Warren Miller’s movies are still going on, and on Saturday, November 21 is the West Coast streaming premiere of the 71st film, “Future Retro.” Each event is supported by regional sponsors and there will be unique prize giveaways. Get ready for a Warren Miller experience like never before, all from the comfort and safety of your home this November. Stay tuned for more details and how to get tickets by following us on Instagram and Facebook, and on the Warren Miller website.
by Karen Soo, Trip Director
Our very own Nisei Ski Club Trip Director and part time chef has cooked for many weekend ski trips and NSC Parties, feeding 30-40 people at a time. Now she’s ready to put on her apron and show you how to make some delicious Thai food. You can control
the spice level to your tasting.
Join us on Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at 1:00 pm for a down to earth virtual Zoom demonstration.
Recipes and Zoom Link will be sent ahead with ingredients needed so you can follow
along or just listen and learn.
What’s on the menu?
- Easy Green Curry with Chicken
- Pad Thai – Thai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles (TBA)
- Coconut-Flavored Sticky Rice with Mangoes
Please RSVP for the Zoom Webinar to Karen at tripdirector@niseiskiclub.org
Class time – 1.5 hours
See flyer here with pictures and all information.
Here is the latest news from Nisei. Make sure to look at the events discussed in the articles below, including the club bike ride and the Asian Pacific Film Fest. Remember to mail in your election ballots or vote in person.
by Armand Gutierrez
Summer is officially over, fall is upon us, and soon it will be our favorite season for snow sport activities. I’m going to miss our ski week: the hustle and bustle of traveling with 50+ skiers, the traditional potluck dinner, the farewell dinner, and skiing with a great group of people. However, Tahoe skiing will be the main event for this season.
Giving, to Help Others
Last year NSC donated to the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Fest (https://svapfilmfest.org) to support their production of films germane to the Asia American and Pacific Islanders community. This year, we decided to once again support the SVAPFF with another donation for this year.
Last year, Sandy Kiyomura pointed out that she has been a volunteer ski instructor with Achieve Tahoe (https://achievetahoe.org). Achieve Tahoe leads the way in adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. This year the board also agreed to make a donation to this organization.
Ready to Ride?
Tired of being inside all summer? Have the need to get out and finally get some fresh air and see the world around you? Then save the date for Sunday, October 18th, and join bike leaders Rick Dumlao and Curtis Otaguro for an outdoor excursion at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Newark. See their write-up for details.
On the Slopes at Tahoe
Last month I provided a list of possible scenarios for the upcoming ski season with respect to safety protocols. Turns out all of them will be implemented at Northstar, Heavenly, and Kirkwood (Vail organizations). Northstar and Heavenly are opening on November 20th, Kirkwood on December 4th. Squaw and Alpine have not yet announced their opening dates.
2021 FWSA Ski Week Trips
Although the Breckenridge trip has been cancelled, there are other ski-week trips available through FWSA. There are two trips scheduled:
- Sun Valley, 30-Jan-6 Feb. Currently there are 46 signups.
- Zermatt, Utah, a mini ski-week, 21-26 March, and signups are being accepted. Ikon pass accepted.
All NSC members are eligible to participate in FWSA events. Details for the trips can be found here:
https://fwsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=623165&module_id=334799
If you have any questions contact me at president@niseiskiclub.org.
by Karen Soo
Tired of sitting on the couch watching game shows, movie reruns or depressing news reports? Let’s go for a bike ride and get some air! Rick & Curtis are planning a “socially distant” bike ride at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Newark, CA. Coyote Hills is in the East Bay just north of the Dumbarton Bridge. The roads are fairly flat dirt and paved roads. Either dirt bikes or road bikes will do. Along the way you will experience some marsh wetlands, hills, and salt flats next to the bay. You may also see a variety of wildlife such as hawks, egrets, ducks, geese, fish, foxes, squirrels, butterflies, sheep, and deer. Bring binoculars or cameras!
