Spring is here and even though we now have glorious warm days, there are still some rather cold days with storm fronts that assault the Sierra Nevada.  The snow pack is substantial enough to ensure decent water flow into our Bay Area spigots this year.  All-in-all, it was a great winter.

And the NSC had another great 2010 ski season.  We had a group of 25 travelers trek to the main snow sports site of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games: Whistler-Blackcomb.  The excitement of the Winter Games was evident during our weeklong trip and we all took home many great memories.  As for the NSC bread and butter, the Tahoe bus trips, we held four trips and did not cancel any.  Snow conditions were generally good and we all had a blast.  The Board introduced some initiatives aimed at attracting those who have never taken in the NSC Tahoe weekend bus trip experience and the initiatives were successful in increasing our headcount numbers to healthy levels.  The results of this season’s initiatives will be expanded on next season.  The NSC had a good 2010 season that will be expanded on for the 2011 season.

And with the longer days of spring, we will once again reprise our Chicken Salad role at the San Jose Nikkei Matsuri to be held on April 24-25.  On Saturday, 4/24, we will cook chicken, chop chicken, shred lettuce, fry saifun (the wispy crinkly white noodles), chop green onions, and mix the salad dressing at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple.  You will have a fascinating time at the preparation as you will see the famous NSC mechanized lettuce shredder in action.  This year, I will reprise my role as “NSC Lettuce Shredding Engineer.”  Also, the NSC will provide lunch for our diligent workers.  On Sunday, 4/25, we will converge on the San Jose Buddhist Temple to man the booth and sell a record number of chicken salad bowls.  The NSC needs your help as the proceeds help run the club.  The more funds the NSC generates, the more the NSC has to subsidize events and ski trips for the upcoming year.  Please contact the NSC Nikkei Matsuri, Alice Horio, at and ask how you can contribute!  To say the least, the event participation is a blast and the festival is a great one to attend.

Our 2010 Post Season Event will be a picnic at Cuesta Park in Mountain View on Sunday, June 27th. We will hold a brief General Meeting and then we will try to get a Bocce Ball game going while lunch is being prepared by yours truly.  The outgoing 2010 Board will be lauded and the incoming 2011 Board will be introduced at the General Meeting.  I want to emphasize that this picnic is NOT a potluck!  We have budgeted for a great spread of food as well as a good amount of spirits.  Please refer to the Picnic flyer for details.  This year, the postseason will be combined with our annual “Volunteer Thank You Picnic (VTYP).”  In the past, the VTYP was an invitation-only event where those members that had volunteered during the previous year would be treated free to a picnic.  This year, the Board decided to hold a nice picnic where everyone could attend but also have NSC volunteers get covered.  So this picnic is another reason to help at the Nikkei Matsuri chicken salad sell-off!  Volunteers will be contacted in May after the Nikkei Matsuri with invitations.

The 2011 NSC Board election will be held in May.  I still have some Board slots available so please contact me at to volunteer to help out.  I for one have gained many new friends and I have experienced many great things as a NSC Board member.  It is an exciting time now for the NSC as we are bouncing back now and we have a lot of energy and vigor with our current Board members.  We welcome new ideas and good energy.  Please sign up and join us in making the NSC an even better organization.

The Board discussed some summer events in the April meeting.  Hoyt Nelson is organizing a Curling event so drop him a line at if you are intrigued by this Winter Olympic sport.  Also, Hi Fujii is looking into a possible fishing event –BBQ.  Look for more details in the next two months.

In the fall, we will most likely reprise the Horse Racing, Bocce Ball, and Bunco events.  As 2010 Trip Director will re-up next year, look to even more new ideas for our weekend Tahoe Bus Trips.  As I will be Ex-Officio, I will lead the 2011 Weeklong trip.  Also, it looks like we will be going to Mammoth for the 2011 Long Weekend Trip.  As all of these activities are in the planning stage now, look for more details in the next few months.

So see you at the Nikkei Matsuri Chicken Salad sell-off in a few weeks!