United States Naginata Federation Board Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2000
Honolulu, Hawaii
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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. Kent Sato proposed accepting the agenda. Fran Vall seconded the motion. All agreed.
Old Business
Approval of the minutes from the last board meeting
Karen Schmucker relayed Stephanie Hoppe's comments about the draft minutes from the last board meeting. In the section on kyu examiners, Stephanie had wanted to make clearer what is a USNF-sanctioned event. Karen agreed to amend the minutes to reflect that a USNF-sanctioned event is one that is either hosted by the USNF, or by one of the regional federations, so long as such an event is listed on the USNF calendar and is open to all members and that adequate notice is given of the event. Bob Peterson noted that his comments on uniform regulations were not included in the minutes. Karen promised to correct the omission. Diana Payne then made a motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting with the aforementioned additions. Fran Vall seconded the motion. All other members agreed.
Treasurer's Report
Stephanie Hoppe handed out the latest treasurer's report. Stephanie noted the following corrections to the report: that the current membership included 86 adults and 9 children. Stephanie also reminded the Board of its decision at its last meeting to charge the regional federations a sum of $75 per year for the last two years as a result of adding the regional federations to the USNF liability insurance policy, Stephanie noted that because of a lack of paperworkshowing that the Board had decided this at the Salt Lake City board meeting in 1998, she had not charged the regional federations the first year's fee. Since the Rocky Mountain Federation had already paid the fee for both years, Kurt Schmucker suggested that we credit Rocky Mountain the fee for the first year. Everyone agreed and the Treasurer's report was accepted as amended.
Naginata Video
Maureen Hawk reported that she had located a videotaping facility and had successfully copied 50 of the Naginata videos. Ten copies of the tape were sent to Bugei Trading Company to fulfill an outstanding request. The USNF received $140 for these ten tapes. We now have 40 copies available for sale. The cost per video is $29.95 plus $5 for shipping and handling. The board also discussed creating a flyer about the federation to include with each video.
USNF Web Site
Kurt Schmucker reported that our problems with the USNF Web Site are nearly resolved. He anticipates the site being active (for making corrections) in about one month. Brian Monroe (ECNF) offered to set up a free Bulletin Board for the USNF.
Release Form
Stephanie Hoppe reported that she and some other board members thought that we may need a release form. Many Kendo organizations are now using them. Stephanie drafted one and asked what the Board thought about it. Diana Payne asked why we thought we needed such a form. From her experience as an attorney, they do not hold up in court and if we do not get approval from our insurance company to use it, it could be a problem. Diana proposed that we do not create a release form unless we could get approval from the insurance company. Stephanie seconded the motion. All agreed.
As a compromise, the Board agreed that a statement should be made at the beginning of USNF events about safety and personal responsibility. Karen Schmucker proposed that the Executive Secretary be responsible for making the statement.
Kyu Examiners
Kurt Schmucker passed out sample forms that had been sent out to the regional federations in order to better keep track of events and ranks of potential kyu examiners. He felt that the forms had worked well in their test run this year. President Miyako Tanaka Price asked the Board for their opinion on which events should be listed on the form. Only USNF events or regional ones as well? Kurt Schmucker said that he felt the regional federation presidents should be responsible for filling out the forms for their people. They should not expect the executive secretary to look up all past events a given candidate had attended. The regional presidents should know this and it would be more efficient for them to fill out the form. Kurt proposed that the list be accepted as a USNF form and that we use it again next year in determining kyu examiners.
Fran Vall seconded the motion. A vote was taken. Bob Peterson voted against. All other members voted for the proposal. The proposal passed.
INF Seminar (Australia)
Kurt Schmucker reminded everyone that the next INF Seminar will be held in Melbourne, Australia in November. There will be an INF Board Meeting, seminar, and dan test (up to nidan). Kurt said that it was disappointing that the INF was only holding a dan test up to nidan. They had promised to hold a test at all seminars up to yondan and to hold promotions up to godan at all championships. Kurt also relayed that because of work schedule conflicts, he would be unable to attend the INF Board Meeting. Substitutions are, unfortunately, not allowed. Kurt promised to send agenda items for us and will send a letter explaining his absence.
