by Armand Gutierrez, President  

July is over, and so is the hot weather towards the end of the month and we all survived 90+ temps. We may complain about the heat, but then it didn’t last that long and it was much hotter for longer in Arizona and New Mexico. I have no predictions for August. But keep in mind; there is talk about another La Niña year.

NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic

The NSC Annual Membership Meeting and Luau Picnic were held on Sunday, July 21st, and the weather was great, a great crowd of 50+ people, and a number of new faces. Everyone dined on a variety of cuisine, and the board was introduced. If you missed this event now you will have to wait until next year.

2025 NSC Ski Week

The Sun Peaks ski trip is going to change to a small “group” trip due to the lack of signups. In order for this trip to not be cancelled there needs to be at least 6-8 more signups so we can meet the minimum of 10 for air. So, if you’re sitting on the fence about going, then now is the time to submit your application. Can you be the person that will keep this trip alive? Sun Peaks has a lot to offer and there are plenty of lodging spaces available. For those of you that have made a deposit then August 15^th is the due date for the second payment. Go to the NSC website and download the Sun Peaks Flyer, fill it out, and send it in (don’t forget your check). That’s the group shot after the Farewell Dinner at Sun Peaks in 2014.

Sports America has posted the Epic/Ikon links for the 2024-2025 season and is offering a 6.5% trip rebate (based on pass price) if you purchase the passes from Sports America and go on the Sun Peaks trip:

Use this for Epic passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/epic-nisei

Use this for Ikon passes: https://www.sportsamerica.com/ikon-nisei

Password: snow

Questions: contact president@niseiskiclub.org

QotM: No one ever says, “It’s only a game” when their team is winning.

by Sandy Kiyomura, NSC Member

As part of the “end of summer” celebration gathering, Sandy Kiyomura will give lessons on Cha-Cha and the Swing. Sandy has been an instructor at the Mastick Senior Center in Alameda for several years. Bring your dancing shoes and a potluck for everyone to enjoy.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn about Nisei Ski Club, meet club members, find out about future events as well as next year’s planned week-long Sun Peaks ski trip and a Japan Fall Trip! 

Date – Saturday, August 24th

Time – 12 pm – 3 pm

Where – Sandy’s Outdoor Dance Studio in Harbor Bay, Alameda.

Cost: $5 for members and non-members. Bring a potluck dish to serve 6-8, beverages will be provided.

Space is limited to 25 sign-ups. Please RSVP by Monday, August 19

Sandy will provide the address upon receiving your RSVP.

RSVP to Sandy Kiyomura at dance2@niseiskiclub.org

by Judy Hom, Janet Gee, NSC Members

If you missed the inaugural NSC Mahjong event in 2023, here’s a repeat event on

Saturday, September 7^th., 2024

Do you want to learn how to play mahjong or get more practice playing? Then, sign up for the NSC Mahjong event and potluck! Judy Hom, Janet Gee, and our coaches can teach you the basics if you don’t know how to play or coach you if you already know to but want more practice. We will focus on the Cantonese style where we play with 13 tiles and flowers. We will also explain how to score: HK and Classical Chinese style scoring. If learning more about mahjong is on your bucket list, then sign-up! When you sign up, you will receive a cheat sheet and a list of mahjong resources. We know that all NSC members like to eat so this is also a potluck event. 

Date:            Saturday, September 7, 2024

Time:           11am – 3:pm

Where:         Judy and Winston’s backyard, 18995 Carlton Avenue, Castro Valley

Cost: $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Bring a potluck dish to feed 4 or more.

Beverages will be provided. 

Space is limited to 16 sign-ups. Pls RSVP by August 31st

Please fill out a form for each person that is attending. For more information, please email Judy at mahjong@niseiskiclub.org.

SIGN UP HERE: MAH JONG

Will we see one of these Mah Jong Tables at Judy’s house?

Send in your deposit to hold you space.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Another successful NSC picnic took place on Sunday, July 21st in Las Palmas Park, Sunnyvale.
According to the Evite, 50 plus current NSC members and potential new members came out. The weather cooperated and we got the best picnic spot #2 with tree-covered shading.

The picnic tables were filled with delicious pot luck dishes and scrumptious desserts.  At the end of the day I was surprised there were no left overs to bring home. SORRY, let us know if we should order more hot dogs for next year?

A big thank you to Roland Lee for being our NSC Grill Master, grilling the hot dogs, hot links and ribs. If you arrived early I hoped you tried Curtis’s ribs that fell off the bone. He forgot the BBQ sauce, but it was mighty tasty with the dried rub.

Roland brought out his Mah Jong set and there were a few who tried their luck on the game.
Don’t forget Judy and Janet’s NSC Mah Jong Event on Sept 7, 2024 FLYER HERE

What was there to eat?

I heard one of the hits of the dessert tray was Haruko’s Kurimanju

Armand conducted his annual membership meeting. He introduced the new board and talked about the upcoming Sun Peaks trip and the possibility of including minors to our future weeklong ski trips.

-A big thank you for Armand for getting the iced beer.

-A big thank you to Frank for getting the iced soda and water.  

-A big thank you to Morgan for getting the permit for the Las Palmas Picnic spot #2.

-A big thank you again to Curtis for setting up the picnic area and returning all the picnic supplies to our Shed in Sunnyvale.

-A big thank you to Bill Lee and Celeste Rogers for taking pictures of the picnic.

And a big THANK YOU TO YOU!! Thank you for getting off your seats to take the NSC group photo and bringing your entrées and desserts to share. Without your participation, the club will not exist.

I missed the picnic this year and I miss you boys and girls. I hope join you in the 2025 Picnic.

Have a great summer.

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

Here’s a simple cookie recipe that uses only 5 ingredients.

YES, let me repeat… 5 ingredients to make a small batch of banana bread chocolate chip cookies in my little toaster oven.

Whether you eat these for breakfast, dessert or as a snack, they will certainly satisfy your sweet cravings. They don’t contain any dairy, eggs, flour or gluten, and you would never even know because they are that good!

Enjoy.. Julia and I have Birthday Celebrations this month!!

Bon Appetit – Julia Child and Karen Soo share the same birthday.

Total Preparation time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2 large cookies or 6 regular cookies or 13 little bite size cookies. (I prefer this one)

Ingredients

1 ripe banana (mashed)

1/4 cup organic peanut butter (or any nut butter)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup oats

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (or any chips you prefer)

by Karen Soo, Newsletter Editor

New York City is filled with colorful murals. When a mural is visible, it prevents the graffiti artist from tagging the blank wall. https://newyorksimply.com/nyc-best-murals-new-york-city/

I saw this mural in Chinatown. Can you find the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals?
It took me awhile to find them. https://www.chinatownmuralproject.org/

HINT – The flying Phoenix is not a member of the Chinese Zodiac animals.