Judo,Why the Auckland Judo Association is Important - Get Involved or Don't Whinge

Judo in Auckland has problems - We need to fix it.

At the last Annual General Meeting I was elected President,  I had to stand. 

The other person contesting the role was a kid's father who in my 33 years doing Judo in Auckland and around NZ I had never seen before. No shame on him at least he was willing to put his hand up!

I asked him why he wanted the role?

And, he said he had been a good hockey administrator,  

So I stood.  My wife was pissed off but she's getting used to Judo. 

So now I'm President and we need to change the way we think about our Association.

I admit that the Association is a pain in the arse! - It is overly political. It doesn't get much done and isn't seen as relevant by the members.

Mostly you go to meetings and listen to Rick moan.

But the fact is it us the members who have let it become this way.  By not being involved and sitting on the side whinging we let the Association drift in the wrong directions.

We can't let this continue here's why: 

• In recent weeks I have been getting requests for financial support for the team flying off to the Oceania's.  Rob Levy provides an excellent training opportunity for Auckland's elite competition players. He advocates passionately that we need to financially support our elite players.  
• I have also been talking to Craig Bartlett who works tirelessly to develop our standard of referees. He argues strongly that we should fund training opportunities for our up and coming referees.
• In 2013 we could have replaced the competition mats. We had and still have the money but we didn't. 

This year we probably won't be able to deliver these things but if we change the Auckland Judo Association then we should be delivering all of these things and more. 

Why am I so confident. Look around.  University Judo Club is an example (there are others but this is one I know about). University has been raising money for years to sponsor trips to Japan.  

What is the difference?  University Judo Club has a team of motivated people working together to identify opportunities and raise money.

If the Auckland Judo Association mobilised our membership we could achieve much more than we currently do - Here's why:

• The Association represents all Judo players in Auckland - Charitable organisations and sponsors are much more likely to sponsor a large organisation than a small one.
• Judo has a positive 'brand' we are a well run, safe Olympic sport.  The Association and Judo NZ contribute significantly to that 'brand'. Sponsors are more likely to sponsor a 'credible'organisation that has a regional, national and international organisation backing it. 
• We have so much talent within our people.  If we could convert the great mass of people sitting around after training moaning - into doing we could have resource coming 'out of our ears'

The call to action is simple. We all need to value the organisation and convince more Judoka in Auckland to convert 'talk-talk' to 'do-do' and get involved because the AJA is what we make it.  

And frankly when we have a candidate for President standing who nobody knew - We are in trouble!

Shame on you guys that don't attend and let this sort of thing happen!

We need to mobilize!  I don't give a shit whether or not you like me but at least you know who I am and I am asking you for your support to make significant change in the AJA.  It will upset some people. But my aims are:

• Have a plan - The Treasurer is putting together a draft annual budget. A 'think tank' of smart Judo savvy people that want to make a difference have drafted a plan for action.  Want a copy email me - ben@benstallworthy.com or call me 021 688  289
• Make people responsible - Don't moan at me about how shit the Association is - instead offer me a solution and I will do everything I can to support you to deliver it. Have an idea email me ben@benstallworthy.com or call me 021 688  289
• Spread the load - In recent years the Association has become increasingly dependent on a small group of people that do everything.  Every contest is organised by the same small group of people. That's bullshit.  We all need to contribute. If everybody does a little bit - together we can make a difference. I'm not expecting miracles - I know life is busy. 

So if you are ready to convert 'talk-talk' to 'do-do' and you want to see a strong Auckland Judo Association that can raise money and support our people email me at ben@benstallworthy.com or call me 021 688  289.

If you are really keen get on my email list and I'll keep you up-to-date with whats happening.

Maybe you could even come to a meeting!  

Finally why the picture? 

I choose this picture of Tim talking to kids because it represents the problem we have to face. 

Without new kids we ain't got a future. 

Without elite players we ain't going to get new kids! 

The problem is getting everybody to see that we need both sides of the coin working together so Judo in Auckland is sustainable into the future.

See you all soon

Ben Stallworthy 

President