Get Involved

Become a Member of OFSCA

To become a member of the Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Association (OFSCA), you must submit your annual membership dues to support our organization's activities. If you would like to meet our Board of Directors and members and get a sense of our activity before joining, please join one of our monthly General Meetings, email us at ofsca1962@gmail.com for more information, or attend one of our public events in the city! 

OFSCA also has a number of volunteer opportunities ranging from monthly commitments to occasional or one-time activities that we welcome everyone to join.

All are welcome to join! We welcome residents of Oakland (and surrounding cities), those who have lived/worked/traveled in Fukuoka or Japan, alumni of the JET Program, those with an interest in Japanese culture, people-to-people exchanges, and more. Our members range from families and K-12 students to university students, and adults of all ages. Many of our members remain involved in OFSCA for decades, and have made lifelong friends as part of our exchange programs, community activities, and volunteer opportunities. 

SUMMER 2024: Become a Host Family for incoming high school exchange students from Fukuoka! 

Join OFSCA as a host family for incoming exchange students in our Youth Exchange program. We need homestay families to join us to host a student during the 2024 Fukuoka group visit (anticipated dates Friday, July 26 through Tuesday, August 6, 2024). For more information, contact ofsca1962@gmail.com or the 2024 program coordinators for OFSCA, Gary Tominaga (gttominaga@comcast.net) or Jason Lambert (tonkatsudog@gmail.com).

Host Families do NOT need to live within the City of Oakland. Host families must be able to drop off students on weekday mornings at the drop-off site in Oakland and pick them up in the evening at the same drop-off site (via car or accompanied on transportation at all times). 

Families must provide breakfast/dinner and occasionally a bagged lunch for their host student, and all weekend meals. 

Students must have their own bed (a separate bedroom is not required, but if sharing a bedroom, it must be with a child under 18 of the same gender). 

Families with children of their own are especially encouraged, and host families are given priority consideration for future Oakland-to-Fukuoka exchange opportunities. Families without children / empty nesters are also welcome. All host families must pass a background check.

How to Submit Membership Dues

Dues are payable to the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association. Please fill out and return the form attached at the bottom of this page in PDF and Word formats (scroll all the way down). 

You can pay the dues online via PayPal's secure site using a credit card -- please be sure to send us a copy of your membership form to ofsca1962@gmail.com) or mail your dues with a personal check to:

Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association
P.O. Box 13022
Oakland CA 94661-3022

2023-24 OFSCA Membership Form

Need assistance? Contact ofsca196@gmail.com or call Liane Scott at the contact on the form.

2023-24 Membership Dues

When joining OFSCA or renewing your annual membership, please select the dues tier for you or your family/organization: 

Additional Contributions: Support OFSCA Beyond Membership

If you are able to make a donation to OFSCA in addition to annual membership, we are deeply grateful for your support of our activities. Select your level: 

Join a General Meeting

General Meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00-9:00pm Pacific Time via Zoom online meeting software. You can join via phone only, or by computer with microphone and/or camera on. (Some special meetings may take place at the Buddhist Church of Oakland, 825 Jackson Street, Oakland with advance notice.) All are welcome to attend!

Upcoming Meetings: (Dec. 2023 Meeting is cancelled due to winter holidays) - January 16, 2024 - February 20, 2024 - March 19, 2024 - April 16, 2024 - May 21, 2024

To receive the Zoom meeting link for each month, email ofsca1962@gmail.com. This is an open meeting using the free Zoom video/audio meeting platform. No subscription is required, and Zoom is free to download for your desktop or mobile device, can be used with your device's built-in microphone/camera, or can be joined via telephone call (audio only). 

California-Japan Sister Cities Network

OFSCA is a member of the California-Japan Sister Cities Network.

California-Japan Sister Cities Network (CJSCN) provides support to the sister city and friendship city relationships between California and Japan to nurture and cultivate long-lasting international relationships.  Through its activities of enhancing and strengthening these relationships, CJSCN will promote peace and prosperity.

As of January 2021, there are 108 cities in the state of California that have a sister  city or friendship city relationship with a city in Japan.  Although each of these relationships is unique, the communities, organizations and individuals involved in the growth and development of these relationships encounter many of the same hurdles and triumphs.  CJSCN strives to be a go-to resource for these aspects we have in common, whether it is gathering ideas for fundraising, connecting to new support networks, or even just making new friends who share the same interests in cultural exchange and peace.

Sister Cities International (SCI)

Sister Cities International (SCI) is a nonprofit international organization of volunteers who facilitate exchanges and function as protocol representatives for their respective cities. The Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Association (OFSCA) has had an official Sister City relationship since 1962, one of the oldest in the United States, and the oldest in Oakland.  

Individual members as well as corporations, associations, businesses, educational institutions and individuals are also invited to join the SCI network. Membership with SCI is the best way for your community or organization to establish meaningful and lasting global connections. SCI opens doors to the world, enhancing quality of life through educational exchanges, business development opportunities and information sharing on issues such as technology, healthcare, and the environment. It is your support that keeps this association going.