The trip is about 15 miles (shorter options available) and will take approximately 1-1/2 hrs. We will start & finish at the home of Rick and Patty Dumlao. There we will gather, get some water and inflate our tires. Afterwards, we’ll have an optional BBQ lunch, snacks and drinks in the backyard. Bring an appetizer if you’d like, but make sure it is “Covid acceptable,” i.e., wrapped or packaged for individual usage.
Where: 32452 Jacklynn Drive, Union City
When: Sunday, October 18, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM, rolling out at 9:30 AM
Cost: FREE for members and guests
Bring $5.00 for optional BBQ lunch after the ride.
SIGN-UP DEADLINE: Friday, October 16, 2020
What to bring: All riders MUST wear a helmet and should carry a pump. Bikes should be in good condition. You should bring a water bottle, spare inner tube, patch kit, tire levers, sunscreen, lunch and snacks to share (optional). Due to unpredictable weather, a light jacket is suggested for cool weather conditions. Bring your mask. We must wear them while we gather and afterward at the BBQ (except while eating, of course).
Directions and Information: We will send information in a separate email.
Help needed: Group leaders and flat-fixers needed in case we split up into multiple groups.
No SAG Support but we will be equipped for flats and minor repairs.
RSVP: Rick Dumlao coyotehillsbike@niseiskiclub.org
Curtis Otaguro coyotehillsbike2@niseiskiclub.org
*Photographs of this event including participants may appear on the NSC website or in the newsletter.
**All participants must sign the Nisei Ski Club Waiver at the start of the ride.
All are welcome. Minors under 18 must be accompanied with an adult.
Let’s Go to the Movies!
Oct 1
by Tina Woo
Once again, the Nisei Ski Club is proud to support the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest 2020 taking place from October 2-10. You may recall, last year the club sponsored Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066. Due to Covid-19, this year’s event is an all-digital event which offers flexibility for the film viewer. Over 70 films will be offered in 20+ categories, including documentaries, drama, culinary food and lifestyle, animation, immigration and social justice, and Asian American shorts. These films will inspire, offer hope, make you laugh, think, cry and generate memories.
A festival pass can be purchased for $50, which allows viewing all film packages at one low price. Alternatively, individual films can be purchased for $5 each and some films are “free” with a nominal donation. To view trailers, read a short film description and purchase tickets, log onto https://svapfilmfest.org
Please consider supporting this event which brings films about history, culture, heritage and community awareness.
Condolences
Oct 1
Our sympathy goes out to the family of Ken Oda, a former NSC member. View his obituary here.
You’ll find the newsletter for September below. Enjoy!
by Armand Gutierrez, NSC President
September is upon us, and I’ve been receiving the usual advertisements from various ski resorts as a reminder for purchasing their season pass and the new safety protocols for a pandemic ski season. Yes, it will be a different experience on and off the slopes for this season, and I’m looking forward to testing the waters. I’ve been skiing since ’75 and have encountered a variety of situations and conditions, but this year will definitely be a new one.
Proposed Safety Protocols on the Slopes
While the majority of the resorts in the US are examining their safety protocols for this season, resorts in New Zealand and Australia are already open for business. What can you expect for this year? Here is a list of possible scenarios that are already in place in the land down under:
- Reservations for those popular days (most likely on weekends and holidays)
- Limited number of ticket sales
- Reduced seating for indoor dining
- No outdoor seating for picnic lunches
- Contact tracing
- Wearing a mask when needed
- Social distance in the lift line
- Reduced lift seating (e.g. 2 people on a 4-seater).
Perhaps there is a silver lining to the safety protocols. For example, limited ticket sales would translate to uncrowded conditions. And wearing a mask is a no-brainer when it’s snowing.
2021 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO – CANCELLED
The Breckenridge trip has been officially cancelled due to lack of sign-ups. Yes, hard to put together a trip when there are only four people signed-up. The last time an NSC trip was cancelled was right after 9/11 and the 2002 Chamonix trip was cancelled.
