Chair's Message

I was recently invited to a spring tea ceremony.  The "sensei" explained that the heart of a tea ceremony depicts something completely different and new from the fast pace world of today.  The tea master strives to share with his guests an effective and purposeful roadway in which the guests are to appreciate one self and to maintain one self in time.  It is an art that is in indirect competition with what we do on a daily basis and is an act that we do not practice unless such times are purposely set aside for it; or if you are lucky enough to be invited to such a space like me.    Everything is done slowly, gracefully and with design.  The master continues his movements while explaining to the guests how we must learn to "take away" from what we have.  We are so accustomed to the concept of "more is better/less is worse" that we forget that the action of subtraction may be just as important.  The interior décor of the tea room reflects this. One simple scroll hangs with a spring message of five characters. A simple porcelain vase housing a sole branch of cherry blossom comforts the nearby incense holder in the shape of a clam.  Apprentices move slowly with intent and meaning.    The guests are seated on the tatami and each is asked to find "one self" and to "take away" from what we have and what we are accustomed to.  There is nothing in the room that is a waste, a minimalist's haven.  We wait patiently for our turn to be served.  There is a ritual you must follow.  Thank the server for the "kashi" or sweets that are served so the tea is more enjoyable.  Thank those behind you since you will be enjoying the tea before them.  Thank those before you for passing on the tea to you.  The drinking of the tea happens in just a matter of seconds.  Whoosh and it is gone.  It is the time spent before and after, the appreciation you feel towards your host for the opportunity to be in this space and time and the power of reflection that is the core of the ceremony.         As I continue to propel through the balance of my term as Chair at the Chamber I am reminded that life is a balance between addition and subtraction.  The Chairmanship has provided me with a way to find "one self" (a self away from other selfs).  I thank the Chamber for its history and accomplishments that help us be who we are today.  I thank Wayne Ishihara and our staff for maintaining and strengthening our rituals.  I thank the committee chairs and the membership for the knowledge, enlightenment and comradery shown to me.  I thank the leaders of the Chamber for planning the future of the Chamber.   Thank you for allowing me to be in this space... the drinking of tea happens quickly... but the passion for and experience from working together at the Chamber will remain with me forever.  Thank you.   PS.  As for my eleven challenges - hope you had fun attending more than five events and finding new members; hope you will join us when we welcome the Hiroshima Chamber or when we plan our next tour to Japan; hope you had a chance to visit with new members and other organizations; hope you answered our surveys and shared thoughts that were outside the box.  We are where we network, where members are satisfied and business to business means profit.   Christine Kubota Chair of the Board