Willow Glen Resident
Community
Fujikawa takes Rotary Club helm, goal to add members
By Laura Rheinheimer
Echoing the motto of the Campbell, West San Jose Rotary Club, newly elected president Derek Fujikawa hopes to "lead the way."
The 34-year-old Willow Glen resident was asked to serve as president after nine years in the club, including five years on the board as treasurer.
Fujikawa has added monthly social events for members, including wine tasting for adults and events geared toward families. He hopes to make the club more family-oriented.
"This is a really great club, and we can do great things," Fujikawa says.
To accomplish these things, he has set the club's fundraising goal at $35,000, almost double the previous year. As president, one of his roles is to determine how the monies will be allocated. The group has already raised $3,000 by selling grilled corn and seasoned fries at the Campbell Oktoberfest.
In the past, the Rotary Club has helped pay transportation costs for Campbell Middle School students to attend science camp. The main project planned for this year will involve partnering with Rosemary School to build a computer lab. The Rotarians would also like to team up with Moreland Middle School to fund a future program.
In addition to local schools, Fujikawa wants to take advantage of the organization's international ties.
This month, two Rotary International dignitaries from Turkey and India visited the group to talk about possible collaborations, such as funding the Rosemary school project, and Fujikawa sees a potential for similar events in the future.
Another of Fujikawa's goals is to increase membership in the Campbell, West San Jose chapter. He wants to recruit a dozen new members to augment the club's existing 38 members by the end of his term in June.
"We're big enough where we can get things done, but we're small enough that everyone gets to know each other," he says.
Fujikawa says that like other members, he has made many friends and business contacts through the club.
Fujikawa, a certified public accountant, works with his father, Stan, at Fujikawa and Associate, CPA, which was started by the elder Fujikawa 25 years ago. The younger Fujikawa joined the business nine years ago, about the same time he became active in the Rotary Club of Campbell.
The club, which is now a consolidation of two chapters-- San Jose West and Campbell--has lunch every Tuesday at EMQ in Campbell. During those meetings, members listen to a speaker and socialize. The group has heard from Campbell City Council members and San Jose City Councilman-elect Pete Constant.
The speakers inspired Fujikawa to become more involved in the club.
He and his wife, Mari, met while at UC-Santa Barbara and have been married for 10 years. The couple lives near Willow Glen High School with their 3-year-old son, Colin.