If anyone is still interested in going to Breckenridge then please contact me before the end of the month (president@niseiskiclub.org). Air and lodging reservations have been partially released and a few air seats and condo units are being retained in case a small group is still interested in skiing Breckenridge. I can still coordinate with Sports America on air/lodging/ground arrangements/lift tickets, but payment will be direct to Sports America and your trip will not be an NSC-sponsored trip. Cost will be slightly higher since there will be no group rates on ground transportation or lift tickets, and group air rates only apply if there are 10+ sign-ups. You will also have to find your own condo mates.
2021 FWSA Ski Week Trips
Although the Breckenridge trip has been cancelled, there are other ski-week trips available through FWSA. There are two trips scheduled:
- Sun Valley, 30 Jan-6 Feb. Presently there are 64 signups.
- Zermatt, Utah, a mini ski-week, 21-26 March, and signups are being accepted. Ikon pass accepted.
All NSC members are eligible to participate in FWSA events. Details for the trips can be found here:
https://fwsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=623165&module_id=334799
If you have any questions contact me at president@niseiskiclub.org.
Membership Drive
Sep 1
by Tina Woo, Membership Chair
2020 is proving to be a challenging year, amidst the COVID-19 virus and California wildfires. Despite these uncertainties, the board of Nisei Ski Club is continuing to meet and discuss plans for this year. We strive to provide community and camaraderie for our members.
For fall, we are planning for several events, including a bike ride, a Thai Cooking Demo by Karen Soo via Zoom, as well as attending and sponsoring the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival. The annual picnic and tea dance events are currently on hold. Feel free to submit any ideas and suggestions for future events.
San Jose Taiko is offering senior taiko lessons for the month of September via zoom. Check out www.taiko.org. Classes are less than $10 each. See the article below about the free taiko bucket-making class on September 2.
We continue to have one of the lowest membership fees of any ski club in the area. Please consider joining or renewing your membership this year in support of Nisei Ski Club!
Taiko Drum Class
Sep 1
contributed by Tina Woo
San Jose Taiko will be having a free “How-to-make-a-bucket-taiko” class at 1-2pm on Wednesday, Sept 2. You can access the class by using the Zoom link below. No need to register for this class; just click on the Zoom link next Wednesday at 1pm. You will need a 5-gallon bucket or similarly sized plastic trash can OR a sturdy cardboard box (and 2 pairs flat disposable chopsticks if you’re using a box) OR an old tire; a roll of packing or strapping tape, and scissors.
Click to join the Zoom class:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81238891955
Passcode: 417649Meeting ID: 812 3889 1955
Simply clicking on the above link should get you into the class. If it doesn’t, and it asks for more info, I have listed all of the class info at the bottom of the email.
In lieu of a taiko, you can use buckets, tires, or trash cans that have been covered with tape to mimic a drum head. Examples are here, and instructions are here. Other things that work:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81238891955
Meeting ID: 812 3889 1955 Passcode: 417649
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 812 3889 1955 Passcode: 417649
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfBvA3dfN
by Armand Gutierrez
As we enter another month of trials and tribulations with the pandemic mandates of wearing masks and limiting our social activities, life does go on with video chats, perhaps visiting family, and no longer hoarding toilet paper. Hopefully, whatever you’re doing to keep your sanity is working for you. Our club activities so far have been either deferred or cancelled, but the Board continues to meet, via video chats, to discuss the issues presented and any future events that may be of interest to the membership.
It’s been a year since NSC was designated as an FWSA Historic Ski Club. This year FWSA is celebrating their 90th Anniversary of their founding on October 7, 1930, and for this celebration a 90thAnniversary Commemoration Booklet is being produced. The booklet will feature a list of all the FWSA Historic Ski Clubs and Councils in this collectible edition plus advertising space for clubs to congratulate FWSA on this milestone. The NSC board approved a small advertisement space so our club can be recognized as a Historic Ski Club and to congratulate FWSA.
Now, picture yourself in the 1930s with the latest ski gear and apparel. Does it look like this?
Sign-ups for the Breckenridge trip (23-30 January 2021) are well below what is normally expected for June and July. This most likely can be attributed to a deep concern in going on a ski trip during the pandemic situation. However, I’m hopeful that there will be an improvement in the pandemic situation and there will be sufficient signups to still conduct the trip, albeit with a smaller-than-usual group. If you have any questions regarding the trip please drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.
