So we are almost there — The Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival is this Sunday in Queens Park. We have some new promotional material for specific disciplines, and members have been working hard on putting together displays for the day.
I'd like to extend an invitation for everyone to come along to what is always a really fun day of demonstrations, informal practice and meeting with the broader Toowoomba community to share a little of our passion for the martial arts. Even for the "out of towners", the sometime dojo visitors, friends, family and the just plain curious, the Festival has something to offer, so make sure you try to encourage as many people as you can to come along!
If you are going to be there, please make sure that you let Michael or Sian know (even if only a possibility) as we need to forward your names to the organisers so you will not have to pay the entry fee ($5 this year).
There will be no PCYC Kendo training on Sunday, nor Jujutsu training on Saturday. The former is because you will hopefully be there at Queens Park. The latter to allow Michael to attend to a few things beforehand so that he can spend a guilt free Sunday throwing people "wuffly" to the ground (among other things).
If you can, please come to the MEAC at 4.30 pm on Saturday to help load things up. On Sunday, we will be arriving at Queens Park at 8 am to set everything up. However, most people can arrive from 10 am when things properly kick off for the festival.
There are a number of things that you can do to help on the day. First is to participate in demonstrations for the disciplines you train (to which I am sure your various instructors have talked to you about). Second, we need people to chat to the public and distribute the various flyers that promote the Club. Third, we will need sufficient people at the end of the day (4 pm) to ensure that "bump out" is as quick and painless as possible.
For everyone attending, can you please ensure that you:
- ensure your uniforms are clean and your equipment in good repair. We want to put our best foot forward to the public.
- have a water bottle, hat and sunscreen. We will have some water and Club-provided sun screen, but everyone needs to take responsibility for being sun smart on the day.
- bring your lunch or some money to purchase it. There are sure to be many tasty food options available.
- take care when demonstrating and take sufficient breaks. We do not want to see injuries on the mat.
This year we have a whole demonstration area — theoretically properly cordoned off— to ourselves for the day, tucked near the USQ pavilion and near the Mediaevalists and Camels (what could possibly go wrong?, he says). I will also be setting up so Go boards for people to have a try.
I am looking forward to this, the 10th year of the Festival. Should be a great day out!