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ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY

Below is a presentation made January 16^th 2010 to the combined boards of the ICA and HLF. It was unanimously agreed and accepted for all who attended. It is what it says and what it is. Any other speculation or spins on its content, are a deliberate attempt to distort the facts by making it something it is not. If anyone is determined to do this, go ahead and mentally play with yourself.

DEFINING THE NEW AND SEPARATE ROLES OF THE ICA AND HLF

  AFTER A SATISFACTORY TIME OF RE-ORGANIZING, THE HLF AND ICA WILL BECOME TWO SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS EVENT WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AS DISCUSSIONS AND PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE OUR LAST HLF BOARD MEETING IN OCTOBER.

  THIS RE-ORGANIZATION WILL INCLUDE THE SEPARATION OF ALL FUNDS AND WILL EARMARK ALL INCOMING REVENUES AS TO THEIR SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THESE PURPOSES WILL BE ONLY TWO; TO DONATE TO THE HLF OR JOIN THE ICA. SENDING MONEY TO ONE WILL NOT ENTITLE YOU TO BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ANY LONGER. EACH WILL BE SERVED BY TWO SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNTS AND TREASURES.

  AS OF TODAY; I, ALONG WITH JOE LANEY, WILL RESIGN FROM THE HLF BOARD, TO SPEND MORE TIME IN PURSUIT OF BUILDING THE ICA. ALL OTHER HLF BOARD CHANGES WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE LONG FAMILY.

   THE ICA WILL RECOGNIZE PRIOR DONATIONS IN OCTOBER AND THERE AFTER, THAT WERE TO COVER ONE FULL YEAR. ANY REVENUES AFTER TODAY, 1/16/2010, WILL GO TO WHAT EVER ORGANIZATION YOU DESIGNATE. CONTINUE TO SEND YOUR DONATIONS OR PAY PAL THEM TO THE HLF. YOU MUST PAY YOUR ICA DUES AT THE DOOR OF THE JAMS. ALL JAMS WILL COST 25.00 UNLESS YOU PREVIOUSLY, SIGNED UP FOR THE YEAR IN ADVANCE. IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR SIX MONTHS, YOU WILL NOT NEED TO PAY JAM FEES UNTIL OUR MAY 8^TH, 2010 JAM, IN GREENVILLE, SC.

  IN THE FUTURE JAM FEES WILL BE PAID TO THE ICA AT THE DOOR DIRECTLY.

  THE ICA WILL CONTINUE TO DONATE REVENUES TO THE HLF AS NEEDED AND WILL DONATE ALL OCTOBER JAM FEES TO THE HLF. OCTOBER HAS BEEN OUR LARGEST ATTENDED AND MOST FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL JAM.

  THIS DECISION CAME ABOUT IN THE PURSUIT OF PROGRESS. AS YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY REASON THE ICA WAS FORMED, WAS TO BE A REVENUE PRODUCING VEHICLE FOR THE HLF.  WE HAVE PERFORMED THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GREATEST MAJORITY OF THE HLF FINANCIAL NEEDS HAVE BEEN MET. A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAW TO THAT. COSTLY, CUSTOM DISPLAY TABLE COVERING AND DRAPERIES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED ALONG WITH VERY COSTLY TREATED DISPLAY CASES. TEE SHIRTS WERE DESIGNED AND SOLD, AS WELL AS ALL REVENUES FROM JAMS. THESE FINANCIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE ENABLED THE HLF TO STAND ON IT’S OWN. NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE ICA TO SPREAD ITS WINGS ON ITS OWN BEHALF, WHILE STILL SUPPORTING THE HLF AS A FRIEND, RATHER THAN A PARTNER.

