Petition to recall USFA President

[Durando]

Its pretty clear that some prominent people have an agenda of their own, maybe not a bad agenda, but still an agenda.

Which is preceisely why the petition has been called. You can't talk as if having an agenda is a crime--especially if you find youerself in a leadership position *not* having one *should* be cause for your removal.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

But not if the agenda is just remove the President and put in a new one.....we havent heard a real agenda besides, well fix:
1) The National Office
2) The Regional Youth Circuit
3) Streamlining the NACs
4) Professionalizing the USFA!

Any ideas as to how? The plans for fixing these would be something nice to hear.

[achilleus]

There rumors about him and his ex wife doing a payoff and this is just a rumor.

If you are referring to Elaine's run to make the Olympic team, it was never proven in a court of law, but it was far from a rumor. I remember the only time I've ever seen Sports Illustrated do a feature story on fencing, and the spread was all about the payoffs. How the other US team memebers came forward, how european athletes came forward, and how the US coaches weren't surprised since fencing on the international scene was full of similar incidents.

[millsisland]

Sam Cheris will run it the way he what to run it. Sam as never been a fencer either. There rumors about him and his ex wife doing a payoff and this is just a rumor. .

Here's a link to that article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/eve...729/fence.html

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Here's the link to that story:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/eve...729/fence.html

(rats...beat me by THAT much!!)

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Which is preceisely why the petition has been called. You can't talk as if having an agenda is a crime--especially if you find youerself in a leadership position *not* having one *should* be cause for your removal.

The problem being: so far the only agenda that they've spelled out is: Nancy=Bad.

We'd kinda like to know what the rest of their plans are before the baby and the bathwater hit the floor.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Those behind this are not afraid at all. Nancy knows who they are, and these people have taken this risk on behalf of the membership fully accepting the potential repercussions if the recall fails.

A letter was recently emailed to Nancy asking, once again, for her resignation. It was signed by a large group of those behind the recall, National Coaches, Olympians (past and present), Sectional Chairs, Divisional Chairs, and some members of current USFA Committees or Commissions.
In addition, that letter will be made public both on this site and Save US Fencing.

Immediate publication of the e-mail would be a big step in lifting the cloak of secrecy surrounding this recall.

If nothing else, it will give the US fencers who depend on USOC training stipends someone to send a letterbom---err, "thank you" note to...if this internecine warfare inside the USFA causes the USOC to pull the plug on US Fencing's NGB status.

[Feraud]

Well... that or fire up the old geocities internet account.

I'm sure glad that Thomas J. didn't have a high-speed connection.

We might still be paying taxes to finance foreign imperial wars.

Right on Mr. Epee!
I was thinking the same thing.

Did the founders of our country submit an anonymous petition to King George?
No! They signed it. In big bold letters.

[Molly's Dad]

Fencing needs money and exposure.

Money equals a major sponser like NIKE
Exposure equals TV such as CSTV or ESPNU or ESPN

When money and exposure are achieved USFA can hire the professionals
necessary to provide the services needed and expand the sport at a
local level

If the persons seeking recall have the plans to acheive the $ and exposure
they should state those plans in detail and than they should recieve support
for recall.

[heretic]

"Fencing needs .... exposure.

Exposure equals TV such as CSTV or ESPNU or ESPN."


We received more exposure - network TV, national and local press, etc - this past Olympics than at any other time in the history of US Fencing. Did Ms Anderson take advantage of this historic media coverage? Nearly 1 1/2 years after the press has moved on, Ms Anderson has ceremoniously unveiled her "professional marketing group." She missed an historic opportunity to capitalize on priceless media exposure.

Let's be very clear about this - SHE is responsible for not exploiting this opportunity

Our President didn't simply drop the ball. She doesn't even know what a ball is.

[Inquartata]

And yet, speaking for myself out here in the hinterlands, I have noticed not one thing different than lastyear, or the year before, or the year before. I have noticed no deterioration in the services the USFA provides me, an no improvement, either. I supsect that the vast majority of the membership is similarly unaffected by Ms. Anderson's alleged incompetence. It's not like the FIE, with it's timing changes Lexan masks and flurry of odd new rules...

So, is this really all about the elites, like 99% of the USFAs concerns have always been about? If so, why ought the rest of us care enough to put the organization through the expense and turmoil of a recall?

Is it really about a coup attempt?

Why do we think that if Mr. Cheris' "hat was in the ring" before, he was not chosen, if he's so obviously preferable to Ms. Anderson? Could it be that some other people were wary of him for some reason?

And as others have pointed out, if the recall is successful it may well create a constituency of the disaffected---to call for a recall of their own, when the new boss doesn't deliver "better" results.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

And yet, speaking for myself out here in the hinterlands, I have noticed not one thing different than lastyear, or the year before, or the year before. I have noticed no deterioration in the services the USFA provides me, an no improvement, either. I supsect that the vast majority of the membership is similarly unaffected by Ms. Anderson's alleged incompetence. It's not like the FIE, with it's timing changes Lexan masks and flurry of odd new rules...

So, is this really all about the elites, like 99% of the USFAs concerns have always been about? If so, why ought the rest of us care enough to put the organization through the expense and turmoil of a recall?

Is it really about a coup attempt?

Why do we think that if Mr. Cheris' "hat was in the ring" before, he was not chosen, if he's so obviously preferable to Ms. Anderson? Could it be that some other people were wary of him for some reason?

