A Message from Yamada Sensei

Once again, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many of you who expressed your deep concern and condolences for Kanai Sensei. The last two months have been a very emotional and difficult time for everybody. Of course, for the New England Aikikai members, losing a strong leader is especially painful. This is one of life's tragedies, to be sure, and one we must endure. However, I hope everybody will put forth a great effort to carry on the spirit and purpose of your dojo. I believe that's what Kanai Sensei wanted. Please unite your efforts, forget your egos and strive to maintain a joyful, friendly dojo. Let's all keep our spirits up and keep swimming, because we are all still in the middle of the ocean.

For we New Yorkers, it's finally spring. (Even though it only lasted a few weeks.) I really enjoy having four seasons because when spring comes, just like a flowering tree, I feel like I have new energy. I think that's one reason the May seminar in Montreal is always full of energy and has such a positive environment. (The wonderful hospitality helps, too.)

Also at this time, the bulletin board in my dojo starts to fill up with seminar posters. At last count, there were more than ten! I see many more shidoin's names displayed as the instructors for the seminars. It bothers me, though, when I hear that there are less members from the host dojo attending the seminars. Let's try to figure out some ways to encourage them to attend. Perhaps they should pay a lesser fee because they are already paying monthly dues. After all, seminars are given for the benefit of the host members. Of course we also want to encourage support from various dojos nearby.

Now there are only two months to go before the New York Aikikai anniversary summer camp. So far response has been very good, not only from US students, but from many places overseas. I'm hoping those attending will use this wonderful gathering of people from all over the world to establish new friendships and relationships.

The last item I want to talk about is the USAF. We now have almost 200 dojos in the East Coast Region and we are expecting even more to join in the near future. I feel that now is the time to reorganize our system and establish a new direction for the federation. My hope is that you will make the organization your own and run it for your own interests. I will continue to try my best to help make this union friendly, strong and meaningful.

Yoshimitsu Yamada