United States Naginata Federation Board Meeting Minutes
March 18-19, 2000
San Jose, CA
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The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by President Miyako Tanaka Price. It was determined that there were enough board members in attendance to form a quorum.
Agenda
Executive Secretary Kurt Schmucker presented the agenda for the meeting.
Treasurer's Report
Stephanie Hoppe handed out the latest treasurer's report (attached). Stephanie mentioned that in an election year, all dues must be paid before the elections take place. Diana Payne made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. Bob Peterson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and the Treasurer's Report was accepted.
Old Business
Approval of the minutes from the last board meeting
Karen Schmucker presented copies of the minutes from the last board meeting (August, 1999). Stephanie Hoppe clarified one point on the insurance issue, that the increased cost related only to the insurer's requirement to have the regional federations listed on separate riders, not to additional coverage. Everyone agreed to accept the minutes with amendments made. The minutes were approved.
Liability Insurance Premium
Stephanie Hoppe presented feedback she had received from a proposal she made to board members via email prior to the meeting regarding funding the cost of adding the regional federations as additional named endorsed organizations on the liability insurance policy. Stephanie's proposal was to assess each regional federation $75 and to make up the rest by increasing the seminar fees.
Stephanie reported that the Rocky Mountain Representative, Takami Tanner, had approved the proposal. East Coast Naginata Federation (ECNF) had some objections, namely: that increasing the seminar fees would be unfair and that assessing each regional federation the same fee was unfair given the discrepancies in size.There was a considerable amount of discussion of these points. It was pointed out by Diana Payne that the $75 fee was required to add the name of each regional federation to the policy as an endorsement. She also pointed out that this was explained to all Board members at the meeting in Salt Lake City in 1998 and that the Board voted to assess the fees to the regional federations at that time. As a result, the regional federations now owe the USNF for two year's fees.
Other points made during the discussion:
- This insurance is great value for the money. It was obtained in Colorado. Similar insurance in California would cost three times as much. New York prices would probably be similar to California's.
- ECNF's reference to having insurance similar to that of Kendo organizations is not pertinent to this discussion, since kendo organizations have accident insurance, not liability insurance.
- Most Board members agreed that seminar participants benefit most from having the insurance, since it is more likely that an accident or injury will occur at a seminar.
- Every year for the last four years we have needed to show proof of liability insurance to obtain a venue for the seminar.
Stephanie made a motion to maintain the assessment of $75 per regional federation to cover the cost of the liability insurance endorsement. In addition, seminar/tournament fees would be raised $5 per day per person. If a shortfall still occurs after that, the USNF will make up the difference. Annual dues have already been raised and no one wishes to raise them again. Malyne Chiu seconded the motion. More discussion followed.
Additional points were made:
- One member could see ECNF's point.
- $75 fee is a bargain.
- Smaller federations can always ask USNF for assistance if they cannot raise the money.
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Maintain the assessment of $75 per regional federation to cover the cost of the liability insurance endorsement. In addition, seminar/tournament fees would be raised $5 per day per person. If a shortfall still occurs after that, the USNF will make up the difference. |
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Proposed: |
Stephanie Hoppe |
Seconded: |
Malyne Chiu |
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For: 8 |
Against: 0 |
Abstain: 0 |
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The motion passed unanimously. Diana Payne is to send the minutes from the Salt Lake City meeting to the Executive Secretary.
USNF Calendar
President Miyako Tanaka Price passed out copies of the latest USNF Calendar of Events and explained to the Board how it can be used to help improve members knowledge of upcoming Naginata events in the U.S. Regional federations should be encouraged to send information concerning events in their areas to the USNF office so that they may be included in the USNF calendar. This way everyone in the federation can be informed about events they may have an interest in attending. The following events listed on the calendar for the year 2000 were discussed:
1) USNF 2000 Tournament, Hawaii
President Miyako Tanaka Price passed out a draft information sheet concerning the upcoming USNF Annual Championship Tournament to be held July 16th in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was decided to allow each regional federation to send two teams, one men's and one women's. (Teams can consist of only two people if a federation does not have three in each category.) The Board felt that having gender-based teams was closer to INF rules and would help federations that have few or no women in their organizations to field a team. The Board also approved having a Goodwill Children's event, possibly engi or uchi-kaeshi.
Summary of decisions:
- Tournament: Ala Wai Palladium, Honolulu, Hawaii. July
16th
- Team matches: 1 women's and 1 men's team for each regional federation
- Engi:
- Yudansha (Dan holder) group: No. 2, 3, 7
- Dangai (No dan) group: No. 1, 2, 4
- Shimpan Seminar: Ala Wai Palladium, Honolulu, Hawaii. July 13th
- Annual Seminar: Ala Wai Palladium, Honolulu, Hawaii. July 14-15th
2) INF Seminar and US Seminar 2001
The Board felt that hosting the INF Seminar would be enough for one year. We would not hold a separate USNF Seminar that year, but would, rather combine the INF and the USNF Seminars. The Executive Secretary will send out a request for proposal to the regional federations to see who would like to host such an event.
