Fireside Meeting Report (Group 6)

Group 6 Leader 山中　直樹　

Date and time: Thursday, August 31, 2023, from 18:30
Venue: HEARTH Shinjuku (Italian cuisine), Nishi-Shinjuku
    Daiwa Roynet Nishi-Shinjuku 1F, 6-12-39 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City
Theme: How We Communicate in Rotary
Participants: President 伊豆隆義, Member 青山信之, Member 田口文彦, Member 吉村利文, Member 浅利隆文, Member 平岡直記, 山中直樹　　7 in total

　We started at 18:30, 30 minutes later than the other groups, and President 伊豆 joined us for the third FSM of the week, attending on consecutive days.
This was also my first time as group leader, but since I had attended Group 1's FSM led by Member 前田信吾 the week before and had gotten used to the atmosphere, I decided to hold a candid free discussion from the start rather than something formal. As expected of members who know each other well, the conversation got going quickly.
　Our senior members entertained us with amusing stories about past members of our club, and perhaps because many members enjoy golf as a hobby,
golf seemed to be a frequent topic of conversation.
　In the latter half, Member 田口 offered a suggestion in line with the theme of this FSM.
His idea was: “Our members all get along well, but why not decide seating by lottery once a month so that members can interact more freely?”
　Thinking about it, I too had a habit of always sitting with the same people, so I agree with this idea.
　Our senior members, with a wealth of life experience, generously shared their own stories, and it was a truly meaningful time.
　I am truly grateful to have been invited to such a wonderful club, surrounded by senior members who love the club and are passionately committed to making it better.