We are very happy to let everyone know that the 2025 NatCon will be in person.
When: October 3-5 (Friday-Sunday)
Where: Washington, DC
A big thank you to our host, JET Alumni Association of Washington, DC (JETAADC) for hosting this year's NatCon. Further gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, Japan Local Government Center / CLAIR, New York, and US JET Alumni Association
When: October 3-5 (Friday-Sunday)
Where: Washington, DC
A big thank you to our host, JET Alumni Association of Washington, DC (JETAADC) for hosting this year's NatCon. Further gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, Japan Local Government Center / CLAIR, New York, and US JET Alumni Association
On This Page:
- Conference Schedule
- Delegate and Attendee Action Items
- Key Conference Details for Official Chapter Delegates (inc. Accommodations)
- Meal Forms (Please Sign Up)
- Things to Do in Washington, DC & Optional Activities
- Flight & Train Arrivals
- Other Conference Details
NatCon Details for Official Chapter Delegates
Conference Schedule - Coming Soon!
Please note that the schedule is subject to change up to and during the conference.
Please note that the schedule is subject to change up to and during the conference.
Delegate Registration:
Registration is now closed. If you have any edits to your submitted registration, please contact the Country Representatives at [email protected].
Delegate Action Items:
Headshots - All Attendees (All Attendees)
Please email [email protected] with your headshot or a link to a headshot. These pictures will be used in our conference program so you can get to know your fellow delegates!
Travel Information Form - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
The planning committee asks that you share when you are arriving and departing from NatCon. This helps us know how to coordinate schedules.
Meal Forms - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
For the CLAIR reception and Saturday lunch, we request that all delegates and attendees fill out their food preferences. We are working to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies worked to the best of our abilities. Due to procedures at the reception venue, completing the following short survey is mandatory for all attendees.
Optional Informal Activities - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
JETAADC has arranged several informal activities (i.e., Nijikai) for the weekend and would like to gauge delegates' interest to finalize plans as necessary. Let us know what you want to do to let loose in the form below!
Join the 2025 Delegate Discord
JETAA USA…are you IN?
Key Conference Details:
Please note that the conference will start on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025 (1:00 PM ET) and end at 12:00 p.m. on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2025.
Hotel
The host hotel is Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End
2121 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037.
IMPORTANT
As you may be aware, funding from Japan has overall declined in recent years. Although we hoped to plan for a 3-night conference, currently there is only available funding for 2 nights. There will be optional activities on Thursday for those who arrive early.
What does this mean?
Each Chapter who opts to have their delegates arrive on Thursday night will be responsible for the hotel costs. These funds cannot be budgeted through GiA funding and must come from a Chapter's own reserves.
Hotel Pricing
Accommodations:
For everyone on Thursday/paying for single rooms, we prefer payment via a check sent by postal mail PRIOR to NatCon, to help bear upfront hotel booking costs and to limit the need for check collection and tracking during the conference. If you are unable to mail a check for payment due to extenuating circumstances, please email us.
You can make the check payable to JETAADC and mail to the following address:
1028 Wintergreen Terrace
Rockville MD 20850
Structure
We are requesting Chapters send 2 delegates per Chapter.
What to budget for
What is not covered by GiA
Transit to and from Washington, DC
Opting to arrive on Thursday, October 2nd
Registration is now closed. If you have any edits to your submitted registration, please contact the Country Representatives at [email protected].
Delegate Action Items:
Headshots - All Attendees (All Attendees)
Please email [email protected] with your headshot or a link to a headshot. These pictures will be used in our conference program so you can get to know your fellow delegates!
Travel Information Form - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
The planning committee asks that you share when you are arriving and departing from NatCon. This helps us know how to coordinate schedules.
Meal Forms - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
For the CLAIR reception and Saturday lunch, we request that all delegates and attendees fill out their food preferences. We are working to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies worked to the best of our abilities. Due to procedures at the reception venue, completing the following short survey is mandatory for all attendees.
Optional Informal Activities - All Attendees (Fill out form here)
JETAADC has arranged several informal activities (i.e., Nijikai) for the weekend and would like to gauge delegates' interest to finalize plans as necessary. Let us know what you want to do to let loose in the form below!
