A Word From The Board Chairman November 2016
Ron Strong Sa Bom Nim

Ron Strong, SBN, Dan Bon 37352, Chairman Board of Directors

Greetings,

I hope this finds you all in good health and spirits.

The Board of Directors met on October 26, 2016. Following are the major issues that were addressed.

Board Director Elections

Board Director nominations are underway for Regions 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8. An online voting ballot is available here. The secretary is also distributing ballots by postal mail and email to all voting age Dans. Watch for them. Your participation is important.

2017 National Festival

Region 6 will be hosting the 2017 National Festival at the La Toretta Lake Resort and Spa in Montgomery, Texas (just outside Houston). Contract negotiations are currently underway with LaToretta Resort. Also being considered is the possibility of using the same facility for the 2017 Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa and Moment with the Masters. Additional information will be coming out in the weeks ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGzaYPLV7xk

TAC Executive Administrator Review

The annual review of the TAC EA has been concluded and the Board of Directors unanimously approved a two year extension of Sa Bom Nim Duncan's contract. The Board of Directors also acknowledged the level of expertise and professionalism he brings to the position.

Finance Committee Report

Having reviewed the financial reports submitted by the Finance Committee, the Board unanimously approved the 2017 Projected Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee. Highlights of the 2017 Projected Budget include:

• Lifetime Membership fee increases to $1700
• Jo Kyo and Kyo Sa processing fees remain unchanged
• Sa Bom processing fees remain unchanged
• Renewing studio certification fees remain unchanged
• National Headquarters staffing remains unchanged for 2017 with no cost of living adjustments for any staff members.

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The Board has been deliberating for several months on the best way to address the decreasing membership and the ever-rising expense of doing the day-to-day business of the Federation. Several options have been put before the Board by the Finance Committee, individual Studio Owners, and individual Members. All the options have been studied and given serious consideration. In the June 10, 2016 board summary we asked for your comments regarding some of the options. Your representatives on the Board have given your comments and opinions great weight in this deliberation. We heard your voice and applied your recommendations.

• New student membership fee remains unchanged at $85
• Renewing student membership fee increases to $95
• Renewing Dan membership fee increases to $105
• Renewing Household membership fees increases to $177

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Please note that this increase is only for the purpose of covering ordinary operating expenses and does not address other Federation needs. You can help support the Federation's mission with your kick-a-thons and personal donations. Please consider what you might be able to do.

Fall Membership Drive

Addressing the declining membership is a major focus of the Board. The 2016 Fall Membership Drive is an initiative encouraging every member and school owner to reach out to new members and the Board approved incentives to encourage participation. The 2016 Fall Membership Drive support mailing that went out to Studio Owners was the most extensive in recent history. Unfortunately, it arrived at schools well into the drive. Therefore, the Board has elected to extend the 2016 Fall Membership Drive and the incentives through the end of the year. Studio Owners are encouraged to continue reaching out to schools, other community organizations and individuals to bolster your membership.

Any new student who applies for Federation membership during the membership drive will receive a one year subscription to the Soo Bahk Do^® Institute. Included in the package will be all White through Green Belt information. That's a $116.28 value for the nominal fee of $1.00. This is a great value and intended to support member recruitment and bring new students into the Federation.

Behind the Scenes

You will recall that a special Work-Group was established recently to address declining membership. Studio viability and student membership is critical to the future of the Moo Duk Kwan^®. The Work-Group will be recommending initiatives to reinvent our approach to marketing, technology, business practices, and best practices to support our studios. This is a long term project and much of the work will be in the background as we develop a stronger and more vibrant Federation.

This concludes the major issues of discussion.

Respectfully in the Moo Duk Kwan,

Ron Strong, Board Chair
Region 5

Ron Strong (8)

Ron Strong, Sa Bom Moo Duk Kwan^® Dan Bon 37352  serves as the Board representative elected by United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation^® members in Region 5.  He is an internationally certified Master level practitioner (Ko Dan Ja) and Master level Instructor (Sa Bom) of the Soo Bahk Do^® martial art system taught in Moo Duk Kwan^® martial art schools worldwide. He also operates a Moo Duk Kwan^® certified school in Crandon, WI.