Please help: is my membership valid?

[Sorcroft]

I have a USFA membership that is of the $30 dollor variety rather than the $40. It shouldn't be, i gave my instructer $40, grr... anyway thats what i have, it says "Local Competative Member Only" on it. I want to fence in the pom de terr (i know i didn't spell that right), and i'd like to know if i can with this membership; please advise

[Peach]

I suggest calling the USFA 719 578 4511 and talking to them (and getting written confirmation from your instructor that he received the money and forwarded it to the USFA--and do you have a cancelled check for the $40?); meanwhile, the people who run the Pomme de Terre are experienced enough to know that with the payment of $10 extra your membership can be upgraded; keep the receipt from the tournament and submit it to the USFA for reimbursement once you get the membership thing straightened out.

[Chris]

Originally posted by Peach:
I suggest calling the USFA 719 578 4511 and talking to them (and getting written confirmation from your instructor that he received the money and forwarded it to the USFA--and do you have a cancelled check for the $40?); meanwhile, the people who run the Pomme de Terre are experienced enough to know that with the payment of $10 extra your membership can be upgraded; keep the receipt from the tournament and submit it to the USFA for reimbursement once you get the membership thing straightened out.

Well, calling the USFA National Office isn't a bad idea; but they will only tell you what your card says: You have the $30.00 membership:

THe GOOD news is you DON'T need the $40.00 membership to fence in the Pomme du Terre: It is still a local tournament - it's just not your locale.

IF you are going to fence in the Summer Nationals, Junior Olympics, or qualifiers for either of them, or any NAC, you DO need the $40.00 membership.

IF you are %110 positive that you gave your coach $40.00, then it might be time to look into getting a new coach, and worry about your membership later!
(If you DO have a cancelled check; petty theft is an issue to think about...)

In the future, I strongly recommend submitting your membership dues directly to the National Office RIGHT AWAY in July/August (whenever they send that letter), so that

A. You will get all the magazines and Newsletter from them,

B. So that your Division Secretary will be forwarded you address & status in a timely fashion, and

C. You will have your card for the tournaments you go to.

If you don't renew 'on time', you should probably still send it into the National Office, but make sure you tell your Division Secretary you renewed; so you can get you local newsletter (unless you live in one of those wonderful divisions where they don't do newsletters!).

Going to a tournament in another division and paying your dues there is usually a recipe for the right things to NOT happen.

If you DO give your membership dues to someone besides the National office, it is best to pay in the form of a check made out to the National Office: then it is of no use to anyone else, and there is no reason for them to try any sort of monkey business.

Personally, I am a little disappointed that they jacked up the Life Membership Dues so high; of course they can't just give it away!
(I put in for it when it was only $300.00 - it was a good piece of change, but I had it at the time, and now I am set, and I never miss the fall mag's!)

Sincerely,

Chris Hagen
Secretary, Minnesota Division

[mango fever]

I think it sounds louzy to post something on the net like that, if you need to question something, you should be able to talk with your instructor first, then check your financial records, then ignor it and resubmit your paperwork. If, problems continue in a salle, then I think you should be able to talk with your Division President in confidence. It may have simply been a miscommunication.