USFA inquiries

[Bugaboo]

How much feedback do you receive when you send e-mail to the USFA public relations contact at info@usfencing.org?

Is it a volunteer or paid position?

[Foil Girl]

I've sent them a couple questions and got pretty promt responses, though they didn't really understand what I was asking. I guess that was my fault though. I think it's a volunteer position, because I've heard that most workers are volunteers, but don't quote me on that.

------------------
-Foil Girl
"If you don't have fun, you've already lost"

[edew]

All the people at USFA national office are paid employees. That said, one should realize that volunteers probably will be able to answer many more (possibly arcane) questions about fencing than the paid employees.

Most paid employees in many fields are not experts in that field. In sports and many other fields, it's the volunteers who are usually experts. That's why they're willing to volunteer: they know the stuff inside and out and are dedicated enough to help out without asking for compensation.

So, depending on the question you asked, you might have gotten a person who might have been very recently hired. That person might not know fencing from swimming.

[Foil Girl]

*grins* Thanks Edew, you learn something new every day! I probably shouldn't have answered..

------------------
-Foil Girl
"If you don't have fun, you've already lost"

[BarryTice]

In August, I sent an e-mail with a few questions I needed answered for details on how to code the Point Control program, and I had an answer within five hours. Conversely, in February of last year I sent a question and didn't get a response until I re-sent it nearly four weeks later. At that point, I had a short series of follow-up questions that were promptly answered.

It's possible that my first February e-mail just got lost in the shuffle somewhere, or that it got directed to someone on vacation or something. Excluding that one (my first contact with them, of course), my experiences have all been pretty good.

Barry Tice http://www.pointcontrol.com

[HilandDoug]

I always call on the toll free line, and I've always gotten a call back from the appropriate party. Chris Cuddy is especially good at returning calls regarding memberships.

[edew]

I don't want to infer that the folks at USFA national office are incompetent in my previous reply. They're doing a very good and professional job. However, when each of them started, they of course had the usual beginner's problem of learning the ropes. I would doubt that Chris Cuddy or Gigi Boyd could explain to you the DE with repechage when they first started. They probably could say something about that now.

Overall, I'm very happy with the group they have (and have had) for the past eight to ten years. They are responsive and accurate.

[introspective]

i like them, i think they're a pretty good bunch. there are thousands of fencers all over the country - they can't respond to all of the people all of the time. the only thing i wish is for a NEWSLETTER to go out to members!

[sabreuse]

Introspective,

There IS a quarterly newsletter. Are you saying you want different information in it?

[Purple Fencer]

I've always had good luck getting replies from them, both email and by phone. Even before I was a division officer, I got replies from Beth Lee. Sarah's just as good, and Chris get's back to me, either directly or thorugh Sarah.

It helps, though, if you don't call screamign like a moron. Be polite and remember that it's a small office dealing with a 15,000+ membership. You're not the only one calling them for info.