* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [Speakers:
Council Member Kelly 
Heather Trupia - Jakku Temple Saber Guild Director]
          [00:00:10]
          GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 
          I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, REPRESENTING NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND DISTRICT SIX. 
          TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR STAR WARS FANS OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S MAY 4TH, ALSO KNOWN AS STAR WARS DAY. 
          IT'S A DAY WHEN FANS OF THE FRANCHISE CELEBRATE THE ICONIC MOVIES, TV SHOWS, AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO THE GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY. 
          HOWEVER, TODAY I WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION THAT USES A CONCEPT OF BEING A JEDI AS A TOOL FOR EDUCATION, SELF-DEFENSE, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
          I'M TALKING ABOUT THE JACQUE TEMPLE SABER GUILD CHAPTER, WHICH IS THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF A LARGER NATIONWIDE SABER GUILD ORGANIZATION. 
          THE SABER GUILD WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO TEACH THEM SELF-DEFENSE, TEAMWORK, AND CREATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS. 
          ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T ACTUALLY TEACH JEDI MIND TRICKS, THEY DO INSTILL DETERMINATION, FOCUS, AND HAND EYE COORDINATION THROUGH THEIR CLASSES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS. 
          THE JOCK TEMPLE SABER GUILD CHAPTER IN PARTICULAR HAS MADE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. 
          AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT MY SISTER-IN-LAW IS A ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS GROUP. 
          SHE HAS PERSONALLY SHARED WITH ME THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE THE SABER GUILD HAS HAD ON THE LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS, AS WELL AS EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND SURROUNDING AREAS THAT THEY HELP TEACH AND COMMUNICATE TO. 
          THEREFORE, ON THIS MAY 4TH, I WANT TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE EFFORTS OF THE JOCK TEMPLE SABER GUILT CHAPTER BY READING A PROCLAMATION IN THEIR HONOR, LET US RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE ORGANIZATION THAT INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION IN A WAY THAT BRINGS JOY AND FUN TO THEIR LIVES. 
          THEREFORE, TODAY WE ARE HERE ON THIS MAY 4TH BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR EFFORTS DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. 
          I'LL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION. 
          IT SAYS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW DEDICATED ORGANIZATIONS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT. 
          AND WHEREAS THE SABER GUILD, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ART OF LIGHT SABER PERFORMANCE HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND EVEN THROUGHOUT THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. 
          AND WHEREAS THE SABER GUILD HAS PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES THROUGH PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS. 
          AND THE AUSTIN CHAPTER, SABER GUILD, JCU TEMPLE IS A LIGHT SABER CHOREOGRAPHY GROUP THAT HAS HELPED AUSTINITES CHANNEL THEIR E JEDI. 
          AND WHEREAS THE SABER GUILD, JCU TEMPLE HAS PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS LOCAL CHARITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THOSE IN NEED AND TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF IMPORTANT CAUSES. 
          AND WHEREAS THE SABER GUILD HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY, WELCOMING MEMBERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES TO JOIN IN THEIR ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 
          AND WHEREAS THE SABER GUILD HAS INSPIRED MANY INDIVIDUALS TO EXPLORE THEIR INNER CREATIVITY AND PASSION FOR THE ARTS, WHILE ALSO PERFORMING AND PROMOTING PHYSICAL FITNESS AND WELLBEING. 
          AND WHEREAS THE DIRECTOR, HEATHER TRUVIA SAYS THAT HER FAVORITE PART IS WATCHING THE CHILDREN'S EYES LIGHT UP AS A WATCH AND PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERACTIVE JEDI EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS INSPIRING CHILDREN TO BELIEVE IN THEIR SELVES. 
          NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 4TH, 2023 AS SABER YIELD DAY IN HONOR OF THEIR EFFORTS. 
          ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 
          YES. 
          WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THIS. 
          UM, AND THEN HEATHER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THE PRESENTATION, UM, I AM SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS IS THE WAY YOU GO, HEATHER. 
          WELL, WE HAVE TO, UH, REALLY THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BESTOWING THIS HONOR UPON JCU TEMPLE. 
          UM, WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE LOVE OUR CHARITIES THAT WE COME ALONGSIDE. 
          SOME OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS ARE HOSPITAL VISITS AND LIBRARY EVENTS AND EVENTS FOR HELPING, UH, CHILDREN WITH MAKE-A-WISH AND, AND WHATNOT TOO. 
          SO, UH, WE JUST LOVE TO USE OUR LOVE OF STAR WARS TO MAKE OUR PART OF THE GALAXY A BIT BRIGHTER. 
          UM, AND, AND ACTUALLY WE'RE INTERNATIONAL AND, UH, WE JUST LOVE DOING THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD, COMING TOGETHER, UH, IN THIS, IN THIS WORLD, AND COMING ALONGSIDE OUR SISTER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL. 
          AND WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY A LITTLE DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT WE LIKE TO DO ON STAGE AND AS WE'RE TRAINING THE CHILDREN. 
          THAT'S AWESOME. 
          SO WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A DEMONSTRATION, WHICH I HOPE YOU ALL STAY TUNED IN FOR. 
          [00:05:11]
NICE, NICE, NICE. 
          OH, DO I NEED TO PUT IT DOWN? OKAY. 
          LOOK THAT I'LL TELL YOU WHEN TO LOOK HERE. 
          LOOK THIS WAY. 
          SMILE.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.