NWMAF Update October 2019

NWMAF Update October 2019 News for Our Members, Friends, and Supporters “Empowering women and girls to achieve personal and collective strength, safety, and well being through martial arts, healing arts, and self-defense education” Trainers at 2019 Camp BE BRAVE in Naperville, Illinois. Camp News The National Women’s Martial Arts Federation’s 2020 Conference in Buffalo, New York, is already beginning to take form. The Board of Directors is kicking around possible themes for the conference (no karate pun intended). Our organization is at a pivotal point, poised to rise from a financial and membership lull. So we’ve brainstormed numerous ideas that would appropri- ately set the stage for the NWMAF’s upward trajectory. The year itself invites a great theme, and we’re drawn to “20/20”—the optimal sight capability. Trainer Application Deadline Extended Did the earlier-than-normal 2020 NWMAF Conference trainer application deadline catch you by surprise? Did you try to apply, and struggle with technical issues? We thought so. That’s why the NWMAF Board of Directors has decided to reopen the application window until 11:59 pm central time on October 31, 2019. Electronic application glitches have been resolved. We’re espe- cially eager to hire instructors for healing arts, self-defense, and Young Martial Artists’ classes, but all are welcome to apply. The selection committee’s goal is to finalize trainer selections by mid- November, with announcements going out to our membership by the first of the year. To apply, go to https://www.nwmaf.org/ApplyToTeach. Attendees in Mama G’s class on Super Saturday learned a fun dance while exploring the connections between dance and martial arts. Notes From the NWMAF Chair The Only Constant is Change by Cathy Chapaty, NWMAF Board Chair A spiritual mentor once told me that “the only constant is change.” I hated when she’d cite that phrase; I knew it was true. Some people crave Board Chair Cathy Chapaty promised to change. My mom, for shave her head if enough people donated instance, felt compelled to the NWMAF scholarship fund. every six months to re arrange the living room. She was uncomfortable with big life change but needed a little controlled newness now and then. Others loathe change. My father worked at the same brake shop for years. In the mid-70s, he left that job for a new opportunity— with better pay, more stable hours, and longer vacation time. But it was so new and scary to him that he couldn’t stand it. A few months later, he returned to the safety of the brake shop. Still others begrudgingly accept change, knowing that it’s oftentimes for the best. That’s me. I kick and scream and rant and rave, and then once I’ve gotten out all my fear (because, let’s be honest, it’s all about fear), I’m finally able to take baby steps toward something new. Since the 1970s, it’s been the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation’s mission to empower women and girls to achieve personal and collective strength, safety, and well-being through martial arts, healing arts, and self-defense education. We’ve found strength in one another’s challenges and promoted an awareness and appreciation of our differences. More than 40 years later, the NWMAF is still all that—and so much more. And as in years past, we’re on the cusp of change. continued on next page Cathy receives her head-shaving makeover from Miriam Frank, top donor in Cathy’s “Will Shave Head for Scholarship Donations” campaign. Notes From the Chair continued from previous page Practicing kicks toward vulnerable low targets during the Empowerment Self-Defense model class. While I find this exciting, I understand that some members may feel unsettled. After all, it’s safe to stick to what and who you know. For anyone feeling that way, I offer another phrase my mentor oftentimes cited: “A ship in harbor is safe—but that’s not what ships are built for.” (God, I hated that woman sometimes. She was right more often than not.) Our camp attendance numbers no longer hover in the 400s. Our camp prices are higher. Our trainer compensation is lower. However, we’re still afloat. In order to move forward, though, we first have to ensure everyone knows where we are. Everyone must know what page we’re on, because only then can we know when it’s time to turn the page to a new chapter. Spoiler alert: It’s time. Still staffed by volunteers, the NWMAF board and various committees have some hardworking, energized members to help take this organization to a new level of national exposure, member participation, and