Anniversaries are a time to look back to where we have been, but also to look forward to where we are going. The Seattle area dojos have had many fundraisers over the years,in the spirit of following the dream of a central dojo for Shotokan. In the last few years, Seattle area members have sponsored different projects for fundraisers: the Smoothie booth, banner sales, car washes, garage sales. Even when the amount of money raised is small, everyone feels good to be a part of our dream. With each car washed, desk sold or Smoothie blended, we may picture another floorboard laid in the dojo. We look forward to entering the dojo in Carpenteria and standing on that special floorboard made possible by our efforts through the years.
The Smoothie Booth is the distinctive Seattle dojo fundraiser. Every year since 1981 the Shotokan Smoothie booth has been set up at the 4th of July fair on Bainbridge Island. Using strawberries, apple juice, and ice, the healthy and refreshing treat has provided an ideal way to raise money for the central dojo. On hot days, the atmosphere is one of chaos and anxiety, with at least one blender burning out each year, but the event has become a welcome ritual in the Northwest karate calendar.
"The dojo is everywhere on earth for me...but to sit on a hillside above our ideal dojo, to die there, that is my dream."
-- Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima
Copyright © 1996 by John Gosink