At the Shinnenkai on January 25, 2009, Jean Umemura was recognized for outstanding and exceptional service to Hoosier Chapter. The Silver Pin Award, a National JACL Pin of Recognition, was presented to her. We thank her for many positive contributions over the years.

Jean has been an active member of Hoosier Chapter since its beginning in 1976, and most recently served as Membership Chair on the Board. She and husband George are sought-after speakers about Japanese American experiences, and have provided countless educational programs and community service. In just the past few months, they spoke about the internment of Japanese Americans to seventh graders attending Eastern Hancock Middle School and to an organization called Retired Federal Employers. The Umemuras also spoke in Shelbyville at the Strand Theater. This program was sponsored by the Shelbyville Library in conjunction with "Shelbyville Reads." The community was encouraged to read "Snow Falling on Cedars" before scheduling their talk. At each of the presentations, Jean and George referred to the 20th anniversary of the landmark Redress legislation.

Jean kindly consented to answer the following questions for the newsletter:

What kinds of things do you enjoy doing? There are many things that I enjoy doing but if I were to select my favorites, it would be activities that would be physically active like playing tennis with friends and also tap dancing for different organizations. I also enjoy reading, singing in the choir at church, traveling, and naturally spending time with all our grandchildren and their parents.

What was your childhood like? I had a very happy childhood. I grew up with an older sister who studied the violin. I studied the piano and when I became accomplished in my playing I was able to accompany her. This was a thrill for me. I also loved school. My twin brother and I were in the same class and grades through grades 1 through 6. We were known as the Cherry Blossom Twins at our school because our father presented the school with some Cherry Blossom trees to express appreciation for the education which the three of us children received.

Tell us about some events in your life that really stand out. The evacuation of the Japanese Americans and Japanese people from the west coast cities really affected our lives permanently. Another event that happened was a summer visit to Japan with our mother when I was ten years old. Our mother took us to visit all our relatives on both sides of their families so that we could visit and meet our aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother and our parents' friends.

Tell us about any goals you've set or resolutions you've made this year. I have made a few resolutions, one is to declutter my closets, etc. I have begun to do some of this but only a dent has been made. I hope to keep doing some more.

Looking back, tell us about a few people who have been major influences in your life. Besides my parents who I feel have influenced me, there is a 5th grade science teacher I had back in Seattle, Washington, who had a strong influence in my becoming a school teacher. She kept in contact with us all while we were in camp (Hunt, Idaho). She married and moved from Seattle to Michigan. Our family moved from Minidoka Relocation Camp in Hunt, Idaho to Ann Arbor, Michigan and our friendship resumed when she came to visit us. I was ready to go to college and didn't know what my major should be. She encouraged me to study education so that I could become a teacher. I enjoyed 30 years of teaching, 29 years in Washington Township (Allisonville School).