Toyota Camry named Most American Car

Congratulations, Toyota!

From United Business Media's PR Newswire:

"Cars.com announced today that the Toyota Camry once again took the top spot in the site's annual American Made Index. This
is the third consecutive year the Camry has held this position, despite many newcomers to the list including the Ford
Explorer, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia. The Camry, which is assembled in Georgetown, Ky. and Lafayette, Ind.,
is followed by the Honda Accord and the Chevy Malibu, which rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively."

"Cars.com's annual American-Made Index ranks the most-American vehicles based on percentage of their parts that are made
domestically, where they are assembled and how many are sold to U.S. buyers."

You can read the whole story here:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/camry-most-american-car-according-to-carscom-study-124581948.html
--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com

World Choir Games Kickoff Event - July 11 - Fountain Square

The World Choir Games come to Cincinnati in July 2012.  

To prepare for this amazing event, the World Choir Games planning committee is organizing a one year countdown to the Games,
beginning with a kick-off event:

Monday, July 11
Cincinnati Fountain Square
11:30-2:00

The committee has nationally signed entertainment acts, various local leadership and a special announcement to make during
the kick-off event. 
  
We plan to have a booth at the kick-off to represent Japan and Gifu to help create an atmosphere where passers-by and
attendees get a feel for the arts and culture of our Sister City.  

We'd love to have your help. We'd especially like to hear from you if

* You have materials to display 
* You can dress in Japanese traditional attire
* You can write Japanese
  
If you're interested or have questions, please contact :

Justin Kluemper: 
chair@cincinnati-gifu.org

--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com

Sister Cities Needs Your Help

Thanks to a generous grant from Fifth Third Bank to the Cincinnati Parks Board, the 4th of July Fireworks at Sawyer Point
Park have been reinstated.

The Cincinnati Park Board has asked us to provide volunteers to sell beer and soft drinks at booths throughout the venue.
Cincinnati USA Sister Cities will be significantly compensated for this activity. Both people from the Park Board and
Christian Moerlein Beer will be present in each both to assist in monitoring the sales process.

You will have a reserved parking space.

Each volunteer who completes their shift will receive a voucher good for a Cincinnati Reds Ball Game at home.

The money we receive will be used to fund Sister City expenses like insurance and Sister City International dues and for
joint sister city activities such as the Mayor´s Sister City Summit 2012 and educational programs and promotions.

Here's what you need to do:

To sign up, email your contact information to Sue Heidel at : Heidisue15@yahoo.com

Be sure to include:

Your name
Your email address
Your phone number
Your street address (including city, state and zip code)

And please indicate whether you're under or over 21 years of age ... you don't need to share the gory details, just let us
know whether you're 21 yet or not.

Sign up by June 28th so that the parking pass can be mailed to you.

Then on July 4th:

Show up at Sawyer Point Volunteer Check In at 5:30 PM
There will be a 20 minute training course on selling alcohol prior to actual sales in the booths.

Volunteers 21 or older will sell alcohol from 6:00 to 9:30 PM
Volunteers 18 to 21 will help sell tickets and provide ID bracelets from 6:00 to 9:00.

Please wear appropriate clothing.

--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com

HOME HOST OPPORTUNITIES!

HOME HOST OPPORTUNITIES! 
July 29 - 31st, 2011

31 Japanese Students
There is an opportunity to host Japanese students in your home who are coming to Cincinnati from Ohio University.

There are a total of 31 boys and girls aged 15 to 17 who would love to spend time with you for the weekend of July 29th to July 31st.

This is a chance for these exchange students to meet and visit with a real American family after staying in dorms on a college campus.

Don't miss out on a chance to change their lives and yours with just one weekend!

 

If you are interested, please contact : mharpenau@cincyworldaffairs.org

Still Walking - a film by Hirokazu Kore-eda

From Hirokazu Kore-eda
Still Walking
Sat May 7 6:00 + Tue May 10 7:30 
The Carnegie Arts Center  

More information and ticket sales:
http://www.cincyworldcinema.org/x_110507sw.php

STILL WALKING is a wistful and subtly humorous snapshot of contemporary Japanese family life, sharing the precious and
sometimes vexing aspects of family relationships.

Regarded as one of the best Asian directors currently working, Hirokazu Kore-eda creates delicate yet profound revelations
of love, tension, longing for acceptance, regret and respect in a family that is transitioning between generations.
 
Still Walking ranked in the top five at MetaCritic of all movies for 2009; and has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%, but was
not shown in the Cincinnati market when released in 2009.

The post-film discussion will examine the nature of Japanese culture, particularly the sense of family and community in
relation to coping with personal loss. We'll also learn more about culture and family in the context of reaction to the
current devastation in Japan.

Discussion leaders include Mr. Mikio Nishizu of Frost Brown Todd (Saturday) and Ms. Carolyn Barricklow of the Japan America
Society (Tuesday).
 
Come early for the social hour, cash bar and a la carte dinner-by-the-plate one hour before the screenings, catered by
Europa Bistro & Caf.

STILL WALKING screens Saturday, May 7, 6:00 pm and again Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 pm at the Carnegie Arts Center in Covington.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with discounts for students and ETA members.

Film, ticket, director and speaker details are available at the website
http://www.cincyworldcinema.org/x_110507sw.php
or by calling 859 781 8151.

--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com

Sakura Ladies perform in a fund-raiser for Japan Relief

The Sakura Ladies Chorus will be performing a concert series entitled

Musical Tribute to Japan´ s Suffering

The series is a fund-raiser for the
Greater Cincinnati Japan Relief Project

5/7 (Sat) 3:00pm - 4:30pm
"Charity Concert" at Northern Kentucky University

5/22 (Sun) 3:00pm
"Charity Concert" at Univ of Cincinnati - Raymond Walters College

For Information, contact :
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/sakura_cincinnati
sakuraladieschorus@gmail.com

Supported by :
University of Cincinnati
Japanese American Student Society
Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati
Northern Kentucky University
Executive Leadership and Organizational Change
Willis Music, Florence Superstore
Japanese Language School of Greater Cincinnati

--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com

Dr. Farrell / From Black Ships to a Black President talk, April 13

Here's an update from the Japan America Society about Dr. Farrell's upcoming talk.
We hope to see you all there.

======================================================

Dr. William Farrell, Chairman of National Association of Japan America Societies to
Speak in Cincinnati on April 13.

Nationally recognized Japan expert Dr. William Farrell will speak in Cincinnati
about the history of US-Japan Relations.  His presentation, titled:  "From Black
Ships to a Black President, Images and Reality in US-Japan Relations" will portray
how Japan and the United States have viewed each other since Commodore Matthew
Perry´s black ships steamed into Yokohama in 1853 to open up Japan to international
trade.

Presented by the Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati and hosted by Taft,
Stettinius & Hollister LLP,  Dr. Farrell will speak on Wednesday, April 13, 2011
from 5~6:00 pm at the Taft Center (425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati). The cost is $10
for the general public, free for students.  

More information is available at the Japan America Society web-site, www.jasgc.org,
or at 513-579-3114.

Dr. Farrell holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Michigan;
his connection to Japan began with the Defense Department in 1968.  He has since
served as Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo, and as
chairman of a consulting company focused on Asia.  

The presentation in Cincinnati will use woodblock prints, postcards (the internet of
the 1890´s), and political cartoons to tour through the history of US-Japan
interaction from the time of Perry through modern times, placing today´s
international situation in perspective.

--
Steve Rindsberg
http://www.pptools.com
http://www.pptfaq.com