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On November 23, 2007 Mrs. Watkins tested for her fifth degree black belt. Family and close friends, students past and present, and many of VBKA's high ranking black belts shared in this event. So many of you who know and love her were not able to be present that night, so we have brought together various elements of her test and other elements of the night's festivities for your enjoyment.
Keep in mind that for those who reach these higher ranks, it is not so much about great physical feats as it is about the richness that this person brings to the sport, the impact she has on those around her, and the depth of personal commitment she has made to this art and to passing it along to those who also share a love for it. Mrs. Watkins' contribution to VBKA and to the martial arts has been tremendous, and we are happy to be able to share it with you.
(This is an automated QuickTime® Movie which replicates a Powerpoint Program put together by Linda Watson. The movie plays automatically. Please be patient as the movie is downloading. Download time will vary depending on your internet connection speed.)
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Cathy Watkins is a multi-talented woman who has dedicated many years of her life to VBKA and its members. It's hard to imagine what VBKA would be without her!! Thank you so much Mrs. Watkins!
By the time it is finished, the videos should be fully downloaded for uninterrupted viewing.
Next, we have included a number of Flash® video clips from Mrs. Watkins' test.
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Video 1: Mrs. Watkins performs with two VBKA Instructors: Mr. Voyles (foreground) -- 4th Degree Black Belt and Mr. Wesley (back left) -- 3rd Degree Black Belt.
Video 2: Mrs. Watkins alone.
Video 3: Mrs. Watkins performs with her daughter Jenni and her son Dan. Both are 3rd Degree Black Belts.
Dear Mrs. Watkins,
It gives me much pleasure to award you your 5th Degree Black Belt promotion. As you know, the higher Black Belt promotions are primarily based on "what a person has given to the martial arts program." So while you have successfully completed the physical martial arts test, your twenty years of service to the Vero Beach Karate Association are what really qualify you for this exceptional honor.
Your contributions to the betterment of the Association are almost too many to put in one paper. You had a program at St. Edward's School for seven years, and from that group many students were taken to the Black Belt level, including Eric, Melvin, and Sonya Makhni, and Max Simonsen who are present tonight for your 5th Degree celebration. I'm sure that all of these young people will say that their lives have been enriched by your involvement with them these many years.
For the past fifteen years you have been an active part of the Vero Beach Karate Association Demonstration Team and have done over two hundred and fifty demonstrations throughout the area.
That alone accounts for many, many hours of your own time. Many of these demonstrations were community service demonstrations for retirement centers, hospitals, non-profit organizations like the American Cancer Society, and the March of Dimes. The entire community has been enriched by these events.
For the past fifteen years you have been the central person in creating one of the best Holiday and Summer Camps anywhere. Your weekly themes and myriad of engaging guests have helped to develop young people into really great kids. Your attention to manners and etiquette and your unique way of bringing this to children's lives has made this an important part of the success of our camps.
For the past ten years you have been a member of the Black Belt training team. You have had a huge impact on those Black Belt candidates, not only in taking them to a higher level of ability, but also through your zeal for excellence, particularly in the karate area.
The list goes on: Halloween and Christmas parades, the Scholarship Banquets, the Dress-up Dances, the VBKA tournaments, as well as Mr. Piper's tournaments, MDA Day, Family Fun Day -- all of these activities contribute to the students' incredible VBKA experience.
I think I can sum up by saying that every one who gets to know you realizes what a very special person you are. You genuinely care about people and go out of your way for so many. You touch people's lives in such a good way, each and every day. You are truly loved by so many people an all of us at the Vero Beach Karate Association have been blessed to have you in our lives.
Congratulations!
