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Report of the 53rd meeting;

Opening Thought by TM Komata; "Seasons Greetings"

In the mid summer, Japanese people write letter of summer solicitations which is called SHOCHU-MIMAI. We write seasons greetings like "How are you?", "I'm doing fine.", ...etc. She usually send postcards to her friends, but this year ahe couldn't yet. It's OBON now! Sending postcards is important because we can know what we're doing now and can set the schedule to meet friends. Sometimes, unexpected delightful letter arrives and she feel excited. How about you toastmasters, writing seasons greetings to your friends?

Table Topic session by TM Sato; "Shame to lose a face and apology"

"Shame and Excuse" become "Excuse and Apology" in some situation. If you got up at late in the morning and notice you cannot reach on time to the office, what will you do?
-Sick is the best excuse.
-Tell the fact honestry. (Honesty is the best policy.)

Current Issue Session by TM Kai; "Rootedness"

Rootedness is a kind of feeling, sentiment to return to your place, friend, home,.... He went to TOHOKU area and saw several summer festivals; Aomori NEBUTA festival and Iwate Kitakami Michinoku festival. He saw traditional dance called SHISHIODORI or KENBAI at Iwate.
He has no rootedness in one area, since he was born in Nagoya and moved to Tokyo. How about toastmasters?
TM Ando said, "YAGURA evokes my childhood.".
TM Wu feels her home when comes back to Sapporo; especially arrived at Chitose Airport.
As she was born and raised in China, she has rootedness in Japan. This means rootedness happens no matter if it's your own home town or not.
Guest Mr. Yagi said that he has it in Sappopo because he has a family in here.
TM Sato is a rootless person. He likes wandering and has little property, so he call himself a nomad.

Prepared Speech by TM Konishi; "Trip to Tanglewood"

TM Konishi went to New York and Boston areas. She is a PMF (Pacific Music Festival) volunteer and intersted in regional activities. She listened to the Tanglewood music festival near Boston at the Tangle area.
Tanglewood is a model of PMF and supported by Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tanglewood is a summer home of Boston Symphony Orchestra and the system of the concerts are similar to PMF. It has a long history of 80 years.
She communicated with the volunteer there. Unfortunately they didn't have enough time to communicate.
She and her friends visited the cemetery of Leonard Bernstein, the founder of the PMF. Apart from the concerts, she watched a musical: "Smokey Joe" and tasted the "TV DINNER".

Prepared Speech by TM Ando; "Her Volunteer Activities"

TM Ando is a member of the HIWA (Hokkaido International Women's Association) and making monthly newsletters for foreign people called "What's on in Sapporo?".
This newsletter celebrates the 300th issue next January. This letter has been publishing without cancellation. Although there're limitations for place and equipments, 10 members hold a regular meeting every month and assigning everyone's task. "For the support of the International Communication Plaza, we can continue the activity and deliver the leaflets to public places.", she said.

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