Recap on Epic Passes
Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America is offering the Epic Pass promotion-trip rebate of $30 for an Epic Local Pass and $50 for a Full Epic Pass.
Breckenridge is on the Epic Pass, which is also good for Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:
Purchase the Ikon Base Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Ikon Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. However, the Ikon Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge. Go to this link to purchase: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei
- Purchase the Epic Local Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Epic Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. The Epic Pass can be used at Breckenridge for unlimited access. Go to this link to purchase: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei
- Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination discount based on the type of passes you purchase.
- If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.
Breckenridge Trip Cancellation Policy
In the event that it is deemed necessary to cancel the Breckenridge Trip due to insufficient sign-ups or resort closure full refunds will be made to all participants. Trip cancellation will have to be made no later than October 1st.
Epic Pass Credit for Shortened Season
By now Epic Pass holders should have received a letter or email indicating the credit for the shortened season. When purchasing the Epic Pass through Sports America the only option is to select the type of pass you want for the indicated price. However, you can submit a copy of your letter/email to Brandon Ruggles (brandon@sportsamerica.com) and you will receive the credit applied to the total price of the pass before it is charged to your credit card. Note this date: September 7th is the last day for the lowestEpic Pass prices plus ten buddy passes.
Epic Pass Refund Policy
New for 2020-2021 is the Epic Coverage. This is free for all pass holders and provides refunds associated with certain personal events (i.e. illness, job loss, and injury). It also expands coverage to protect your from resort closures, such as any due to COVID-19. For additional information you can visit this website: https://www.epicpass.com/info/epic-coverage.aspx
Here we are already in the thick of summer. This month, you will find Armand’s message full of important information about the next ski season, including our planned NSC trip to Breckenridge. Don’t miss it!
President’s Message, by Armand Gutierrez
by Armand Gutierrez
Summer is officially here, bringing with it several weeks of warm-to-hot weather which is conducive to outdoor activities. The easing of the shelter-in-place mandate is a welcome relief for those of you making those excursions to the golf links, hiking and biking trails, and other outdoor activities. Unfortunately, some of our annual events are still deferred until safety protocols have been lifted, and this would include our annual picnic, Mt. View Obon Festival, and a day at the bocce ball courts. I’m getting the feeling that our Annual Membership and Luau Picnic might become a Pre-Ski Season event.
2021 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO
Next year’s ski week will be at Breckenridge, CO from 23-30 January, 2021. Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America is offering the Epic Pass promotion-trip rebate of $30 for an Epic Local Pass and $50 for a Full Epic Pass.
Breckenridge is on the Epic Pass, which is also good for Northstar, Heavenly
Valley, and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:
- Purchase the Ikon Base Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Ikon Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. However, the Ikon Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge. Go to this link to purchase: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei
- Purchase the Epic Local Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) from Sports America and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Epic Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. The Epic Pass can be used at Breckenridge for unlimited access. Go to this link to purchase: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei
- Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes from Sports America and you will receive a combination discount based on the type of passes you purchase.
If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org .
Breckenridge Trip Cancellation Policy
In the event that it is deemed necessary to cancel the Breckenridge Trip due to insufficient sign-ups or resort closure, full refunds will be made to all participants. Please don’t delay in signing up for the trip if you are interested. The flyer can be accessed through the above links or you can click here. It’s also available on both the “Events” tab and the “Ski Trips” tabs above. Trip cancellation will have to be made no later than October 1st.
Epic Pass Credit for Shortened Season
By now Epic Pass holders should have received a letter or email indicating the credit for the shortened season. When purchasing the Epic Pass through Sports America the only option is to select the type of pass you want for the indicated price. However, you can submit a copy of your letter/email to Brandon Ruggles (brandon@sportsamerica.com ) and you will receive the credit applied to the total price of the pass before it is charged to your credit card. Note this date: September 7th is the last day for the lowest Epic Pass prices plus ten buddy passes.
