The Rotterdam-Japan Club has as an objective the cultivation of friendly relations between senior Japanese and Dutch businessmen in the Rotterdam area by being open to the mutual cultures, and for exchange of information.
Book Project: RJC 25th Anniversary Essay Contest
To all members and former members of the Rotterdam-Japan Club
On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the club, the Board of the RJC has the pleasure to invite you to participate in the contest. The jury will consist of independent professionals and shall read the entries nameless to guarantee impartial judgement. There will be a first, second and third price for each Dutch and Japanese entry. From this group of six prize winners, the jury will select the very best entry, and the author of that entry will receive a Very Special Prize, i.e. the appointment as “Best Author of the RJC” which title she or he will hold until a next essay writing contest will be held.
All entries are bundled and included in a book that will be presented during the 25th Anniversary Party on Friday, 8 June 2012. All entries to be written in English language; the order of appearance in the book will be decided upon by undersigned; entries will mention the autors’ names.
The essay should be no longer than 750 words; there is no minimum. The topic of the essay must be the personal account of the author’s relationship with the Netherlands (Japanese members/authors) or with Japan (Dutch members/authors). A short mentioning the author’s story relates to the RJC will be appreciated, but is not a must.
The Rules
The essay must be personal, thus not a story on business, politics, economy, etc. For example, it may be about a personal experience, about one’s feelings towards country and people. It may be a funny story, a sad story, anything. It does not even have to be a true story; fiction is accepted.
The maximum length to be 750 words. Each author is encouraged to submit illustrations with his or her contribution; that can be photographs relating to the essay but also photographs or other illustrations that the author believes will embellish the book. The jury will look especially favourable upon illustrations by own hand, as long as they can be reproduced in the book. It is not a requirement to submit digital images, paper copies are accepted.
The Book
By sending the entry to the undersigned each author automatically transfers the copyrights to the RJC. These rights cannot be returned under any circumstance and will not be the subject of a financial or other remuneration, with the exception of the possibility to win the prizes.
The entry will only be checked for very obvious spelling or grammar mistakes and undersigned has the liberty to make corrections whenever he deems them necessary and to the benefit of the author before submitting the entry to the jury. Non-digital images/illustrations will be returned to the author after the publication of the Book. Copyrights of illustrations become the property of the RJC as well without any compensation, now or in the future, of whatever nature. Illustrations with a third party copy right cannot be accepted.
It should be noted that No Other Corrections than the ones described above will be made since the maintenance of the essay’s authenticity is of paramount importance. There will be no correspondence with undersigned and/or the jury after the entry has been submitted to undersigned.
The book will be distributed to each author, free of charge. All others can buy the book for euro 17,50. The board of the RJC reserves the right to give the book as a present to selected dignitaries. It will also be available for sale through the book stores and on-line and will be included in the Royal Dutch Library. Proceeds will reinforce the liquidity of the RJC.
Format of Entry
Each entry is to be submitted by email to h.vd.berg@oudemaasbeheer.nl in a Microsoft Office Word document. Illustrations, when digital, should also be sent by email to this address as well; please take care that large files are indeed accepted by the mailbox; when in doubt authors are requested to use more email messages. Non digital illustrations can be sent by mail to undersigned with a clearly written return address.
DEADLINE OF ENTRY
All entries must be received by undersigned on SUNDAY, 13 MAY 2012, 23:59 HRS at the very latest. Entries received after the deadline will be ignored.
Organiser and contact person
H.J. van den Berg
Het Buitenland 7
2995 TP Heerjansdam
h.vd.berg@oudemaasbeheer.nl
HAVE FUN, AND LET’S PRODUCE A SPLENDED 25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK OF THE RJC TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY WITH YOU AS AUTHOR !!