Petition to recall USFA President

[dr.lutz]

[QUOTE=Feltan]Dr. Lutz,

When 10% of the organization can force the recall, and a handful pick the next candidate(s), the whole process can appear to be the result of a smokey back room deal.

Feltan,

A couple of things. First, the USFa By-Laws provide for the 10% recall.

Second, the entire organization did not vote for Nancy in the first election.

She was chosen by only 5 out of the 9 members of the Nominating Committee who were on a conference call.

While that is legitimate, as no candidate subsequently contested the election, it is not as if the membership had any say in her assuming the presidency.

To many, that choice has been viewed as a back room deal.

Certainly, if 1,000 or more members sign the petition, that represents a much greater sampling of the membership than those 9 on the Nominating Committee did.

Regards,

Dr. Lutz

[dr.lutz]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION:



Because I have taken a new job and have relocated my home, I was unable to submit my normal column to American Fencing Magazine and this year-end communication is what I would have published in that column.


I'm sure there will be some pointed rebuttals to Nancy's claims in her message.

In the meantime, let's understand one thing: This message was in direct response to the recall and the claims on the Save US Fencing website.

http://www.geocities.com/save_usfencing/

There are just four issues of American Fencing each year. It is incomprehesible how the president of the USFA could miss the deadline... ever.

None of the regular columnists in the magazine ever do.

No excuse is acceptable.

For the record, the deadline for the recent issue was at the beginning of November. Nancy was called and asked to resign after that deadline and the recall website was not up until after the Pittsburgh NAC. So, here excuse about moving or whatever is hogwash.

This is but example of her lack of organizational skills. For the record, she cancelled at least two EC conference calls, without a reason.

And, another example was when the important FIE Task Force conference call was announced (not scheduled!) three hours before the call. This call took place only days before the USFA sent three or four people to Doha, Qatar for the ultra-important FIE Congress.

That trip cost the USFA thousands, and to think that USFA stances were formulated on a rushed call, without all the members able to be present with a THREE HOUR WARNING, is just awful.

By the way, Nancy not only missed the deadline for the last American Fencing magazine. She also missed her plane to Qatar!

Subsequently, she arrived a day and a half late, missed most of the politcking, and basically wasted the USFA's money.

Does anyone notice a pattern?

Last minute conference calls are announced without and discussion as to when the most members could make it...

EC conference calls are cancelled at the last minute, for no reason.

She missed a deadline for her magazine column. (Well, she did get the other three in on time, so I guess she's batting .750!)

She missed her plane to the FIE Congress!

She still hasn't gotten back to the National Coaches who met with her in April at the Junior Worlds! She promised to get back to them in 10 days.
It has been NINE MONTHS!

Is it a surprise most of the National Coaches signed not only the petition, but the letter asking Nancy to resign?

While all of these are relatively little things, Nancy's sloppy track record speaks for itself.

[Mr Epee]

Two Quick points...

1. Does anyone have ANY proof of this issue of a 5-4 decision of the Nominating Committee? Something like this would presumably have a paper trail of some sort. Before this should be taken as gospel it should at least be verified by someone on the committee.

2. I don't think that it is the job of the Nominating Committee to select as single solitary canidate to run unopposed. Under NO circumstances should the nominating committee be doing run offs of Cheris vs. Anderson. They could however vote to nominate Anderson, and then vote not to nominate Cheris. This is EXTREMELY disturbing.

Then we have Lutzy here downplaying the expense of the recall, and it really sounds like she already expects an uncontested election. So much for the lynch mob champions of democratic process, and grassroot defense of the sport.

Section 1. Nominating Committee - Selection of Members.

a The Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for the offices of President, each of the Vice President positions, Secretary and Treasurer.

b The Nominating Committee shall be constituted with one representative from each Section elected by the Congress from the whole of the membership of the USFA; and three representatives elected by the Athlete Advisory Group.

c In the calendar year immediately preceding that in which the Olympic Games, at which fencing is contested, are to be held, Congress and Athlete Advisory Group shall elect their representatives to the Nominating Committee.

d Except as provided in the section of these Bylaws providing for the filling of a vacancy in an officerial position, the Nominating Committee shall cease to exist immediately after the election is held.

Section 2. Nominating Committee Procedures.

