Halloween Tips & Reminders

Dear Parents, Students & Friends,

Here is a list of some new safety tips for Halloween we are teaching in classes this week.
Some new tips have been added for children as well as for adults please take a moment to read them to enjoy a fun & safe Halloween 2010!

Safety should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind as Halloween approaches, especially parents of young children

Employing safety tips can make a difference. Tips include:

1. Parents should accompany young children.
2. Don’t go inside a stranger’s house, no matter what anyone says.
3. Trick-or-Treaters should always be in groups so they aren’t a tempting target for real life goblins.
4. Make a map of your Trick-or-Treat route and check the route against the sex offender database.
5. Stay in your own neighborhood.
6. Stop only at well lit houses.
7. Carry a flashlight or light stick.
8. Use make up instead of a mask so you can see.
9. Wear light colored clothing or costumes.
10. Always keep a safe distance between you and moving cars.
11. Be respectful of other people and their property.
12. Parents should screen all treats before you eat them.
13. Don’t accept and, especially, don’t eat anything not commercially wrapped.
14. Start early, end early.
15. Use sidewalks or walk facing traffic.
16. Stop, look and listen at corners.
17. Walk, don’t run.
18. Don’t go between parked cars or crisscross back and forth across streets or into traffic.
19. Don’t carry sharp instruments.
20. Never carry a lighted torch or candles.

Before heading out to “trick-or-treat” this Halloween, visit the AR Department of Law Enforcement, Sexual Offender and Predator database click on this link to be taken there, http://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_office_disclaimer.php?office=54552 to ensure the residences your children are visiting do not house registered sex offenders.

- When the “trick-or-treaters” begin their neighborhood trek, exercise extra vigilance for those excited, costumed youths whose exuberance may overcome their awareness of vehicles.

- Many adults will don customs and drive to various events; check to be sure your costume doesn’t impede your ability to operate your vehicle in a safe manner.

- If celebrations include alcohol, whether hosting or participating, be responsible, as always, drivers need to remember “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.”

April

Several announcements today, here they are:

Our martial arts answering service is working out very well for us; we no longer have to excuse ourselves from class to answer incoming calls. If there is a time where you need to contact the school directly, please call our second line, which is 251-8784. Please input that phone number into your records as the main number to personally contact us. 251-8783 will continue to be in service, however it is being forwarded to an answering & informational service, so new people may call in and get information about our school during classtime. The goal for this is to eliminate instructors leaving the floor to answer calls.

Juniors need to input their acts of kindness/self discipline on the web site ASAP. We are working hard on our "out of the do-jang and into the world" philosophy and this is a big part of it. Leverett Elementary School has jumped in with us and is also logging acts of kindness. It started with a small idea and is spreading goodness throughout our community. Please get behind this and make is something special. Our students will be graded on their participation. It will be a letter grade just like in school. Depending on the amount of acts and what they did will determine their grade. If a child fails to get one hundred acts done, there could be a lower grade. If they find the cure for cancer, then we would consider an A+ on that act! Kids may belt test without doing any acts, but do expect an F in participation. Let’s make this a win-win for the kids, for our families, for our community and our world. Get those acts registered on our student website!

May 1 and 2 is our annual floating and camping trip along the Buffalo River. EVERYONE is encouraged to come out and float and camp with us. You may just camp or just float or just come out and have a picnic with us. More information will follow!

April 1 marks the beginning of the calendar year for American Martial Arts Alliance. Our annual dues will need to be paid by the end of this month. The due are $40 for the year, and it is full price for two family members. Remaining family members are free. Information about the AMA and the benefits may be found on a flyer in the lobby and on our web site. Go to www.fayettevillemartialarts.com and click on the AMA banner.

May 16 is our next AMA regional tournament. It will be held in Ozark, MO, just outside of Springfield. Tournaments close to Springfield are always big tournaments, so please plan on attending. We EXPECT everyone to compete one time per year, so if you missed the Poteau tournament, please come & play. Again, what fun is it if we always practice for the game, but never get to play? The information can be found at our AMA web site.

Lastly, our 25 Annual Kids Summer TKD Camp is on! The dates are June 22 - 27 for black belts, and June 25 - 27 for color belts. Come on, 25 years of camp...you gotta go!!!!!! The camp is fun and we will be practicing our arts four to five times per day, we will be swimming, playing basketball and growing as martial artists and as human beings. The camp fee is normally around $149. I am not sure if there is an increase this year or not. Stay tuned in, more information will follow. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. We will fill up fast; applications will be accepted with a $50 non refundable deposit and on a first come, first served basis.

I hope I have not overwhelmed you with announcements. They can all be found on our school and student website! Thank you all for allowing me to be in your lives.

Master Edwards

March 2

Team,

Great job with our fundraiser Saturday. I know many have yet to break your boards, and many of you will be breaking in class this week, but so far we have raised $2,000 for our charities. I am blown away, and we are not done yet!! A Big Congratulations out to Doc Stagg, 6 BOARD STEP BEHIND SIDE KICK! Everyone, please do not run into this man's kick!

We will be getting ready for our first AMA regional tournament of the year all this week. The tournament is this Saturday in Poteau, OK. If you are competing, please let us know when you are in class. That way we can make sure you are properly prepared. The entry fee is $40 and all info is posted in the lobby. If you have any questions, you know what to do!

We have room for more to donate blood tonight. We have 25 on the sign up sheet, and looking for 25 more volunteers. If you are willing to donate, please call the school after noon on Monday and get your name on the list. We will also be holding classes during the blood drive. Come on, don't be afraid, those needles are not that big!

I have had a few parents and a few adult students express interest in traveling with me to Alabama this year to participate in a "life changing" experience. It is scheduled for March 25-29 & you are all invited to participate. More information can be found at www.ultimateblackbelttest.com, just click on the Alabama folder. It is a really "cheap" trip, as we will be sleeping on a church gym floor, and all food is provided once we get there.

Mr. Price is holding a tournament sparring seminar in an effort to raise money for his TKD World Championships expenses. Mr. Price will be traveling to Sweden in a couple of months go pursue a dream. His sparring seminar is not to be missed! He is only charging $30, and I would tip him generously on top of that! The seminar info is posted in the lobby. The seminar is March 21 from 2:00 until 5:00.

Moms, we are going to offer a FREE F.A.S.T. Defense class for Mother's Day, which is typically $99 per person. We have room for 20 participants & spots will fill quickly, so watch for the sign up sheet. It will likely be scheduled for the Friday before Mother's Day. For more information, go to our website and check out the FAST Defense page.

Yours,

Master Edwards

1st Pondering

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1430

Hey all,

I stumbled across this awesome music video which has a great message for all of us. That is, we really must stand by each other. I don't know if life is easy for you right now or not, we simply do not communicate enough! What are your joys, what are your struggles, what are your hopes, what are your successes, what causes you to get up in the morning and face the day with passion?

I hope all is well and hope that if any of you need ANYTHING, you will call me.

God Bless and Merry Christmas,

Randy Edwards

December 15

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