Thursday Notices – 1.2.07

 

This is your Thursday emailout of notices for 1.2.07 to club members and interested parties on Yahoo groups regarding club matters and upcoming events.  If you have something to include or a constructive comment to improve this newsletter, please let me know. 

 

 

 

Contents:

             

 

1. Michael Williams Sensei is visiting our club (please note the date change)
2. INCORPORATION – NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING – new material in green
3. Club Library and New Librarian
4. Club Marketing/Advertising Advisor - Expressions Of Interest
5. South Brisbane Dojo Classes
6. “Wang Shu Jin and the TV set”
7. Griffith University Orientation Week
8. Previous news (but good news) – worth another read!:

 

 

 

 

1.       Michael Williams Sensei is visiting our club (please note the material in red)

 

About Sensei…

Michael Williams Sensei was awarded 9th Dan and appointed as World Chief Instructor of Aikido Yuishinkai International by the Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, Master Koretoshi Maruyama, in October 2003.  In this role, he acts as facilitator for the expansion of Aikido Yuishinkai International and makes available the resources necessary to disseminate information to affiliated dojos around the world.  More information at http://www.aikidoyuishinkai.com/m_williams.htm

 

Sensei is visiting our club on 8^th February and 10^th February.  This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and learn aikido from the World Chief Instructor of our style.  Opportunities such as this are few and far between.  Our style has made significant efforts (through the leadership of Maruyama Sensei and Williams Sensei) to continue to be as affordable as possible.  The rationale for this approach is that the dissemination of aikido is paramount and classes and seminars are the most effective way of disseminating Maruyama Senseis’ teachings.  The affordability of this class is not a guide to it’s value.  It is extraordinary value.  This will be a magnificent chance for beginners and higher grades to develop their aikido understanding, direct from our style’s Chief Instructor!

 

When:              Thursday Feb 8^th 6:30pm-8:30pm (originally 1^st February – change due to unforeseen circumstances)

Also now:       Saturday Feb 10^th 10.30am-12.30pm

 

Where:             Sensei will be a guest instructor at Nathan dojo Thursday night and Saturday morning

 

Class cost:       Thursday and Saturday:          $12 instructors, executive and visitors

$5 for monthly fee paying Griffith Aikido club members

 

But wait there’s more…

The Thursday class will be followed by Paul Crawley’s shodan grading.  This is also an opportunity to show Paul your support, and make his Shodan grading really memorable.  Drinks and nibbles too.

 

Williams Sensei will also be teaching other classes at Brisbane Aikido Yuishinkai dojos in February.  Williams Sensei will be visiting Bald Hills dojo to teach a class on Friday night, 9^th February from 7pm to 9pm.  For location please see:  www.onepoint.org.au/class_times_and_locations.htm

 

 Danny James

 

 

 

2.         INCORPORATION – NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING – latest material in green below

 

Club members who are also students of Griffith University will be aware that Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) will significantly reduce the services available to students on campus.  Funding from the uni has become virtually non-existent and most clubs are closing down and ceasing operations.  Fortunately, our club is in a good financial situation due to forward-thinking management and planning by the executive committee over the past few years.  Our membership is strong and we have coped extremely well with the evaporation of assistance from the University.  In such an uncertain environment, however, the Club Executive feels it is an appropriate time to incorporate.

 

To protect the club and its assets, the Club President asked the executive and senior club members to meet and consider the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation.   The advantages are that incorporation provides the club with a legal status as a registered non-profit group.  It means that governments, businesses and other organisations see the club as a professional organisation and are more willing to deal with us (in the case of government it opens up significant possibilities for sporting, community and other funding options).  The change in legal status also protects the club executive and membership from personal liability for club debts (were we to have some). We will also be able to lease and hold title on land.

 

The process of incorporation is a set procedure which the State Government requires and spells out.  Naturally, the first step is to seek the approval of members to pursue incorporation.  The club is its members, so this is an extremely important step and not taken lightly.  Approval takes the form of a Special General Meeting, which will include a vote of our members as to whether we incorporate or not.  Reasons for doing so, and possible disadvantages will be explained at the meeting and there will be plenty of time for questions.

 

A Special General Meeting has been called by the Executive for Tuesday 13^th February at 8pm, (sorry for date change but necessary so we could enjoy the visit of Michael Williams Sensei) for the purpose of considering and voting on incorporation of the Griffith University Aikido Club. 

