Would you believe it?

[Purple Fencer]

I was actually asked to run a clinic at a divisional event...in a different division.

I got an Email form the secretary of the San Diego Division the other night in reference to the San Diego Jr. Invitational they're running August 18-19. Several clinics are being set up for directing, armoring, etc. She sais several people asked if I could come down and give a clinic for beginning fencers...based on the guide I wrote and have on my personal/SoCal Div websites. She even said there was one specific fencer who needed to hear it. She said the guide was highly regarded.

Needless to say, I was just floored by the request. I mean, I know many people have given out the URL for the guide, and some people have even cribbed the majority of it for their own sites (with credit back to me, of course). I even sent a copy to Mike Massik at National because he expressed an interest at Nats. Still, someone from a division not my own (and a 2 hr drive away) asking me to do it is a shock, particularly since the other clionics will most likely be given by members of the event directing staff, which includes Larry Dunn, Derek Cotton, Ed Richards and Felecia Zimmerman.

Wish me luck, gang. Hopefully I won;t screw it up too much!

[DamedEscrime]

GO! DO IT! ENJOY!
Sam, you helped me immensly with your fencing guide before my first tourney. It had all the "stuff" in that no one told me and I needed to know. For that I am grateful.
I even printed 2 copies, one for my own use and one for my salle.
GOOD LUCK! Your hard work is paying off.

[Peach]

VERY cool, Sam!

[Shadow Fencer]

What an honor! You were most likely asked because you are the ideal educator and create the enviornment conducive to learning-in reading your website as well as your posts, you're non-threatening, approachable, respectful, use humor.. all the qualities I look for in my staff! People want to learn from you. You're gonna be great!!!!

[Purple Fencer]

Now i REALLY need a blush Graemlin

Thanks, Shadow. One does one's humble best. My major problem is going to be keeping from getting so excited at actually doing it after being asked, that my speech speeds up to the point where I can't understand myself. I'm difficult enough to understand in a conversation because I talk fast and garble the words.

I guess I'll be practicing the delivery on the drive down. At least I use a book hands-free cell phone set so I can talk to myself and people think I'm actually talking to someone else!

[swordsen]

Be sure to show up wearing purple......

[Purple Fencer]

Well...they DID ask me to bring Frankenbag to show that you CAN be organized at a comp

I

[TheScribe]

My advice is to carry around something that you can easily slap on desks and what not, some sort of stick that lets you accentuate your points when you slap something, or someone...

lol, just joking. Although it may be good anyway.

[Purple Fencer]

How about a sabre in each hand?

Only a few more days to go. I'll let everyone know how it went.

[Purple Fencer]

Well...the tournament was fun to watch, but we gave the clinic and no one came *sniffle* At least Ed Richards liked the concept, and Buzz Hurst gave me a correction I need to put in.

I think the main prob was that they were putting the clinics in the same room as the judge/volunteer lounge and didn;t change the signs. Plus the fact that those who really didn't need to hear the clinic were fencing!

I told Midi Cox I'd be happy to drive down to San Diego sometime and give the clinic to divisinal fencers if she wanted.

On the good side, a teammate took 3rd in the cadet foil, and they offered to pay milage to make up for the wasted trip.[/LIST]

[Zelda]

Hey Purple, for those of us not in the USA could you describe Franken bag please?

[Haze]

I would have gone! (anyone got a cross-atlantic transporter they can lend me?)

[Shadow Fencer]

Purple,
Sorry to hear that you didn't have an audience. Besides the obvious (no signage and that the location was the officials lounge) was your clinic "marketed"? Meaning was it talked up, etc?

[Iwant2bafencer]

I'm from the usa and i dont even know what a Franken bag is. A little help?

[Purple Fencer]

Zelda & Wannabe,

Sure. Go to this link http://members.tripod.com/Purple_Fencer/fen 100.html for a picture of it.

Basically, Frankenbag is a doublewide, hard-sided golf travel case with all of my weapons mounted inside so I can move everything easily, and no one kicks/steps on my stuff.

The correction Buzz suggested was to the uniform requirements part. Specifically, it referred to the issue of baseball pants. It's been changed to read:

"4) 1 pair WHITE fencing pants. Baseball pants may be acceptable as long as 1) they pass the 10cm test, i.e. the bottom of the jacket must overlap thetop of the pants by at least 10cm (about 4") when in the en garde position (This is generally referred to as the "10 centimeter rule"), and 2) the material is robust enough not to tear if it catches the point. Many baseball pants are made with material that will rip easily, and therefore not afford the protection fencing knickers do. In a pinch, white marching band pants (the kind that are one piece, going over the shoulder. They're designed for use with short-waisted uniform tops) can be converted to be used as knickers. My first pair when I got back into the sport were done that way. Because marching band uniforms are designed to last 10 season of heavy use, they're fairly strong. Sweat pants are NOT acceptable (they're too loose and may catch the point); whatever pants you wear must fit close enough to the body to prevent your opponent's point from catching the material. If in doubt, ask the bout committee or officers in the division prior to the tournament, as they are the final authority. Shorts are NOT allowed."

[ 08-19-2001: Message edited by: Purple Fencer ]