New Year greeting from the Australian Federation Committee Chairperson
Greetings and a Happy New Year to all members of the Australian Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation.
I hope you have all enjoyed the festive season with your family and friends and have taken time to rest and replenish after the last 12 months. 2021 certainly had its challenges and as a Committee we acknowledge the significant impact the COVID pandemic has had on our Federation and the members therein. On reflecting over the last few years the following points resonate, cherishing the time you have with loved ones, connection with one another and support through compassion and kindness. These themes run within our Moo Do Philosophy and reinforce to us the ways in which our art can, and has sustained our physical and mental health and well-being.
The last 12 months has seen the Australian Federation Committee in a state of transition. We lost one of our very valued members and good friend, Jim Kehoe SBN who sadly passed away in July 2021. Kehoe SBN had stepped away from the Committee in February 2021 from his role as treasurer. At his final meeting, we asked Kehoe SBN to read the Statement of Unity, a longstanding procedure he introduced to the agenda starting all Federation meetings, so that they might be undertaken “in an atmosphere that is warm, comfortable and peaceful”. At the same meeting the Committee was able to reveal to Kehoe SBN that a Youth Leadership bursary had been created and named in his honour, in recognition of his passion and motivation for encouraging young students and leaders.
In June 2021, our long-serving Chairperson Derek Koina SBN stepped away from the Committee after an enormous and enduring contribution extending back to the inauguration of the Committee in 2004. Koina SBN has been instrumental behind the scenes in the administration and growth of the Australian Federation. We thank him again, and encourage you to do the same. At our AGM in November, Robyn Costa SBN and Frank Akkerboom SBN also stepped away from their roles after significant contributions to the committee, to focus on other priorities. We thank them for their many years of service to the Australian Federation Committee. But as some doors close, new ones open and in 2021 we welcomed Paul Adamson SBN and Anneliese Yee JKN from Region 3, Eve Broenland from Region 2 and Matthew Yarwood from Region 4. You will find a list of the 2022 Federation Committee representing you, at the end of this letter.
Throughout the transition period we have been committed to serving and supporting the membership and developing our governance and administrative processes. Based on the Committee’s recent reviews and consultation with the various arms and regions of the organisation we have now begun establishing a number of working groups. These working groups are part of a broader overall strategy that will ensure we are better connected as a Federation, that encourages members to participate and contribute, and that addresses succession planning and inevitable change by developing our younger members. To date the Committee has established a Treasurers’ working group led by our new Federation Treasurer Mr Shane Buckley JKN, to ensure our Federation’s financial processes and membership payments are thorough and well synchronised and work is underway for the formation of two other priority working groups, one which will support Do Jang Owners and one to attend to Digital Communications & Resources (which will include the ASBDMDKF website). These groups will also be coordinated by representatives from the Federation Committee but importantly reach into the broader membership, including youth members.
The Australian Federation Committee will hold its first meeting on 20 February. We will be inviting the Designee, SAC, TAC, HKN, REX’s, Regional Chairs and Do Jang Owners to this meeting. We will also be speaking to our submission for the 2022 WMDK Symposium. If you would like to join the Federation meeting, please email us. On that note, our other news is the Federation Committee now has a new email address, so for all queries please contact us at afc@australiamoodukkwan.com.
On a final note, it was a humbling moment to be elected into the position of Australian Federation Chairperson and I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the growth of female representation within the leadership structures of our organisation. I am grateful to have the many years of experience of Kylie McMartin SBN as Vice Chairperson in 2022 and we welcome the skills of our youth leader Anneliese Yee JKN and Eve Broenland as general members into the committee. Diversifying our leadership is important for the balance and growth of our Federation and I am both inspired and heartened by your support.
On behalf of the Australian Federation Committee, I wish you all the best for the year ahead.
Yours in the Moo Duk Kwan
Lauren Andersson
Federation Committee Chairperson
Australian Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation
Australian Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation Committee members
| ROLE | NAME | REGION |
|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Lauren Andersson SBN | Region 5 |
| Vice Chairperson | Kylie McMartin SBN | Region 1 |
| Treasurer | Shane Buckley JKN | Region 4 |
| Secretary | Victor Griss BSBN | Region 5 |
| Public Officer | Paul Adamson SBN | Region 3 |
| General member | Matthew Yarwood | Region 4 |
| General member | Anneliese Yee JKN | Region 3 |
| General member | Eve Broenland JKN | Region 2 |