Unfortunately, I won't be able to come to the meeting
this Friday (going skiing), but if I could come I
would want to talk about the design for an Aikido game
(or games) for the website. So don't forget that we
have this other opportunity for visibility (and
website donations!). I have been learning Flash and
once the quarter ends in a couple weeks I should be
able to start on an Aikido game. I've come up with a
design that should be fairly straight-forward to
implement. I would appreciate help with the design
from more experienced dojo members though. Let me know
if you can talk about it.

Alex

--- Joe Ewing <jbe-kkr@...> wrote:

> Here are the condensed minutes from our last
> All-Dojo meeting in the
> fall. Please read, see how much we all have done
> since then, and put
> your thoughts towards next steps you think we should
> take. We hope you
> can come and join us on Friday for another All-Dojo
> meeting and potluck.
> Training is at 6pm, potluck around 7:30pm.
>
> Thank you ALL for the upswing in energy at our dojo
> in the past few
> months. It is great to be with you!
>
> - Kim
>
> Seattle School of Aikido
> Minutes of the 10/05 All-Dojo Meeting
> Condensed in preparation for All-Dojo Meeting
> 3 March 06
>
> Present: Rupert Berk, Laura Mortensen, David Kaplan,
> John Peng, Christy
> Purdy, Jain Rutherford, Mike Ullmann, Jan Keller,
> Kim Roberts, Yvonne
> deReynier, Robert Huberth, Zenith Morrison-Weiss,
> Catherine Ketterick,
> Don Wootten, John Kahler, Tracy Read, Dane
> Doerflinger, Kyle Marcroft,
> Mona Jin Shi, Dierk Yochim, John Sweval, Alan
> Lindwall
>
> Called to order: 21 October 05, 8:00pm (or so)
>
>
> All members are urged to register on the Yahoo group
> (the link is on the
> website).
>
> Board Introductions
> Robert (loveofthemountains@...) and Yvonne
> (bathybius@...)
> have volunteered to join the Board. (Since this
> meeting, Zenith has
> stepped down from the Board. Thank you for all your
> good work, Zenith!)
>
> Financial Report
> Jain reported that, with our balance diminishing
> over the last five
> years, we are currently down in revenues for the
> year by $1700 (income ?
> expenditures). We have a bank balance of $5000 -
> $7000. Real estate
> taxes were $1100/6 months this year. Now we pay
> $1700 rent per month, as
> of next July we will pay $1800/mo plus a percentage
> based on cost of
> living increases. We can anticipate a
> cost-of-living increase of 4~5%
> for 2006.
>
> Mike reported that we have fewer students joining
> while rent and
> insurance costs are going up. �gIf we don�ft
change
> the way we do
> business, we�fll be out of business in a year.�h

>
> David suggested the possibility of changing the way
> we think about our
> dojo. We currently are a school of teachers with
> students. We could
> shift to a place of practice, absorbing people
> interested in starting
> aikido as they come. If the dojo is energetic and
> welcoming, people will
> be attracted.
>
> At this point, we split into groups to brainstorm
> ideas for raising
> income and increasing the vitality of the dojo.
>
> Small group brainstorming
> Raising money
> Ask for money ? donation button on website, find
> patrons, members can
> make tax-deductible pledge, find grants
> Do other dojos have $ problems? Can Seattle dojos
> work together to raise
> public awareness in general?
> Rent dojo space when not in use for classes through
> Craig�fs List ** Done
> **
>
> Raising SSA profile
> Offer classes through CYO, YMCA, Seattle School
> District, UW, community
> colleges, malls
> Open for field trips
> Advertise a.m. & Fri. p.m. classes
> Look for opportunities for free advertising ?
> Seattle Times article,
> seminars
> Big sidewalk sandwich sign (especially for beginner
> series �gBeginning
> classes now�h)
> Put contact info on outdoor signs
> FAQ sheet for back of our flyer; update brochure **
> Done ** Thanks,
> Yvonne & John!
> Always raise blinds for class
> Bumper stickers ** Decided not to pursue, due to
> expense **
> Community marketing ? community hospitals,
> Children�fs, Laurelhurst,
> community newspapers
> TV ? news (sportscasters ? Eric�fs Little . . .)
> Advertise at U Village ? coffeeshops, stores - *
> local exposure *
> Run some aikido clips on a TV in the window for
> folks passing by on the
> sidewalk and the bus (10 sec mpg, Steven Segal clips
> J )
>
> The Board has since decided that we will not pursue
> this last idea. Some
> feel it makes us look desperate; some feel it is not
> in keeping with the
> spirit of aikido; some feel that it is outright
> tacky.
>
> Seminars
> Big 30th anniversary festivities for SSA ? seminar?
> ** Currently under
> consideration**
> Schools, community centers
> Offer through Discovery U, Experimental College?
> Japanese language and
> culture section (Japanese one day, aikido another,
> flower arranging
> another ? Robby?)
> Japanese language class for aikidoka ? how to say,
> �gHit me,�h how to
> order at a restaurant, what all those terms mean
> (Kim & Christy?)
> Select teaching themes (for a month ? perhaps on
> Thursdays?) and
> advertise at other dojo
> Have a movie night here and invite folks from other
> dojo.
>
> If seminars are to raise funds, they must draw on
> aikidoka from outside
> SSA. Otherwise, we are still drawing from the same
> pool.
>
> Focus on beginners
> Survey at end of beginner classes ? what do you
> like? What don�ft you?
> Why/why not?
> Revamp ideas about how beginners start ? can choose
> beginner series, but
> also welcome to come and try any class ** Done **
> Advertise along #74 bus route ** Still being
> researched **
> More advanced students come to beginner classes so
> the beginners will
> want to come back ** Done **
> Open House ? before or after class ? not just once,
> but every time
> there�fs a beginner in class
>
> Inside the dojo ** Done? ** (^.^)
> Smile more ? be talkative and friendly to anyone who
> comes in the door.
> Someone other than the instructor has to go over;
> the teacher can�ft
> Inspiring beginners
> �gEgos left at the door�h
>
> Website
> Pictures for website
> On-line newsletter with interesting �gpersonal
> experience�h articles
>
> Fee structure
> Discount for parents of our students
> Have more seminars, invite more guest teachers from
> elsewhere; have our
> own senior students/teachers offer seminars
> Join events with other dojo
> Start-up deals ? two weeks free, punch cards,
> prepaid classes ** Done **
> Coop model ? if we make goal, members receive
> payback ** Decided not to
> pursue **
> Direct deposit discount ** Done **
> Flexibility in dues paying ? incentives, such as
> discount for 3 months
> advance payment ** Done ** Thanks, John P!
>
>
=== message truncated ===


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