 

I said in Thursday Notices last week that there would be a further email about INCORPORATION which you should have received on Friday.  Attached to my email was the agenda (with resolutions to be considered and voted on) for the special general meeting to consider incorporation.  Also attached was the DRAFT proposed constitution (the ‘rules’ referred to in the agenda), for your information.  If you didn’t receive please let me know and I will arrange copies for you.  Your participation in this process is very strongly encouraged.  This club IS it’s members, and therefore, it needs to reflect the opinions and wishes of it’s members.  If you have an opinion please express it, or if you want to suggest changes to the draft constitution, please advise us.  If you have any questions, Danny and I are happy to answer them.  There will be ample time during the special general meeting to ask questions also, if you have them.

 

 

 

3.         Club Library and New Librarian

 

Eri Takahashi has offered to be the new keeper of our books, CD’s and DVD’s.  It means we will have a dedicated librarian and someone to go to if you want to take a book out, have a question or request about a library resource, etc.  As most members will realise, the Club has invested quite heavily in resources which are purely for the benefit of club members.  There are a wide range of books and other materials available for members to borrow to improve their aikido and/or enjoy for entertainment.

 

Unfortunately, a few members have probably deeply appreciated being able to borrow such resources, but apparently not always enough to return books on time and allow others the same access to them.

 

Eri has asked for members to PLEASE display their appreciation for the club’s library service, by returning any outstanding books or other library materials that belong to the club, that they have in their possession, so that she may establish an up-to-date inventory that she can keep a track of.  Naturally, it would be deeply disappointing and distressing if any books, etc., have been lost to the club.  If you think you may have borrowed from the library and possibly not returned an item (forgotten, moving, exams, end-of-year and Christmas complications, etc.), please have a really good look for the item and return it ASAP, or let Eri know that it’s missing.

 

Any questions can be directed to myself or Eri.  If you’re new and don’t know Eri, I’ll point her out for you.

 

 

 

4.         Club Marketing/Advertising Advisor

 

Everyone will have noticed that the club is growing well, and the vitality that new members bring to the club is wonderful, and very welcome.  We would like to continue our success in attracting new members, and spend our advertising dollars more effectively, if possible.  Do any of you have skills/ qualifications/experience in marketing and advertising that we don’t know about?  If you do, would you let Danny or myself know.  We promise not to over-exploit you!!, unless you’re happy for us to! 

 

 

 

5.         South Brisbane Dojo Classes

 

Simon Sensei has developed a ‘fundamentals’ program for South Brisbane Dojo which, because the classes are held on a weekday (Friday at 1-2pm), allows prospective students to consider coming to the class to work on particular techniques they may feel they can improve. 

 

Unfortunately, you missed ‘shihonage’ which we tackled over six weeks late last year.  We’re currently into ‘irimi nage’ with about 3 more weeks to go.  After that, we will be spending six weeks or so on ‘ikkyo’.

 

Simon Sensei has a workshopping approach to his classes which works in very well with the reduced class time.  Although only an hour, the classes are quite intensive (and still with the usual Griffith aikido friendly vibe).  The smaller class numbers mean Simon can work very closely with you.  The junior students attending this class have been able to spend significant time on the basic techniques, and develop a great understanding of the lessons contained within them right from the start.  The more senior students have found that they are very familiar with the shapes of the basic techniques, but they are able to focus on really removing some of the errors which inevitably creep into techniques over time.  This weekday class is fantastic for anyone wanting to improve their techniques, get very close to one-on-one coaching, and have a great deal of fun too.

 

Please consider!!

 

 

 

6.         “Wang Shu Jin and the TV set” (As told by Robert W Smith in his book “Martial Musings”)

 

“One of our sometimes students whose character was of a low order came to me and told me that my characterisation of Wang (Wang Shi Jin, one of the most famous & formidable Ba Gua master ever to live), as a religious man, indifferent to commerce and the ways of the world, was awry.

 

Attempting to prove his case, he told me that his friend in Taiwan had just written him to tell him his story: His friend sought Wang out and told him he wanted to study under the great one and promised to work diligently and do anything necessary to become his student.  Wang asked for his address and promised to visit him at noon the next day.  On the dot, Wang appeared and the would-be student ushered him into his living room, seated him, and began to implore Wang to take him on as an apprentice boxed.  He offered to scrub the floor daily, to pay Wang whatever fee he wanted, anything, to become his student.  Wang smiled and looked around the room until his eyes settled on a brand new television set from the U.S.  The set had cleared customs only the day before at a tariff of 100 percent, costing him upwards of $1,000.

