Conference Survey Results: A 2017 Community Conference

Open and receptive are words often used in T’ai Chi Chih classes and which I particularly use as we practice Pulling in the Energy movement. Softening throughout the body is emphasized for a more complete flow of Chi. Our whole being reacts and is acted upon as we move through the practice. Even our thinking softens to the point that there is very little activity – no processing, no critiquing, no judgment.

That softening and openness was evident in the responses to the survey regarding the proposed changes to the annual teacher conference. Of the 120 teachers that responded 99 are in favor of alternating a teacher conference with a teacher/student conference. Fifty students participated in the survey.

The teacher/student conference will be called the T’ai Chi Chih Community Conference. The intent is not to have several local community conferences the same year but to have one large conference open to teachers and all those who practice T’ai Chi Chih. Each time it would be held where there is a substantial population of practitioners, and it would be open to everyone whether they lived near or far.

The majority would like the conference to be Friday through Sunday but many preferred Thursday through Sunday, each with students attending the whole time. July and August were the most desired months. Since this is a new endeavor we will start with a Friday through Sunday event the summer of 2017.

It was especially helpful to read comments about why people attend or no longer attend. The following topics each received several comments as to why people attend conference:

• Be Inspired – Recharge

• Social interaction with like minds

• Sharing ideas and teaching techniques

• Working on the form, exploring

• Rededication to the practice and teaching

• Feel energy of the group and the practicing together

Specific comments:

”To contribute energy to, and breathe in energy from, the greater TCC community. As a newer teacher, also experiencing the longtime connections, stories and inspirations from those who have been practicing and teaching for many years and who knew Justin.”

“I enjoy growing through my practice and being around individuals who share that. Serious students would fit well!”

The number one reason why people do not attend conference is financial, but also the difficulty of travel, missing work and leaving family and animals. Some felt the conference did not meet their needs for growth in the practice, or present enough concrete material for expanding their teaching skills.

Specific comments:

“Would rather spend the money on a retreat or intensive to work on my practice which I believe makes me a better teacher. I don’t care for the ‘ceremonies’ and ‘dancing’ type activities at conference.”

“There are many other opportunities for renewal and community that I would also like to attend. I generally choose TCC Conference every other year.”

There were several comments like the two above where teachers are opting to attend other events that may suit their needs more closely. Each event in the community serves a slightly different purpose. Intensives are 3½ days dedicated primarily to working on the form. Workshops generally are one-day events refining the form and sharing time together. Retreats are mainly inward focused events that have a lot of down-time for reflection. Conferences are a time for sharing our teaching experiences, relaxing and laughing with each other, refining our movements and replenishing our energy and boosting our enthusiasm for the practice and teaching.

Three comments were similar to the following (from people who remember how Justin stressed the importance of teachers attending the conference every year):

“Justin wanted the teacher conference to be a place for teachers to deepen their practice and for the Chi to reveal more of what T’ai Chi Chih has to offer in an atmosphere conducive to that outcome. Allowing students to attend would make the conference into something similar to a retreat. This is not Justin’s vision. There are many retreats available for students and teachers to attend. A conference is not needed. Also there are now teacher-only retreats. Why are these being held when we already have the teacher’s conference? Let’s keep this a conference for teachers.”

Some teachers are concerned that with students attending they will not be able to be there for themselves but will have to put on their teacher hat and help the students. My response: We are inside most of the time – no hats necessary.

For those who had specific comments about what you would like to see happen or be presented at conference, I encourage you to take an active part in making that happen. The conference committee uses the evaluations from the year before to help plan the following year but rarely do people volunteer to be presenters or have concrete ideas for sessions.

The survey was a valuable tool to discern the needs and desires of the community and give folks an opportunity to express themselves. I look forward to the future as our community moves into this change with softness, openness and receptivity.

Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to fly to conference? It you have a fair amount of teachers and students in your area (including the surrounding states), consider hosting the first T’ai Chi Chih Community Conference the summer of 2017.

I look forward to hearing from you.