Join the 2025 Delegate Discord
- We have a 2025 Discord Channel for all delegates and attendees! This is your place to get your questions answered that will benefit the group.
- Are you in the JETAA USA Discord Server? If not, join here. Once you have joined, we will get you added to the 2025 delegate channel
- Each chapter is requested to prepare a mini presentation (5 minutes max) answering the following points:
- Theme: JETAA Tank (similar to Shark Tank). You have 5 minutes to tell us about your chapter and how we can connect and collaborate with you. Here are sample tips that can help you form an outline.
- The Hook (15-30 sec) - An “elevator pitch” or quick opening statement about your chapter: Hi! We’re JETAA [Chapter Name], home to [#] alumni across [region/state]. We like to think of ourselves as [fun tagline / vibe]
- Who We Are/ Culture (1 min) - (size, region, membership highlight; are you more professional, spread out, tight knit, etc)
- What We Do (2 min) - Highlight signature events or initiatives (Ex. Community, member engagement, JETAA or Japan related)
- Why We’re Unique/Strengths (1 min) - What makes your chapter stand out? Maybe you overcame a problem, have a strong partnership - what is your superpower?
- The Ask (30 sec) -
JETAA USA…are you IN?
- A Sample template can be found here. You are welcome to create your own presentation from scratch as well. (5 slides max)
Template - The 5-minute time allotted for each chapter will be strictly enforced, so please be mindful when preparing your presentation.
- Presentations are due by September 26, 2025. We will have them queued up for you on the day of your presentation due to time limitations.
Key Conference Details:
Please note that the conference will start on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025 (1:00 PM ET) and end at 12:00 p.m. on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2025.
Hotel
The host hotel is Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End
2121 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037.
IMPORTANT
As you may be aware, funding from Japan has overall declined in recent years. Although we hoped to plan for a 3-night conference, currently there is only available funding for 2 nights. There will be optional activities on Thursday for those who arrive early.
What does this mean?
Each Chapter who opts to have their delegates arrive on Thursday night will be responsible for the hotel costs. These funds cannot be budgeted through GiA funding and must come from a Chapter's own reserves.
Hotel Pricing
Accommodations:
- If you will no longer be staying on Thursday night, please let us know ASAP.
- Payments for the Thursday night and single hotel room are to be made directly to JETAADC.
- Despite our efforts and much discussion with our partners, Thursday night accommodations are not able to be covered through National Conference funding.
- If for some reason your chapter/delegate(s) are unable to cover the Thursday night cost, please let the Country Representatives know as soon as possible by emailing us at [email protected].
- Pricing for the rooms for throughout the conference:
For everyone on Thursday/paying for single rooms, we prefer payment via a check sent by postal mail PRIOR to NatCon, to help bear upfront hotel booking costs and to limit the need for check collection and tracking during the conference. If you are unable to mail a check for payment due to extenuating circumstances, please email us.
You can make the check payable to JETAADC and mail to the following address:
1028 Wintergreen Terrace
Rockville MD 20850
- JETAADC is making the hotel arrangements for all delegates so that you can stay in your same room throughout the entire conference. You do not have to call in to the hotel unless directed to do so.
Structure
We are requesting Chapters send 2 delegates per Chapter.
What to budget for
- Airfare for 2 delegates (Normal GiA)
- Transportation to and from the airport during NatCon (Normal GiA)
- Ex. Home to Airport, and Airport to Home
- Ex. Airport to Hotel, and Hotel to Airport
- Ex. Bus or Train to a Reception
- Hotel rooms for 2 nights are covered by CLAIR and MOFA
- Meals during the Conference are covered by CLAIR and MOFA
What is not covered by GiA
- Food at the airport, lunches on your own, etc
- Omiyage to exchange with other Chapters (e.g., snacks)
- Souvenirs
- Optional nijikai excursions
Transit to and from Washington, DC
- Recommended Airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Both airports are connected via train to downtown DC via Metro, the DC metropolitan area's public transit system. Transportation costs to and from the hotel from the airport via Metrorail, the DC metropolitan rapid public transit system, will be less than $10 per person one-way.
- Time from DCA to hotel by train/car: Approximately 30 minutes by Blue Line/15 minutes with no traffic.
