The Marina Gardeners’ Association |
By Steven Sharp and Gail Sharp
In the 1950s, a housing boom was going on in the neighborhoods around the VJCC. In 1959, twenty-nine local residents belonging to the Bay Cities Gardeners’ Association petitioned for and were granted release to form a local group to serve the gardeners in the growing Venice/Culver community. The Marina Gardeners’ Association was founded on April 21, 1959. Soon thereafter, the group became a part of the Southern California Gardeners’ Federation through the recommendation of the Bay Cities and Uptown chapters.
VJCC cleanup in 1960, with many of the Marina Gardener's Association members lending a hand.
During its first three years when membership grew from the original 29 charter members to 151, the president of the Marina Gardeners’ Association was James Sasaki. The Marina Monthly News (which later merged into our current VJCC newsletter), the Marina Bonsai Club, and the Tanomoshi-Ko are some of the programs started by the group for the benefit of its members. Through the Federation, the members also were able to participate in the Major Medical Group Insurance plan and education programs.
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1986 Cabinet Members of the Marina Gardener's Association Pictured Left to Right Standing - Tom Nagao, Joe Tanaka, James Tanabe, Mas Nakamura, George Sato, Shig Gamachi, Roy Yamada, Kazumi Ota Seated - Tad Izuhara, Tokuji Matsuda, Mitsuo Kodama, Toru Ino, Masaaki Kuwabara, Hiroshi Sato |
Some of the activities in which the Marina Gardeners’ participated are the clean-up events at the Keiro Home and Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, as well as the maintenance of the Japanese Garden at the JACCC as part of the Federation. Over the years, the Association has landscaped the Crescent Bay Council Boy Scout Service Center in West Los Angeles (1961-1962) and planted cherry trees at the Culver City Park (1991-1993). As part of the Kaizuka Sister City project, members also landscaped the Japanese Garden at the Culver City Library.
| Every summer, the Marina Gardeners’ has had some of the most popular game booths at the VJCC Festival. Ring Toss, Cork Shooting and, most recently, “7-11” have provided many hours of enjoyment for the young people at the VJCC. Until recently, the group had also been known for another regular activity. From 1992 until 2003, the Marina Gardeners’ was famous for its semi-annual trip to Las Vegas. Securing a coveted seat on that bus to Vegas was seen as quite a coup in some high-rolling circles. |
Marina Gardener's 7-11 booth at the VJCC Summer Festival |
In the 46-year long history of the Marina Gardeners’ Association, the enrollment has been as high as over 200 members. Under the leadership of the current president, Miyuki Murakami, the group continues to be a vital part of the community. The Marina Gardeners’ Association is part of the backbone of the VJCC. From within its membership have come many of our Center leaders. Its members embody everything that make the Center what it is…hard work, a strong sense of community and a positive outlook for the future.
Visions for the VJCC
By Gail Sharp
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When I need help and don’t know where to turn, Kelvin Uyeda is a person I can count on to steer me in the right direction! At the VJCC, he is many things - a member of the Executive Council and Board of Directors and a karate, hula and basketball dad. Because Kelvin is the head recruiter and chairman of what we affectionately call the ComCom (Communications Committee), he was my obvious choice to seek out when I could find no willing volunteers for this section of the April Newsletter. When Kelvin introduced the concept of the “Visions for the VJCC” half column, the intent was to give the membership-at-large the opportunity to voice its ideas for the future of the Center. What makes the Visions articles most interesting is the window it provides for us to see the variety of people who make up the VJCC. So, from Kelvin’s mouth to your ears, “Next time someone asks you to be a Visions volunteer, please say yes.” |