Epic Pass Refund Policy
New for 2020-2021 is the Epic Coverage. This is free for all pass holders and
provides refunds associated with certain personal events (i.e. illness, job loss, and injury). It also expands coverage to protect your from resort closures, such as any due to COVID-19. For additional information you can visit this website: https://www.epicpass.com/info/epic-coverage.aspx
CATS Event July 1
Jul 1
contributed by Jackie Maruhashi
This event is tomorrow, July 1 at 8 PM. Sign up ahead on the website. https://www.catsasiantheaterscene.org Don’t miss it!
Rising star, ukulele maestro Kris Fuchigami, will perform and talk about his love for the ukulele and Hawaiian music and how it has changed his life. Accompanied by Keiko Fuchigami on keyboards, Kris has won the most prestigious awards including the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Ukulele Album of the Year, and the Instrumental Composition of the Year.
You don’t want to miss this event, live on ZOOM and Facebook.
Japanese American Citizen’s League: The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose mission is to secure and safeguard the civil and human rights of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and all communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American Community. https://jacl.org
Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment provided by AAJC and Hollaback:
https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/
Responding to Xenophobia workshops provided by Center for Anti-Violence Education:
https://www.caeny.org/upcomingprograms?view=calendar&month=04-2020
Restaurants you might want to try:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/03/black-owned-restaurants-open-in-bay-
Hoyt’s Recipes: https://drive.google.com/open?id=122YDkHJTNB31sAMZB0utsqFVLM55qJj-
Happy summer! This month, make sure to read Armand’s message about the ski passes and NSC trip to the Colorado Rockies in 2021. Don’t miss an interesting article by Carol Henri about her Nisei parents experience in the 1940s, and Hoyt’s recap of the elections for our 2020-21 NSC Board of Directors.
by Armand Gutierrez, President
It’s June and the start of the 2020-2021 NSC season. Our recent election resulted in no changes to the board. Thanks to all of you that took the time to vote, and you can read the full election results in Hoyt’s article.
2021 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO
Next year’s ski week will be at Breckenridge, CO from 23-30 January, 2021. Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America will be offering the Epic Pass promotion-trip rebate of $30 for an Epic Local Pass and $50 for a Full Epic Pass.
For 2020-21 Breckenridge is on the Epic Pass, which is also good for Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:
- Purchase the Ikon Base Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Ikon Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. However, the Ikon Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge. Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei
- Purchase the Epic Local Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Epic Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. The Epic Pass can be used at Breckenridge for unlimited access. Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei . Sports America will also honor the refund that Epic Pass is providing due to the early ski resort closures.
- Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination discount based on the type of passes you purchase.
If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org.
Epic Pass Refund Policy
Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. New for 2020-2021 is the Epic Coverage. This is free for all pass holders and provides refunds associated with certain personal events (i.e. illness, job loss, and injury). It also expands coverage to protect your from resort closures, such as any due to COVID-19. For additional information you can visit this website: https://www.epicpass.com/info/epic-coverage.aspx
by Hoyt Nelson, Elections Chairperson
Elections are now over. Thanks to those who cast the 49 ballots (a respectable 70% for our club). The results are:
President: Armand Gutierrez
Vice President: The board determined that this position is not needed for our smaller size
Treasurer: Frank Chang
Trip Director: Karen Soo
Newsletter Editor: Judy Bracken
Membership Chair: Tina Woo
Directors at Large: Gregory Wong, Rick Dumlao, Sandy Kiyomura, Curtis Otaguro, Hoyt Nelson
There were a few write-ins, but no more than two for any one person, so they did not affect the results.
Congratulations to all and good luck to the Nisei Ski Club during the coming year. We will plan what social events that are possible under the circumstances and try to improve your skiing experience. We will also promote our club and our Asian heritage, as was the original intent of the club by its founders. We encourage everyone in the club to add their efforts in these attempts.
Special thanks to my wife, Nancy, who did most of the interface with Survey Monkey since she had the most experience with that program.
