel
- Restaurant/Book reviews
- Your favorite summer recipes

If you have an idea for an article and want to run it by me, just send me an e-mail!

（財）京都国際文化協会より日本在住外国人向けのエッセイコンテストの御案内です。

（財）京都国際文化協会のエッセイコンテスト
Kyoto International Cultural Association: Essay Contest

"Japanese Culture, My View"

京都に於ける国際交流の老舗（財）京都国際文化協会が、例年通り日本在住の外国の方達の為の
エッセイコンテストを行います。裏千家の千玄室氏を理事長、元京大総長の西島安則先生を会長と
する、京都ブランドの有名なエッセイコンテストで、今年で31回目を迎えます。京都府、独立行政法人
国際交流基金京都支部、京都ライオンズクラブ、京都大学国際交流センターの後援を頂いています。
広く日本中からエントリーを募ろうとしていますので、是非皆様に御紹介下さい。宜しく御願い致します。

英語と日本語の二つのエッセイコンテストが有ります。

このメッセージ全体、又は以下を自由に転送して下さい。
転送の際のSubjectは
日本語なら『エッセイコンテスト：（財）京都国際文化協会』、
英語なら "Essay Contest : Kyoto International Cultural Association"
として頂けると 有り難いです。

************************************************************

You are cordially invited to participate in one of the oldest essay contests for
international residents of Japan. The contest is run by a very prestigious Kyoto
International Cultural Association headed by Mr. Yasunori Nishijima, former president
of Kyoto University, and Mr. Genshitsu Sen, grand master of tea ceremony widely
recognized around the world.

We are including a brief summary below. Please refer to this site for more details.

http://kicainc.jp/contest/contest2008e.htm
(The application deadline is August 3, 2008 postmarked. It is NOT July 10 as
announced at the site above.)

2008 KICA Essay Contest: "Japanese Culture, My View"

Organized by:
Kyoto International Cultural Association, Inc. (KICA)

Sponsored by:
Kyoto Prefectural Government
The Japan Foundation Kyoto Office
Kyoto University International Center
Kyoto Lions Club

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As a vehicle to promote greater mutual understanding between Japanese citizens and
the international residents of Japan, Kyoto International Cultural Association will
hold its annual essay contest on the views of Japanese culture and everyday life
in Japan.

Those interested in Japan and its culture, specialists and non-specialists alike,
are welcome to write about their personal experiences in Japan or to compare
Japanese culture to those of their own. The essay must be original and not yet
published.

The best essays will be awarded KICA Prizes (a certificate and 50,000 yen).
The winning authors are required to travel to Kyoto to give a fifteen-minute
oral presentation on September 28. This will be an all-expense paid trip.

E-mail submissions with attached files will also be accepted. The preferred
formats are Microsoft Word, Rich Text, and Text.

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1. Who qualifies
Residents of Japan whose mother tongue is not Japanese

2. Language
Japanese or English

3. How to apply
●An application form can be requested via postcard or e-mail.
Include full name, mailing address, and contact information
(phone & e-mail). : Alternatively, a copy of the application form
is available at:
http://kicainc.jp/contest/applicatione2008.pdf or
http://kicainc.jp/contest/applicatione.doc

●Essays should be submitted with the application form. Japanese essays must
be between 4,000－6,000 characters in length and those in English between
2,000－3,000 words.

4. Deadline
August 3, 2008 postmarked

5. Apply to
Kyoto International Cultural Association (KICA)
15-9 Yoshida Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8305
Phone: 075-751-8958 Fax: 075-751-9006
E-mail: office@kicainc.jp

●Please note that we will take essay submissions with the application form
via post or e-mail, but NOT by fax.
→ Your submissions will not be returned. The copyright of the winning essays
will solely be owned by KICA.
→ The award-winning essays will be published in our "KICA Winning Essays"
Book Series.

2008 AJET Photo and Haiku Competition
Every year National AJET encourages the JET community to showcase their creative talents by sending us their photos and poetic offerings. Get your pens ready, charge your camera and prepare for the 2008 AJET Photo and Haiku Competitions.

Both competitions are open immediately and will close on Sunday, May 18th. We are particularly interested in submissions that are relevant to the JET experience.
For details on both competitions, go to http://ajet.net/modules/articles/article.php?id=145
Entries and enquiries should be sent to contest@ajet.net

Deadline is May 31st.

Dear AJET members,

This year, National AJET would once again like to recognise some of the outstanding contributions to local communities which prefectural AJET chapters and individual AJET members have made over the past year.

Please get involved, and nominate the group or person you think deserves recognition for all the hard work they have done to support JETs this year. We would like you to send in nominations to awards@ajet.net for the following categories of award:

1. Most Active Prefectural Chapter
For the Prefectural Chapter that has provided the most outstanding service to its members and to the broader JET community across all areas of AJET activity. Some factors that are considered in selecting a winner include newsletters, community support, events, charity fundraising and good record keeping.

