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Communications and Change
This is our first newsletter for 2007. I hope and pray everyone’s holidays were blessed. My wife and I want to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.
As we continue into this new millennium my goal will be to further the desires of our late founder. I had endeavored to begin that process in the latter part of 2006 by sharing an e-mail exchange between Mr. Lieb and myself prior to his departure for Germany. I sent an e-mail to all of the AKS black belts in my address book. The e-mail described areas where Ernie wanted to make changes. I answered the various paragraphs (with his ideas and suggestions) with comments in blue. (If you would like to review that again please contact me.) I received a few (4 or 5) responses on both sides of the spectrum; some agreeing with his proposals and others desiring to maintain the status quo. Sadly, not all of the black belts to whom I sent this e-mail responded. This lack of response makes taking the temperature of the organization’s feelings on any given issue very difficult. It also demonstrates that either some are not that interested, or they don’t feel there input matters. If I didn’t care about member’s views on AKS concerns I wouldn’t ask.
Mr. Lieb’s goal in making the suggested changes was in an effort to look into the future and see how we could improve the income and administration of the AKS in some small way. It was not to see how and where we can milk more funds from students and instructors, or create more headaches. As an organization we have never focused on profit or paying people a salary. We have endeavored to provide inexpensive training to those who’ve chosen to train with us, and in some cases even absorb the cost of uniforms, patches and so forth for that student who is not financially able to pay, but who demonstrates a keen desire to learn. Unlike many other organizations that charge prices at a much higher rate, we have always prided ourselves on keeping costs low. Even though this is an honorable goal, we must also realize the cost of things increases; the cost of the patches, certificates, student handbook, maintaining the web site, administering and maintaining AKS records and files, etc. It’s called inflation. It was with this in mind Mr. Lieb proposed these minor changes. I will recap some of the key suggestions below so we are all on the same page.
1. Individual membership for below black belt at $20 per annum ($1.67 per month). This would be broken up into quarters to allow new members to come onboard at any point during the year.
2. Black Belt dues at $50. (In the past the head of a school or club paid $100 and got ten certificates that will change to simply purchasing the certificates as needed. This would require certificates be purchased on an as needed basis.)
3. All students would be required to have a white uniform with AKS and American Flag patches, along with the student handbook upon beginning their training.
4. Regional training seminars would be held allowing students in the various areas to participate and train with one of our senior AKS black belts. This gives those who are unable to attend the annual summer camp an opportunity to receive training and seminar credit necessary for later black belt promotional consideration.
5. A change in the black belt testing fees that would start at $300 for 1st Dan, then drop to $250 for 3rd through 5th Dan, and $200 for 6th Dan. Promotions to 7th and 8th would be at no cost.
6. A charge of $10 per certificate for Yellow and Green, and $12 for Brown.
The cost for testing absorbs much of this for the head instructor of a school or club. I use the testing fee to cover the cost of both the belt and the certificate. Some of you charge only that amount necessary to cover the bare costs making the testing fee easier for the student. Others charge a little more and are able to pocket a small amount. None of us make enough money off of anything we do with the AKS that is worth discussing. For one instructor to want to limit the amount charged because that is the way he or she does it, isn’t fair to those who would charge a little more, or whose instructional situation differs.
Because there are feelings on both sides of these issues we will need to put some of them to a vote at this year’s summer camp. None of the suggested changes will go into effect until after the summer camp, and probably those agreed to will take place starting in 2008.
As your chief instructor I want to provide leadership and make decisions based on a consensus of the black belt membership as a whole. It has been suggested I take votes from 4th Dans and up as these people have a better understanding and feel for the organization. I would propose some issues could also be placed on the docket for discussion by those black belts present at the annual summer camp, to be discussed and decided on later by the senior black belts during an executive meeting.
Another topic I raised was a proposal to move Tiger 1 into the Tiger 3 position, thus moving 3 and 2 down one position respectively. Some of the responses I got reminded me of what we used to say the AKS did not do. I was told we’ve been doing these forms in this sequence since 1968. I was told they are already on the training tapes Mr. Lieb made several years ago. There were several other reasons why the proposal was no good, but not one that considered the logic of the suggestion. We use to say the AKS wasn’t like traditional styles because we would make changes when we saw those changes were for the better. We like to call our style an eclectic system that kept what worked and got rid of what didn’t. I guess we’ve become traditionalists and are no longer eclectics because people were so busy throwing around excuses why the proposals weren’t any good, no one look at them from the other side of the street. The logic for the changes was simple. When the Tiger forms were adopted they were very close variations of the old Korean Pinons, or Okinawan or Japanese Heians. We dropped the third kata of those old systems and inserted Tiger 1 which was Mr. Lieb’s original design. Instead of putting the new AKS developed Tiger form in to replace the number three form we took out, we put it in the first position. In the old way of studying the forms (Pinon/Heian) there was a logical sequence of advancement. The AKS Tiger 1 injects the use of the American Fighting stance on our beginners, instead of later when they’ve become a little more mature in knowledge and skills. Mr. Lieb was in agreement with me on this issue and discussed it with Mr. Reinecke, who also saw the logic of the suggestion.
I want to emphasize the importance for all of us to look at these topics/issues not merely from our own club and regional perspective, but also from a position that takes into consideration those in other locations. Some of us teach in YMCAs, some in parks, some at colleges or school gyms, and still others in locations that are more private. As such we all have different cost structures we must take into account. We must not be hard headed about staying the course and riding that old “ain’t nothing broke that needs fixing horse.” If we follow that mentality we do not allow for any creativity or thought towards making things better. We cannot just close the door on a suggestion because we don’t like it. No one should be that closed minded.
Please review these items and talk them over with your students (black belts) and fellow head instructors where this is feasible. For the purposes of the 2007 registration I had asked everyone, regardless of rank and tenure with the AKS, to fill out a new AKS application; which was to be included with your check for the annual dues. The information from each application was to be used by Mrs. Lieb to develop and update a new AKS database of our membership. Some instructors were told it wasn’t necessary and therefore didn’t comply. If you have questions about a requirement or request I’ve made please communicate with me, not one of the assistant chiefs. Though the three of us try to stay current with each other, it is not always possible because of our respective work and family schedules.
If there are any questions please contact me. I am also asking for every AKS black belt who hasn’t received e-mails from me to contact me so I can put his or her address in my book. I know I don’t have everyone.
I know there are probably still some things I need to cover, but for the moment this will do. I would like to publish your responses in the next punchline so everyone can see what others are thinking.
Thank you for your time and attention to these issues. It will only be through our collective efforts that we are able to keep Sensei Lieb’s dream and legacy alive and well. This has to be a team effort.
Respectfully yours in the AKS,
Mike Sullenger, 8th Dan
Chief Instructor
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