Board Chair Update 04-04-2020
Dwayne Townsend, Sa Bom Nim. Board Chair
Greetings Members and Supporters,
I trust this finds you and your families safe, well, and in good spirits.
Last week, on March 25, the Board of Directors conducted an informal meeting just prior to the National Member Gathering. During this meeting, we discussed the challenges that not only face our nation and communities, but the specific challenges faced by studio owners and practitioners in all regions of our Federation. We reviewed the Federation's Concept Of Unity at the beginning of the call to reinforce our reason for being together.
Each representative expressed concerns, challenges, and opportunities specific to their region. All the representatives listened attentively not only to the challenges that each region faces, but also to solutions and actions taken in each region to continue to provide hope and value to each other and our communities. I was encouraged by the positive attitudes and the examples of Moo Do and Action Philosophy shared among all the Directors on the call.
The example of UNITY was present throughout the discussion. Each Director expressed determination to serve their respective regions and the members. Their eagerness to assist others offers hope in an uncertain time and they are motivated and eager to serve and support members. If any school owner, instructor, or practitioner needs assistance with their school, online programs, or has questions regarding the Federation’s direction, I encourage you to contact your respective Board Director.
Immediately after the informal Board meeting, a National Member Gathering conference call was held. With approximately 90 Dans, KDJ, Instructors and Certified School Owners participating. This call was well attended by officials from the Board and TAC with many Federation school owners and instructors presenting options and opportunities.
Discussed in the meeting was the fact that there are things occurring that are out of our control and feeling discouraged or anxious is a natural response. This can be a very discouraging time. There’s a lot of uncertainty and negative impact to our families, students, and businesses. John O’Leary states in his book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,
“You can't always choose the path you walk in life, but you can always choose the manner in which you walk it.”
While we can’t control the events taking place around us, we can take ownership of how we respond. This is empowerment. This is Moo Do Philosophy. Each of us needs to remember why we are practitioners, teachers, and studio owners and not let current circumstances dictate our intent. Don’t be discouraged. Instead, consider opportunities for refinement. What can we learn from this? How can we grow? This is a great opportunity for us to offer something that organized sports cannot. Our communities need healthy, value-based activities that they can engage in at home and we have the solution that can help provide stability and hope!
Discussions that occurred during the meeting centered around staying connected with each other, students, and their families during this difficult time by providing a virtual presence and leveraging different tools in the market today. Below are some of the ideas and digital tools discussed during the call.
Staying Connected
Maintaining our connection preserves the relationships we have with each other, our students, and families. This connection is vital to maintain unity with each other and our communities. Fortunately, there are resources available to aid in this. Just like learning multiple techniques, the right approach for you and your students may be a combination of resources. Example resources provided during the call included:
Using the Soo Bahk Do Institute to share videos with students. This allows for instructors to setup groups and have some control as to who has access to their videos. Videos can be accessed at any time that’s convenient for the students. Also during the call, discount subscription codes were announced that instructors can distribute to students at their discretion, which gives students access to subscription content for only $1.
- Leveraging Zoom teleconferencing to continue conducting classes. Using Zoom provides a way for instructors and students to maintain a class schedule, see each other real-time, and allows the student to receive feedback during the class. Classes can be recorded and uploaded to the Institute for future viewing. There is a free option that provides up to 40 minutes per session as well as paid subscriptions that allow for more time.
Streaming options such as Facebook Live and YouTube Live also allow for instructors and students to maintain a class schedule. The benefits of this approach is that instruction can be uninterrupted and then the videos can either be discarded or saved for future viewing.
- Call, text, message, or email students and parents. Communicate your plans and any schedule changes.
- Facebook groups are a good tool to share ideas, issues, concerns, and to ask for assistance. There is a group that is monitored by Federation officials called “Unified Moo Duk Kwan Instructors”. If you are an instructor, this could be a good resource for you.
2020 National Festival
The 2020 National Festival is scheduled for July 23-25 in Orlando, Florida. Currently, there have been no changes to the schedule or location. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will announce any changes as soon as it is apparent.
Something you can do to help us make an informed decision regarding the festival is to complete the RSVP form and indicate whether or not you are planning to attend (assuming the social distancing requirements are lifted by then).
That form can be found here: https://festival.soobahkdo.org/rsvp-festival-2020/
Soo Bahk Do® is a living art and we need to be able to adapt, learn, and grow not only with our technique but also in our ability to provide a positive impact through instruction. There have been many instructors that have adopted the virtual/online Dojang concept with great success! If you are not sure how to get started, seek help. Now, perhaps more than ever, unity is key and many instructors, studio owners, and officials are ready to help. If you have hesitation or questions about offering classes online, please contact the Federation or post to the Facebook group. We will be happy to help you or get you in contact with someone who can.
We will get through this! You have been given a gift, don't let these circumstances keep you from what you were meant to do.
In the Moo Duk Kwan,
Dwayne Townsend
Board Chair
