Rose City Athletic Organization (RCAO)

Mission Statement and Vision

RCAO is dedicated to the promotion of personal growth, social harmony and peace through education, awareness, self control and personal empowerment, specifically targeting anger management, violence reduction and increasing safety and tolerance within the continually diversifying culture of our society. 

About RCAO

RCAO is a not-for-profit corporation and federally registered tax exempt charity (charitable number 119123263  RR0001), that operates a community centre providing various educational, training and social/recreational activities. Our main focus is on personal growth and development emphasizing empowerment, confidence, re-direction of negative energies, tolerance, and self-discipline through physical and non-physical crisis intervention skill development.  RCAO programs include Aikido, relaxed physical training for older/mobility challenged adults, children's physical development activities, and programs dealing with improving self-esteem, confidence, and providing a non-violent reaction to challenges, including several classes a week for Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) clients.

The main delivery systems are developed from the art of Aikido (translated as 'the way of harmony').  While historically based in a martial discipline, modern Aikido philosophy teaches self control and practical effectiveness with an emphasis on non-violent reaction, personal growth and community involvement.  Aikido has no sport component. There are no competitions or tournaments. Modern Aikido teaches students that avoidance, self-control, gentleness and calmness are not weaknesses; that in fact such qualities are the most effective responses one can make to violence and aggression. Growth is measured not by defeating others through sport or competition, but by overcoming the negative aspects of oneself through education, training and practical application.

On-site Aikido classes are divided into 3 main programs: children, youth and adult. Each program offers age appropriate skill building, concentrating on developing: self-esteem, confidence, discipline, self-defense, tolerance, acceptance, teamwork and cooperation with a strong emphasis on positive individual, family and community interaction, and are offered multiple times per week. In addition, crisis intervention programs and relaxed physical training, as well as several other classes are held several times each week.

Those involved with our organization vary in age from 4 years old to senior citizens, including both men and women, without regards to ethnicity, religious affiliation, functional ability or income level. As well, there have been thousands of individuals involved in the various off-site programs and courses offered by RCAO in addition to our fundraising endeavours.

The RCAO has existed continuously since 1982 and has a long record of successfully presenting a wide variety of programs to outside groups and agencies, as we believe that the RCAO needs to be involved in the greater community. We have provided courses/workshops/seminars to both specialized groups and the general public (anger management, non-physical and physical crisis intervention, personal safety and protection, motivation and information retention, benevolent control and violent person management, first aid, CPR, yoga, meditation, Japanese flower arranging, Japanese language courses, macrobiotic cooking, and more) and partnered with other local agencies, such as:  numerous schools (elementary, secondary and St. Clair College); service agencies such as Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Windsor Coalition for Housing, House of Sophrosyne, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), HMCS Hunter (cadets) and others; local unions; Windsor Regional Hospital (Regional Children’s Center, Problem Gambling Services); the RCMP; REACH program;  private companies and more.

The RCAO also sponsors a number of social events that are open to students, their families, friends and the community at large.  The objective of these events is to transition one's training from the sterile environment of the classroom to a supportive social environment and then to their unique daily life. 

We also undertake fundraising activities to support RCAO's endeavours, community outreach/enhancement, as well as assisting people and families with limited incomes in crisis situations. These fundraising activities have included bingos, walk-a-thons, private donations, golf days, yard sales, car washes, raffles, demonstration events, etc.

By providing our programs at a variety of locations, issues of travel, travel cost and accessibility are avoided.  Providing these programs in a variety of community settings, including cultural, religious and educational institutions, allows us to avoid most barriers often experienced by ethnic groups, visible minorities, the handicapped and others with special needs. No limitation on access is based on individuals with physical, mental or developmental challenges.

Inexpensive or free training is provided to people who are experiencing financial hardship or who are otherwise financially distressed. In-kind exchanges are arranged with institutions or agencies which wish programs delivered at their locations, but who lack financial resources. As well, RCAO reaches out to the community at large through means of free or deeply discounted workshops, seminars, classes and demonstrations.  We partner with various community agencies and schools to provide services and expose non-traditional communities to our agency and programs. We offer to exchange volunteer work for free or discounted classes (programs for the Blind/CNIB, relaxed training for elderly/physically challenged, etc.).

Programs for special groups include: physical and confidence building exercises for CMHA clients; empowerment programs for women from local abuse shelters and programs; as well as sponsored memberships for low income youth and for populations at risk such as those with physical and developmental challenges. The RCAO has also responded to special requests from local agencies; including creating a Youth Empowerment and Safety Program for the Windsor Regional Hospital - Western Campus Regional Children’s Center, as well as creating a Benevolent Control and Violent Patient Management program for local elder care facilities, at the request of the local Christian Labour Association.  We have delivered multiple empowerment seminars for Windsor Regional Hospital's Problem Gambling Services clients at the request of this agency.