A Personal Nisei History
Jun 1
by Carol Henri
Have you ever wondered about the term “Nisei” in our Club’s name? The word for ‘two’ in Japanese is ‘Ni’ (pronounced ‘knee’) and Nisei means 2nd generation Japanese-American, a person who was born in the United States to parents who emigrated from Japan. The Club was originally founded by and for Nisei skiers more than 60 years ago.
My parents were both Nisei, children of Issei (‘first generation’) farmers who came to the United States in the early 1900’s. My mother was born in Beverly Hills, when it was still undeveloped land covered with orange groves. My father was born in Watsonville on a strawberry farm.
When Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, my father was an enlisted private soldier in the U.S. Army, on leave from his military base, visiting his romantic interest, my mother. When they heard about the bombing, my father knew he had to get back to his base. They did not know this would be the last time they would see each other until 11 months later, when they wed in a concentration camp for Japanese-Americans in desolate Gila River, Arizona.
You are probably aware of that sordid chapter in American history more than 75 years ago, when all people of Japanese ancestry residing in the Western United States, mostly U.S. citizens like my mother and her siblings and my father’s siblings, were mandated by FDR’s Executive Order 9066 to leave their homes with only what they could carry. They were then detained for up to three years in hastily erected remote prison camps bound by barbed wire and watchtowers manned by soldiers with guns. It is important to note that none of the Issei were American citizens because they were not allowed citizenship due to the Asian Exclusion Act.
When my father returned to his base, they were in blackout and there was confusion and pandemonium. His commanding officer confiscated the firearms of the three Nisei privates and locked them in a room together. My father remembers cowering in the dark, fearing they were going to be lynched in the panic of the moment.
My mother, then age 21, experienced the multiple indignities of the discriminatory Order, including being herded like cattle to buses and trains wearing a tag with a number; living in dirty horse stables at the race track, which was used as a temporary holding area while the camps were being constructed; and living with her father and a sister in a small, bleak barrack room with no privacy, where desert dust was unrelenting and the temperature was either too hot or too cold.
Before they parted, my parents agreed to write to each other every day except Sunday. They did so for nearly a year, until they married on November 19, 1942 in the Gila River camp. They spent their wedding night in a camp barrack room that had been decorated by family and friends. My mother had purchased a simple beige (non-wedding) dress from a catalog and my father wore his army uniform for the ceremony.
I believe as a result of her unjustified incarceration as a young adult, my mother retreated from her Japanese heritage. She eventually embraced it 20 years later, when she learned Japanese brush painting (‘sumie’), Japanese flower arrangement (‘ikebana’), and Japanese cooking. She never learned the Japanese language, because her parents firmly believed that as an American citizen she should speak English.
My parents went to Japan for the first time in 1968. Both my grandfathers became proud United States citizens in the 1950’s, when the Asian Exclusion Act was finally repealed.
NSC Newsletter, May 2020
May 1
by Judy Bracken, Newsletter Editor
Here we are well into springtime and sheltering in place. Hope you are all enjoying your extra time at home, and please enjoy this bit of NSC news!
President’s Message, by Armand Gutierrez
Membership Drive, by Tina Woo
Takeout Food in the Virus Era, by Hoyt Nelson
Virtual Events Corner, contributed by Tina Woo
Recipe Corner: Beer Bread, contributed by Sandy Kiyomura
Restaurant Ramblings: A Little Bit o’dis an Somo Dat, by Hoyt Nelson
by Armand Gutierrez, President
May is here and that means it’s time to bring an end to the NSC 2019-2020 season. Like last year, NSC had a pretty good season highlighted by a variety of accomplishments and events:
- Annual Luau and Membership Picnic
- Volunteer participation at the annual Obon Festival in Mountain View
- NSC sponsorship of the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival
- Snow Fest (formerly SnowBomb) at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
- Warren Miller Film @ Heritage Theater, Campbell
- A most fantastic ski week at Whistler
- Various members went on the FWSA Davos/Portugal Ski Trip
June marks the start of the NSC 2020-2021 season, and beginning this month you can take advantage of the $5 membership discount if you sign up and submit your membership form before May 31st . Please submit your application to Tina Woo (Membership Chairman).
