Category: News/Updates

Our featured volunteer this week is Sam Barrett! Sam came to us as a volunteer while studying Business at the University of Southern Maine and went on to study abroad in Japan. He is a great example of the young talent Friends of Aomori is proud to have helping out! Check out his Q&A below.

Volunteer Spotlight: Sam Barrett

Q: Tell us about yourself!

A: My name is Sam Barrett and I have lived in Southern Maine my whole life. I recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. However, I am currently pursuing teaching as a career, with a focus on English as a second language. My goal right now is to travel to different countries and teach English. My first planned stop is in Japan. I have always had an interest in Japan ever since I was a child fantasizing about being a samurai or riding on the Bullet Train. During my teen years that interest never disappeared, but it dimmed slightly. However, during my college years I began watching a show called Begin Japanology on YouTube. This show got me really interested In Japan again. After watching, I started learning the language and eventually ended up studying abroad in Japan for 6 months.

Q: How did you get involved with Friends of Aomori?

A: I started helping out Friends of Aomori in late 2015 thanks to a connection with my University’s International Office. I only helped out in a few events before I left the country and went to Japan myself.

Q: What kind of volunteer work do you do for Friends of Aomori?

A: Simply put, I am helper. While I might not have an active part in the planning process for events, I have had many chances to speak with individuals on the board and offered advice here and there. The biggest event I helped with was the initial set up of the print gallery in Portland. During the event I acted as a guard for the hand-crafted Neputa that we set-up occasionally. I also ran an information booth at a cultural event on the University of Southern Maine campus.

Q: What was your favorite moment from volunteering?

A: Considering I only did very little, I think that my favorite moment was when we set up the entire gallery for the big print reveal. We had to paint the area and hang all the prints. Working with everyone and being able to admire the art before everyone else was pretty fun. During this time we retrieved and set up the Neputa as well which I enjoyed. So basically everything with the Print exchange event was fun, because I liked guarding the Neputa as well. Wearing a Yukata for the first time and keeping the Neputa safe was cool.

Q: What will you take with you from Friends of Aomori?

A: First would be the people and experiences. Everyone working with FoA definitely has a passion for Japan and they do what they can to facilitate cross-cultural understanding. It may sound like a lesson that should be learned when you’re younger, but the lesson that volunteering is just a group of like-minded people do something for the benefit of others and themselves. I think that lesson is very evident with the work-ethic and passion of everyone involved in this group.

This week’s addition to our Volunteer Spotlight focuses on Margery Clark, FOA’s devoted Treasurer! We love Marge over here at FOA: she does so much for our organization. She may look familiar to you if you’ve been to one of our exhibitions or fundraising events!

Volunteer Spotlight: Margery Clark

Q: Tell us about yourself!

A: My husband and I have traveled to Japan numerous times over the past sixteen years to spend time with our son and his family. We have traveled within Japan to Tokyo, Karuizawa, Nikko, Yokohama, Kyoto and Hiroshima. I have grown fond of Japan, its people and culture. We also have a daughter who is in graduate school. My husband and I retired to Maine in 2011. My career for over thirty years was in public education, as a teacher and principal. Currently, I volunteer weekly in a local grade one classroom, serve on various committees at our church, belong to two monthly book groups, spend time outdoors gardening, hiking and walking the nearby beaches, take classes at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USM and enjoy the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Museum of Art, Portland Stage, Good Theater and art exhibitions, including MAPS (Maine Aomori Printmaking Society).

Q: How did you get involved with Friends of Aomori?

A: While taking a OLLI class at USM about Japan, I learned about Friends of Aomori from the instructors: Drs. Richard and Patricia Parker.

Q: What kind of volunteer work do you enjoy doing for Friends of Aomori?

When I joined the Board in 2015, I also became the treasurer. I enjoy overseeing our organization’s finances and keeping the Board members informed. I have been involved in several fundraising events, which allow us to support the many aspects of our state-prefecture relationship: cultural and educational exchanges and economic ties.

Q: What has been your favorite moment from volunteering with Friends of Aomori?

A: At our first KOYO celebration in October 2016, many supporters came and participated in the silent auction and raffle. It was grand to meet so many fine people with connections to the beautiful country of Japan.

Q: What makes volunteering important to you?

A: My son, his Japanese wife and our two grandchildren reside in Japan. My volunteer work on behalf of Friends of Aomori makes me feel closer to them all, despite the miles which separate us.

We’re continuing our Volunteer Spotlight feature throughout April in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month! This feature highlights Elizabeth, who has not only volunteered with us but now serves as our Communications Intern this Spring!

1) Tell us about yourself!

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! Friends of Aomori would be nothing without its dedicated team of volunteers!

This month, we are featuring Volunteer Spotlights on the creative and hard-working people who help make our programs a reality. We asked them to answer some questions for us to tell our visitors more about the work they do!

Volunteer Spotlight: Hannah Hooke

Q: Tell us about yourself!

A: My name is Hannah Hooke, and I’m a student of Studio Art and Art History at the University of Maine. I concentrate in Printmaking, and I most enjoy woodcut prints. I have studied abroad in Japan, and am especially enamored with its the rich artistic traditions. I hope to study in Japan again in graduate school.

Q: How did you get involved with Friends of Aomori?

A: I got involved with Friends of Aomori as a result of meeting Briar Pelletier, who was interning for Friends of Aomori, while studying abroad in Japan. Due to our mutual love of art, we became fast friends and she graciously shared this opportunity with me.

Q: What kind of volunteer work did you do for Friends of Aomori?

A: I participated in Bath-Tsugaru Culture Day, where I ran a relief printmaking demonstration geared toward cultivating an understanding of relief printmaking for all ages, with Japanese context, and examples of tools and methods used in Japan.

Q: What has been your favorite moment from volunteering?

A: During my time volunteering, I most enjoyed getting to interact with others also interested in Japan, and to talk about printmaking with people who may have otherwise not had an opportunity to get such an intimate overview of printmaking techniques, tools, and possibilities!

What will you take with you from volunteering with FOA?

For me, I feel that this was a really a great chance to become familiar with a wonderful organization, that I feel is doing the important work of cultivating cross-cultural awareness and companionship. I am also grateful to have had an opportunity to share the art of printmaking with others, especially children in hopes that they may grow up interested in and aware of the way creative endeavors can connect people locally and cross-culturally.