Letter of Plea

Plea for Contributions
November 2004

It's been almost four years since members of the Alumni Committee first got together and starting reminiscing about the good old days and brainstorming on how to organize the Alumni Association. Since then we've spent countless hours expanding the alumni directory, launching the website, assisting the school in organizing the 50th Anniversary, and supporting the school in its efforts to improve its financial position.

It's been a blast and each one of us feels honored and privileged to have helped out. Your support and enthusiasm has been great. Today, we have an alumni directory that lists over 500 alumni ranging from the class of 1954 to the class of 2001 and currently we are experiencing approximately 10 hits a day on our website.

While progress has been steady, there is much more that can be done and we have no intention of resting on our laurels. We are currently taking steps to expand our directory, promote greater communication among the alumni, coordinate activities aimed at helping our kohai's who are still in school, and assist our alma mater in its fund raising efforts. In so doing, we continue to welcome and seek out your guidance and criticisms.

All of this, of course, has a financial cost, which thus far has been paid for in large part through contributions from Alumni Committee members and other supportive alumni. The cost has not been significant in our view, about 140,000 yen per year, covering such costs as website development and hosting but we are again running low on reserve funds.

As we may have mentioned in the past, our research indicates that many other alumni associations collect mandatory fees from their association "members". We think the concept of requiring membership fees or the proposition that alumni be differentiated between members and non-members is unnecessary and inappropriate. The committee has discussed generating revenues through the sale of alumni goods and other activities, but was troubled by the inappropriateness of the association becoming a profit generating body and could find no answer to the tax implications of such an approach. Rather, we decided to simply ask each of you to contribute to the association, trusting that there are enough of you willing to help us continue to build the association, or, as some would say,

While we are hoping to receive contributions of [**5,000 yen or higher from 30~50 alumni to cover the costs for the next 12 months**], there is no minimum amount. Please feel free to contribute any amount you feel is appropriate. Please keep in mind that Mitsui Sumitomo Bank charges a handling fee of 2,500 yen for any wire transfer from an offshore account and any check.

Alumni donors can be viewed at
http://www.marist-kobe.com/alumnidonors.html

Of course, we will be more than happy to answer any questions you have with respect to the financial condition of your association.

Contributions may be made to the following account/location:

If by wire transfer ( in yen or US dollars ) to: Mitsui Sumitomo Bank Tenma Bashi Branch Futsu Yokin Swift code is SMBCJPJT English Name: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Account No. : 1524845 Account Name : MBIS Alumni Association Representative : Chugani Kumar Ramchand.

If by check in US dollars to: Attention of Ms. Nancy Kohara Pay to : Marist Brothers International School 1-2-1 Chimori-cho Suma-ku Kobe Japan 654-0072 Tel: (078)732-6266 Fax: (078) 732-6268 *Please clearly indicate for the credit of the MBIS Alumni Association.

We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation and support.

The MBIS Alumni Committee