The Nominating Committee shall report to the Secretary not later than December 15 of the calendar year in which it is empaneled. The Secretary shall mail to each member of the USFA a notice of the nominations filed by the Nominating Committee or cause such notice to be published in the first issue of the official publication of the USFA printed after issuance of the Nominating Committee report, but in no event shall notice be given later than January 31 of the year in which elections are to be conducted. If any person nominated by the Committee at any time chooses to withdraw from consideration or for any reason becomes unable to stand for election, the Nominating Committee shall promptly meet to select a substitute candidate for the position. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be available upon request to any member of the Association.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Then we have Lutzy here downplaying the expense of the recall, and it really sounds like she already expects an uncontested election.

What makes you think Dr. Lutz is a she?

[Capt. Slo-mo]

She missed her plane to the FIE Congress!

Even though I thoroughly enjoy Michael Moore docu-melodramas, this is exactly the kind of misleading factoid that weakens his work.

A statement is made in a context that implies malfeasance, but fails to provide any corroboration.

So she missed her plane, but WHY did she miss her plane? Is she a watch-impaired buffoon so enamored of indolence that she just came a day late to the airport? Given Dr. Lutz' repeated condemnations of the event, you'd begin to think so.

Or, did she have perfectly normal Paragon Travel (official travel agent of the USFA) reservations, but have her connecting flight to JFK cancelled because a toilet exploded on the incoming 737? That would also cause her to miss her plane to Qatar, but would not be grounds for excoriation.

Which circumstance was it? Just like in most of the posts by the recall folks, we never know...because they're much better at insinuation than documentation.

[Feltan]

Feltan,

A couple of things. First, the USFa By-Laws provide for the 10% recall.

Second, the entire organization did not vote for Nancy in the first election.

She was chosen by only 5 out of the 9 members of the Nominating Committee who were on a conference call.

While that is legitimate, as no candidate subsequently contested the election, it is not as if the membership had any say in her assuming the presidency.

To many, that choice has been viewed as a back room deal.

Certainly, if 1,000 or more members sign the petition, that represents a much greater sampling of the membership than those 9 on the Nominating Committee did.

Regards,

Dr. Lutz

Dr. Lutz,

Fair points all.

However, if you want success for the organization above victory for your recall, I still maintain that an election by the entire membership of the USFA will confer legitmacy on the next President that -- according to you -- even the current one does not enjoy.

Regards,
Feltan

[dr.lutz]

[QUOTE=Capt. Slo-mo]

So she missed her plane, but WHY did she miss her plane?

According to her, she got stuck in traffic on the NJ Turnpike.

[dr.lutz]

Dr. Lutz,

Fair points all.

However, if you want success for the organization above victory for your recall, I still maintain that an election by the entire membership of the USFA will confer legitmacy on the next President that -- according to you -- even the current one does not enjoy.

Regards,
Feltan

Feltan,

Technically, a candidate nominated by the Nominating Committee, who then runs unopposed, is elected by the entire membership.

If the recall succeeds, and it appear as if it will, we are left to the process.

When the Nominating Committee nominates a candidate, unless someone else chooses to contest the election and run in opposition, it is a done deal, as per the By-Laws.

If the membership wants to speak up, it has the right to do so by putting forth an opposition candidate.

Technically, Nancy does enjoy that legitimacy, even though none of us cast a ballot.

It is possible that the Nominating Committee again votes 5-4 for the next candidate. That candidate, despite such a narrow victory from such a small sampling, is totally legitimate.

[Feltan]

According to her, she got stuck in traffic on the NJ Turnpike.

Oh well, you never said she was from New Jersey! Depending on which exit, that could change everything!

Regards,
Feltan

[dr.lutz]

Oh well, you never said she was from New Jersey! Depending on which exit, that could change everything!

Regards,
Feltan

Dear Feltan,

Seriously, we've all had to make planes to NACS, World Cups, Board Meetings, whatever.

Once in a while, a force majeure will cause us to miss a plane.

Traffic on the NJ Turnpike is the antithesis of a force majeure, as it is expected. And, there was no major accident reported on the NJ Turnpike that afternoon between the George Washington Bridge area and Newark Airport, which was her route.

While missing the plane to the FIE Congress was totally unacceptable and inexcusable, I only brought that up to further illustrate her M.O. after she had the audacity to make an excuse for missing the deadline for her quarterly American Fencing column.

Quite frankly, I don't want to get off course by focusing on these relatively small items.

However, it is easy to see why Nancy has not handled the major areas of the organization well when she can't even handle these little things.

Regards,

Dr. Lutz

[Mr Epee]

Technically, a candidate nominated by the Nominating Committee, who then runs unopposed, is elected by the entire membership.

I'm sorry, but it is not the job of the Nominating Committee to select a single unopposed canidate. That's silly. I get the impression that the Nominating Committee is deliberately bypassing an election by the membership.