To inform people of our services, we post flyers throughout the community, host information booths at community events, use direct mail to send brochures and flyers on our programs, write articles on reducing violence and redirecting negative energy for local community magazines, and more. In addition, we believe that one of the RCAO’s mandates is to promote its mission statement and vision through the Aikido YES (Youth Empowerment and Safety) program.  The YES program, three years in development, is a short term comprehensive course designed to give the youth of today, skills in dealing with bullying and violence while increasing their safety, self-esteem and confidence in home, social and academic environments.

The YES program differs from other anti-bullying programs. It deals with the root of violence, choosing not to contribute to the violence either by word, deed or body language, but concentrates instead on defusing and neutralizing it.  It also teaches methods by which to derail the bullying process before it starts. YES teaches skills to stay safe, builds confidence and self-esteem, enabling one to deal with violence from a position of strength, knowledge and capability, while achieving a peaceful resolution.  The YES program’s success stems from this moral and ethical approach.  Calmness, gentleness and being in tune with the rest of the world around you are not weaknesses.  Students learn through the YES program that it is precisely these qualities that are your most effective responses to stress, aggression and violence.

The YES program was designed by Kevin Blok, Ph.D. (can.), professor at St. Clair College (Windsor) for over 30 years, teaching psychology and Use-of-Force in the Law and Security Department. It is meant to help children and teenagers become safe, healthy and successful members of their community, while at the same time promoting an atmosphere of acceptance, security, tolerance and encouragement among youth in their homes, schools, and both familiar and unfamiliar social environments. The concept behind the YES program takes these ideas into the greater community through the school system and local community agencies.  It is a short term program, where key elements are studied for practical application in a real life environment.                                                                                                    The Aikido YES Program is registered with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Registry of Bullying Prevention Programs.  Further, the YES program meets all the key element requirements of an effective bullying prevention program, according to the Ministry. Each instructor has graduated from courses in non-physical crisis intervention, benevolent control and violent person management, motivation and instructional technique, and has extensive experience in the non-violent martial discipline of Aikido, with a minimum of five years experience in teaching children and youth and is first-aid and CPR certified.

RCAO partners with a number of community agencies to expand the potential of delivering on our mission and vision to the greater community, such as: 

- The Rose City Community Assistance Fund, a branch of the RCAO, which raises funds to aid children and youth from families either with a low income or in crisis.

- Big Brothers / Big Sisters Association, where RCAO donate memberships for their fundraisers and offer classes to the little brothers and sisters at no cost.

- Windsor Scouting Groups (girls & boys) where RCAO donates memberships for their fundraisers and send instructors to their meetings for classes on stranger danger, anti-bullying and personal safety.

- Local schools (Prince Edward, Begley, John Campbell, Queen Victoria, Dougall, St. Anne French Immersion, Kennedy Collegiate, Forster High School) - free personal safety seminars, donations, volunteer for community projects, etc.

- Windsor Homes Coalition - partnered to provide the Aikido YES program during their summer camp and special events.

- Local union chapters - personal safety seminars, donations to RCAO's youth programs.

- Windsor Regional Hospital - classes and donations made for special programs and services.

- House of Sophrosyne - supplied women instructors to teach women and their children how to build self-esteem, confidence and conflict resolution skills.

- St. Clair College Campus For Kids Summer Program - Aikido YES program

- Mom2Mom Family Expo - information booths and demonstrations.

- Volunteers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at their fundraising events.

- HMCS Hunter - involved in their cadet program offering courses in conflict resolution.

- The Canadian Mental Health Association,  Dr. Annette Dufresne works with our instructors to deliver regular Aikido classes at our facility to offer alternative, non-violent approaches to conflict resolution to CMHA clientele.  Her studies have shown that these regular Aikido classes have substantially aided the participants in their mental and physical health, social interactions and daily life.  

-  Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

- Family Services Windsor-Essex

The greatest challenge for RCAO has been dealing with the changing economic climate i.e. curtailed bingo opportunities, declining membership dues (which are on a pay as you can basis), reduced donations, local economic downturn, etc.  In response, RCAO has continued to deliver the same high quality service to the community, through:

1) increased partnerships with other agencies (CMHA, Windsor Homes Coalition, HMCS Hunter - Cadet Program, Windsor Sportsmen Club, and Red Cross) 

2) Increased volunteer support (ie giving membership benefits in lieu of money for volunteer work).

3) Streamlined operations to ensure all activities are financially self-sufficient and worked to increase our effectiveness in program delivery (ie by adjusting times, class size and composition) 

4) Utilized co-op students to assist with various general operations

5) Existing contract staff have taken pay reductions 

6) Increased fundraising activities

7) We adjusted the focus of our programs to attract a wider base of the community (i.e. stay at home parents, disadvantaged youths and handicapped individuals)

Despite the economic downturn in the Windsor region in the last decade, we have continued to add programs to our schedule, donate services to community agencies, and reach out to needy children, adults and families. With your help we hope to continue our community services, well into the future.