Petition to recall USFA President

[MikeHarm]

I'd like to hear her take on it for balance. Also, I think its interesting that all this happened just after the epee coaches got bounced.

[fleuretrogue]

This person you seem concerned about is Sam Cheris. The other options are Ro Sobalvarro or Ed Wright. All three of these people are current Vice Presidents.

To my knowledge and correct me if I am wrong, the bylaws stipulate that if the recall is successful in meeting the criteria, then the EC will appoint an interim president from the existing three VPs to serve until a special election can be held (within no more than 90 days).

Of the three, Sam seems the logical choice, though that apparently is up to the EC and not the general membership.

The point is, it's only for 90 days. Once the election is held, I assume, though can not confirm, that the new president will then take over the duties of the office.

This is not automatically reassuring. I am quite prepared to accept that all of the persons thus far identified as "movers"---the ones you mentioned---are acting in good faith and from the best of motives. What makes me uneasy is that I keep hearing one name mentioned regarding who would be the probable replacement for Ms. Anderson if the recall is successful. One name, one person who has "agreed to serve", when all the other possibilities have demurred.

It occurs to me that an ambitious person might prefer, like Caesar, to have others offer him a kingly crown by acclamation rather than to campaign openly for it himself. A person with the proper skills could bring about the desired result by manipulating others into doing the work for him or her. I do not insist that this is happening, but it's not out of the question. Certainly politics have gotten quite Byzantine in the USFA before this, there have been acrimonious battles over the leadership before, there have been charges and countercharges and promises made before...

[foilz]

This isn't a big rant on fencing.net.

This isn't petty politics leaked out for the titillation of a few fans.

This is a major, political event, conducted in plain air, for everyone to see and observe, and comment upon.

It has overwhelmingly left the board room of USFA. It's not a whining palaver in the parking lot in Colorado Springs. It is now totally exposed to everyone on the planet -- the USOC, FIE, and the IOC. It is now, perhaps ineluctably, a definingly huge event for U.S. fencing.

I hope the instigators know what they have done (I think they do).

I hope all of us know what we are commenting on (this is a planned, major, serious attempt to subvert and convert the leadership of the association).

This simply isn't idle chatter on the web. The governing body of the association that governs our sport in the U.S. has been delivered a challenge. Nothing happens until this is resolved.

Don't think that the discussion is confined to this forum. Think IOC. That's where meaningful (or ridiculous) judgements will be made about this affaire.

It's very sad that it is happening at all, for whatever reason (either the President's hubris, or the raw enterprise of her opponents).

But it is totally happening.

The people who make major decisions about our sport, and about our role in the sport worldwide, are watching.

I would urge the major parties to adjourn to a luxury resort, sit together, and resolve this amicably and effectively before all the bad blood in U.S. fencing is spilled on the floor and contaminates the goals of everyone else - elite fencers, highly competitive fencers, and the rest of us who just love the sport.

I would urge the silent members of the USFA board to co-opt independent members of the USOC to convene a session at a resort or conference room to bring the opposing parties together to discuss and resolve the issue before January 1, 2006.

This event does not dignify fencing.

This event does not elevate USFA's objectives and goals.

To the participants: Grow up, go quiet, get this done.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Besides full disclosure of identities of the massive cabal of petitioners:

the group is comprised of, or supported by, National Coaches, Parents, Athletes, Athletes Representatives, Board Members, and some members of the Executive Committee

conspicuously missing from their paperwork is what they would have done/would be doing differently from President Anderson. For example:

• The NO is currently in a total failure to provide a reasonable level of member support and customer service.
How would they propose to correct these long-lived problems? What would they consider reasonable levels?

• It is impossible to reach a live person at the NO. Voice mails left with the NO are not returned.
More people at the office? More funding? A cat o' nine tails for Massik in his Christmas stocking to use on the office staff? How is this going to change under new leadership?

• Worst of all, the NO has failed to implement a system for online entries for NAC’s and other national tournaments, despite specific
representations to the Board of Directors that an online entry system would be in place for the start of the 2005-2006 season.
How do the new folks propose to succeed at this, when everyone else has whiffed?

Post-Olympic Marketing and Promotion
• Nothing was done to strike while the iron was hot after Athens. No marketing or promotion was initiated for nearly a year.
Exactly what would they have done differently? Take Mariel on tickertape parades to every city in Alabama? What's their earth-shaking, can't fail to attract billions of dollars of new investment plan for the next time?