  IT IS ALSO A POLITICALLY SOUND MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE HLF, BUT ARE NOT COMFORTABLE BEING CONNECTED TO THE ICA. THE ICA UNDERSTANDS THAT. THERE ARE ALSO ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE ICA, BUT ARE UNWILLING TO BE SO OPENLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE HLF OVER THEIR OWN SENSEI THAT HAS EITHER PASSED, OR IS NOW AN ASSOCIATION HEAD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALSO. THERE ARE SOME POLITICS THAT MAKE PERFECT SENSE AS IT IS BASED ON A VALUE SYSTEM. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AS TO HOW MR. LONG WOULD FEEL ABOUT THE ICA. NOW THAT WON’T HAVE TO BE A PROBLEM WILL IT?  THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CROSS TRAIN WHO ARE AND HAVE BEEN INTERESTED AND WITHOUT BEING CONFLICTED WITH THAT QUESTION FROM THEMSELVES, OR OTHERS. WITHOUT THE AFOREMENTIONED POLITICAL OBJECTIONS OF PARTICIPATION, THE ONLY REASON ONE WOULD NOT WANT TO TRAIN WITH US IS LACK OF INTEREST OR PERSONAL FEELINGS. LACK OF INTEREST IS A VERY UNDERSTANDABLE REASON. A BIG PART OF THIS CHANGE IS TO RID THE ICA FROM THE PRESSURE OF FUND RAISING. THIS HAS CREATED SITUATIONS THAT EITHER PUSHED PEOPLE AWAY OR CAUSED PEOPLE TO ATTEND JAMS THAT WERE THERE ONLY OUT OF A SENSE OF OBLIGATION. THE ONLY OBLIGATION ANYONE WILL HAVE AT FUTURE ICA JAMS, IS THE OBLIGATION TO YOUR TRAINING PARTNER.

  ANY ONE AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND INVITED. THERE IS “NO” PAST PERSONAL OR POLITICAL PAST, CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM BEING WELCOME TO TRAIN WITH US.

  THE LONG FAMILY FEELS IT IS NOW TIME FOR THEIR FAMILY TO RUN THE HLF AND MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS. THAT IS AS IT SHOULD BE. IT IS A FAMILY MATTER OF THE HIGHEST PERSONAL ORDER. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS AND AT ALL JAMS, THE HAROLD LONG MEMORABILIA. IT WILL BE AN “ON GOING” PROJECT DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF HAROLD LONG, AS WELL AS ADDING TO THE PRESENT CONTENTS OF THE DISPLAY.  AGAIN, THE ICA WILL BE AT THEIR DISPOSAL FOR ANY AND ALL NEEDS, TO INSURE THE CONTINUING SUCCESS OF THE FOUNDATION.

  THE ICA WILL JUST BE ABOUT TRAINING WITH NO OTHER AGENDA, HIDDEN OR OTHER WISE. WE HAVE IN MY OPINION THE CREAM OF THE CROP FOR TEACHING MASTERS THAT PARTICIPATE ON THE ICA BOARD AND IN THE JAMS. THERE ARE OTHERS WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTRACT, BUT ONLY IN DUE TIME WHEN THEY SHOW AN INTEREST. BEING A BOARD MEMBER HAS NO POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION IN NAME ONLY. BOARD MEMBERS ARE EXPERT MARTIAL ARTISTS AND EXPERIENCED LEADERS AND ADVISORS. THEY WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE FOR THOSE REASONS ONLY. WE HAVE SPREAD OUT GEOGRAPHICALLY AND HAVE SEVERAL KEY MASTERS THAT BECAUSE OF DISTANCE CANNOT PARTICIPATE AT EVERY JAM. HOWEVER, THEY SERVE A CRITICAL ROLE AS ADVISORS AND PARTNERS OF FUTURE EXPANSION. WE WILL NOT EXPAND OR GROW JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT. WE DESIRE TO ACQUIRE PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE OR THOSE INTERESTED IN CROSS TRAINING. NOT FOR THE SAKE OF VOLUME OF NUMBERS. IF WE HAVE THREE OR THIRTY DOJO’S REPRESENTED, IT WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. WE WILL BE GETTING TOGETHER ON DESIGNATED DATES AND JUST TRAINING. WE ARE ALSO NOT CONFINED TO JUST ACCOMMODATING ISSHIN-RYU PEOPLE AND WILL MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO INTEREST ALL MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINES. WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO GLEAN KNOWLEDGE FROM AND FOR, AS MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO IMPART OR PARTICIPATE IN LEARNING IT. THE BEAUTY OF IT IS; IT WILL ALWAYS BE A LEARNING PROCESS AND NOT A BORING REPEAT OF THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, WITH MANUFACTURED ASPECTS OF TECHNIQUES AND KATA.