And as others have pointed out, if the recall is successful it may well create a constituency of the disaffected---to call for a recall of their own, when the new boss doesn't deliver "better" results.

You should care. In a few years, turn 50, it'll be one of your problems.

[dr.lutz]

[QUOTE=Inquartata]

I supsect that the vast majority of the membership is similarly unaffected by Ms. Anderson's alleged incompetence.



Inquartata, actually, nothing could be further from reality.

While the International Program is in disarray, as best illustrated by the FACT that National Coaches have yet to be officially selected, most of the the membership is not affected by that.

However, for the majority of the membership that requires "service" from the USFA, that generally falls in the category of three areas:

1) Tournament Services

2) Services of the National Office

3) The USFA Website



As for #1, every USFA member has been negatively affected by the failure to institute online entries.

As for #2, many members have been negatively affected by the failure of the National Office to respond to telephone inquiries. That's mainly because the staff is buried under the massive amount of NAC entries they have to process.

So, #1 and #2 are very much connected.

As for #3, this has negatively affected many members specifically when the website has crashed on at least the last three deadlines for entries for the last the NACs.

So, all 3 are somewhat connected.

As for the website, the organization, as a whole, has been negatively affected due to the crashes. To think that the website was down for nearly two weeks following the Athens Olympic medals is hard to believe, as that period of time brought the USFA the most visibility ever.

Nancy can't be blamed for inheriting that problem.

She can, however, be blamed for failing to improve upon the flaws of both the crashing server, as well as the failure to professionalize the site.

Nancy can't be blamed for inheriting logjam in the National Office.

She can, however, be blamed for failing to improve the situation. Her failure to supervise Executive Director Michael Massik, who has fought against online entries for years (and incorrectly claimed that our insurance company would not authorize them), has ultimately been the reason the organization has not modernized in this area.

[Sciurus-Rex]

Logistics issues: How long is a dated signature on such a petition valid? Or in other words, what is the window of opportunity for this vigilante group to accomplish their lynching once they dupe the first clueless bystander to sign? For example, could they begin collecting names in January and drag out the process through December until they reach the magic number, or would those January names have expired in the meantime?

Let's get this done and over with already. Because, as the proponents have asserted, everyone already knows what a horrible state of affairs Madame President has dragged us into. So let's see the John Hancocks, eh?

[keith]

However, for the majority of the membership that requires "service" from the USFA, that generally falls in the category of three areas:

1) Tournament Services

2) Services of the National Office

3) The USFA Website



As for #1, every USFA member has been negatively affected by the failure to institute online entries.

As for #2, many members have been negatively affected by the failure of the National Office to respond to telephone inquiries. That's mainly because the staff is buried under the massive amount of NAC entries they have to process.

So, #1 and #2 are very much connected.

As for #3, this has negatively affected many members specifically when the website has crashed on at least the last three deadlines for entries for the last the NACs.

So, all 3 are somewhat connected.

So why on earth aren't we electing Peet to be the new president

[rcmatthews]

As for #1, every USFA member has been negatively affected by the failure to institute online entries.

No I haven't.

You keep repeating the same things in your posts. When someone asks you to provide evidence, you simply restate what you said before. Your spiteful rhetoric greatly hinders the effectiveness of your argument, whatever you feel you need to do I guess.

[Schiavona]

Dr. Lutz, I think it is obvious that the recall doesn't have the strong support that you claim. If you have all that support, why hasn't the Board simply voted her out? According to the the By-laws, 2/3 of the Board is all that is needed. So, you don't even have that. Why not?

[dr.lutz]

Dr. Lutz, I think it is obvious that the recall doesn't have the strong support that you claim. If you have all that support, why hasn't the Board simply voted her out? According to the the By-laws, 2/3 of the Board is all that is needed. So, you don't even have that. Why not?

In a secret ballot, the recall would probably win.

But, with a small sampling such as the Board, those behind the recall decided to get the 10% of the voting members instead.

[dr.lutz]

No I haven't.

You keep repeating the same things in your posts. When someone asks you to provide evidence, you simply restate what you said before. Your spiteful rhetoric greatly hinders the effectiveness of your argument, whatever you feel you need to do I guess.

Sorry, bad choice of words.

Certainly, not EVERY member has been negatively affected.

I agree with you on that.

howver, your claim of "spiteful rhetoric" is backed up by hard facts, even if you choose to ignore them.

Tonight, a Division Chair contacted us to say she was INSULTED she wasn't asked to join the movement or sign the letter od resignation to Nancy.

The fact is that we haven't made a concerted effort, but are about to.

You can make as many posts as you want, and claim whatever you want, but the reality is that Nancy will be recalled.

Those who are behind the recall are not out to "get her," but rather to right the ship.

Sorry if you don't get it.

[yeoldearmourer]

The insurance company can have affect on online entrie because you have to sign a waiver of liblity to compent in a NAC. That one thing that cannot be done on line. They need a signture. What you want a regional tounment to have to qualify for Div 11 or Div 111 Nac to cut down on the size of them. We are talking about a small group of pepole that are looking out for there own needs. Cathy should have hire someone to promoted her dauther. The Smarts did.

Enough is Enough let them come forward on this board. I hate cowards and that what they are. Let them speak out instead of back door this. If I saw something wrong with in the USFA I made my opion Know and it as cost me in some way. Micheal Massik has done a outstanding job as Ex. Dir. and He will be the first to tell we have gone toe to toe on issue that I have disagee with but he always has listen to my ideas.