Newsletter: November 2024
How about those autumn colors?!? I know everyone in the mountains has been seeing yellows and oranges since August, but we are just now getting the changing leaves in Denver.
I hope the shorter days and cold weather have not dampened any spirits though! We have a jam packed winter schedule. Read through for what we have coming up, and save the dates for some of our biggest events of the year!!
Upcoming Activities
Nengajo (New Year’s Cards) Workshop
When: Saturday, December 14th
Where: JASC Office Building, 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO
When: 10AM - 12PM
Join JASC and JETAARM for this delightful end of year activity! Get ready for the Year of the Snake by making your own nengajo. Just as holiday greetings or cards are exchanged in the West, nengajo, or New Years postcards are exchanged in Japan. Come make yours with us!
Block Carving Class
Date: Saturday, December 7th
When: 12PM - 2PM
Where: Denver Library Ford-Warren Branch, Community Room #2
Join JETAARM for a hands-on Japanese block carving event! We’ll begin with a brief history of woodblock carving in Japan, exploring its cultural significance and artistry. Then, with guidance from a talented community member experienced in block carving, participants will learn how to use carving tools and create their own designs on linoleum blocks, perfect for printing beautiful images. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in a traditional Japanese art form and create something uniquely your own!
Career Counseling Sessions
Registration for a free Career Counseling Session with Colorado-based JET Alum and professional career counselor Emily Frank is now live. Registration closes on Sunday, November 24th OR until all spots have been taken. We expect these to go quickly, so register ASAP. These sessions are made possible through a generous grant from the Japan Local Government Center (CLAIR NY) and open to all JET Alumni currently residing in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
All-Chapter Winter Getaway
Our 5 day, 4 night Winter Getaway is back once again for 2025! Like last year, we're hosting it in Keystone over President's Day weekend!
Join us on the slopes, or enjoy a plethora of other mountain activities like tubing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. In the evenings you can chill at the house which has a hot tub, sauna, tv, and plethora of board games. Or you can coordinate carpools over to the nearby mountain towns of Breckenridge, Frisco or Silverthorne for their various restaurants, breweries, and shops!
Utah Sub-Chapter
Utah Chapter Revival Enkai
Yeah! You heard right! A dedicated and enthusiastic team has taken the reins and is excited to restart activities for our JET alumni community based in Utah. Check in with the newsletter for events coming to cities near you!
As the Rocky Mountain region JET alumni association, we span four states — Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. While it is a joy to bring together people from this incredibly dispersed region, it can be a challenge. We are excited for our Utah sub chapter to kick off what we hope to grow into a larger sub-chapter network to bring together JET alum from all areas of the Rocky Mountain region.
What: JETAARM Utah Sub-Chapter Revival Enkai
When: November 15
Where: Tsunami, 10722 S River Front Pkway
Community Activities
Japanese Self-Study in Denver
Did you know that there’s not one but TWO meetups for practicing Japanese with fellow Japanese learners in the Denver area? Allow us to introduce each one:
The Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) - JASC hosts this bi-weekly gathering for native and non-native Japanese speakers to use their language skills in a relaxed space. If you don't use it, you lose it! Don’t miss the two upcoming dates:
When: Nov. 9th @ 10:00 AM, Nov. 23 @ 10:00 AM
Where: Edgewater Public Market
More Info: Click here for additional information.
Japanese Self Study Group — If you’re interested in getting out to study Japanese in a group of likeminded and motivated individuals, this is your chance! Please note this is a self-study group, which means you bring your own materials to study.
When: Nov. 16th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Prodigy Coffee House
Join the Group — To get involved join their FB group here!
Recent Events
Kyudo Cultural Event
On a sunny, crisp fall morning, JETAARM members and community guests joined Zenko Kyudojo for an unforgettable introduction to kyudo, traditional Japanese archery. The kyudo practitioners were incredibly welcoming and guided us with patience, sharing the history and philosophy behind this beautiful art. The hands-on experience offered everyone a unique chance to connect with Japanese culture and the discipline of kyudo. A big thank you to Zenko Kyudojo and to all who joined us for this inspiring cultural immersion!
2024 JET Returnees’ Reception
On Friday, October 25th The Consulate General of Japan in Denver hosted a welcoming back of JET participants who returned this past year. It was a wonderful celebration of their experiences in Japan and a chance to reconnect as part of our local community. We’re always grateful to the Consul General’s office in Denver for their continued support of the JET Program, both in preparing participants for their journey and in welcoming them back home!
Onigiri Onegai
This past weekend, community members joined JETAARM and JASC for Onigiri Onegai—a hands-on, family-friendly onigiri-making event supporting Table for Two’s 2024 Onigiri Action campaign! Attendees rolled up their sleeves and enjoyed crafting their own onigiri, with each one helping to provide meals to children in need. It was a fantastic morning of food, fun, and giving back, and we’re grateful to everyone who participated. Thank you for making this event a success and helping us support a great cause!
Thanks For Reading!
Have Something to Share?
Feel free to reach out to us by email or on Facebook! This space is open to all - if you have an upcoming event, an essay, a review, an amazing photo, or anything else you want to share, send it to editor@jetaarockymountain.org with the subject "Newsletter Idea."