2001 INF/USNF Seminar
As was decided at the last board meeting, the 2001 USNF Seminar will be held jointly with an INF Seminar. Only one proposal for hosting the seminar has been received, from Northern California Naginata Federation (NCNF). That proposal is to hold the seminar at Sonoma State University, near Napa, California. The dates are July 24th to 30th, 2001. The fees will be: $70-75 per person. Housing and meals will be in university dormitories. We will have 3 gymnasiums available, one large, one medium sized and one small. Marcia Toyohara and Miyako Tananka visited the facilities and said the dorms were relatively new. Miyako Tanaka has already held a Tendo-ryu seminar at the facility and everyone who attended was very pleased with the university. Some discussion about holding the 2003 INF Takai there as well ensued.
Discussion:
- Miyako Tanaka said that the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) group held an event at that facility for over 200 people and it worked out fine. She mentioned that in 2003 we might need another facility for the championship because there was little chance of having an audience of spectators if it were held in Sonoma. Also, the chances for getting more helpers was higher in other areas.
- Kent Sato asked if the fact of the event being joint USNF/INF meant that it counted as a USNF-sanctioned event. The answer was affirmative.
Kurt Schmucker proposed that we accept NCNF's proposal to hold the INF/USNF Seminar at Sonoma State University. Fran Vall seconded the motion. All approved. The motion passed. Kurt promised to send out a letter to the INF.
2002 Seminar and Tournament
Kurt Schmucker asked that everyone think about hosting this event and bring proposals to the next board meeting in March, 2001.
2003 INF Takai and Seminar
Kurt Schmucker said that no one other than NCNF has offered to host the next INF Tournament. He asked about Hawaii, since some of the Japanese INF members seemed interested in that venue. Kent Sato said that only the university has the facilities to hold such an event on the islands, but it is tough to book. They hold many Asian/Pacific Island events there that are greater draws and make more money.
Agenda Items for the March 2001 Board Meeting
The following agenda items were made for the next Board Meeting:
- Annual Promotional Exam
- Board Meeting
- Kyu Examiner appointments for 2001
- using the new criteria specified at the last Board Meeting
- letter to regional federation presidents asking for nominations (should be sent out early next year by the executive secretary)
- discuss in General Meeting
- deadline for nominations (60 days prior to appointment).
- Kyu Examiner appointments for 2001
- Decide on instructors for seminar
General Election and Election Nominating Committee
Kurt Schmucker explained the history surrounding the election nominating committee and the biannual USNF elections. Usually two nominees are picked for each position.The nominating committee, selected by the Board, is a group of five people, preferably one member from each of the five regional federations. The nominating committee is responsible for recommending candidates for the USNF officer positions and the committee's goal is to find two or more candidates for each position.
In the course of the discussion, Kurt asked for volunteers for the nominating committee. He explained that people on the committee should have a fairly extensive knowledge of the membership. Malyne Chiu volunteered, as well as Kurt Schmucker, Fran Vall, Diana Payne, and Takami Tanner. Stephanie Hoppe moved that we accept the volunteers as members of the nominating committee. Kent Sato seconded the motion. Everyone accepted, no one opposed or abstained. The aforementioned individuals were named to the election nominating committee.
Regional Activities
Fran Vall announced that the annual Fall Seminar for East Coast Naginata Federation (ECNF) would be in November this year, possibly at George Mason University in Virginia. Dates to be firmed up in August. Fran also mentioned that the ECNF would be having a Spring seminar next year. Last March their seminar had 25 attendees. Yamauchi Sensei was the instructor.
Takami Tanner mentioned that she is teaching a group of children and adults at her local YMCA in Indiana. She has 4 children and 5 adults in her class.
General Meeting Agenda
A discussion was held about the agenda for the General Meeting. It was agreed to relate the details of this board meeting. It was also decided to hold the meeting during lunch on Saturday so that most of the Hawaiian members could attend.
Absent Board Members
Karen Schmucker raised the issue of the absence of the Southern California Naginata Federation representatives and asked if it wasn't time to consider removing them from the board for lack of attendance. There was a discussion about this. Some board members wanted to remove the SCNF members now, others wanted to issue a warning. It was decided to bring it up at the General Meeting and to delay action until the next board meeting.
Kurt Schmucker moved to adjourn the meeting. Bob Peterson seconded the motion. The meeting ended at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Yesowich Schmucker
Recording Secretary, USNF
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Last modified on 24 June 2001.