Griffith Shukan News

Thursday, 9^th  April 2008 

CONTENTS:

1.     Our Journey Over the Last 2 Years

2.     Sandy Lokas is Looking For Share Accommodation

1.     Our Journey Over the Last 2 Years  

Griffith Aikido has come a long way in the last two years.  In January 2006 we held our first planning meeting at our then training location, the Griffith University College of Art at South Bank campus.  In December the same year we went away to the hills of Murwillumbah for a farm stay retreat and a weekend of planning.  As a result of those searching self assessments we have done much to improve the club, whose membership has doubled as a result. 

The first step was our relocation in February 2006 to our current dojo at Nathan Campus.  This, together with a significant investment in 3 new 15 meter mats, gave us the space into which to grow.  Although Aikido is not for everyone, we have vastly improved our retention of members by structuring a specialised monthly beginners’ course which now concludes with a monthly grading / graduation.  People starting out now acquire initial skills faster and, after their first 4 weeks of training, are graded to 7^th kyu and are able to integrate more easily with the rest of the club.  Of course children’s classes have been our other big growth area.  From a beginning of only four children in early 2007, the Saturday Aikikids class has now grown to 30 in the course of a year.  To accommodate future growth, the children’s class has recently split into Aiki-nippers, Aiki-kids and Aiki-teens, all held on Saturday mornings.

The other landmark event in the club’s history was our incorporation on 27^th April 2007.  We are now an incorporated association with annual reporting obligations to the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.  After a lot of work in 2007, we have now equipped ourselves with a full set of teaching and administrative policies, which includes instructor accreditation, child safety and financial management.  We held our first Annual General meeting as Griffith Aikido Institute Inc on 18^th March 2008 where the first audited statements of the association were presented.  As a not for profit sporting organisation, we are now eligible for taxation exemptions and a wide range of government and corporate development grants.  We successfully applied for two grants late last year.  The National Community Crime Prevention Grant was for the development and initial delivery of our self defence course and the Community Gaming Fund Grant was for the purchase of three new 15 meter mats.    

In early to mid 2007 Griffith Aikido was contacted by several Brisbane schools to give Aikido demonstrations and to teach students how to manage bullies and avoid fighting.  Morningside State School, St Peter’s Lutheran College and Ipswich Grammar now number amongst our valued clients.  In 2008, that trend continues except that we have now developed our own Self Defence course after conducting significant research and undergoing specialised training in February.  Via our powerful marketing website we have received a lot of recent interest from schools, companies and government agencies to conduct self defence classes at their premises.  This year so far we have already delivered self defence classes to the employees of Queensland Transport, both at Macgregor and Sherwood.  In May we will undertake a sizeable self defence project for All Hallows Girls School.  With more senior students coming through the Aikido club, we are acquiring more accredited instructors to deliver what we and our clients believe to be a first class self defence education product.

We are always looking for members who can help the club in some small way.  Just to have access to your skills or your time for just a little while from time to time makes a tremendous difference.  Not many people have the time or the inclination to take up the time consuming Executive Committee jobs but we find that we are having much more success with many people helping a little bit.   Thank you so much.

Gary

2.     Sandy Lokas is Looking For Share Accommodation

One of our members, Sandy Lokas has recently done quite a bit of graphic design work for the club and he needs a little help.  He has to relocate to new share accommodation within the next two weeks.  As Sandy is a Griffith Uni student, he needs accommodation ideally in the Sunnybank / McGregor area so he can ride his bike or catch the bus to uni.   He would like to share with mature age people (even as mature as me) who lead a quiet life.  He is willing to pay up to $170 per week for everything (e.g. phone, internet) except food.  Sandy is a real gentleman with a quiet friendly nature and has always been very co-operative in the club.  If anyone has a friend looking for a quality share tenant, please email Sandy on weiloh@...

Gary

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net