• Established friendship, cooperation, and support with other organizations such as Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai, Kodenkan Yudanshakai, AJJF, and others, in which we support each other's activities and maintain an open invitation for cross-training and sharing.
• A wealth and strength of diversity in JA programs and membership. JA offers programs and training for virtually all martial artists, including Traditional and Self-Defense training and competition through our Kata & Freestyle Self-Defense program, and Sport Jujitsu training and competition for those seeking aggressive contest venues. We maintain our historical roots through such activities as the upcoming Jujitsu America Okugi 2010 being presented in March 2010 in San Jose, CA, as well as other key programs such as the JA Massage Therapy program. This breadth of expertise and opportunity for training and competition continues to deliver superior experiences for all JA members.

At this point in the new year, with JA registration now in progress, I strongly encourage all our members to renew their club membership and to support the organization fully by enrolling every member of your club. As a non-profit organization, JA relies heavily on its members to support and present all the fantastic events we deliver each year, such as the JA Annual Convention, which will be held September 24-26, 2010, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Please send your membership renewals to JA Registration Chairman Laura Welch (ll_welch@yahoo.com).

I'd like to ask each JA member to consider what you can do yourself to support JA as an organization. JA, like all other volunteer organizations, requires the active involvement and participation of its members and volunteers to operate successfully. Think about your particular areas of expertise and capabilities, and bring that to bear for our organization. There are many gifted people throughout JA who have skills that extend far beyond the mat, and those talents can help JA build on its continued success:

• Perhaps you can take on a role in one of the many committees which perform various important functions for the organization (contact me at eric.renner@comcast.net).
• You can write an article for the JA Today newsletter and let us know what's happening in your club (send to JA Today Editor Emily Koch at emilykoch@mac.com).
• You might want to host a JA training event in your region (contact me or JA Clinic Committee Chairman Chris Peterson at cpsensei@pacbell.net).
• Or, you can simply set a great example by training hard and joining in regularly at JA events in your area. Be involved.

I am especially proud of, and grateful for, the dedication and hard work of many wonderful people who all believe passionately in what JA stands for. I'd like to invite every one of our members to get active in the operations and support of JA. If you have an area of expertise or simply the desire to be part of the effort, then I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you again, because it is you, our members, who make JA a strong and vital organization!

All the best,

Eric Renner
President

eric.renner@comcast.net

Winter 2010