This weekend is the AAU Chinese Martial Arts competition in Round Rock, Texas.
Over the past 3 years there have been some major changes in this group. The bylaws of the AAU CMA were reworked providing for direct accountability of the leadership to the regional people and the individual members.
This weekend, this democratic aspect will be highlighted in the fact that 3 of the National Executive Board members (1/3 of the Board) will be stepping down as new elections will be held for their positions. The Board has 9 members and 3 positions are up for election each year. The nomination process and elections are as open as AAU national parent organization rules provide for (meaning you DO have to be an AAU CMA member )
In addition, the AAU Rules for competition have been reworked. There is nowa process - as in just submitting the idea, suggestion, gripe, etc... about any area of the rules - to the Rules Committee.
This means that changes can be suggested from anyone. It does NOT mean that all changes suggested will be acted upon. I mean, after all, there has to be SOME Sanity Check....but all suggestions will be considered...and if not enacted, the submitter can indeed get the reasons behind not acting on the suggestion.
This is a definite change in how CMA actions are carried out.
But, to make a democratic Chinese Martial Arts org work , you have to have member involvement ...and that is ALWAYS welcomed.