About JA Club

The Japanese American Club (or JA Club for short) is an organization based out of the Japanese American Religious & Cultural Center (JARCC) facility, located at 3165 Treat Boulevard, Concord, California. The current structure has been in place since 1972; however, its origins date back to 1926, when Issei families sought a community gathering place in Contra Costa County for the growing number of Japanese families settling in the area - and a way to preserve their language and culture in their children.

Today, the JA Club is a bustling community center comprised of almost 400 families. Those families partake in any number of affiliated organizations that call the JA Club home. These include (but are not limited to):

    • Nippongo Gakuen (Japanese language school)

    • Judo

    • Kendo

    • Taiko

    • Youth and Adult Basketball

    • Ikebana (flower arranging)

    • Buddhist Fellowship

    • Exercise

    • Shinwakai (senior activities)

    • Others

All of these individual clubs - open to all who are interested - report back through the JA Club Board and follow the established policies and guidelines set forth by the governing body.

While the JA Club Board attends to the organizational matters associated with affiliated club activities, the task of guardianship of the property, structure, operations and on-going viability of the center falls on another entity: The JARCC Board of Directors

The primary charter for the JARCC Board of Directors is to maintain the overall integrity, safety and structure of the JA Club facility and its contents, so that our JA Club members can continue to participate in and enjoy the many activities offered within its confines. More specifically, the JARCC Board is responsible for the following:

    • Point of Escalation: Acting as point of escalation for matters referred by the JA Club Board

    • Fiscal Accountability: Managing the costs and finances associated with maintaining the physical structure and contents (e.g., gas, electricity, garbage, water, other utilities, taxes, non-profit status, etc.)

    • Operational Oversight: Handling most day-to-day operations and maintenance (cleaning, painting, ad hoc repairs, improvements, etc.)

    • Master Scheduler: Acting as the master scheduler for Facility Use Requests - arbitrating the high demand for facility space and resources from affiliated clubs and members

    • Use Policies & Guidelines: Establishing and enforcing use policies and guidelines that ensure the safety, security and protection of the members, clubs and physical infrastructure.

    • Fundraiser: To off-set costs of operation, overseeing the annual Summer Festival, now held in late July.