Time from IAD to hotel by train/car: Approximately 1 hour by Silver Line/45 minutes with no traffic. - For a shorter travel time to the hotel, we recommend NatCon delegates book a flight to DCA. However, both airports have connected train stations with easy access to downtown DC.
- Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is also another airport nearby but takes more planning and travel time relative to the two airports mentioned above (JETAA USA is happy to discuss with those interested in flying to BWI).
- Choosing delegates now will help in accurately budgeting for flights for GiA purposes.
Opting to arrive on Thursday, October 2nd
- Normal GiA covers flight regardless of the dates delegates land/depart.
- Accommodations will need to be covered by Chapters' own discretionary funds or reserves (funds the Chapter has that are not connected to GiA or MOFA funds).
Flights and Train Arrivals
Additional Details:
- Please find directions to the hotel below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to JETAA USA.
🛫 From Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Via Train:
- At DCA, go to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro Station (accessible from Terminal 2, look for signs that say “Metro”)
- Board the Blue Line train heading toward: Largo
- Stay on the Blue Line all the way to: Foggy Bottom-GWU.
- Walk ~10-minute walk to the hotel
Via Uber, Lyft, or Rideshare (~5 miles):
Total travel time: ~20-30 minutes, ~$20.00-$25.00 (depending on time of day, note that prices may be vary depending on demand and surge pricing)
🛫 From Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Via Train:
- At IAD, take the Silver Line from the Dulles Airport Metro Station (accessible via underground walkway, looks for signs that say “Metro”
- Board a Silver Line train heading toward: Largo
- Stay on the Silver Line all the way to: Foggy Bottom-GWU.
- Walk ~10 minutes to the hotel
Via Uber, Lyft, or Rideshare (~26 miles):
Total travel time: ~50-60 minutes, fare: ~$50.00-$55.00 (depending on time of day, note that prices may vary depending on demand and surge pricing)
🚇 From Union Station (for those taking Amtrak to DC)Via Train
- Arrive at Amtrak Union Station, enter the Metro Union Station (look for signs that say “Metro”) and take the Red Line heading toward: Shady Grove
- Ride the Red Line train two stops and get off at: Farragut North
- Exit the station and walk ~7-10 minutes (about 0.4 miles) to the hotel
Total travel time: ~10-15 minutes, fare: $10.00-$15.00 (depending on time of day, note that prices may vary depending on demand and surge pricing)
- IMPORTANT: CLAIR reimbursement through GiA only covers the cost of an Economy ticket. If you decide to sit in a higher class, you’ll be reimbursed only up to the Economy fare amount.
- If you have any questions about transportation to and from NatCon, please contact JETAA USA.
Attire
- Friday: Business Professional
- Saturday - Sunday: Business Casual
- We will be walking from the Old Ambassador’s Residence to the receptions and optional Nijikai activities. It’s recommended to bring comfortable walking shoes with you. Accommodations will be made for those who indicated any mobility concerns. Please reach out to [email protected] with any additional questions.
Optional Conference Activities
Delegate Gift Exchange
One of our favorite NatCon traditions is the delegate exchange, where we swap small items that represent our chapters and regions. This year, JETAADC is keeping it light and fun with magnets!
Bring along (one) magnet that shows off your hometown, state, or something unique about your chapter. At a designated time, we’ll gather to trade them and take home a little piece of each other’s story.
This activity is completely optional but always a fun way to connect and share a bit of where you’re from!
Regional Snacks
As in past years, if your chapter would like to bring regional snacks to share with the other delegates, feel free to do so. This is also optional but always appreciated as we snack on these items during our breaks in between sessions. Please note, we do request that snacks be peanut-free due to fellow delegate dietary sensitivities. Also, please make sure packaging clearly lists ingredients.
Things to do in Washington, DC
DC Travel Guide
JETAADC has compiled a list of attractions, dining options, and drug/grocery stores, as well as metro information. Please use the information on the attached PDFs as a guide for your trip to DC! Additionally, there is a link to the official DC sightseeing website. Feel free to explore the area before and after NatCon. You are also welcome to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] for any questions about navigating DC.
DC Travel Guide - Dining
DC Travel Guide - Drug & Grocery Stores
DC Travel Guide - Attractions
DC Travel Guide - Metro Information