Normally the end of the ski season has the board working on upcoming events for the summer and fall. However, this is not a normal year with the current group event restrictions in place. But, that does not mean our normal events are cancelled, the board prefers to use the term postponed. Yes, we are still considering the annual Luau and Membership Picnic, hosting another Tea Dance, and possibly a Thai Cooking demonstration. We’ll keep you posted on when these events are scheduled.
Board Nominations & Elections
The nominations process has been completed and the next step is elections. The elections chairman tells me there were several nominations but they were gracefully declined. Therefore the slate consists of the incumbents, and we’re fortunate that everyone on the board has agreed to serve again. However, voting is important and although there were no accepted nominations you can still vote for a write-in candidate. Whether you’re voting for the incumbents or a write-in candidate, it’s important that you do vote. Your vote tells the board that you do appreciate the volunteer work performed by members of the board, so please take the very short time needed to cast your vote. The election ballot using SurveyMonkey was recently distributed by Hoyt Nelson.
2021 NSC Ski Week to Breckenridge, CO
Next year’s ski week will be at Breckenridge, CO from 23-30 January, Breckenridge is part of Vail Resorts so you can pick up an Epic Pass for the next season. Once again, Sports America will be offering the Epic Pass promotion-lodging rebate of $30 for an Epic Local Pass and $50 for a Full Epic Pass. For 2020-21 Breckenridge will be on the Epic Pass, and is also good for Northstar, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood. Here is what you need to know about the Ikon and Epic Passes for the Breckenridge trip:
- Purchase the Ikon Base Pass (Squaw/Alpine) from Sports America and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Ikon Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridgetrip. However, the Ikon Pass cannot be used at Breckenridge. Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei .
- Purchase the Epic Local Pass (Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood) and receive a $30 discount, or purchase the Full Epic Pass and receive a $50 discount on the Breckenridge trip. The Epic Pass can be used at Breckenridge for unlimited access. Go to this link to purchase: www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei .
- Purchase both the Ikon/Epic passes and you will receive a combination discount based on the type of passes you purchase.
If you have any questions about either of the passes then drop me a line at president@niseiskiclub.org
by Tina Woo, Membership Chair
We’re ending our 2019-2020 season with a total of 70 members. Please welcome new members: Susan Fung, Carol Fujimura, Lennie Kwock, Greg Mandrussow, Ellen Szeto, Carolyn T. Wong, and Glen Yamane. Also, welcome back long-time members: Janet Gee & Rod Ngai, Morgan Hua, Jennifer Kaneda, Gilbert & Debra Lee, Jackie Maruhashi, Amy and David Tsuhako and Gary Yee. Many of these members participated in the week-long trip to Whistler, BC in February.
June marks the start of the 2020-2021 Nisei Ski Club season. Beginning this month you can take advantage of the $5 discount if you sign up before May 31. Download and complete the membership form, then mail to Tina Woo (address at bottom of form) to be eligible. We still may have post-season events including the annual picnic, Thai Cooking Demo, Tea Dance, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival planned, in addition to the week-long trip in January 2021 to Breckenridge, Colorado. And, we’re certainly open to suggestions for club activities. I’m hoping you will join us!
by Hoyt Nelson
Dining after the virus makes restaurant dining different and takeout is the order of the day (if you don’t want to cook). I can report several good experiences we’ve had over the last few weeks. Both give quantities greater than what you’d get in the restaurant at the same, or better quality as for sit down. I know these only apply to the San Jose area, but I suspect you can find equally good places where you live.
- Thaibodia on S Bascom near Campbell Ave. in Campbell. When they opened several years ago, many dishes were quite spicy, but now, they are under-spiced for my taste. Fortunately, I always have a small bottle of sanbal in my frig, which closely matches the hot sauce available at the restaurant. You can select 3 dishes from a list for $25, which is cheaper than menu price. Highly recommended!
