On Becoming a Dojin in the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society: Criteria, Rewards, and Responsibilities
Purpose:
As part of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society’s commitment to the advancement of English-language haiku grounded in the traditional, we are instituting a process whereby one can become a Yuki Teikei Dojin, and subsequently a Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin. The purpose of the process is three-fold:
- to recognize those who, through their writing, have shown they have mastered the principles of haiku and have integrated those traditional principles in their writing,
- to provide those interested in learning haiku starting with traditional principles a roster of qualified masters, and
- to strengthen the Society so that the work started by Kiyoshi and Kiyoko Tokutomi will continue.
The designation of dojin in the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society is a public recognition of achievement in writing haiku in English. Such designation means that an individual has shown a full understanding of the practices and principles of the haiku form and is well on his or her way to becoming a master of the genre.
Organization:
In order to administer the process, the Society will create a YTHS Dojin Committee. Members of this committee will be appointed by the President. It will consist of up to three Yuki Teikei or Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin and one member of the YTHS Board. The board member will be non-voting.
A. Yuki Teikei Dojin:
Criteria:
A Yuki Teikei Dojin is a member in good standing having been a member for at least five years of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society and one who has completed the three-step Yuki Teikei Dojin process or has been designated as a dojin in another respected haiku society.
The Three-Step Yuki Teikei Dojin Process:
First, a candidate for Yuki Teikei Dojin will have established a record of achievement by having accomplished at a minimum two, preferably three, of the following:
- had six haiku chosen by “Dojin’s Corner,”
- had three haiku chosen in “Dojin’s Corner” and had six haiku chosen as first, second, or third by the general membership of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society when voting in the kukai conducted in Geppo,
- had haiku selected as a winner or honorable mention at least three times in the Kiyoshi and Kiyoko Tokutomi contest,
- placed in the top five of the Haiku Retreat kukai at least twice,
- read one’s haiku at the Spring Reading and at least one other venue,
- had a book of haiku published,
- achieved recognition in the larger haiku community,
- conducted workshops or lectures on haiku.
Second, a candidate for Yuki Teikei Dojin, upon successful completion of the above process, will submit fifty haiku to the YTHS Dojin Committee to demonstrate the candidate’s mastery of the principles of haiku-writing in English. If the Dojin Committee approves the candidate’s work, the candidate will become a Yuki Teikei Dojin-nominee.
Third, the Yuki Teikei Dojin-nominee will submit to the Board of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society a declaration of the services the nominee has performed and is willing to perform to support the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society. These services should offer a substantial commitment over a period of years. The hope is that the commitment to haiku and the society is a life-long one. Typical commitments
might be editing the annual Members’ Anthology, serving as an officer of the organization, guest-writing “Dojin’s Corner,” planning the annual Asilomar Retreat, editing Geppo, etc. Upon completion of the above, the Board of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society will convey the honor of Yuki Teikei Dojin on the nominee.
Responsibilities:
A Yuki Teikei Dojin in the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society will be expected to:
- submit haiku to the Challenge Kigo column in Geppo
- mentor new members
- serve on a committee appointed to screen candidates applying for dojin status
- participate in writing the “Dojin’s Corner” of Geppo
- be a resource to the Society that the Board can depend upon to assist in planning and executing events
- provide advice and counsel to the Board
B. Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin
Criteria:
After five years a Yuki Teikei Dojin who has established a record of service to YTHS and regular participation in YTHS activities may become a Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin by submitting fifty haiku written while a Yuki Teikei Dojin to the YTHS Dojin Committee. Upon approval of the Dojin Committee, the Board of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society will bestow on the Yuki Teikei Dojin the honor of Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin.
Responsibilities:
In addition to the responsibilities listed for a Yuki Teikei Dojin, a Kiyoko Tokutomi Dojin will be expected to establish a record of outreach. Examples might be creating and participating in an organized mentoring program, teaching through workshops and lectures, and publishing articles on haiku craft or history.
This process has been approved and signed by Patricia J. Machmiller, Chair, Dojin’s Committee of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society, and by Carolyn Fitz, President of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society.