  WE WILL CONTINUE AS IS APPROPRIATE, TO PROMOTE THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE FOR PROMOTION. PRESENTLY IT WILL BE ONLY THOSE DISCIPLINES THAT WE HAVE QUALIFIED MASTERS TO PASS JUDGMENT ON. THIS HOWEVER IS NOT OUR FOCUS. WE HAVE MADE SOME EXCELLENT PROMOTIONS UNDER APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS. I AM HAPPY THAT WE WERE A PART OF SOME VERY DESERVING AND RESPECTED MARTIAL ARTIST BEING JUSTIFIABLY RECOGNIZED.  WE WOULD RATHER JUST TRAIN AND LET THE RANK THING STAY OUTSIDE THE DOOR. OUR S.O.P. IS TO HAVE EVERYONE FROM 10^TH DAN TO 8^TH KYU, EQUALLY SWEATED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT, WE WILL REWARD DESERVING PEOPLE WHO MERIT A RANK PROMOTION AND ARE BEING IGNORED FOR WHAT EVER REASON. ESPECIALLY IF IT IS DUE TO AN ICA AFFILIATION. ACTUALLY WE HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE BEING PROMOTED JUST TO STAY AWAY FROM US. SO WHETHER YOU ARE PROMOTED BY US OR BECAUSE OF US, IT KINDA WORKS EITHER WAY. WE KNOW THAT PROMOTING PEOPLE HAS A DIRECT POLITICAL CONNOTATION. WE’LL ACCEPT THAT PREMISE AS WHAT PEOPLE THINK HERE MATTERS LESS THAN NOT AT ALL. THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUT PROMOTION DECISIONS ARE THE MOST CREDIBLE AND QUALIFIED AS A GROUP IN THE COUNTRY. IF YOU NEED PROOF WRITE ANYONE ELSE’S GROUP DOWN AND WRITE OURS ACROSS FROM IT. OR, JUST SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE. BECAUSE THE ONLY ONES THAT CARE; ARE THOSE MOTIVATED BY RESENTMENT, ENVY OR FEAR OF STATUS LOSS. I EXPERIENCED THAT FIRST HAND.

  WE WILL ALSO NOT CAVE IN TO SCHOOL HEADS THAT ONLY WANT TO DEMONSTRATE ALL THE TIME, TAKE UP MORE TIME THAN OTHERS OR THEY DON’T WANT TO COME OR SEND THEIR STUDENTS. WE HAVE HAD OCCASIONS WHEN PEOPLE DIDN’T COME OFF SO WELL EVEN AFTER A COUPLE OF CHANCES. IT IS EMBARRASSING AND A WASTE OF EVERYONE’S TIME. BUT THE SAME PRIMA DONNA’S REFUSE TO BE JUST STUDENTS THEMSELVES FOR A WHILE, AND FRESHEN THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE MACHINE. THEY CAN’T SEE THAT THEIR EGO IS HURTING THEM AND KILLING THEIR STUDENTS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION. WE WANT NEW LEADERS AND NEW IDEAS, CROSSED WITH THE TIME HONORED ONES. 

  SO FOR THE ICA, IT IS CROSS TRAINING JUST FOR THE SAKE OF CROSS TRAINING ONLY. FOR THE HLF, IT IS CONTINUED PROMOTING OF MR. LONGS MEMORY WITHOUT ANY POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS. THIS IS OUR DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE AS WE SEE IT AT THIS TIME. IF WE DO IT RIGHT, IT WILL CHANGE AS THINGS CHANGE AROUND US. EVERYONE IS FREE TOO DONATE TO MR. LONGS MEMORY, AND OR, CROSS-TRAIN WITH US FOR THE SAKE OF JUST THAT.

  IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION FOR ALL, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AND MAKE CROSS TRAINING OUR SPIRIT OF UNITY AND FRIENDSHIP. WE LIKEWISE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE HAROLD LONG FOUNDATION, FOR REASONS OR YOUR OWN.

DENNY SHAFFER                                          GARY LONG
TRAINING DIRECTOR, ICA                            CHAIRMAN, HLF

JOE LANEY
DEVELOPMENT BOARD DIRECTOR, ICA