For everyone planning to attend a tourney in North Carolina

[oiuyt]

One thing I did notice though at one of these tournaments I was at was that there were kids (couldn't have been older than 9) fencing in the open sabre competition.

Mmmm, but if the USFA is stepping in to desanction all (open) events with athletes under 13 (and not on the junior points list) this wouldn't just be a NC thing, we'd all know about it from a large number of divisions around the country. While much of the country already followed the policies, and most of the rest started to after the January announcement, this was not universal.

Almost HAS to be another issue.

-B

[RebelFencer]

If you don't involve yourself in politics, you don't have any right to ***** when things don't go your way.

I truly think that you could do good things for the USFA if you wanted to. Based on the Ziechmanns, you can obviously coach. You are also able to pull in a large number of people with what I can only assume is highly effective advertising.

It seems as if you are simply trying to take the moral high ground by claiming that you are above participating in the politics of your division.

I also believe that he has a list of requirements he has to fill before being legally able to hold USFA office again after the Hudson-Berkshire/PFL fiasco.

[Padawan]

Yes, a need.

I don't like where all this is headed, "policing" sucks. A few bad apples have caused the whole bunch to be rotten.

How can 17 tournaments be invalidated? Why is everyone so tight lipped about this? Weren't the offending clubs notified?

Padawan, weren't you notifed about your tournament irregularities like the rest of the Division?

The only thing that we were told was that some tournament had non-USFA members in attendence. So to be proactive, we did an audit of all our members with the USFA, corrected anyone who was "outstanding" with Christine Simmons (I think that was who we worked with). Causing some of our fencers to cancel checks or reverse credit card charges if they signed up at other out of division tournaments but had not been processed by the USFA (for whatever reason from the host club). Our division championships were the next week so we needed to show proof when we arrived. That was the only thing that we were told. At our division meeting they (division officers) stated that it was not one set of tournaments from one club but many that were in review. I don't have any other information then that.

[oiuyt]

I also believe that he has a list of requirements he has to fill before being legally able to hold USFA office again after the Hudson-Berkshire/PFL fiasco.

Doesn't affect other KOS coaches. KOS policy against doing so is what does so there.

-B

[Padawan]

I also believe that he has a list of requirements he has to fill before being legally able to hold USFA office again after the Hudson-Berkshire/PFL fiasco.

Rebelfencer is correct. In order for me to hold any USFA office I would have to disclose all financial interests that I have in fencing. As a former CPA, I agree with the decision of the USFA. It would be prudent for any person serving as any non-for-profit officer in an organization to disclose any conflicts of interest they may have with for profit interests. Ahhh, if only our own politicians could abide by this, Dick Cheney anyone???

[oiuyt]

The only thing that we were told was that some tournament had non-USFA members in attendence.

Can't remember whether or not I was asked to show a card at the KOS event that I attended, but I rarely am, including at several events this year that had a policy of asking everyone. Including at least two where, after having successfully checked in without being carded, I was assured by the person running check-in that they were carding everyone. Just lucky like that I guess. :)

Led to a couple of humorous (to me) conversations where I repeatedly asserted that they were wrong about having checked everyone's card and they were adamant that they had.

Benefits of either a) being well-enough known, or b) having that sweet innocent look. :) (where's that smilie with the halo?)

-B

[bigdawg2121]

Hahaha, I'm sure that you'll get wish in the near future anyway. Either at the Nellya tourney, or at Nats. Knowing how things go I'll fence Bobby in Div 1s in pools or some such and hey, Mike certainly fence us next year (unless AirForce got a ridiculous recruiting class b/c they're not that strong right now and they're graduating people).

[Padawan]

So, with the decree from the USFA back with the H-B /PFL the question remains. Is there anyone out there in a postion of power (real or imagined) as a USFA officer who does not have a personal/financial interest in a fencing club, fencing program ect.....

[Padawan]

Hahaha, I'm sure that you'll get wish in the near future anyway. Either at the Nellya tourney, or at Nats. Knowing how things go I'll fence Bobby in Div 1s in pools or some such and hey, Mike certainly fence us next year (unless AirForce got a ridiculous recruiting class b/c they're not that strong right now and they're graduating people).

