Petition to recall USFA President

[DJ Apostrophe]

I was just forwarded an e-mail with a link to this site: http://www.geocities.com/save_usfencing/

I wanted to post something here to get everyone's take on this...

comment away...

-w

[Mr Epee]

The author (listed in property tab of MS-Word) is Paul Soter.

[Mr Epee]

Save US Fencing

Many Olympians, Athletes, National Coaches, Cadre members and parents feel it is time for a change. The USFA has stagnated and many areas of the organization are inept and non-functional, especially the service part of the organization which does not exist. The only way to start making a change is from the top down.

By petitioning a recall of the president of the USFA, we are making our request for her, Nancy Anderson, to step down. An interim president will then be appointed by the Board of Directors until the next election. Our USFA Bylaws allow the membership to recall a president (or any other officer) by petition signing (Articla VII, Section 9)

The objective is to have a new president that is willing to make the office accountable for their job descriptions and responsibilities and to appoint committees that have the right people on them to make decisions and keep the organization moving forward. Additionally, we want to have a president who is a professional and can further the position of US Fencing in the realm of the FIE and our position with other countries world wide. We have never before been in a better position with our successes and results to place our country in a strong international position.

We need to have an organization actively pursuing marketing, public relations and sponsorship. We need a dynamic office staff and simple things modernized such as on -line registrations and membership applications.

There is much potential in the US to be a dominate force in international fencing for many, many years if our fencers, parents, coaches and staff have the appropriate leadership, role models and support to pursue their dreams.

To sign the petition for recall one must be at least 18 and a current member (either a Competitive or Associate) of the USFA. Click here for a membership form. Form must be sent to the USFA, not to Save US Fencing. Thank you for signing the attached petition. If possible, please print out and have any members of your club who are interested, sign the petition then mail it to us at the address on the petition. Any and all efforts to help will be greatly appreciated.

For Further information email us at: save_usfencing@yahoo.com

[Mr Epee]

9.Section Recall of Officers. Any officer may be recalled by the membership as provided in this section.

An officer shall be recalled upon:

(i) the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Congress; or

(ii) upon petition of not less than 10 percent of the members of the USFA who are eligible to vote in the election for which the petition is intended, provided that there must be at least 10 petitioners from each Section and at least two petitioners from a majority of the Divisions in each Section.

b) Upon recall, a special election shall be conducted promptly in accordance with the election procedures provided by these Bylaws, with such appropriate modifications to the dates and schedules there stated as the Board of Directors shall prescribe. The recalled officer may be a candidate for the vacant office if nominated by the Nominating Committee or by meeting petition requirements provided elsewhere in these Bylaws.

c) Upon the authentication of qualifying petitions, the recalled officer may be suspended from office by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, in which event the Executive Committee shall promptly meet to appoint one of the Vice Presidents to fill the office until a recall election has been held and the office has thus been filled by the voting membership. If the officer recalled was a Vice President, the office shall remain vacant until an election has been held and a successor qualified.

10.Section Vacancy in Office of President. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled as follows:

Except for temporary absences of the President for which provision is made elsewhere, if less than two years remain in the term of office, the vacancy, whether arising from resignation, death, removal or otherwise, shall be filled by interim appointment by the Executive Committee until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, at which time the Board shall fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. In filling vacancies, the Board may appoint any member eligible to hold office.

b) 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 and shall be conducted to the extent possible according to the procedures set forth in Article XIII of these Bylaws. The members of the Nominating Committee who served during the last regular election shall again fulfill that role for the special election, provided that any member may resign or decline to serve for any reason, including, to seek the vacated office. Vacancies on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Executive Committee, except that vacancies of the athlete representatives on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Athlete Advisory Group. The Election Committee shall make such adjustments in the deadlines, due dates and procedures specified in Article XIII of these Bylaws as are necessary for the timely and fair conduct of the special election.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

If Nancy Anderson was not president of the USFA, who would you want to be in the presidential position? Why? These questions need to be answered before someone gets the boot.

[leapyear]

Having been out of competitive fencing for many years, I'm not fully familiar with the issues. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

So far, I've heard:

1.) Failure to modernize membership renewal and tournament registration
2.) Sluggishness in capitalizing on American fencing's recent successes

So a new prez could modernize, and market and promote fencing.

What are the other issues? Can someone talk about the corruption and inefficiency (in a non-libelous way)?

Thanks.

[Peach]

Nancy Anderson hasn't been president very long, and it seems to me the USFA has been making steps toward modernizing which are hampered more by lack of resources and skilled consultants than by leadership. I don't see any compelling reason for this petition--I suspect it would simply hamstring the USFA further.