• What is the marketing plan for solicitation of sponsorship with a time frame for each step of the process? No one can seem to provide the answers.
I'd ask the same question of those who seek to force a regime change. What marketing plan have you developed?

• The president is responsible for oversight of the committees and the office. The president is responsible for each committees' plan of action (or in-action) and for monitoring the progress they make with their programs and responsibilities. (snip) Should an individual or committee fail to do their work or stay within their timelines on their business plans, then it is the responsibility of the president to correct the situation or to remove such individuals and appoint someone else who is able to get the job done.
Committees are notorious for being unwieldy decision-making bodies. How does the new group propose that the President overcome this institutional inertia?

• The president habitually becomes unavailable for long periods of time, and refuses to answer phone calls or emails from members of the
Executive Committee.
Is there a plan in place for electronic ankle bracelet monitoring, so we always know where the new President is located? The President is an unpaid volunteer with presumably some real-world responsibilities...does the incoming President plan to sign a pledge to drop whatever he/she is doing to return each and every phone call/e-mail within 5 minutes?

• The president lacks the business background to lead an organization of this scope.
How 'bout requiring an MBA for a candidate to be nominated? Is that the petitioners solution?

International Programs
Any proposals in place from the new folks about their vision for international programs? Eliminate them, increase the funding by 2,000%, appoint the pony as the new ME National Coach? We don't have the faintest idea what they want to do yet.

And that's part of the problem with this recall...the cabal may have absolutely fabulous ideas to move the USFA forward...but without more specific information, we're being asked to buy a pig in a poke

[keith]

...but without more specific information, we're being asked to buy a pig in a poke

hmmmmm....bacon.

Do you think they might throw in a beer?

[Inquartata]

Yep, all the glory of being in a volunteer position. I think if alot of people wanted the job, we'd have a good president, not the current one. Seriously, who would want this job, if they didnt have the best interest of the USFA in mind?

That's a bit like asking why people spend millions of dollars to get elected to political offices that pay maybe a few hundred thousand a year for 4 years?

And if you really think it's patriotism or idealism, tell me why those people tend to leave office so much wealthier than they went in, despite the deficit campaign spending?

My answer would be: because there are rewards to be reaped which are not readily apparent to outsiders.

It might be the same way with the USFA, might it not?

However, my point was not really to impugn anyone's motives for wanting the job---merely to establish that it might still qualify as a "power grab" even if the intentions are wholly altruistic. When one tries to wrest power from one who holds it in order to wield it oneself, that's a power grab, regardless of whether it's because one thinks one can do good with the power or just because one enjoys having it...

[Inquartata]

The point is, it's only for 90 days. Once the election is held, I assume, though can not confirm, that the new president will then take over the duties of the office.

Yes. But if the recent history of politics in this country teaches us anything, it should be that the ability of incumbents to stay in power is very strong. Once ensconced, any interim president would have a great advantage over any possible challenger---the more so if he knows how to use his position to keep his position.

[MikeHarm]

Is there anything folks can do to support the president during this like counter petitions or whatnot?

[jjefferies]

This isn't a big rant on fencing.net.

This isn't petty politics leaked out for the titillation of a few fans.

This is a major, political event, conducted in plain air, for everyone to see and observe, and comment upon.

: deleted lines

I hope all of us know what we are commenting on (this is a planned, major, serious attempt to subvert and convert the leadership of the association).

: deleted lines

I would urge the silent members of the USFA board to co-opt independent members of the USOC to convene a session at a resort or conference room to bring the opposing parties together to discuss and resolve the issue before January 1, 2006.

This event does not dignify fencing.

This event does not elevate USFA's objectives and goals.

To the participants: Grow up, go quiet, get this done.

foilz, while I agree with the general tenor of your post, I would point out that "subversion" usual refers to hidden activity and not "an activity conducted in open air" as you so correctly point out. I would also agree that the association as a whole should consider it. And certainly these threads on Fencing.net are a part of that process.

BTW, at one point I believe that folks from fencing.net were trying to get balanced interviews from both sides for an article. That may still be happening.

So I think we can expect more not less comment on this in the next weeks. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, if anything we're showing that we can have a row within our organization and deal with it. I believe it was a comment after the Watergate hearings to the effect that the legal machinery was stiff and cranky but it did work. Likewise here AFIK there has never been another recall within the USFA. So don't expect it to be neatly tied up and laid out for our approval. The entire process can be expected to be slow and have a lot of false starts. The petition website is a good example. It certainly was not well written up at first.

J.

[jjefferies]

Is there anything folks can do to support the president during this like counter petitions or whatnot?