Yeah, Sam B. is graduating this year. It's a shame, it would have been neat having a KOS NY fencer and a KOS NC fencer on the same team.

[bigdawg2121]

Well Brad I believe that technically anyone that knows you've competed in an NAC this year could be justified as having said they checked your card. By definition you must be a member to compete at national events. Therefore you have a card, and it has been checked. QED.

[oiuyt]

Ahhh, if only our own politicians could abide by this, Dick Cheney anyone???

Cheney's 2005 1040. (his tax refund check was for $1,798,930, incidently)

More of Cheney's public financial disclosure forms.

And the Halliburton holdings are in a blind trust. (And I've got a bridge for sale near Brooklyn.)

-B

[bigdawg2121]

Yeah, Sam B. is graduating this year. It's a shame, it would have been neat having a KOS NY fencer and a KOS NC fencer on the same team.

Basically. That would have been pretty intersting actually. AirForce will be a good place to be though. I have a lot of respect for what Adam's done as a teacher/coach.

It also just ocurred to me that unsanctioning tournaments will probably make them less competitive even if they're still contested. That can't be a desirable effect.

Brad I'll give $2000 for your bridge and not a penny more.... (dupe...Bwahahahahah....oh wait )

[oiuyt]

Well Brad I believe that technically anyone that knows you've competed in an NAC this year could be justified as having said they checked your card. By definition you must be a member to compete at national events. Therefore you have a card, and it has been checked. QED.

Ah, but in the aforementioned humorous (to me) conversations the other participant was insisting that they had seen the card of everyone that had checked in, not that they knew the membership status of everyone.

While the USFA has pre-checked membership status for all NAC participants, I haven't been asked to show proof of identity at any NAC check-in this season either (edit: I believe the last time I was asked was last July, when, rather than dig out my confirmation materials, I asked whether Christine Simmons (sitting behind the person at the check-in table) vouching for me was sufficient -- it was). :)

Is there anyone out there in a postion of power (real or imagined) as a USFA officer who does not have a personal/financial interest in a fencing club, fencing program ect.....

I'm in a position of power (real or imagined, I'll leave up to the individual reader) and I don't have a financial (and minimally personal (I'm a member of and train at)) stake in any USFA club/program/etc. Granted I do have a financial stake (in that I make my livelihood) from a non-USFA fencing program. I suppose you could consider my income from USFA refereeing (:eyeroll:) as a financial stake.

There are at least several other national-level and likely loads of local-level people in various authority positions with smaller stakes than mine (down to and including people that now have NO significant stake in any fencing organization other than the USFA as a whole, or a particular division, as a division).

-B

[oiuyt]

Brad I'll give $2000 for your bridge and not a penny more.... (dupe...Bwahahahahah....oh wait :()

Sold! Make the check out to the USFA and send it to Colorado Springs.

For everyone else I still have ONE bridge left! Hurry before it's gone!

After that I'll be down to just Florida swampland... I mean "resort destinations".

-B

[fencerbill]

While the USFA has pre-checked membership status for all NAC participants, I haven't been asked to show proof of identity at any NAC check-in this season either (edit: I believe the last time I was asked was last July, when, rather than dig out my confirmation materials, I asked whether Christine Simmons (sitting behind the person at the check-in table) vouching for me was sufficient -- it was).

I had fun at the March 2005 NAC in Denver. When they asked me for proof of membership, I pointed to my picture on the cover of the American Fencing laying on the table.

[oiuyt]

I had fun at the March 2005 NAC in Denver. When they asked me for proof of membership, I pointed to my picture on the cover of the American Fencing laying on the table.

Interesting "proof". Was the picture even from the current season?

That said, nice.

-B

[fencerbill]

Interesting "proof". Was the picture even from the current season?

That said, nice.

-B

Actually, it was from the Vets World Championships which, while in September 2005, was part of the previous season. Doesn't really matter since I am a Life member.

[rcmatthews]

I am a division officer with no real power, and i don't have any financial stake in anyof the two clubs of which i am a member. I am in it because i enjoy fencing and helping others learn to fence, not to make money. I am also a college student, so its not like i am trying to earn my living with fencing.

[jessicasimpson]

I was soooo looking forward to another Russian Strong Arm thread, you people disappoint me

[RebelFencer]

Aww, poor Jessie-poo.