Shintaido of
Thursday, January 12, 2006 7-9 p.m.
Present: Connie, Eva, Jennifer, Sandra, Lee, Stephen (by phone), Michael, Ito, guests Shin Aoki and Rob Kedoin
Absent: David Franklin
Meeting chaired by: Connie
A. Internal survey: Kangeiko (West & East)
B. Possible next steps:
1. External survey
2. Compiling results
3. Developing next phase of marketing
A. Financial summary for 2005 – Sandra
B. Changes in job responsibilities – Sandra
1. Web Bookstore-Stephen
2. Membership database
3. Proposal on outsourcing development of database
C. NTC summary for 2005
1. ISF TC representative comments
D. Ito-sensei's summary for the year and Taimyo Peace Network
Surveys are planned for both Kangeiko events. Lee will summarize from the Pacshin Kangeiko, and Stephen will summarize from the East Coast Kangeiko.
A. Financial summary for 2005
Sandra reports that expenses and income are staying fairly even. We are a financially stable organization at this point, but if we suddenly spend a lot we won't be able to recoup with our current income. Recently we are losing a little money every year. The difference between income and expenses is approximately the cost of operating the bookstore and the web site.
Stephen noted that our insurance company dropped our rates because of fewer people reported practicing Shintaido.
The financial summary was accepted.
B. Changes in job responsibilities – Sandra
Sandra will continue as treasurer, but some of her other responsibilities will be handed off to others. The treasurer will continue to be a voting member of the Board.
The Board expressed its appreciation to Sandra for all of her work with membership, the web site, and SoA finances.
1. Stephen will take over the Web Bookstore duties.
2. Marti Bartlett (a student of Lee's in Bellingham) is willing to try doing the membership database, but Lee notes that Marti will need quite a lot of guidance and encouragement, since she is both new to the job and relatively new to Shintaido.
3. Proposal on outsourcing development of database—we are
considering outsourcing the development of a Web-based membership database,
possibly to be done by Dan Ridley in
a) We will maintain the old database for the time being. Sandra will think more about what is needed for the person to maintain the old database.
b) We will get a proposal from Dan on how much it would cost to put the database online. To get that, we need to tell Dan what we want.
c) We want the database to generate mailing labels, track rankings, and track payments for memberships and examinations.
d) If we want to include other features, too, it will be much less expensive to implement those features early in the planning stage.
e) Jennifer will continue to move forward on exit interview questions.
C. NTC summary for 2005 – Lee
NTC accomplishments in 2005
"Read-only" status for inactive NTC members (they have access to e-mail discussions but are not required to take part)
Election of ISF TC representatives Jennifer, Joe, Jim
Approval of Shin as NTC co-chair
National issues to be discussed in 2006
NTC member responsibilities for SoA exams
Exam feedback by non-examiner NTC members
Exam feedback at the dojo by official examiners
Responsibilities of NTC "point people"
International issues in 2006
Activities of ISF TC (In the context of ISF TC communications, Connie noted that the ISF Board members have been out of contact recently because the Japan office switched e-mail servers, and although an ISF members mailing list has been established on Yahoo!, at present there is no mailing list for the ISF Board.)
SoA response to the Japanese proposal and European counterproposal on curriculum, 10-dan system, upper-level examiner requirements, etc.
D. Ito-sensei's summary for the year and Taimyo Peace Network
Ito thanked everyone
for continuing to keep the organization steady, and also for support during his
illness. He is recovering well, but is traveling less than he used to, and in
the future will publicly be spending more time in Europe and only about 1 month
per year in
He is giving diving training and tours, continues his interest in tai chi practice, and is looking forward to sharing his inspiration and aspiration with Shintaido instructors at the advanced workshop. Taimyo is going well, and he hopes to make it his life work, including perhaps writing a Shintaido-related book with Juliette. He is extending the concepts of the Caregiver Workshop to taking care of at least part of our planet.
The DVD project is on track, with filming scheduled for the weekend after Kangeiko.
Rob Kedoin will join the slate for SoA Board. The slate will be discussed online.
The Board commended Stephen for keeping us moving forward and for arranging quarterly board meetings by phone.
The meeting was adjourned.