A Happy New Year – May this be a prosperous 2013 for all!
Looking back on 2012, one of the most important issues for all members has been the new by-law. Thank you all for your support – the new by-law was passed recently in November 2012. I would like to clarify the terminology: under the new by-law, “member” means a club and “practitioner” means an individual. Both clubs and individuals pay CKF fees as in the past.
I would like to emphasize that practitioners are covered under CKF Liability Insurance only if their “practitioner fee” is paid. So if you do not pay it annually, you are not covered with the insurance. I recommend all practitioners pay their dues by the end of January and a dojo sensei or administrator makes sure that both the club member dues and all practitioner dues are paid up.
Team Canada trained and worked very hard during 2012 for the world championships in Novara, Italy. A big thank you for all the volunteers who helped on the management and administration of this great team including Dave Mori, Matthew Raymond, and Daisuke Hayashi senseis.
Iaido is planning the first Canadian National Iaido Championship (CNIC) with the support of International Kendo Federation (FIK). The CNIC is tentatively scheduled to take place in the Fall season. I anticipate this event will bring Canadian Iaido students together from all over the nation and thus become a very important gathering. Both Ohmi and Cruise Sensei have graciously accepted the responsibility to organize this event for Toronto in Fall 2013.
On a congratulatory note, the honourable shogo Hanshi has been awarded to Morito Tsumura sensei in 2012. This is the very first shogo Hanshi issued by CKF in its history, for Tsumura-sensei’s extraordinary work both past and present.
Also Kyoshi have been issued for Kendo to senseis d’Orangeville, Ma, Shiono, and myself at the same time. Additionally, Ohmi-sensei was granted Kyoshi shogo in Iaido. I really appreciate these sensei’s effort to promote our arts in the past and present.
I’d like to thank all the volunteers who have been putting a tremendous amount of effort in CKF’s daily activities.
Mr. John Maisonneuve , treasurer, has been managing CKF’s account for over three years. I hope everyone recognizes how quickly payments are processed these days compared to the past. He makes financial matters very clear, a very difficult and important task.
Our secretary, Mr. Neil Gendzwill, has worked very hard for the newly introduced by-law and still works around the clock to push other matters forward.
Mr.Eduardo Cigliutti, handles memberships and acts as the head of IT, has worked diligently to connect our general members and the administration.
We also thank Mrs. Eriko Taguchi and Mr. David Chiu has been has taken on the responsibility of organizing and sending certificates for both summer and winter examinations over the past three years. I would also like to emphasize that the daily activities of the CKF could not have been accomplished without all the volunteers, including many others who I have not mentioned in this message. Without your help, we would not be here today, so thank you very much.
Regards,
Hiro Okusa, CKF President