[sabersaber]

More text from: www.geocities.com/Save_USFencing

"By petitioning a recall of the president of the USFA, we are making our request for her, Nancy Anderson, to step down. Whether by a recall petition approach we are taking or should the president resign, the Executive Committee of the USFA Board of Directors will appoint one of our 4 Vice Presidents (Don Alperstein, Sam Cheris. Rob Sobalvarro, Ed Wright) as interim president for 90 days. Then the 2004 Nominating Committee will reconvene and do a search process for candidates for president. Our membership base and reach has never been so great and we believe there are many talented persons capable and willing to serve the USFA who are not afraid to make significant changes in our committees and organization to propel it in the right direction again. Our USFA Bylaws allow the membership to recall a president (or any other officer) by petition signing (Article VII, Section 9).

The objective is to have a new president that is willing to make the office accountable for their job descriptions and responsibilities and to appoint committees that have the right people on them to make decisions and keep the organization moving forward. We look forward to a president that can have a business plan for the organization with timelines for project completion. We need a strong business-minded president willing to stay on top of the plans and timelines of each committee and office department.

Additionally, we want to have a president who is a professional and can further the position of US Fencing in the realm of the FIE and our position with other countries world-wide. We have never before been in a better position with our successes and results to place our country in a strong international position.

We need to have an organization actively pursuing marketing, public relations and sponsorship. We need a dynamic office staff and simple things modernized such as on -line registrations and membership applications.

There is much potential in the US to be a dominate force in international fencing for many, many years if our fencers, parents, coaches and staff have the appropriate leadership, role models and support to pursue their dreams."

[Mr Epee]

What I posted was the text of the website - as of the time of my post.

It has apparently been changed - at least once since then.

Originally Posted by New first paragraph

Many Olympians, Athletes, National Coaches, Cadre members and parents feel it is time for a change. The USFA has stagnated and many areas of the organization are inept and non-functional, especially the service part of the organization which does not exist. The USFA has failed our athletes and sport miserably since the exceptional performances in Athens. An opportunity to capitalize on this success has been totally squandered. There has been dearth of leadership and the only way to start making a change is from the top down. This is not a vendetta, personality conflict, nor nefarious plot, it is simply concern for the well-being of the USFA and the members it serves. There have been serious failures across a number of areas of the the organization and the oversight to the national office has been non-existent. Our elite cadet, junior, and senior athletes and coaches have floundered and left with nothing but excuses. No one likes controversy, but the dramatic failure of leadership exhibited since the Athens Games necessitates this call to action being proposed. Nothing personal, just a belief based on performance that the current president is not up to the task and a change is needed; thus, the democratic procedures of our organization being utilized through the recall process.

[Inquartata]

Eeek! Sounds like the Mamlouk Wars have come again...

[darius]

Also note that the MS Word properties have this petition being modified by Cathy Zagunis...let the blacklisting begin!

In all seriousness, however, the website doesn't bother to offer specifics.

Personally, if I were to attach my name to such a petition, and request that others do the same, I'd want to know exactly what dereliction of duty occurred on Ms. Anderson's part. Currently, we have no way of knowing whether the petition's authors have axes to grind, without being given specific examples.

I'm with Peach on this -- most of the failures by the USFA to do something seem to be for lack of resources more than anything else. If somebody has information to the contrary, they should step forward now and inform the masses via this forum, otherwise I'd consider the matter closed.

darius

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by darius

Also note that the MS Word properties have this petition being modified by Cathy Zagunis...let the blacklisting begin!

In all seriousness, however, the website doesn't bother to offer specifics.

Personally, if I were to attach my name to such a petition, and request that others do the same, I'd want to know exactly what dereliction of duty occurred on Ms. Anderson's part. Currently, we have no way of knowing whether the petition's authors have axes to grind, without being given specific examples.

I'm with Peach on this -- most of the failures by the USFA to do something seem to be for lack of resources more than anything else. If somebody has information to the contrary, they should step forward now and inform the masses via this forum, otherwise I'd consider the matter closed.

darius

Dairus,

I mostly concur.

The lack of resources may, or may not, be the central issue -- I don't know. However, the petition is, in my opinion, very poorly worded and argued.

Never really having thought about this before, I would start such a petetion with a strong nexus between action taken or not taken by this officer, and the resulting mayhem from said action/inaction. The way it is presented, no cause/effect relationship is established and a reasonable person could conclude that the problems facing the USFA are due to the USFA President, some other USFA Officer, the FIE, or random acts of God.

I think this petition was written by someone with an insider's understanding of the USFA -- the document probably reads crystal clear if you know the inner workings of the organization. From an outsider's perspective, the reader has to fill in too many blanks.

I can't sign this with a clear conscience.

Sorry.