 

“Wang looked at the boy and said, “None of that is necessary.  I’ll take this set.”  The boy went into shock.  He’d been a year without TV, the vilest drug of them all.  He had counted the days until its arrival.  And now to lose it.  He tried to speak, shuddered, but the words wouldn’t come.  Wang touched his stricken shoulder commiserating him on the way out.

 

“My Student stridently demanded to know what I thought of such commercial behaviour.  “You never learn,” I told him stiffly.  “Wang doesn’t care for material things; his whole life is one of self-abnegation.  He didn’t want the TV set - he wouldn’t have known how to turn it on.  Your friend is too stupid to study under Wang, and you to study under me.  The master was simply trying to discover how much of something that guy really valued, that he would forego for his tuition.  And he found it first shot.  If he’d had half a brain, your friend should have jumped up and said, ‘Done! Can I have it delivered right away?’  Instead, he’s probably still watching gongfu movies on that silly set”

 

 Submitted by Simon Russell

 

 

 

7.         Griffith University Orientation Week

 

Griffith Uni will be holding its Orientation Week during the week starting Monday 19^th February.  I’m expecting some of our members, especially our uni students, would like to express their interest in promoting the club during that week, and/or the following week, in which there will be ‘club sign-on days’ and ‘market days’ at each campus.  These days are excellent opportunities for our club to promote aikido and recruit new members.   Our future as a club on campus, with all the uncertainty of voluntary student unionism, is to continue to attract more club members from the uni.  Further, our club is constantly invigorated by its new members.  Plus we have a responsibility to aikido to be unselfish! J and allow others to enjoy the benefits we gain from aikido.  We can do that by showing we want others to join our club, letting them know how much enjoyment and fun we have, and by making them feel welcome.  If you can give us a couple of hours of your time late in February to do that, it would be fantastic.

 

Unfortunately, we have only a few volunteers at present.  I was hoping to have 12 volunteers for 2 hour shifts (happy to have you there longer if you wish):

 

O-Week

Nathan:           Monday 19 February              -           10am to 2pm

 

Week 1

Mt Gravatt:     Monday 26 February              -           10am to 2pm

Nathan:           Thursday 1 March                   -           10am to 2pm

 

If you would like to help out, please let me know via email or give me a call (see bottom of this page), and please indicate preferred times.  For beginners – this is an opportunity to recruit club members who you are senior too!!! JJ

 

 

  

8.         Previous news (but good news) below – worth another read!:

 

 

Maruyama Sensei 2007

 

I am delighted to announce that we will again have Maruyama Sensei in Brisbane next year.  The dates are Friday 28th September to Wednesday 3rd October, which is very exciting!  These dates fall in the Queensland and NSW school holidays.

 

This seminar is also likely to be somewhat larger in terms of numbers on the mat and it goes for 6 days as well.   The Nathan dojo is probably not big enough, so arrangements are being made for an alternative venue, with the Mt. Gravatt showgrounds being the most likely contender. 

 

Maruyama Sensei’s 2007 tour will include Brisbane, Melbourne, New Zealand and Fiji as tour venues.  Melbourne’s seminar will be held from Friday 5^th – Wednesday 10^th October, which will mostly fall in the Vic. and SA school holidays.   Class times and venue to be advised.

 

Maruyama sensei will also be celebrating his 50^th Anniversary of teaching Aikido in Hawaii on the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th of July.  Tony Neal Sensei has already advised via these notices, that he is organising a contingent of aikidoka from Brisbane.  If you’re interested, please let Tony Neal Sensei know at tony@allsignsandplastics.com.au

 

Details about the seminar are available at www.akachawaii.com/aloha.html

 

I will post more information in these notices as venues and classes are finalised.

 

Danny James

 

 

 

Club Sponsorship

 

We are proud to announce our new sponsorship arrangement with Brisbane based residential home loan manager, Direct Credit Home Loans Australia.   As part of an ongoing relationship, Direct Credit Home loans has made an attractive home loan offer to our club members, their family & friends.   In addition, they have offered to pay us a spotter’s fee on each home loan referred through the club.   

I sent a separate email three weeks ago detailing our sponsorship arrangement with Direct Credit Home Loans Australia.  If you didn’t receive it but want the details, please let me know.  Many thanks to Gary Weigh, one of our brand new 3^rd kyu’s, who has arranged this sponsorship.

 

 Danny James

 

 

 

Steve Mitchell

GUAC Secretary

Mob.  0432 269 534

Email:  stevemitchell@ecn.net.au