The 2012 national JACL convention has been set and this year’s event will take place July 5 to 8 in Bellevue, Washington at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

With the theme, “Inform, Transform, Perform: Embracing JACL in an era of transformation,” the event is being sponsored by the Seattle chapter with support from the Lake Washington and Puyallup Valley Chapters.

Convention Chair Elaine Akagi and a dedicated Convention Planning Committee have been meeting for over a year to organize informative, inspirational and fun-filled activities. As home to mega-corporations such as Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon, Starbucks, Nintendo, Google, and sports venues like the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, the greater Seattle area has become a major destination point for foreign and domestic visitors.

The Convention Center is across the street from beautiful Bellevue Square which is filled with shops, restaurants and services and the Lincoln Center which houses a bowling alley, theater, multi-media game room, restaurants and upscale designer shops.

Conventioneers will be welcomed at an Aloha Mixer featuring a Hawaiian band and dancing. More entertainment will be provided by the Portland Swing Band at the Sayonara Banquet and a theatrical offering, “Within the Silence,” will be performed by “Living Voices.”

With an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and attend a broad variety of workshops, there should be something of interest for everyone. As noted above, the theme of the convention recognizes the changing face of the JACL and the challenges it faces to be relevant in the 21st century. An important contributor to a dialogue about the future of the JACL will be the National Youth/Student Council which will also meet at the convention.

A Health and Wellness Fair focusing on diabetes will provide information related to education, prevention and “living well.” Co-sponsored by Nikkei Concerns and the American Diabetes Association, the fair will include health screenings, provide strategies for living well, eating healthy and staying active. Stay tuned for more news about the health and wellness fair in future posts.

REGISTRATION PACKAGE DESCRIPTIONS
Convention Package – $250 ( $300 after June 15 )

Convention Package (Youth) – $200 ( $250 after June 15 )
(For students and/or ages 25 and under)

Both packages include the Welcome Mixer, Awards Luncheon, Youth Luncheon, Workshops, Continental Breakfast, Sayonara Banquet & Dance. These events can also be purchased individually (see below).  
A LA CARTE – Individual Events
Welcome Mixer – $40 / $55 after June 15
Youth/Student - $35 / $50 after June 15

Awards Luncheon - $75 / $90 after June 15
Youth/Student - $60 / $75 after June 15

Youth Luncheon - $75 / $90 after June 15
Youth/Student - $60 / $75 after June 15
Youth Member – $55 / $60 after June 15

Sayonara Banquet / Dance – $150 / $175 after June 15
Youth/Student - $100 / $125 after June 15

Workshops – $25 / $40 after June 15
Youth/Student - $25 / $40 after June 15

For more information, please visit http://jacl.org/2012/.