Regards,
Feltan

[silver2e]

Originally Posted by darius

Also note that the MS Word properties have this petition being modified by Cathy Zagunis...let the blacklisting begin!
In all seriousness, however, the website doesn't bother to offer specifics.
darius

There must be specific incidents that are being referred to, but I guess you have to be an insider to know what they are. New first paragraph raises additional issues:

1)...many areas of the organization are inept and non-functional, especially the service part ...

2)The USFA has failed our athletes and sport...

3)There have been serious failures across a number of areas of the the organization...

4)Our elite cadet, junior, and senior athletes and coaches have floundered and left with nothing but excuses.

What is this all about? In the end it probably comes down to $$$$$$$$

[Sciurus-Rex]

Lackluster leadership is NOT an issue for recall.

That's just silly.

Point to something this person has done that is illegal or unethical or against our bylaws and, sure, recall away! But otherwise it's a waste of time and resources.

[JEC]

Perhaps, there is a rebalancing act going on between elite athletes and "the masses", which is not well seen by one of the groups.

[oso97]

The only thing I am aware that the officers have done directly against protocols concerned the USFA budget and committee reports that were supposed to be submitted to USFA Congress last summer. Discussions were held, and a group of Congress Delegates got together to ask for them. They were provided, and discussed.

We consider this matter closed and not grounds for recall.

There ARE serious issues with USFA leadership and direction, but a recall at this point is not the way to solve them.

[Mr Epee]

Ok, a few more things.

1. USFA President is a non-paid position

2. The USFA President IS charged with the duties of policy development, financial support, and acts as an inter-organizational liaison (presumably between the USFA and the FIE/USOC/IOC/US Gov/etc.).

Originally Posted by Authorities/Responsibilities of USFA President

Section 3. President. The principal duties of the President shall be to foster the formulation of policy, to develop financial and membership support, to conduct relations between the USFA and other authorities whose jurisdictions affect the functions and purposes of the USFA, and to execute the decisions and directives of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. The President shall chair meetings of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and the Congress. The President shall have such authorities, powers and duties as are assigned to that office by these Bylaws or are necessary and normally appurtenant to the powers and duties herein specified.

3. Ms Anderson became USFA President in Summer 2004 and this recall petition seeks to prevent her from completing her term, which would normally expire in 2008, after the Beijing Games.

Originally Posted by Term of Office

Section 7. Terms of Office. Terms of office of the USFA shall commence upon the earlier of the close of the Olympic Games in which fencing is contested or the first day of September in the last year of the Olympic quadrennium and shall continue until the earlier of the close of the following such Olympic Games or the final day in August in the last year of the Olympic quadrennium.

4. Silver2e is very astute in pointing out that this is about $$$$$$. I would go further to add that this is most likely the result of $$$$$$ and elite athlete programs. I'm also guessing that there may be some issues regarding the disbursement of performance grants promised by the USFA to various athletes. Personally, having gone through as many USFA financial records as are commonly available through open source avenues, I find it difficult to believe that the USFA is currently capable of funding elite programs in the manner desired by the initiators of this recall petition. Disappointment is always the result of failed expectations. In 1984, US Fencing received a substantial contribution from the USOC for the Westbrook performance. In 2004, this substantial contribution wasn't handed out again. For as long as I can remember, we have heard tales of the glory and recognition that US Fencing would receive, if we could only get a medal, if we could only get a medal, if we could only get a medal. Well, in Athens the US received not one, but two medals, and the gravy train didn't pull up and unload. For some reason the 2 medals brought home by US Fencing didn't resonate very deeply with the US public. My guess is this is because they were lost in the clutter of the 103 other medals won by US Athletes, and the fact that there isn't a cold war going on today, but apparently some are willing to lay this at the feet of the USFA President. I don't know, and am simply not well enough informed on the specifics of the situation. I do know that in 2005, US Fencing goes back to the grindstone - just like every other fencing federation around the world (yes, even the ones with athletes who won medals in Athens).

5. I suspect that this recall petition will fail not due to the appropriateness/accuracy of the grievances it conjures, but rather due to a lack of an effective distribution platform, and an apparent unwillingness of the initiators to attach their names and reputations to the process.

6. I personally would have absolutely no qualms supporting a recall effort - provided that the recall effort addressed specific issues and utilized real examples. The "Save US Fencing" project, in its current form, does neither.

P.P.S. I find it particularly funny that people are supposed to mail these petitions to a P.O. Box in New Jersey.

P.P.P.S - Does Alan have anything to do with this recall effort?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

And the fact that there isn't a cold war going on today,

Its settled then. We need a 2nd cold war. Its Nancy Andersons fault that there was not a 2nd cold war when Mariel got the gold. We should fire her because of her failure to provoke an international conflict