community engagement. As a board, we’re working on implementing a new vision. We’re clarifying old and crafting new policies, protocols, and codes of ethics and conduct. We’re streamlining organizational tasks. Every day, more people from all over the world subscribe to our newsletter. For all our trials and hardships of the past, we’re poised for a breakout moment. continued on next page Mama G demonstrates the next drill in her class on Super Saturday. Notes From the Chair continued from previous page The NWMAF is at an exciting turning point that will lead to greater strength and support for all who practice martial arts, healing arts, and self-defense. And since the only constant is change, we’ll begin to move our ship out into the harbor—where it’s meant to be all along. Send comments to [email protected]. Lisa Susko (left) and twelve Championship Martial Arts students, all able to attend Camp BE BRAVE thanks to fundraising, pose with Arlene Limas. Low Cost/No Cost Fund Raising for Camp by Lisa Susko, Founder & Owner of Championship Martial Arts Over the past few years we at Jindo Martial Arts (now known as Championship Martial Arts 716) have been able to take 12 members to the Special Training Camps annually. Many have asked how we are able to offer this year after year with very low cost to our members. The answer: it’s all in the fund raising! Over the years we have tried many ways to raise funds, and here are our top “Low Cost/No Cost” methods: • Super Bowl Football Squares. We sell the 100 squares for $20 each. Half goes to the quarter winners and the other half ($1,000) goes to our fund. Create a large 24"x36" poster, and display it right at your entrance. Post on your Facebook page too, so members can share and tag family/friends. • 50/50 Raffles. At all our Rank Ceremonies we hold a 50/50 Split Raffle. We charge $1.00 per ticket, $10 for 12. The winner gets half, our fund gets the other half. You can purchase tickets at Party City or on-line at RaffleTicket.com. • Basket Raffle. We ask members and local businesses to donate a basket or gift card. Ask members to request gift cards from businesses they frequent — restaurants, liquor/food stores, hair/nail salons. Sell sheets for $5.00 per sheet or five for $20.00. Sheets can also be found at Party City or on-line. We usually do this around our December or March Rank Ceremony and pull in over $1,000. • Board Breaking Bonanza. Make a fun event of the day. Offer pizza at $1 per square (see if you can get local a pizzeria to donate or discount in exchange for advertising). Use thin break boards (we get ours from Century Martial Arts). Charge $2 per board. Weeks before the event give each student a continued on next page Fund Raising for Camp continued from previous page pledge sheet where family/friends offer to buy them a certain number of boards. This helps you know how much to order. Subtracting the cost of the boards, we cleared about $200 last event plus the pizza money. • Texas Roadhouse Restaurant Day. Our local TRH allowed us to have a Jindo Day on a Saturday afternoon. All our members were given special passes to give to their wait staff. We received 15% of the total amount spent. We received a check for close to $150 from one afternoon of food and fun at no cost to us. • Tape your Instructor to a Door. We let the kids choose their favorite instructor and then they got to tape him to a door (pillar at our school) while he stood on a box. The idea is to use enough tape to suspend the instructor in mid-air when the box is removed. We charged $1 per yard of duct tape. We purchased the tape at Dollar Tree for $1 per 10-yard roll, available in loads of colors. This was a huge success — we cleared over $500, and the kids had a blast! Then we all went to TRH for our Jindo Day. We have tried selling candy bars and other items, but those required a large investment with no guarantee that we would sell everything. That is why we now go the route of “Low Cost/No Cost” fund raising. Hope this helps you in your quest to attend the Special Training Camp 2020 in Buffalo, NY. If you have any questions, I would be happy to assist. I may be reached at A student of Lisa Susko’s, able to attend Camp MrsLSusko@ thanks to her school’s fundraising, receives aol.com. coaching on her form from trainer Jane Dillon. Meet the Board Sahnya Thom: Healing Arts Coordinator (Serving 2019–2021) Sahnya Thom holds a 6th-degree black belt in Universal Systems of Karate (USK), is an adjunct psychology professor, author, Ph.D.

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