President’s Message

Steve Ichinaga

I do not think that a day goes by without someone complaining about our buildings and property. Thanks to our many retired volunteers and Tom Nishikawa’s efforts as the former VP of Property Management, we are able to continue to use our facilities every week. Since we are the largest property owner in Japantown, the maintenance of our buildings and empty lots is a daunting task. Many of our members ask why are we taking so long to get things done around the temple? There are a lot of reasons and excuses and here are some of them. We do not have a VP of Property Management, which is a volunteer position. Money is scarce. The Betsuin facility expenses last year totaled approximately $185,000. Rental income from other groups and organizations to use our buildings totaled $41,000. Like many of you, we prioritize our “to do” list and try to make sure that we keep our heads above water. In my last message, I mentioned that we need more volunteers. Although we are specifically looking for volunteers with Electrical, HR and Purchasing skills, if are available we can put you to work. In April, we have two opportunities to volunteer your services. The Betsuin will be cooking and selling Teriyaki Chicken at Nikkei Matsuri. On the same weekend, we will be shuttling Dharma School teachers from San Jose to the Mountain View Temple for the FDSTL Conference. I will need drivers from Friday to Sunday. If you have a few hours of free time, we can use your help. Stop by the office, if you are interested in volunteering.