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9/16/2004 11:07:29 AM
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Dear Mr. Callos...
I would like to thank you, Mr. Azhakh and Grandmaster Rhee, for all your time
and effort involved in the coordination and development of the 9/11 AOK site!
What a humbling experience it has been to be able to participate in this truly
amazing and heart felt mission.
When I received the information regarding the site...I knew instantly that I was
going to "jump right in" and get all my students involved! I sent out
notification to our association headquarters down in Florida as well. We discuss
the site every night in class and, each day when I check in...I sit, reading all
my students AOK's with pride and a smile on my face! It's such a good feeling to
me...I can't even imagine how YOU must feel!
I've been following the progress of the amazing participants in the UBBT...
pondering if I would ever be able to keep up with all of you! But, trust in
knowing, that I get a healthy dose of enthusiasm and, "re-fueled" every time I
read your journals.
You are inspirational...with direct, and refreshing philosophies.
Your name is MY "mantra"!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Vicki Brown
Sandhills Martial Arts - Family Black Belt Leadership Academy
www.sandhillsmartialarts.com
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9/14/2004 1:09:18 PM
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To All Acts of Kindness Day Founders:
Mr. Callos, Master Rhee, and Mr. Azhakh,
My wife and I own TEAM CHIP Tae Kwon Do Centers main branch located in Abilene,
TX. We participated in last weekend's Acts of Kindness Day, and wanted to offer
our sincerest thanks.
We truly appreciate you for encouraging martial artists around the world to step
forward and take action on September 11, 2004. As soon as we read through the
information last Thursday, we knew that our academy should be involved. What a
tremendous opportunity to put our teachings to action, spreading a message of
peace, and move martial artists to the forefront by initiating a kindness
epidemic.
When we become involved in a project, there's no halfway to it. We strive to
inspire our students to greatness (in all areas--not just Tae Kwon Do), and you
can't inspire without ability, and enthusiasm. So, we got to work! My wife sent
out emails to all of our contacts, placed a link on our website, and printed
information sheets to encourage our students to participate. We even set up a
computer in our Pro Shop to make it easy for students who were already here for
class on Saturday, to log on (and not go home and then forget).
We did hope for 911 Acts of Kindness, but were extremely pleased with 501
(actual number was 506, but 5 were logged before 9/11). Considering the fact
that within 48 hours, we were able to have that level of participation was
exciting. But what is amazing to us is the fact that the numbers are continually
growing. We were hoping that everyone would keep on logging their acts of
kindness, and several have.
The whole idea of logging your acts of kindness is phenomenal, because when you
decide that you are going to participate, you sit back and think, "now what HAVE
I done nice today?" On Saturday, we had kids coming to us, asking if they could
do various chores and cleaning around the academy to be helpful. They WANTED to
do nice things!
The fact that people are still logging acts of kindness shows that it wasn't
just a one day thing, but a movement to be more aware of what you are doing
everyday to be a true "champion of freedom and justice", and how you are working
to "build a more peaceful world" (sections of our student oath).
We are already thinking of ways to make improve participation next year, when we
have time to really get the word out. Remembering those who died in tragedy, and
the heroes who worked to rescue them, with positive ACTIONS revitalizes our
patriotism and spirit.
Thank you again for a phenomenal idea, and for allowing us to be come a part of
the wave, that WILL become a tsunami!
Sincerely,
Chip & Glyn Ann Townsend
TEAM CHIP Tae Kwon Do Centers
www.teamchiptkd.com
www.chiptownsend.com
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