2. Most Improved Prefectural Chapter
For the Prefectural Chapter that has improved its service to members and the JET community the most over the course of the past year. Some factors that are considered include membership numbers and participation, increase in number and quality of events and services, and the state of the AJET Group in previous years.

3. Outstanding Special Interest Group

For the Special Interest Group that has provided the most outstanding service to its members and to the broader JET community across all areas of AJET activity.

4. Charity Award - Best AJET Group

For the AJET Group that does the most for charitable causes. Some factors that are considered include money raised, number of charities helped, participation of AJET members, and creativity demonstrated in fundraising.

5. Best Website or Web Community
For the AJET Group that provides the most outstanding online services to its members, possibly including a website, online magazine, or bulletin board.

6. Best Newsletter
For the AJET group that provides the most outstanding coverage of local events, lifestyle information, news and other content in newsletter format. Factors considered in judging the award will include readership, content, design, reliability and regularity.

7. Best Sports Event
For the AJET Group that has organised, in the past year, the most outstanding sports event or project. This could be a one-off event or an ongoing project, and factors considered in judging the award will include success in terms of effective budgeting, participation of JETs and others, effective management, feedback from participants, creativity and originality.

8. Best Local Community Event
For the AJET Group that has organised, in the past year, the most outstanding event or project that specifically targets involvement with the local Japanese community. This could be a one-off event or an ongoing project, and factors considered in judging the award will include success in terms of effective budgeting, participation of JETs and others, internationalisation, creativity and originality.

9. Best Inter-Prefectural Event
For the AJET Group that has organised, in the past year, the most outstanding event or project, of any sort, that has attracted significant numbers of JETs from outside the prefecture where the event was hosted. This could be a one-off event or an ongoing project, and factors considered in judging the award will include success in terms of effective budgeting, participation, effective management, feedback from participants, creativity and originality.

10. AJET Service Awards

For AJET Officers who have contributed outstanding service to AJET and the JET community, for example through representation, dedication, vision for the future, assistance at National AJET events, or support of peers. AJET Officers include National AJET Council Members, Prefectural AJET Council Members, and officers in Special Interest Groups, Language Groups and National Groups. This award is an opportunity for us to recognise those, who over the past year, have gone over and above the call of duty to provide excellent support to JETs and excellent service to AJET, as a whole.

All current JET Programme participants are welcome to send nominations to awards@ajet.net. The deadline for nominations this year is Sunday June 15th 2008. In your nomination please include your name, contact details, prefecture, the name of the group/person you are nominating and a paragraph about why you think they deserve an award. Please attach any relevant information such as copies of a newsletter, weblinks, event photos, etc. Thanks in advance for your participation! We look forward to reading about extraordinary efforts by JETs everywhere!

Andrew Cockburn
National AJET Council

On the 1st of April each year, the Automobile Tax Collection Office calculates the amount of tax owed by registered vehicle owners. Notification will be sent out around early May and car owners are asked to promptly pay the necessary amount by the due deadline, which is the 2nd of June. Payment can be made at convenience stores, banks, post offices, the Automobile Tax Collection Office, or the Tax Division of the Prefectural Administrative Affairs Office. This year, payment can also be made through internet banking, mobile phone banking, or ATMs using the “Pay easy system.” Please check the Gunma Prefectural website to confirm whether or not your tax notice has been sent out.

Should you wish to have this tax automatically deducted from your bank account, this will be done on the 2nd of June, so please confirm that your have adequate funds in your account by this time. If you apply for automatic deduction from your account from now on, this will take effect from next year. Please be aware that Kei-cars and motorcycles also require payment of light vehicle tax. For information regarding this light vehicle tax, please contact your local city, town or village hall.

Calling all logo artists! National AJET is currently accepting submissions for the BRAND NEW AJET logo! This is an incredible opportunity to put your skills to work, and create a masterpiece submission that will be displayed on all National AJET publications, business cards, orientation displays, etc. This is a rare chance to design for a major national non-profit organization!

Requirements:
- must work in as a monochrome/grey scale
- must be recognizable when reproduced very small, i.e. for business cards
- must look attractive when produced on a large scale
- please email:
* your vector so no quality is lost when image is rescaled
* the original files
* send your incredible digital submissions to logo@ajet.net

Theme:
We would like you to incorporate what AJET means to you into your design. Please attach an explanation as to how this has been incorporated. As a point of reference, please see the National AJET mission statement below:

AJET is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to foster a successful working relationship between JET Programme sponsors and JET Programme participants. The organization shall promote peer fellowship and support, sponsor special projects, organize conferences and other events, issue publications, cooperate with related professional organizations, and carry on other activities which will further its purpose.

For more information or questions please email: logo@ajet.net.

Looking forward to your submissions!

-National AJET logo team

File your taxes by this date. You can also file electronically for an extension by April 15th: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=181007,00.html