Part 1
The discussion on core values began on Friday afternoon. Participants were introduced to the concepts of core values, then focused on one of the “word clouds” produced by the census results. Using the “World Cafe” discussion model, the participants responded to the word cloud on “Why do you play Taiko?” They first discussed which of the word cloud values resonated for themselves personally. Then they discussed which of these personal values would translate into core organizational values for the TCA.
Core Values Presentation Part 1
Part 1 Results
The following are transcriptions of the charts that were produced when small groups presented during the Core Values Part 1 Discussion.
WHY DO YOU PLAY TAIKO?
- Healthy taiko community how do you build and sustain?
- Challenge never done challenging yourself
- Traditional (preservation) / Contemporary (building on tradition)
- Understanding self/selfidentity and discovery
- Love = passion
- Empowerment cultural/gender
- Thank you mentality to thank/respect others (Japanese cultural sensibilities)
- Connect people in audience, cultures, movement and music
- Teaching
- Diverse and accessible (equality in opportunity to play)
- Stress don’t play to relieve stress/stress of responsibility
- Expression good and bad
- Being present / Presence
- Different (original reason changes over time)
- Heritage (important to pass along the Japanese history/culture)
- Art / Artist (art as a product, art as a way to keep learning)
- Community: building, struggle, perseverance
- Power medium to teach/share with others (accessible, holistic)
- Anything relating to a pursuit of excellence
- Change/evolution (being open to)
- FOOD
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BRAINSTORMING CORE VALUES FOR TCA
- Fostering intergroup/interplayer connections ○ Taiko ecurrency: Taiko mingle.com
- Build community through respect and empowerment
- Passion keep the love alive
- Evolving connections relationships
- Honor
- Tradition
- Transparency decisionmaking that reflects community
- Taiko as North American art form (encouraging growth and evolution)
- Accessibility (taiko for all people at all levels)
- Respect (what has come before and what is to come)
- North Americanness (determine scope of reach and representation)
- Interconnectedness (appreciation of history, relations, awareness)
- Heritage
- Community
- Connection (horizontally evolution, NA) (vertically heritage, Japan)
- TO TALK ABOUT
- competition/competitiveness (could be inspirational)
- determine scope and reach of TCA
- discuss full meanings of words like heritage
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Part 2
The second part of the core values discussion began on Saturday morning. Here, participants gathered in small groups, then decided on 4-6 organizational values that would best serve what the TCA stands for and how it will operate. Groups presented their selected values, which were grouped, then voted on using the “dot-voting” method.
Core Values Presentation Part 2
Part 2 Results
The following core values emerged after the vote by the Launch Meeting participants.
CORE VALUES DOT-VOTING RESULTS
- Heritage
- Community
- Respect
- Inclusivity
- Communication and Transparency
- Empowerment
- Evolution
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After these values were decided, the group moved on to discuss and draft guiding principles for each value (See Guiding Principles Discussion page). Together, the draft language was given to a small committee for word-smithing. This will be published on the TCA website in mid-September.
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