- Sorelle’s (Italian) on San Tomas Aquino in Campbell, we ordered a Lasagna and a short rib Bolognese to go. Both were again quite large and very tasty, and you don’t need to include a tip as large as if in the restaurant since there is no table service. Of course, you must pay for delivery (with places like Door Dash for ex.) if you’re too far away, but some places give your first delivery for free.
- Costco has large pizzas (with everything on it) for only $10. We’ve had Costco’s pizzas before and they are very good. We’ve also had their hot dogs (for only $1.50). They are large, and every bit as good as Nathan’s or Hebrew National’s. Reports tell of many other excellent take out selections at Costco. (You could also eat on site at their picnic tables – until the virus came along.) Most Costco and Walmart Grocery Stores also have really good roasted chickens at a loss-leader price of $5.
While I’m at it, here is a link to my restaurant list for some of my favorites (not all places do takeout): https://drive.google.com/open?id=122YDkHJTNB31sAMZB0utsqFVLM55qJj-
For those who want to cook at home, see some of my favorite recipes: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QHKrCBvjzMxdo7DcAoEPAr_lo1bXw1gD
Virtual Events Corner
May 1
contributed by Tina Woo
With this shelter-in-place reality we have been living since mid-March, many groups have created online ways to exercise, go to the park or museum, listen to music performances, or watch interesting films. Tina has compiled this list for us, and we welcome additional contributions at any time.
GoldenGate150.com: Happy 150th Birthday to Golden Gate Park! Millions of people visit the park each year and now this can be done virtually. Watch exclusive concert performances from previous years, take virtual tours of some of the parks most popular destinations (Stowe Lake, Japanese Tea Garden, Sunday concerts of the Golden Gate Park Band) and view special live webcams. Did you know that Golden Gate Park has fly casting at Angler’s Lodge, is home to a popular disc golf course, or 6 American bison? Visit the penguin feeding area, live coral or butterfly exhibit within the Academy of Science or view historical photo albums. Discover and explore Golden Gate Park in celebration of this special birthday!
Asian Art Museum: Here’s a link to the Asian Art Museum from home: https://asianart.org/museumfromhome/.
La Blast Fitness Classes: Dance/fitness exercise regime daily at 9:30 am. We know that there is a lot of uncertainty during these crazy times, but there is nothing uncertain about having a great time doing LaBlast!
Daily Class Schedule for April 27 – May 1 10:30am – 11:30am MDT (9:30am PDT, 11:30am CDT, 12:30pm EDT).Register for them here: https://lablastfitness.com/free-lablast-live-classes/
The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University continues to offer you best wishes and good health as we navigate the challenges of COVID-19. We miss being together at performances and look forward to the day when we can once again experience the power and joy of live performance.
Our Engaging from a Distance program continues with new special internet events, as well as a wealth of possibilities that are curated and cataloged on our website. We’re excited to announce these events with artists who were scheduled to perform at the Green in April:
- Maria Schneider Thursday, May 7 at 4 P.M.Named an NEA Jazz Master in 2019, Maria Schneider and her orchestra are hailed as “evocative, majestic, magical, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and beyond categorization.” Maria Schneider joins Jacob Yarrow to talk about her music, her band, and to listen to some recordings together. Register here.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival: All across the globe humans are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 and the social distancing and time at home that come with it. With this in mind, we couldn’t think of a better time to share some past Wild & Scenic Official Selections with you. We plan to put a new film up every few days so be sure to check back in here. We hope you all enjoy these momentary respites from the news of the day and wish you the very best as you navigate these challenging times. Click here for more information.
Save the Date: “Asian Americans,” A Film Series: We are thrilled to announce that our partners PBS and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) will soon debut “Asian Americans,” the most ambitious television chronicle of the Asian American story in the United States. It premieres on PBS during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 11 and 12, 2020. “Asian Americans” is a production of WETA Washington, D.C. and CAAM for PBS, in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS), Flash Cuts, and Tajima-Peña Productions. It is a five-part history series that explores the evolving identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian Americans. Watch a Preview Learn more about the series here. We hope you will save the date for May 11 and 12!
