WHITFIELD-MANJIRO
FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY, INC.
In December of 1987 a delegation of dignitaries from the New Bedford /Fairhaven area journeyed to Tosashimizu, the home town of Manjiro, and signed a "Sister City" agreement. This led to the incorporation of the "Fairhaven/New Bedford-Tosashimizu Sister City Committee, Inc.". Since that time there has been an on-going exchange of political leaders, Little Leaguers, students, quilters, artists...etc.
In 2008 the Committee was designated to operate the museum which was created when the amazing fund-raising efforts led by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara resulted in the purchase and renovation of Captain William Whitfield's home at 11 Cherry Street, Fairhaven, Mass. With a new, international mandate for services, the Committee voted to change its name to one more in keeping with its new mission. Thus, did the organization acquire the name,
Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society, Inc.
BOARD MEMBERS
(as of January 2013)
HONORARY
Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, (Honorary President)
Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan
Ms. Irene Hirano Inouye
Mr. Akira Muto, Consul General in Boston
Mr. Robert Whitfield, 5th generation descendant
Ms. Kyo Nakahama, 5th generation descendant
Mr. Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford
Mr. Robert Espindola, Fairhaven Selectman
Mr. Geoffrey Haworth Fairhaven Selectman
Mr. Charles Murphy, Fairhaven Selectman
Mr. Akio Sugimura, Mayor of Tosashimizu
PARTICIPATING
JAPAN
Ms. Fujiko Hara, President, Diplomat, Inc.
Mr. Kenzo Kiikuni, Chairman, Board of Sasakawa memorial Medical Foundation
Mr. Junji Kitadai, Manjiro Historian – ECM
Mr. Mikio Kumagai, Sec. Gen., St. Luke’s International Hospital Foundation
Mr. Yoshio Okawara, former Ambassador
USA
Silver Rays - ECM
Vice-President, William Do Carmo, business man, community advocate - ECM
Treasurer, Debra Almeida, Ph.D., long-time member – ECM
Secretary, Arthur Motta II, Dir. of Marketing, New Bedford Whaling Museum - ECM
Cultural Advisor, Ayako Rooney, founding member – ECM
Ms. Joan Doyon, WMFH tour guide
Ms. Aline Duval – ECM
Rev. Ann Fox, Minister, Fairhaven Unitarian UniversalistChurch – ECM
Ms. Joni Gaudiello, teacher, Bristol Community college
Mr. David Gilbertson, business man, founding member
Mr. Daniel Gifford, Architect
Mr. Enrique Goytizolo, antique dealer, WMFH Curator
Mr. Peter Grilli, President & CEO, Japan Society of Boston
Ms. Gail Isaksen, Fairhaven business woman, community volunteer
Mr. Albert Jones, community volunteer - ECM
Ms. Susan Joseph, former member
Ms. Carolyn Longworth, Director, Millicent Library, founding member
Ms. Donna Maxfield, retired teacher
Mr. Thomas Mello, WMFH tour guide – ECM
Prof. Shigeru Miyagawa, Head of Foreign Language Dept., MIT
Mr. Arthur Moniz, artist, proprietor, Arthur Moniz Gallery
Ms. Cheryl Moniz, business woman, community volunteer
Ms. Debbie Morris, Whitfield home owner
Ms. Barbara Owen, past Treasurer - ECM
Mr. Steven Paquette, craftsman
Dr. Matthew C. Perry, 4th generation descendant
Mr. James Russell, President, New Bedford Whaling Museum
Mr. Michael Silvia, - ECM
Ms. Jill Simmons, past member, New Bedford Police Dept. - ECM
Ms. Mary-Ellen Tunney, LISW, - ECM
Mr. Daniel Waltz, Pres. & CEO, Southern Mass Credit Union
Ms. Cynthia Yoken, past member, retired teacher
ADVISORY
New York
Ms. Susan J. Onuma, Partner, Kelley & Drye Law Firm, New York
NOTE: ECM = MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE