RMS Members--Intro who are you?

[hpfencing]

I'm just wondering, how many and who are RMS members that are on fencing.net.

Please let us know here.

I'm Matt Hite of Plains Texas Division in the RMS. I am a coach, referee and jack of all trades in our area.

What about you? Who are you, what division are you in!

[RITFencing]

I've done a good bit of fencing down there, although I'm not sure when/if I'll be back. I'm Sean Horan, I fenced and coached for LAFC.

[hpfencing]

Not many from Rocky Mountain Section on www.fencing.net

I say down with the proboards and let's get this party started :-)

[hpmonkey]

Hi I am Cara I am a HP fencer My fellow teammates call me Monkey (I do not know why)

[hpfencing]

Originally Posted by hpmonkey

Hi I am Cara I am a HP fencer My fellow teammates call me Monkey (I do not know why)

Hey monkey,

Glad to have you on board, hpoe to see you posting alot.

We missed you last Tue at the referee meeting/training

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by hpfencing

Not many from Rocky Mountain Section on www.fencing.net

I say down with the proboards and let's get this party started :-)

Thanks for leading this effort hpfencing.

I am from the RMS. I have read through the various threads here, and it kind of mirrors my view on our section.

Basically, I believe the RMS is broken. It is way too large geographically. There is little concept of "neighborhood" among RMS fencers -- well maybe among some (I am only speaking from my point-of-view).

The geography encompassed by the RMS is larger than many European countries. Attending a series of "circuit" events for us is no small effort -- furthermore, there is little reason to do so. One can qualify for Nationals without ever attending an RMS event, and Nationals is what a fair number of fencers aspire to attend.

Personally, I wouldn't drive more than a few hours to attend an RMS event. And given the size of our section, that means the event has to be, relatively speaking, in my own backyard -- in essence a division event. I suspect I am not alone in that feeling too. If you look at the results for RMS events in FRED, they tend to be dominated (but not exclusively) by fencers in close geographic proximity to the event.

This is all kind of sad. I grew up in a different section, and fenced for years there. A fair degree of freindly competition existed between divisions and clubs from different divisions at the time. It was a vibrant environment.

If you want to get a pulse of the vibrancy of the RMS, just visit the forums at their website. Every once in a while I visit, blow the dust off all the old posts, and see that not much has changed -- or will change.

Our section needs to be abolished. The RMS could be carved up into two, three or four new sections, and/or apportioned to adjacent sections. This is not to be critical of the fine people trying to run the RMS, rather it is a systemic problem the USFA needs to address. We need more sections, smaller sections, and a geographic division that does not require a corporate travel budget to participate in sectional events.

Regards,
Feltan

[hpfencing]

Originally Posted by Feltan

If you want to get a pulse of the vibrancy of the RMS, just visit the forums at their website. Every once in a while I visit, blow the dust off all the old posts, and see that not much has changed -- or will change.

Regards,
Feltan

I was the moderator/creator of the old RMS (proboards) discussion board, I asked Craig if we could set-up here instead and and Craig said yes; this IS the discussion board now and other one is closed down pointing to here.

[pacer]

Somehow I missed the earlier posts about the RMS discussion thread. Opps.


I'm Paula Smith. My son and I fence at the South Denver Fencing Academy in Centennial, Colorado.

As to sectional events, my family usually takes a road trip and makes a mini vacation out of it. ( I once tried the "carpooling" idea but it just didn't work out and the day before a planned ttrip to Utah, my ride bailed on me.) Having said that, we have only made it to New Mexico for tournaments. I'm waiting to check the calendar and get input from our coach before deciding whether to go to Phoenix.

School and work are the scheduling constraints. We're going to Reno and, as usual, any time away seems to interfere with something else. Junior, cadet and youth events should be scheduled only after ACT, SAT ( and mandatory state tests) dates are checked if at all possible. (I know that honestly is a lot to hope for.)

[Jay Kominek]

The RMS could be carved up into two, three or four new sections, and/or apportioned to adjacent sections.

What would they be? RMS has individual divisions that are geographically larger than some sections. People talk about only being willing to attend events that are within a few hours of themselves. You can't get from one end of Colorado to the other in a few hours, let alone to another state.

We might as well just suck it up, do the best we can, and try to keep things as close to the middle as possible, taking into consideration the density of fencers. So, south east Colorado, north east New Mexico, plains Texas and Kansas.

And, since this is an introduction thread: Hi. I'm Jay. I fence with the University of Colorado at Boulder club. (I'm also the photographer.)

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by hpfencing

I was the moderator/creator of the old RMS (proboards) discussion board, I asked Craig if we could set-up here instead and and Craig said yes; this IS the discussion board now and other one is closed down pointing to here.

hpfencing,

Again thank you for your efforts. I don't want my dismal view of the RMS to be projected upon people such as yourself who are trying to make things better. Rather, I think you got dealt a poor hand and are trying to make the best of it.

Regards,
Feltan

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by Jay Kominek

What would they be? RMS has individual divisions that are geographically larger than some sections. People talk about only being willing to attend events that are within a few hours of themselves. You can't get from one end of Colorado to the other in a few hours, let alone to another state.

We might as well just suck it up, do the best we can, and try to keep things as close to the middle as possible, taking into consideration the density of fencers. So, south east Colorado, north east New Mexico, plains Texas and Kansas.

And, since this is an introduction thread: Hi. I'm Jay. I fence with the University of Colorado at Boulder club. (I'm also the photographer.)

Jay,

I don't have a plan to carve it up; I was speaking in a more general sense. That being that the RMS is geographically too large. While an argument can, and was, made about fencer density -- I don't see how that issue benefits us in the end. The RMS may have the same number of fencers as geographically smaller sections, but if they are too distant to participate in sectional meets -- why bother with a section at all?

Regards,
Feltan

[hpfencing]

Originally Posted by Jay Kominek

We might as well just suck it up, do the best we can, and try to keep things as close to the middle as possible, taking into consideration the density of fencers. So, south east Colorado, north east New Mexico, plains Texas and Kansas.

I agree 100%, Ihope everyone else does too. Teh RMS needs to at least start hosting Sectional in a central location. In 2002 we hosted it in the plains Division and it was a VERY small turn out. When is was in El Paso the numbers were VERY small and this yar in AZ I beleive the numbers willbe very small.

I bleigve the sectional event must be in NM or Co to draw numbers and "fix" some of the problems.

With the section circuit.... I'm not sure WHAT the best solution is. There might not be a better, easier solution at this point.

[ckovanda]

Hi, Cassidy Kovanda here from Lincoln, NE about 20 hours away from sectionals this year.

from someone on the opposite side of the section, I'd like to second the suggestion that we keep sectionals in a central location. Colorado Springs seems like the logical choice.

why would you expect anything other than dismal turnout by having sectionals in the farthest extents of the section?

[arc]

Originally Posted by ckovanda

Hi, Cassidy Kovanda here from Lincoln, NE about 20 hours away from sectionals this year.

from someone on the opposite side of the section, I'd like to second the suggestion that we keep sectionals in a central location. Colorado Springs seems like the logical choice.

why would you expect anything other than dismal turnout by having sectionals in the farthest extents of the section?

I'm Aaron Clements, a long time Plains Texas Division officer, and the problem that has been brought up about the size of the section is one that has existed as long as the section has been around. I've been working with RMS as a division officer in one form or another for about ten years now, and there doesn't seem to be a good solution to this issue.

Many years ago, when I first started fencing out here, the sectional championships rotated between each division that was capable of hosting; I know, for example, that Plains Texas hosted the RMS championships in 1992 in Lubbock, and the turnout wasn't all that dismal (our club made over $2k just on concessions & t-shirts). Turnout has been dropping in recent years, however, and following RMS championships coming back to Plains Texas in 2002 (Amarillo) and New Mexico (Santa Fe) in 2003, a strategic decision was made to make a new rotation, with sectionals being held for two years in Colorado and a third year in another hosting division. This year, Arizona expressed interest in hosting. The underlying strategic decision was made in order to provide some cost certainty in planning for sectional championships and to take advantage of the relatively large pool of highly rated referees that reside in Colorado. When the decision was originally made, Colorado Springs and the Olympic Training Center were envisioned as the locale for sectionals; however, due to changes in policies for the use of the OTC, that venue became unavailable, and Boulder became the venue for the past two sectionals.

At the same time that this change to the rotation of sectionals hosting was made, changes were also made to the qualification paths for Nationals that eliminated Sectionals as an alternate qualifying path for Div II Nationals; the only tournaments for which attendance at sectionals is now mandatory are junior and Div IA events.

Being on the fringe of the section, I certainly understand the frustrations that folks have with the long travel necessary to attend; even trying to get to Boulder is a 10 to 12 hour trip for us, and can even be longer if we get caught in a blizzard at Raton, as happened last year. Phoenix is even farther. These were considerations that prompted our division to even discuss changing back to Southwest Section last year. (Ultimately, those discussions have been tabled.)

I guess what I'm ultimately getting at is that your concerns have been shared by just about everyone in the section, but the ongoing third year hosting rotation between the divisions is intended to allow each division an opportunity, at some point, to host & not have to travel, while providing a quasi-central location & some cost certainty during the other two years. There's simply no way to make a mile shorter, and that's part of the price that we pay for living in this part of the country.

[hpfencing]

If it's based in the same spot the same people have to travel all the time but it creates a "doable" drive for everyone and doesn't not force one divison to have to fly or not attend With the qualifications paths changed and Sectionals for Div Ia and Junior only and with almost all our A/B level fencers in CO and NM it makes perfect sense to put the event there, all the time. I say that as one of the peopel that will have to travel 6-12 hours depending on where in CO or NM it is but that's a lot better than trying to travel all the way to AZ or KS in the long run because it makes it accessable to everyone, every year.

Putting it in Co or NM also cuts down big time on referees as there are a LOT of referees (all our highest level ones) in the Co and NM divisions.

In 2002 when the sectionals was in Amarillo I helped with ALL the arrangements and have helped in some shape or fashion with all the sectionals and many of the major events throughout the section. We barely broke even on the conssession stand and shirts.

I have bounced back and forth on this issue in the past but i beleive it NEEDS to be in a central location and it needs to be ran by the section officers not an individual division.

If we could have a "permanate" location in Co Springs or maybe ABQ, NM it would make things easier on everyone.

[Morion]

Hi! I'm George Vanovich and I fence out of the Arizona Fencing Academy in Tucson AZ. Quite honestly I will probably never make it out of the state for a tournament unless there is a sudden (and unlikely) upturn in my finances. I simply don't have the time or funds to travel too far too often. However I hope to meet some of you at the Phoenix Cup.

[hpfencing]

Originally Posted by Morion

Hi! I'm George Vanovich and I fence out of the Arizona Fencing Academy in Tucson AZ. Quite honestly I will probably never make it out of the state for a tournament unless there is a sudden (and unlikely) upturn in my finances. I simply don't have the time or funds to travel too far too often. However I hope to meet some of you at the Phoenix Cup.

Maybe we''ll see you at sectionals this year since it's in AZ...

[Morion]

I signed up! At least for the Sectionals I'm not the only U.

[Schiavona]

*laughing* Well, at least you guys don't have to drive through, or fly over another COUNTRY to get to the rest of your Section!

[hpfencing]

George it was nice meeting you in person this pat weekend.