Do We really need the Sections

[KD5MDK]

So once again I respond. It seems some sections are happy, and others aren't, and the key question is, "can the unhappy sections be 'fixed' within the current system?".

[lovetofence]

Well hopefully they can be. I see that the Pacific Coast Section is bringing up a solution to the Summer Nationals to be voted upon that can have positive impact to any Section that intends to try and improve it's current situation if it really wants to. If anyone is interested I can try and get the correct wording of the proposal and post it but it would be better coming from an officer of that Section instead of me since I only read what it said, but I really like what it had to say.

[KD5MDK]

Could you at least give us a precis of what the idea is? I haven't heard a thing about this.

[fluidfencer]

Please cut/paste it here.

Originally Posted by lovetofence

Well hopefully they can be. I see that the Pacific Coast Section is bringing up a solution to the Summer Nationals to be voted upon that can have positive impact to any Section that intends to try and improve it's current situation if it really wants to. If anyone is interested I can try and get the correct wording of the proposal and post it but it would be better coming from an officer of that Section instead of me since I only read what it said, but I really like what it had to say.

[oiuyt]

Paul Soter had a proposal about the composition of the executive committees of sections that had a first hearing in February and will have a second hearing in July. Basically changing the rules so that rather than the composition be set from above that a section could choose their own method with the default being the current system.

This exclusively affects internal politics of each section and has no relevance to the sectional structure as a whole, as we've been talking about it.

For reference, the current system has something like the executive committee of each section is that section's officers, plus the chair of each division of the section, plus the USFA congress reps from each division in the section. For larger sections (such as PCS, which is why Paul raised the issue) this results in a huge number of executive committee members, most of whom likely have no interest in helping run the section.

It's primarily a book-keeping change for most sections, but could be very useful in a section which has denigrated into rules-lawyering and people pulling out by-laws to force through changes (or obstruct normal operations that they disagree with). I don't know whether or not PCS has this problem. What power does the executive committee have? That's likely up to the sections. Certainly hasn't been a problem in NAS, which has even more members (and therefore more congress reps, and therefore more people on the exec. comm). For NAS the exec. comm. annual meeting is generally considered an open meeting of the membership with slots handed around within each division. Not sure any division has recently had more people in attendance at the annual meeting than they had congress reps (WNY might have last year when they hosted, given their small size). That said, I support letting the sections determine the best administrative structure for themselves.

-B :)

[dekko]

C'Ville. Glad to know things are so great fencing wise in Virginia but the rest of us have good fencing going on as well.

First off, someone asked about the Southest sectionals, when/where/etc, sectionals this year are in Columbia, SC. If you want info on it let me know, although a form and schedule was mailed to every USFA member in the section.

Florida - doesn't get 3 spots in the rotation but one, we voted to change this 2-3 years ago.

Virginia - You guys do well in epee at sectionals but that is really it. Every other event has very few if any VA division representation in the top 8. As for you guys going to the MAS, don't blame the SES for not letting you go as much as the MAS not wanting you there. The MAS has enough members and likely doesn't need or want you guys there, from what I had been told. Perhaps if you guys got off your high horse and visitied other division's events every once in a while you would see some other good events around the section. Virginia isn't the gold standard for fencing and you really should yank your head out of the sand to see what's around you and the quality events close to you to the south. Funny, Florida fencers actually make trips to NC and SC for events, wonder why you guys don't? Also, when sectionals were in Miami, Florida fencers loaded the top 8 of epee. When they are in Virginia, you guys load the top 8 of epee. Wonder why?

Geography - I do agree that this needs to be dealt with as the section is too big. Problem is how to split it up and make it fair for everyone. Also, don't misunderstand, no matter which section almost everyone is in, yes there are exceptions, travel is always an issue. Unless we want to have 2-3, maybe 4, state sections, travel will always be a concern.

We could try a Section Circuit like others have but we would have a majority of fencers staying very regional and not really going to other areas of the section for events. I am all for it but not sure how often I could get to Orlando or Miami for an event, pretty sure I am not alone in that boat. Some ideas other sections use don't work for the SES due to size. So, until more people are willing/able to travel to more events the officers will basically be one-trick ponies, getting everything together for sectionals.

I am all for a circuit type event but...
I am all for our website being more that a fencing.net ripoff style chat board but.....
I am all for more fencers from other divisions going to other division's events but.......

Seems as thought the VA division has a circuit that works at least fairly well, would VA fencers be willing to do this circuit and a section circuit and a national circuit(for those that apply) and other local events? Now ask the same question of every division in our section.

C'ville, there is more going on than it seems you realize in other divisions and lots of calendars are loaded. This is a problem but there are really no good solutions as of yet. I have heard the regionalization idea and it sounds ok but seems to still have bugs. Instead of pushing for Virginia going to the MAS maybe efforts would be better served to make VA, NC, SC and TN(the SES part), being it's own section. Again, more problems. Round and round we go.......

[Derstern]

Originally Posted by dekko

Virginia - You guys do well in epee at sectionals but that is really it. Every other event has very few if any VA division representation in the top 8. As for you guys going to the MAS, don't blame the SES for not letting you go as much as the MAS not wanting you there. The MAS has enough members and likely doesn't need or want you guys there, from what I had been told. Perhaps if you guys got off your high horse and visitied other division's events every once in a while you would see some other good events around the section. Virginia isn't the gold standard for fencing and you really should yank your head out of the sand to see what's around you and the quality events close to you to the south. Funny, Florida fencers actually make trips to NC and SC for events, wonder why you guys don't?

In C'Ville's defense, MAS does not need or have to have us. I good number of us already fencing in competitions with MAS members clubs like DCFC, FAP, Baltimore FC. Some members of Virginia division are also members of DCFC (MAS). Especially in Northern Virginia, why go all the way to NC or SC when quality fencing is just a drive down the highway or a nice train trip up the Eastern Seaboard to Philly, NYC, or even Boston area? We're not married to MAS but sadly we have a much more familiar relationship with other clubs and fencers with MAS than we do with SES.

How to fix this? Don't know.

[VorpalCat]

Originally Posted by dekko

Virginia isn't the gold standard for fencing and you really should yank your head out of the sand to see what's around you and the quality events close to you to the south. Funny, Florida fencers actually make trips to NC and SC for events, wonder why you guys don't?

Speaking only for myself, I tend to look at tournaments in the MD or Capitol divisions rather than NC because frankly, NC's schedule's a pita to read this year compared to the other divisions'. Dumb reason, maybe. But it's a reason.

[RebelFencer]

Hm, I would suggest swapping Virginia for Mississippi and put Virignia in the Great Lakes section. Although I think that may cause problems for the Ark-La-Miss div...but hey, you guys wanted in the Alabama division anyways right? That (in my opinion) would make everything more convenient for a lot of people.