Petition to recall USFA President

[Feltan]

...Blaming current USFA managers for such expectations is ludicrous. It's an issue that should have been taken up and codified long, long ago.

Sciurus-Rex,

Not entirely ludicrous.

However, your point about codifying this issue is a good one. Right now, apparently, there are some expectations that are not being met. Are those expectations realistic? Perhaps. Perhaps not. The point worth considering in Betty's post is, in my opinion, this: Here you have a parent of youth who is competing internationally, and she is feeling totally abandoned by the organization that represent U.S. fencers to the international community. And, that feeling of abandonment seems to go a bit farther than mere babysitting. Maybe Betty needs to adjust her expectations of support, but I also think that the USFA should/could communicate what "service" they offer in a better many to such fencers and family members.

It would seem that affected families could band together and jointly pay for a chaperone if the cost to escort their own children is prohibitive. Like you, I also don't think the USFA should be in this "business," but perhaps they or a coach could assist and broker such an arrangement -- I don't see how that could hurt things, and it might demonstrate a bit of concern (which I am speculating is really the heart of Betty's post).

Personally, I can't imagine sending a teenager abroad without adult supervision -- and ultimatley that is the responsibility of the parent in question. However, if the USFA's goals include developing fencers for Olympic competition, I find it odd that they simply "pass" at the challenge of international travel logistics.

Regards,
Feltan

[Capt. Slo-mo]

I too have been confused for some time about the role of the ED within the USFA. I am even more confused today, in light of the Recall Petition against the Ms Anderson. If the volunteer President is responsible for EVERYTHING, then why the hell are we paying $92,000 annually to an ED?

It seems to me that the President and the ED cannot be acting totally independent of each other. In essence, he must be responsible for the day to day implementation and follow through of offical USFA policy.

Massik must be just as accountable for failure of the office to return e-mails and phone calls, lack of information to National Coaches, website issues, etc as Ms. Anderson. I'm curious why the petitioners haven't demanded his removal, as well, particularly since the alleged on-line registration "pocket-veto" by Massik was one of their issues.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

It would seem that affected families could band together and jointly pay for a chaperone if the cost to escort their own children is prohibitive.

In some ways, we parents do this on an informal basis. As the travelling parents get to know each other, we tend to help watch out for the kids who are abroad without family. But it's not the same as having a mom or dad there.

Personally, I can't imagine sending a teenager abroad without adult supervision -- and ultimately that is the responsibility of the parent in question. However, if the USFA's goals include developing fencers for Olympic competition, I find it odd that they simply "pass" at the challenge of international travel logistics.

At least in our weapon, there is often a psuedo-official "accompanieteur" along...so of a USFA-recognized den mother to ostensibly keep track of those who are sans parent. Of course when the den mother-person sits in the hotel bar drinking while releasing a horde of Cadet aged fencers to find dinner for themselves in an industrial European city, you quickly figure out that maybe it is worth the cost of sending a parent along with the younger fencers.

Would I expect the USFA to do this for me? No. Could they do more to support the top US fencers? Absolutely.

[Schiavona]

betty, thanks to you, Capt.Slo-mo and Mo I've gotten a glimpse of what some of the downsides of Junior international competition. A world I'm completely ignorant of.

I do think that the international competitors need to be supported. I also think more needs to be offered the unranked fencer just starting, so that they'll stay with the USFA.

There needs to be more clarity about what the USFA is willing and able to do for all it's members-at every level.

A simply policy paper. This is what the USFA does/will do for you, at every level, and why you should join/stay with the USFA.

[fencingaddict]

From post by Capt. Slo Mo:
Massik must be just as accountable for failure of the office to return e-mails and phone calls, lack of information to National Coaches, website issues, etc as Ms. Anderson. I'm curious why the petitioners haven't demanded his removal, as well, particularly since the alleged on-line registration "pocket-veto" by Massik was one of their issues.

