LETTER FROM OUR CHAIRMAN MICHAEL OZAWA
Dear friends,
With so many changes underway, it's easy to forget all the things that haven't changed. The Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC) are continuing to partner with other veteran groups to deliver some of our education programs. And, the teacher training planned for Hawaii, San Francisco and Texas are on track. The National Veterans Network has been working very hard and very successfully on moving the Congressional Gold Medal legislation to a positive conclusion. The House is expected to pass the revised bill in the upcoming session. Planning for our annual gala dinner, Evening of Aloha, is in full swing with the hard-working dinner committee being chaired by Stephen Kagawa. Thank you, Stephen, for sacrificing time away from The Pacific Bridge Companies and stepping in and bringing so many people with you. And, our wonderful volunteers, veterans and staff remain a constant force helping move the organization forward.
Speaking of moving forward, we are pushing on our national outreach initiative. With the assistance of General David Bramlett (Ret) in Hawaii, GFBNEC is working with regional advisors to continue building strong programs. GFBNEC senior staff and many of the directors will be in Hawaii next month to host a meeting of the board. A reception for the advisory board, supporters and friends will bring them up to date with what GFBNEC is doing in the programs area, including the Teacher Training Institute in Maui and other initiatives. We are working with Donna Cole of Cole Chemical in Houston to coordinate teacher training in that region. Additionally, GFBNEC is partnering with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii and Nisei Veterans Memorial Center of Maui to bring the Teacher Training Institute to Maui, Hawaii in October. Also in the fall, GFBNEC will present a Teacher Training Workshop at the Presidio in San Francisco – home of the MIS Language School – partnering with the National Japanese American Historical Society.
No communication is complete without an update on the proposed education center adjacent to the Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo. There has been and continues to be many moving parts. But GFBNEC's board, national and local elected officials remain committed to this project. The board recently met with our architect to exchange ideas about moving forward now that the board has been able to consider and discuss issues impacting the education center's direction.
Last, but certainly not least, the search for a new president is underway. Please check out the position posting on the website.
Thank you all for your continued support of the Go For Broke National Education Center.
Best Regards,
Michael Ozawa