You could tout all the good things she's done. Why don't you go research her background and present any positive comments folks have about her? I'm sure given all this noise we probably all ought to learn more about her. So far all that I've heard other than what is in the petition has been scurilous so I'd be willing to hear a bit more balanced view.

I'd also like to be able to register for tournaments on-line and get faster updates to tournament results. And I see no reason why this is not so.
J.

[Durando]

Here's a silly thought...Why can't the USFA arrange with the local consulate's office to have a guide available for the days in which a world cup is going on in their country? It would seem to me at least this would fix the local language issue.

Hmm. I hereby volunteer. Once this petition thing is resolved, that is.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


Brad, since you are part of the USFA leadership, can you ask her to come over here and give her take on things?


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Sciurus-Rex]

The self-righteousness emanating from the lynch mob minority is galling. I would hope that at least a few of the instigators would be able to look at the response on this thread, step back and realize how unbalanced the "recall" is.

[oso97]

It might be even more instructive to look around and see who has NOT commented on the substantive matters of the recall...

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

blah blah blah.... all that **** that inq said.

Dude, its the USFA. Nobody leaves the USFA office wealthier.

[dr.lutz]

Those who have led this recall spent six months trying other alternatives.
Unfortunately, those "advising" Ms. Anderson, who privately admit to her complete failure as president, have been unwilling to tell her to step down in the best interests of the USFA.

This was not some flippant act that went without much thought and concern about all the ramifications.

Instead, it was a core group who had the backing of many people ranging most of the National Coaches to many od the Olympians, many parents, and may significant others.

None of these people have any yearning for political power, but have taken a great personal risk in order to help the athletes, as well as the entire membership.

Interestingly, nobody has defended the job Ms. Anderson has done, but rather attacked the process and those who brought it on.

[Schiavona]

Instead, it was a core group who had the backing of many people ranging most of the National Coaches to many od the Olympians, many parents, and may significant others.

But not the vast majority, 'rank and file', of fencers who make up the USFA. And yet you wonder at our reaction. This is part and parcel of the obscurity that surrounds the USFA leadership. Brad Baker is the only member of the leadership who communicates with us "little people".

None of these people have any yearning for political power, but have taken a great personal risk in order to help the athletes, as well as the entire membership.

"Great personal risk"? What, does Ms. Anderson have a history of personal violence?*sarcasm*

Interestingly, nobody has defended the job Ms. Anderson has done, but rather attacked the process and those who brought it on.

Well, that's because the vast majority of us have no idea what she's done, good or bad. We really have no idea what any of you have done. The only thing I ever heard of Sam Cheris is that he funneled money to fencing programs his kid was in. I have no idea if this is true or not. Just as I have no idea if all the "charges" against Anderson are true or not.

What happens in the upper levels of USFA politics is kept so closed that I would guess that over 90% of the membership has no idea what any of you are talking about.

[jjefferies]

But not vast majority, 'rank and file', of fencers who make up the USFA. And yet you wonder at our reaction. This is part and parcel of the obscurity that surrounds the USFA leadership. Brad Baker is the only member of the leadership who communicates with us "little people".

The rank and file don't particularly care unless someone takes a medal or a classification away from them. Most fencers are concerned only if the mechanism that keeps tournaments gong fails. The reason this has come about is the complaints that it has begun to fail at the top.

"Great personal risk"? What, does Ms. Anderson have a history of personal violence?

Aw come on now. Lets not color you a naive virgin. After this is all over with we still
have to live with many of these same people.

What happens in the upper levels of USFA politics is kept so closed that I would guess that over 90% of the membership has no idea what any of you are talking about.

Well that's one area that we are in agreement about. I am seriously irritated that there is so little information about what happens at the higher levels in this organization. Which leads to whisper campaigns and backroom deals.

[The Poopsmith]

Dude, Jonathan Jefferies is on a tear! I'm giving him rep points just for being persistant in this ongoing rant! Go Jefferies, Go!!!!!

[Schiavona]

The rank and file don't particularly care unless someone takes a medal or a classification away from them.

Maybe, but how do do you really know? If we, the USFA membership, knew what went on and still didn't care, then then we would all know.

Aw come on now. Lets not color you a naive virgin. After this is all over with we still
have to live with many of these same people.

Did you notice the *sarcasm*? I belive Dr.Lutz meant profesional risk-which I still feel is stretching things.

Well that's one area that we are in agreement about. I am seriously irritated that there is so little information about what happens at the higher levels in this organization. Which leads to whisper campaigns and backroom deals.

D'accord!