Michael Massik, Executive Director, is responsible for the web site...or at least he is in charge of the office which is responsible for the web site...why don't you contact him and ask about the timelines for on line tournament registrations? or why is the web site still having problems and often out of commission? oh sorry, the server is down again so any emails you just sent to him will not go thru....but call him why don't you ...oops nothing but a busy signal (the phone lines serviced via the USOC are malfunctioning again) oops, just wait, within 4- 8 hours the office phones will ring again...let's see no one answers, maybe leave a message and see how long it takes for someone to call you back. You might get lucky as did Schiavona in his previous post and get a real live person to answer your call. Its part of the problem, people have tried to get movement - Massick must know about the problems of the website but what action has been taken? It 's up to Pres. Anderson to demand accountability from him, but apparently she is unable to. Perhaps the petitioners havent demanded his recall as the petitioners know that he has been able to perform under the direction of previous president's? - again it seems to trace back to Pres. Anderson somehow not being able to get things done. Why is he faltering in this position with this president, but seemed to do ok under the previous president? or maybe CApt. Slo mo has touched on the heart of the matter and they both need to go? Lets get a new president get in, find out the answers and if needed clean house.

From post by Capt. Slo Mo:
Massik must be just as accountable for failure of the office to return e-mails and phone calls, lack of information to National Coaches, website issues, etc as Ms. Anderson. I'm curious why the petitioners haven't demanded his removal, as well, particularly since the alleged on-line registration "pocket-veto" by Massik was one of their issues.

The USFA website is the face of US Fencing not only in the US but internationally. We are located in the home country of Intel, Microsoft, AMD, etc. how embarrassing is it that our site is so unstable. Volunteer webmaster and US team member Dan K. is expected to send NAC and international updates and compete during the same events. Bless him for his work both on and off the piste, it would be great if he had a server that was working when he is trying to update the site!

[Peach]

I am feeling a tad spammed at the moment in this thread. Reminds me of all the e-mails I get from my political party since I gave them some money, all purporting to be from different important people and all saying the same darn thing.

[Feltan]

I am feeling a tad spammed at the moment in this thread. Reminds me of all the e-mails I get from my political party since I gave them some money, all purporting to be from different important people and all saying the same darn thing.

Peach,

While this thread may be interesting, I am guessing the recall initiative will flounder sooner rather than later. Your feeling of being spammed is going to be (relatively) short lived.

DFP inadvertently pointed out a hole in the by-laws. If, say, 50% of the USFA membership is 18 and under (don't know, just estimating) -- then only 50% are eligible to sign the recall (i.e., only those older than 18). So, the 10% USFA membership required for a recall is actually 20% of the adult membership. Are 1 in 5 USFA members going to sign this petition? Are 1 in 5 even aware a petition exists?

My guess is that the initiative will run out of momentum rather quickly. Unless there is some unethical or illegal activity going on, 20% of adults are going to be reluctant to sign their name to something where the strongest charge is lack of leadership and/or poor judgement.

Regards,
Feltan

[peet]

or why is the web site still having problems and often out of commission? oh sorry, the server is down again so any emails you just sent to him will not go thru

The mail and web servers under USFencing.org appear to be on different machines in different places, so email will likely still go through when the website is down.

(different ip's in different blocks owned by differnet providers)

HTH

-p

[Capt. Slo-mo]

It 's up to Pres. Anderson to demand accountability from him, but apparently she is unable to. Perhaps the petitioners havent demanded his recall as the petitioners know that he has been able to perform under the direction of previous president's? -

Funny...we had no online registration, irregular website performance and poor records of e-mail/phone returns for quite some time before Ms Anderson.

Neither one is exactly covered in glory here.

[Peach]

I have heard that the abhorrence of modernity is more due to the reluctance of some other board members to embrace the idea it isn't 1980 any more.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Let's send them all a Smith Fencing Calendar!

[jjefferies]

There have been a number of interesting points raised. But for those of you who don't understand why this recall is important read the other threads in this website complaining about the USFA. I've not seen any such litany about any other country's national organizing body.

