Annual Meeting 2024: Soaring Towards the Future

Join us at the Museum of Flight in the View Lounge for our Annual Meeting! It is a great opportunity to learn about the structure of the Society and to meet the people who keep it alive.

Come early to explore the museum during its hours of operation. Your registration to the Annual Meeting includes FREE admission to the museum before it closes at 5pm! Once the museum closes you can mosey on upstairs to the View Lounge to listen to Shinji Maeda share his story as a one-eyed pilot and his nonprofit organization.

Afterwards, please join us for our networking session and light refreshments with sake provided by Shirafuji Sake Brewery from Woodinville, WA.

Our Annual Meeting is open to all Society members, community partners, and to the public!

General Schedule

*Subject to change as needed

3:00pm-5:00pm - Recommended time to explore the Museum of Flight!

*To get free entry to the museum, please let the ticketing counter know you are here for the Annual Meeting with the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington. They should give you a wristband, which will give you access to the museum!

4:30pm - Check-in Opens

5:45 pm - Opening Remarks

 　　　　　Voting on Officers and Board

6:30 pm - Keynote Speech by Shinji Maeda

7:10 pm - Networking with food catered by McCormick & Schmick's and sake provided by Shirafuji Sake Brewery

*Already registered and want to buy more raffle tickets? Click HERE!

Pricing

JASSW Members: $40

Non-Members: $50

Students: $25

**ALL tickets include FREE admission to the Museum of Flight ($26 value!) before the event starts at 5pm!

*Parking is free at the Museum of Flight

**To reserve member pricing, please register by Tuesday, April 24, 2024

*Please Note: Guests who show up without registering on the day-of the Annual Meeting will pay the same as regular non-member pricing, regardless of membership status to the Society.

Keynote Speaker - Shinji Maeda

“Defying the Odds: Shinji, the One-Eyed Pilot”

Read the complete story by the North American Post here:

Shinji Maeda, One-eyed Pilot, to Fly Around the World (napost.com)

(Excerpts taken from NAP article written by Misa Murohashi)

Shinji Maeda, founder of Aero Zypangu Project who calls himself a “one-eyed pilot,” departed for his around-the-world flight on May 1st. This mission is to inspire people with his message, “Nothing is impossible.” NAP interviewed him just before his departure from Seattle. He enthusiastically shared the message of his mission.

Shinji Maeda was born in Hokkaido prefecture. Dreaming about becoming a pilot since his childhood, he went to Japan Aviation High School, Yamanashi prefecture, and entered the College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, to study aerospace engineering. However, just after his admission, he was hit by a car and lost sight in his right eye. To achieve his dream even after the accident, he left Japan to study at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona, where he earned a master’s degree in Safety Science. After graduation, he worked as an aviation engineer at ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. and Boeing. While working as an engineer, he earned licenses as a commercial pilot and flight instructor in the United States. In 2016, he launched the Aero Zypangu Project, a nonprofit organization, to give lectures and flight training to young people.

Shinji Maeda is a Shin-Issei who is active in our community as founder and president of Aero Zypangu Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization he founded with his supporters. Its mission is “to provide opportunities and experiences that inspire hope, strength, and joy in people with disabilities, in youngsters, and in their families through aviation activities.” Through his motivational lectures and discovery flight lessons, Shinji delivers his message, “Nothing is impossible,” through his own life experiences.

Join Our Raffle!

Join our raffle for a chance to win The Westin Seattle - One Night Stay in a Deluxe View Room ($399 Value!)

Already registered and want to buy more raffle tickets? Click HERE!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Yuka Shimizu (BCA / WPS)

Bronze Sponsors

Become a Sponsor!

The Annual Meeting is one of our three biggest fundraising events - help sponsor this event!