3) US Tournament and Seminar 2002
The Executive Secretary will send out a request for proposal to the regional federations to see who would like to host such an event.
4) Third World Naginata Championship 2003
Kurt Schmucker explained that the US has agreed to hold the next INF championship. He will send out a request for proposal to the regional federations to see who would like to volunteer to host it.
New Business
Kyu Examiner Qualifications
The Board had a discussion regarding increasing the criteria for kyu examiners. The discussion was the result of a comment that Bob Peterson had made after the last board meeting in New York about his concern that dan testing has become easier and, as a result, he would like to see more criteria for kyu examiners than simply achieving sandan rank, getting the approval of the regional federation and paying your dues. Bob feels that we are merely rubber-stamping the regional federation presidents' recommendations without knowing how skilled an examiner is.
In the course of the discussion, the following points were made:
- Miyako Tanaka Price explained how, on her last visit to Japan, when she filled out examiner recommendations, the All Japan Naginata Federation explained how they handle examiner qualifications. They keep track of selected events that a person attends and points are awarded for these events. An examiner needs to amass a certain number of points to qualify.
- The reason for having the regional presidents approval was precisely because the Board cannot know the skill level of every sandan in the country. We have to rely on the regional federations for that.
- Some people may be excellent teachers of naginata, but may not be the best competitors themselves, so it is not always the case that the best student is the best teacher.
- There is a need to have a candidate seen nationally. We should have as a criteria that the individual must have participated in at least one USNF event in the last 12 months.
- Training on a national level unifies our Naginata as a group.
Kurt Schmucker made a proposal that the criteria for Kyu examiner be: 1) sandan rank or above, 2) the recommendation of the regional president, and 3) attendance of at least one USNF sanctioned event in the last 12 months.
Discussion followed:
- It was decided that a USNF-sanctioned event was one that was either 1) sponsored or run by the USNF as a national event; or 2) a regional event that was listed on the USNF Calendar that was open to all members and was announced early enough to give everyone a chance to attend if they wished.
- Several people wanted to amend the last point to read "a USNF sanctioned event outside your region". The idea was that an examiner should have the experience of seeing other people outside their region.
- One proposed amendment was to require attendance at any event on the USNF calendar. This meant that the event was open to all. Others liked the idea but wanted to make sure the event was outside their own region.
Kurt makes a motion to vote on his proposal, amended to require participation in a USNF event outside of the individual's regional federation. Marcia Toyohara seconds the motion. The results were: 7 for, 1 against. The proposal passes.
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The criteria for Kyu examiner shall be:
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Proposed: |
Kurt Schmucker |
Seconded: |
Marcia Toyohara |
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For: 7 |
Against: 1 |
Abstain: 0 |
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Kurt Schmucker agreed to write up the new criteria and send it out to the board to have in advance of the next selection of kyu examiners.
Uniform Regulations
Bob Peterson raised the issue of standardization of uniforms. Bob was concerned about the possibility of inappropriate clothing being viewed as acceptable. He brought up the example of people not affiliated with the USNF wearing gaudy colored keikogi and so forth. He wanted to ensure that standardized naginata practice clothing was known to be the only acceptable clothing, that is: blue or black hakama and white keikogi (without decoration of any kind on it). A discussion followed. Some points raised were that blue keikogi, typically worn in kendo practice, is not appropriate Naginata clothing and should not be worn in tournaments or at seminars. Some members thought that blue keikogi should not be worn at any practice. It was generally agreed that no one wanted to see keigogi in various colors or with logos or other decoration on them.
General Meeting Agenda
Since the annual General Meeting was to be held on the next day, some time was spent preparing the following agenda for that meeting:
- Business/Financial
- Calendar
- Newsletter
- Engi Techniques required for Annual Tournament
- Children's Event at Annual Tournament
- Report from the Board Meeting
- Membership Dues
USNF Video
Kurt Schmucker explained that the making of duplicates of the naginata video, their storage and sale had been turned over to the USNF by Paul Riley. Kurt thanked Paul Riley for his work and for the very thorough operational notes that he provided. Kurt was looking for volunteers to handle the work. Stephanie Hoppe volunteered to handle the financial transactions. Stephanie, Maureen Hawk and Diana Garrett volunteered to research companies that would be able to make good quality copies of the tape. Karen Schmucker volunteered to help in judging the quality of the various companies duplications on the first round only. The group promised to let the Executive Secretary know of their progress.
USNF Website Fees
Kurt Schmucker explained that we had enjoyed free service of our website but that the situation had changed since the webmaster had changed jobs. The website is still active, but no one has access to the site in order to make changes unless we change the servicing of it. We would need to pay for this service, probably around $30-40 per month.