Why wouldn't they want the membership voting?

[obsidian]

Perhaps because they think we're a bunch of stupid sheep. Baaa!

[chiz]

...That's silly. I get the impression that the Nominating Committee is deliberately bypassing an election by the membership.

Not if they want to stay on the committee.

Why wouldn't they want the membership voting?

Hay, good question

The story I heard was that Sam declined the nomination and no one else stepped up. This was a last minute thing.

From what I have seen today in the mass email and what I have read on this thread, Dr Lutz posts confirm what I heard last week about her missing the plane. Her basic lack of administrative ability … her actions seem as if a very self-centered, spiteful, child is at the helm of the USFA.

The board does not seem to be in any condition to deal with the situation.

Chiz

[dr.lutz]

I'm sorry, but it is not the job of the Nominating Committee to select a single unopposed canidate. That's silly. I get the impression that the Nominating Committee is deliberately bypassing an election by the membership.

Why wouldn't they want the membership voting?

Mr. Epee,

The Nominating Committee is asked to come up with a nominee. If the candidate, or slate, is not opposed, the membership has spoken by failing to run an opposition candidate or slate.

The Nominating Committee is not deliberately bypassing an election by the membership. Since the Nominating Committee is comprised of a member from each USFA section, the entire membership is theoretically represented on the Nominating Committee.

Of course, the composition of the Nominating Committee is incredibly important.

The process is the process. Nothing more, nothing less.

Regards,

Dr. Lutz

[dr.lutz]

[QUOTE=chiz]Not if they want to stay on the committee.



Hay, good question

The story I heard was that Sam declined the nomination and no one else stepped up. This was a last minute thing.

Chiz,

Originally, the Nominating Committee asked a few people if they were interested. Among them were Nancy and Jeff Bukantz. Initially, Sam was not interested, as he was hoping that Bukantz would get the nomination.

When Bukantz withdrew from consideration, Sam threw his name into the hat.

Sam, however, said that if was not nominated by the Nominating Committee, he would not contest the election by running in opposition.

So, when the Nominating Committee voted for Nancy, she was in.

Regards,

Dr. Lutz

[chiz]

Originally, the Nominating Committee asked a few people if they were interested. Among them were Nancy and Jeff Bukantz. Initially, Sam was not interested, as he was hoping that Bukantz would get the nomination.

When Bukantz withdrew from consideration, Sam threw his name into the hat.

And Jeff was the team captain.

Sam, however, said that if was not nominated by the Nominating Committee, he would not contest the election by running in opposition.

So, when the Nominating Committee voted for Nancy, she was in.

As I put this together the time period was short, a couple of days? But no nominations came in from any of the sections? Who else besides Jeff, Nancy and Sam?

Chiz

[DieterS]

Missing a plane flight to Qatar is clearly the most SERIOUS CHARGE against Nancy!

In the age of internet traffic reports, on-board navigation systems, and the ability to drive really fast, it is INEXCUSABLE and INTOLERABLE that Nancy should miss a plane! Profoundly important "power schmoosing" time was wantonly squandered. A DIRECT RESULT was that Nancy missed being introduced to representatives of the National Fencing Federation of Yemen at the Al-Wajba Ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental, and she completely missed the opportunity of a chance encounter with Rene Roche at the Doha Golf Club.

Furthermore, it is now clear that the entire USFA organization is not capable of holding a meeting, making a decision, or responding to the simplest business, organizational, or metabolic challenge without the direct intervention of Nancy. Or at least that's the impression one gets from reading some of the previous posts.

Gosh. We certainly do need a new lunatic to run the asylum.

Dieter

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Ah, my young Sith apprentice, your Sarcasmo powers are growing indeed!

[Sciurus-Rex]

If it is an uncontested election, or no candidate runs against the choice of the Nominating Committee, there will be no cost.

Oh. Well, heck then, let's ASSUME your master plan is foolproof. ... Count me in! Where do I get my temporary posse badge?

Seriously, though, based on the lynch mob's enthusiasm to put their own puppet in office, I'd been damned ticked off if the committee didn't give me a second choice to vote for in opposition.

[Sciurus-Rex]

Quite frankly, I don't want to get off course by focusing on these relatively small items.

Dude (or dude-ette), sheesh! -- your sect's entire case is built on "relatively small items." You people LOOOOOOVE relatively small items. That's been the ploy from Day One: Pile up a bunch of teeny details and pretend it's a mountain of controversy.

So don't be gettin' all wishy-washy with us now. Stick with your relatively small items and be proud of 'em!