Mr. Willis, Head Instructor
I must say this is an incredibly difficult task. How am I supposed to write everything I want to about how wonderful Mrs. Watkins is in only a few paragraphs? It's not possible, because she has constantly showered glory in my life ever since I was little. Though I spent most of my younger years at the Oslo School, I would come to the Main School for Judo or tests and be blessed with the presence of Mrs. Watkins. She has this positive outlook that each child reacts well with praise. Read more.... |
I've found that in thinking about Mrs. Watkins, it is very hard not to also think about how selfless she is. It is certainly admirable when one possesses such a quality, even in moderation; when such a quality becomes a defining characteristic of a person, however, the result is much rarer -- and much more unforgettable. I think sometimes we take for granted how much Mrs. Watkins has done for all of us at the karate school. She is always taking on so much more than should be expected -- just to make sure the school can function at its best. Read more.... |
From Marie and Bob Fitzgerald... If you ever walk into a room at the Vero Beach Karate Association and hear loud raucous laughter, you know Cathy Watkins is in the room. Whether during a training session or people are just standing around talking, if they're having fun, Cathy is a big part of it. In our years of training at the school, we looked forward to the classes with Mrs. Watkins, "Mommy Watkins." We learned, we had fun, and we laughed a lot, sometimes so hard we cried. We reminisced -- music, movies, TV shows, and experiences. Read more.... |
From all of us at VBKA: We love you Mrs. Watkins, and we couldn't be prouder!! Thanks for everything!
Jason con't: She has this positive outlook that each child reacts well with praise. She delightfully gives it out, even at such simple measures as a lightly scraped elbow. Her kind and heart warming personality always welcomes every member of the Vero Beach Karate Association. It is because of her that children, as well as parents, feel comfortable at VBKA.
It is absolutely amazing how Mrs. Watkins can not only handle all of the jobs she performs, but handle them with excellence. It truly shows a dedication to what she does. I like to call it an unconditional love. Her burning passion spreads through her work, and as such, we see improvement every year in the way events are held. What are you deeply passionate about? Mrs. Watkins follows this circle of the hedgehog concept (her deeply held core values) in every aspect: work, emotions, and life.
I cannot leave this note without explaining how much of an influence Mrs. Watkins has been to me in the recent years. Since I began teaching classes, I have been introduced to many types of students. Some have been easy to teach, others not so much. While I learned through the Instructor Certification Class the idea of praising and helping, she helped me apply it. She has so much understanding for practitioners of all ages and situations, that she is a very reliable source to learn from. I feel that without her, I would not be as adept at instructing. Mrs. Watkins has been able to go past Instructor-Student and understand me on a personal level. She has been an optimistic influence in my life, and has helped me in so many different areas. Congratulations Mrs. Watkins, you've earned it. Back
Anne con't: Much of the time Mrs. Watkins can be seen behind her desk, constantly balancing her workload with helping others. Whether handing out snacks, taking checks, catching up with others, listening to their problems, or running around between classes or during summer camp, Mrs. Watkins never ceases to amaze me with how much she can accomplish at once. And it can be assured that no scraped knee, no bumped head -- no broken arm -- has been too bloody, too bruised, or too horrendous for Mrs. (mommy) Watkins to help nurse back to health.
I feel truly blessed to have had Mrs. Watkins as a role model growing up. It is one thing to see someone do their job well, and it's quite another to see someone consistently go above and beyond those requirements. Back
Marie and Bob con't: She took us under her wing, taught us the jiu-jitsu and katas, and with her patience, nurturing and mending of the boo boos, amazingly we got our black belts. We would not have made it without her. After all the years of overseeing our training, instructing and taking care of business, she is squeezing herself thin, literally too, to get her 5th degree belt. She is a true inspiration to all that know her.
Anyone who speaks of the Vero Beach Karate Association always sings praises of Cathy Watkins. She's not only the glue of the school holding the place together; she keeps us all sticking around. From helping raise our pride and joy -- Shannon -- and being a positive influence on her, to helping us to become better students, we know when we or others speak her name there is always a smile on our faces. Cathy, thanks for all that you've done.
Knock'em out ... but be a good sailor! God bless you! Back
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