From the SAFD Web Administrator Sept-October 2010

The SAFD web site continues to evolve with the most recent additions of the SPT/SPR online adjudication reporting system and the additional of online FD/CT renewals. These two features represent a significant amount of thought, input, and development time. Time well spent. One additional feature that we just released is our new online SPT/SPR advertising and notification system.

In the past, certified teachers and organizations normally have submitted their SPT?SPR workshops through their regional representatives and via publications like The Cutting Edge newsletter. But the SAFD is now able to take advantage of direct advertising for upcoming workshops. Certified teachers, fight directors, and fight masters can now go online, fill out a quick SPT/SPR notification form, and have that notice appear on a page dedicated for upcoming workshops and events. But there's more. . . .

When we receive a notification for an upcoming SPT/SPR we create all the necessary processes to provide the most flexible options for student participants, including a simple registration process to attend the workshop and an option to pay workshop fees and optional membership dues completely online. Teachers will be able to go online and download a list of students who have registered, and check their payment status as well. Of course, this new feature is designed to add to, not replace, the process that currently exists for holding workshops and other training events. But we believe that this new feature will help our teachers better market their workshops, help with retaining our current members, and drive new memberships for the SAFD.

We are also scheduled to release the Actor Combatant and Advanced Actor Combatant directory lists by Friday, September 10, 2010. These lists will aid those ranks with better networking opportunities and provide a way for those in the biz to seek out and contact qualified stage combat actors. I will be sending out an email to those ranks with important information about how the directory lists work, and how to keep your SAFD profile information up-to-date in just a few days.

July and August represented an extremely busy period for me, but seeing some of the features that the membership has been waiting for come to fruition is well worth the work. And none of this would have been possible without key members of the governing body and your regional representatives. No doubt, September and October will be another period of hard work and achievements. But, please remember that you, the membership, are the most important resources of comments, suggestions, and criticisms. So, keep them coming.