The part that bothers me is (provided the recall succeeds and given the persons backing it I suspect it stands a better chance than if you or I were proposing it) is who will nominate the candidates? The same committee that nominated Anderson! And who will get to vote on that person? Not you or I. But two persons selected by each division chair (CORRECT me on this if I'm wrong). And Anderson had served in this same body and they knew her before they elected her the last time. Personally I really think we need direct elections. Michael Massick commented that the USFA has a large bureacracy made up of volunteers. It seems to me that that is only partially correct. It has a large bureacracy made up of cliques.

Still I would vote for a recall just on the hope that maybe the website would get fixed and we could have online registration.
I know it's a trivial point but it's been a week since Pittsburgh.
I sent an e-mail asking for clarification of the classification of the second (the important one) event that I was in. No response. Fortunately someone did post the results. It may be trivial in the overall scheme of things but I want to register for Duel in the Desert and it would be helpful to know if I moved up a class or not.

[Sciurus-Rex]

Michael Massick commented that the USFA has a large bureacracy made up of volunteers. It seems to me that that is only partially correct. It has a large bureacracy made up of cliques.

I wanna be part of the uber-cool Recall Clique that replaces the old clique currently in power.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

If the petition pulls through, I hope the new president has the nuts to fire every last person who deserves it. The kind of person who will learn html and code us a new frickin website by himself if need be. Most of all, I want the new president to be a forum member.

[azfencer]

It seems this petition is somewhat unlikely to actually result in impeachment. Are there any idea of how specific improvements could be made with the current president? I would imagine the president would feel very defensive right now, but can she actually do anything to address the complaints that the recall effort has brought up? I think she could initiate the process of getting online registration fairly easily. She could start making sure she is more prepared for meetings etc. Maybe she can give various committees a "kick in the pants" to get their objectives accomplished. What else can she (or others in the higher USFA organization) actually do right now?

She obviously is not the sole source of problems within the USFA, if improvements can be made with her that would be just as good as electing/appointing another president from the inner cabal in my opinion. I would love to see someone with extensive experience as a CEO or upper level manager brought in with real power to do a thorough reorganization of the USFA. Until then... It's hard to imagine much change regardless of who is president.

[millsisland]

I wanna be part of the uber-cool Recall Clique that replaces the old clique currently in power.

This coup for power will prove to be more damaging to the USFA than any term of uninspired leadership, real or perceived.

Divided, we fall.

Mills

[JEC]

This coup for power will prove to be more damaging to the USFA than any term of uninspired leadership, real or perceived.

Divided, we fall.

Mills

I completely agree with you Mills. I think this power struggle process will only weaken USFA. It will divide the organization even more in a polarized manner, and will prove a setback in the stated mission and goals of the organization. I truly hope that I am wrong.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Think nothing's getting done now? Ponder the level of service during a power vacuum...

from the USFA bylaws:
If more than two years remain in the term of office, the Executive Committee shall appoint one of the duly elected Vice Presidents to temporarily discharge the duties of the President until a special election can be held to fill the office for the balance of the term not completed. Such special election shall be concluded not more than 90 days after the office become vacant.

[Repechage]

If the petition pulls through, I hope the new president has the nuts to fire every last person who deserves it. The kind of person who will learn html and code us a new frickin website by himself if need be. Most of all, I want the new president to be a forum member.

And the new president should have a pony, and should give me rides whenever I ask.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

You're not the first to bring up the issue. From the recall website list of grievances:

Disregarding Athletes Rights

• The president unilaterally named the USFA’s athlete representative to the FIE, and ignored the athlete chosen by the Athlete Advisory Group.
• The president then falsely stated that that athlete had been irresponsible for failing to get his paperwork in. The reality was that the athlete was contacted while competing at the Maccabiah Games in Israel and given no time to get it in.
• The president refused to allow fencers visiting the the US Olympic Training Center access to her pony, even though the sign on her office door clearly promised: "Free pony rides to every fencer in the top 32 of FIE standings."
• The president called a meeting to discuss US fencing withdrawal from the World University Games without athlete participation, as required
by USFA and USOC rules. When questioned, stated that this was not the kind of decision that required athlete input.