A Message from Sharon Kanai

Sharon Kanai (New England Aikikai)
skanai@neaikikai.com

Thank you so much to New England Aikikai, Framingham Aikikai, Aikido de la Montagne, Midwest Aikido Center, Woburn Aikikai Members and all who helped with the organization of summer camp this year and for so many past years. It is a huge undertaking and it would not have been possible to put it all together without you.

As you know, the organizing dojo for summer camp has been primarily New England Aikikai. It is now time to pass on this responsibility to another dojo, under Yamada Sensei's direction, as he so aptly put it, "To the next generation".

The honor and the privilege of the responsibility of organizing this incredible Aikido summer camp was made possible by the tireless efforts of the members of New England Aikikai and members of the many dojos who helped with this enormous task. The extent of my involvement in running this event has spanned over the last nine years and they have been some of the most challenging and, at the same time, the most fun, meaningful and memorable times of my life.

I would like to thank Yamada Sensei for his kindness and support, all of the amazing instructors who are the heart and soul of this event, all the students who participate, returning year after year and, again, those who have worked so diligently behind the scenes having given so generously of their time and energy.

In memory of Kanai Sensei, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for the important contribution he made to the richness of the experience at summer camp and to its growth and development over the years.

I extend my very best wishes to the new organizers for many more years of great summer camps and fun times in the future.

See you all again at camp next year!!