from the December, 2009 issue of Kiai!

Special New Year's Workout & Annual Membership Meeting

By Pat Broughton, Board Chair

 

Mark your calendar now for two important events in the life of Thousand Waves: Kagami Biraki, our traditional New Year celebration/workout for adult and teen training members, and the Annual Member Meeting, for all supporters of Thousand Waves, including parents of children and youth members, teens, adult training members, alums and Community Partners.

Both events will be held on Sunday morning, January 10th, beginning with Kagami Biraki at 8 a.m., followed by a member-supported breakfast at 9:30 a.m., and the Annual meeting from 10 a.m. to noon. This year's Kagami Biraki and Annual Meeting hold special significance as Thousand Waves begins its 25th year. So it is especially fitting to kick off the New Year with two community endeavors focused on a rededication of spirit, effort and discipline.

Kagami Biraki, a traditional Japanese celebration literally meaning "Mirror Opening," is held in many traditional martial arts schools, usually on the second Saturday or Sunday of January. During Kagami Biraki, training members reflect back on the year, assess their progress, and join others in a spirit of gratitude for the opportunity to train and grow. Then comes an opportunity to set mindful training goals for the year ahead. Kagami Biraki at Thousand Waves is also an awesome opportunity to gaze upon rows of black belts, brown and green belts, yellow, blue and white belts, all fully engaged in the practice of the basics of our martial art and a fearsome display of non-quitting spirit. From the oldest member to the newest, all adults and teens are welcome and encouraged to attend.

At the 9:30 communal breakfast, parents of Little Kicks, Juniors, Youth and Teens will join now-fully awake training members. With fragrant hot coffee supplied by Thousand Waves, and fruit, bagels, muffins, juice, lox, and all other manner of breakfast foods supplied by members, no one goes hungry.

At 10 a.m. promptly, the Annual Member meeting begins. The Annual Meeting gives the membership an opportunity to collectively look back on the year that was and ahead to the year that will be, just as training members did individually during Kagami Biraki. Exciting and important dates - for Kaicho's summer camp, promotion tests, Spirit Challenge, the Punch & Kick-a-Thon and more - will be revealed. Attendees will also review Thousand Waves's 2009 finances and the budget for 2010.

Most importantly, the Annual Member meeting gives everyone the opportunity to hear about and connect with the vast array of volunteer projects that enable Thousand Waves to function smoothly as a non-profit organization. These vital projects - which range from one-time opportunities to three-year board member service commitments - succeed only because a vast array of volunteers step up to give freely of their time and talent.

So - whoever you happen to be - the adult White belt who joined Thousand Waves just a week ago, the parent whose child has gained vital confidence at Thousand Waves, the alum who wants to reconnect, the Community Partner who wants to learn more, the self-defense grad who wants to get more engaged, or the Training member ready to commit more fully - there's something for you Sunday, January 11. Come and be part of the fun.

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