A Message from Yamada Sensei

Yamada Sensei will resume his column in the next edition.

A message from the editor:

I am taking the opportunity to use this page since a greeting from Yamada Sensei will not be featured in this edition, and I wanted to make sure this information is easily accessible. First, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of this newsletter. It is a wonderful tool for us all to stay connected and informed about what goes on in our community.

I would also like to bring you up to date on some of the recent events which have transpired within the United States Aikido Federation. As you may already know, Yamada Sensei has for some time been working on securing a strong and viable future for the USAF. This vision has led to a unification of the USAF by dissolving the Western, Midwestern and Eastern Regions. Chiba Sensei has created a new organization which is recognized by Hombu dojo called Birankai. They presented their resignation from the USAF to the Board of Governors in Chicago, and a commitment to maintain strong connections and friendships will be encouraged by both groups. The dojos previously connected with the Midwest Region will decide by the end of June whether or not to remain in the USAF. The dojos from the Eastern region have been re-absorbed into the USAF. A new Board of Governors has been appointed, a Technical Committee has been formed, and an Honorary Members group has been nominated. With this infrastructure in place, the USAF is committed to establishing policies and procedures to assist its member dojos by providing strong leadership with continuity and support for the future.

The most immediate visible changes will be a revamping of the dojo information on the USAF website, which will become interactive in the near future. The dojo-cho will be able to update their address information and will input their own seminar schedules. The interactive element will be secure, and will offer a variety of ways to sort and search for information. In the near future dojo-cho will also be able to access USAF related forms on-line. In addition, the name of this newsletter will eventually be changed to better reflect the unity of the USAF. These are just a few of the projects being worked on. Please be patient as we look to implement these and future policies in the most expeditious way possible.

This year there was an overwhelmingly prompt return of 2006 renewal paperwork from most dojos. Thank you for responding so efficiently to the deadline. If you find an error in the promotion, certified instructors, or dojo list, please let me know so I can make the corrections. Your assistance continues to be greatly appreciated.

The next edition will be online September 15th 2006, so take notes, take pictures and stay in touch!

Laura Jacobs Pavlick