Discussion:
- If the website is not updated, it is useless. Maybe we should shut it off.
- Karen Schmucker commented that NCNF had gotten its last two new students as a direct result of the website, even in its non-updated state.
- Let's pay for it and use the money from the sale of the video tapes to pay for the web site.
- Let's try it month-to-month and see how it goes.
- Don't pay more than $30 per month.
A motion was made by Kurt Schmucker to get a new service at no more than $30 per month and have the board re-evaluate the decision at every meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Marcia Toyohara made a motion to adjourn the meeting for the evening. Diana Payne seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 10:08p.m. on March 18, 2000.
The meeting reconvened on March 19, 2000 at 2:10 p.m. (Same attendance as the day before.) The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by President Miyako Tanaka Price. It was determined that there were enough board members in attendance to form a quorum.
Referee (Shimpan) Qualifications
President Miyako Tanaka Price related that the criteria for Class "C" Referee Certification were that an individual be at least a sandan and was eligible to take the test, having completed 40 hours of practice at a shimpan seminar. In addition, a person needed to have taken the shimpan test. After that, they could be added to the list of qualified referees. There was some discussion of how infrequently individuals get the opportunity to practice refereeing. It was mentioned that it is hard to get the 40 hours of experience. After some discussion of this issue, it was generally decided that one of our goals should be to simply keep better records of who has taken the seminar, how many hours of experience they have, etc. Right now people keep their own records, using their naginata passport. Malyne thought that the executive secretary should be responsible for keeping the records. Kurt Schmucker mentioned that the INF has stated that it is one of their goals to raise the level of referees in the federation. President Miyako Tanaka Price suggested that, in that case, we should be requesting more shimpan seminars of the INF.
Request for Dan Examination
President Miyako Tanaka Price announced that she had received two letters from Helen Nakano, President of the Southern California Naginata Federation (SCNF) this morning. The first letter was to inform the USNF of a visit by Kimura Sensei, who was to attend a seminar hosted by Nakano Sensei in Florida in two weeks. The second letter requested that Nakano Sensei be allowed to hold a dan test (with Kimura Sensei) at the above mentioned seminar.
There was much discussion of these two letters. Some board members and members of the audience wanted to allow the dan test. Others were adamantly opposed to it. Many felt surprised and dismayed at the lack of general notice or invitation to the seminar. Several expressed dismay that ECNF members would find out about the seminar too late to attend. Many people in the room had trained with Kimura Sensei in the past and were disappointed that they would not be able to attend the seminar. Much of the discussion about whether to allow the dan test or not centered on the implications allowing such a test would have for the federation as a whole. No one wanted to see students be denied an opportunity to test.
Main points of discussion of request for dan test:
- Dan testing is a USNF sanctioned event. Since the USNF did not have enough prior knowledge of the seminar, and since it was not listed on the USNF calendar, the Florida seminar is not a USNF event. There cannot be a USNF dan test at a non-USNF event.
- Last August, the USNF Board decided that dan testing would be held twice a year, at the annual seminar and in conjunction with the general meeting in March. This decision was printed in the minutes (draft) of the meeting and distributed to all board members. Nakano Sensei received a courtesy copy, as did all regional federation presidents.
- In the past, when we have had visiting sensei from Japan, we have sometimes allowed dan testing for a single region, but the last time a region (Hawaii) requested it, the All-Japan Naginata Federation denied the request, even though it had USNF approval. Their reason for rejecting the request was that they wanted the U.S. to train and test together as a group and that letting one region have their own test was showing favoritism.
- There was strong sentiment expressed by some members of the board that a negative response would be more injurious to the federation than just letting the test take place.
- There was some fear expressed that a negative response to the request would be viewed as unfair.
- There was a general feeling that better communication between the regions and the board would have prevented this situation from happening. In the past year, we have done several things to try to improve communications within the federation: we have started emailing information to people we have email addresses for, we reinstated the USNF Newsletter and published two issues, and we began posting the minutes of board meetings on the USNF website. There were also feelings expressed, that, despite the progress we have made in opening communications via newsletters, etc., the main channel of information (board meetings and reporting the results of said meetings by regional representatives) has been hindered by the continued lack of attendance by several regional federations, ncluding the two representatives from Southern California Naginata Federation.
When a vote was taken on whether to allow the test, 2 voted in favor and 5 voted against. There were no abstentions. The request was denied. President Miyako Tanaka Price and Executive Secretary Kurt Schmucker agreed to draft a letter to Nakano Sensei explaining the Board's decision and asking for her help in the future to improve communications with the Board and to create an open and welcoming environment for the training of Naginata.
General Meeting and Dan Testing Dates
Based on a decision made at the last Board meeting to fix a date in March for the general meeting and dan test, the Board decided to designate the second weekend in March each year for these events. The decision passed unanimously.
Kurt Schmucker made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bob Peterson seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Yesowich Schmucker
Recording Secretary, USNF
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