British Kendo Association

Dear Dojo Leader,

Please forgive me for writing to you about a bit of the new constitution – I’m sure you have had enough of all this stuff by now!  However, I just want put my request to you in perspective.

One of the prime objectives of the new constitution is to improve the democratic management and accountability of the Association. The new constitution (see http://kendo.org.uk/files/minutes/BKAConstitutionAdopted30May09.pdf ) attempts to do this by ensuring that the views of members and dojo are represented at all levels of the Association administration. We are trying to do this by means of Dojo Representatives nominated by you. These Dojo Reps will form a committee with considerable power to influence and even change the way the Association is run, decisions made etc. In addition a Chair of Dojo Reps (one for each Bu) will be elected to liaise with the Bu Executive Committee (BuEC) and serve as a voting member of the National Committee (NC). We hope in this way to bring greater democracy and accountability to the Association.

Why am I writing to you?

Well, we have not had a full response from dojo to nominate a Rep. So far 53% of dojo have nominated a Rep:  the 47% of dojo that have not yet nominated a Rep – we would like you to  – please. We need to move on to electing the Dojo Rep Chair for each Bu. Iaido and Jodo will do so in August (Brighton seminar) and Kendo in October (Grading at Mumeishi) – at scheduled main taikai/seminars/gradings.

What does the Dojo Rep do?

He/she represents the views of the members of his/her dojo; may attend and be heard at Dojo Rep Committee meetings (timed for major events to reduce cost etc); votes for a Chairman of the Dojo Reps (each Bu); can receive/send emails to all other Dojo Reps via our website Dojo Reps discussion group. You can also have substitutes attend meetings etc when the nominated person cannot attend an event where there is a meeting of Dojo Reps. Thus the job is not “onerous”. We just need someone who can represent your views. 

Here’s my request -

If you have not yet nominated a Dojo Rep I should be grateful if you would email the National Secretary Debbie Bevan (secretary@kendo.org.uk ) with the name, BKA number, dojo, email address and snail mail address of someone from your dojo who is willing to be the Dojo Rep.  This can be the dojo leader or a dojo member nominated by the leader or elected by the dojo – it is up to you simply to nominate someone.

As a backup position, if for some reason a dojo does not nominate a Rep, we would like to consider the current dojo leader to be the Dojo Rep in order to be as democratic as possible. 

Yours faithfully,

Errol
Chairman, BKA (NC)
3 August 2009

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