New Membership Categories!

Join one of our new Premium or Life membership categories today! We will officially transition beginning in January 2025. Please check out our resources below or reach out to mbr@jacl.org or (415) 921-5225 ext. 3 with any questions.

Fact Sheet / FAQs

Upgrade by Mail Form

Pacific Citizen Article (p. 8)

Sign Up for an Automatic Monthly or Annual Membership Plan!

Just like your favorite subscription service, you can now set up your Premium JACL membership to auto-renew. Life memberships can be made in installments over 12 months or with a custom plan.

Choose between monthly or annual payments and never worry about renewing again!

Remembering Premium Category Names

Thanking the Founders

Thousand Club

George Inagaki & Hito Okada

- Founded by National President Hito Okada, “Father of 1000 Club”, and George Inagaki, original 1000 Club Chair

- The idea originated with charter members Fred Wada and Frank Tsuchiya in August 1946, when each pledged $1,000 donations

- 1000 Club was officially formed at the August 13-17, 1947 National Board meeting in Idaho Falls

- Goal was to get 1,000 members to pay $25 a year ($25,000 extra for JACL)

- This goal was reached in October 1954

Century Club

The Ota Family of Los Angeles

- Established in 1970 at the JACL National Convention in Chicago

- National Council did not want to raise the 1000 Club dues (again). So, they created other categories of “Supporting Members” by passing a CBL amendment

- The original Century Club dues were $100 per year with $15 going to the chapter

- The name was inspired by a $100 donation from Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ota of Los Angeles during the Convention banquet and pledge to keep up the contribution annually

References

  • P.C. Vol 39, #14 (October 1, 1954)

  • P.C. Vol 23, #8 (August 24, 1946)

  • P.C. Vol 71, #5 (July 31, 1970)

  • P.C. Vol 139, #4 (August 20, 2004)


    Special thanks to David Kawamoto for his dedicated Pacific Citizen research!

Millennium Club

Milo Yoshino & Frank Sakamoto

- Founded in 2004 by Milo Yoshino and Frank Sakamoto

- Goal was to get 50 members to pay $1,000 a year ($50,000)

- Approved at the 38th Biennial National JACL Convention in Honolulu, also the celebration of JACL’s 75th anniversary