Delaware State Games - no fencing in 2007?

[fencerchica]

Not unless the DE State Games director can find someone who's interested in helping manage the event. Last year's dry-foil event was the brainchild of Paul Fleming, but I am told that this year he has declined to lend any support to having fencing in the Delaware State Games.

The DSG overall director remains very supportive of including fencing in their state games, if he can only find a person with the ability to host and supply the event. In fact, he requested that anyone interested in doing so please contact him to discuss any possiblities.

Any DE / DE-area fencers out there who want to take him up on it? (DE's state games are open to all regardless of residency, but I'm from central MD, so distance issues are prohibitive for me wrt an organizational role.)

His contact info is as follows:

Marshal Manlove
The Diamond State Games
302-547-4645
desports@verizon.net

website is http://www.delawaresports.com

[KD5MDK]

I'm wondering what definition of Maryland has Baltimore as "central".

It would be nice if someone from the area could do this, every bit of fencing that becomes electricified is another step towards improvement.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I'm wondering what definition of Maryland has Baltimore as "central".

Easy. The realization that neither the Eastern Shore nor anything West of Baltimore is of any significance. If it's not in one of the Beltways (and that Southern one is really DC, not Maryland), or the strip between them it doesn't count.

-B

[oiuyt]

Of course no where on the website (that I could find) had the DATES. Would be useful for any would-be organizers (or participants).

Last year it was held the same weekend as the PdT, if I recall correctly.

-B

[Wafath]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I'm wondering what definition of Maryland has Baltimore as "central".

Maryland is organized into Counties and Baltimore City. If you look at a map of Maryland you would see that Baltimore City is one of five counties and county-equivalent entities that do not border another state. Seems pretty central to me.

Besides, what would you call central MD that does not include Baltimore?

It is too bad that Delaware does not have it's own division, otherwise this would be a non-issue.

W

[KD5MDK]

The border of Fredrick and Howard counties appears much more equidistent between the edge of Garrett and the edge of Worchester than Baltimore does.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

The border of Fredrick and Howard counties appears much more equidistent between the edge of Garrett and the edge of Worchester than Baltimore does.

But a large percentage of the state's population is concentrated in either the Baltimore or Washington suburbs, so the effective center (as opposed to the geographical center) is biased further east, along the I-95 corridor.

[Wafath]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

The border of Fredrick and Howard counties appears much more equidistent between the edge of Garrett and the edge of Worchester than Baltimore does.

I think some people would object to calling Mt Airy, MD the center of anything. But keep in mind that it's only 25 miles from Mt Airy to the Baltimore beltway, so it's not like we are talking huge distances.

W

[oldguy]

Originally Posted by fencerchica

Not unless the DE State Games director can find someone who's interested in helping manage the event. Last year's dry-foil event was the brainchild of Paul Fleming, but I am told that this year he has declined to lend any support to having fencing in the Delaware State Games.

The DSG overall director remains very supportive of including fencing in their state games, if he can only find a person with the ability to host and supply the event. In fact, he requested that anyone interested in doing so please contact him to discuss any possiblities.

Any DE / DE-area fencers out there who want to take him up on it? (DE's state games are open to all regardless of residency, but I'm from central MD, so distance issues are prohibitive for me wrt an organizational role.)

His contact info is as follows:

Marshal Manlove
The Diamond State Games
302-547-4645
desports@verizon.net

website is http://www.delawaresports.com

I have sent an email to Mr. Manlove.

[fencerchica]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Of course no where on the website (that I could find) had the DATES. Would be useful for any would-be organizers (or participants).

Last year it was held the same weekend as the PdT, if I recall correctly.

-B

That's true, it was, which was too bad. I don't know, however, if there might be some flexibility involved in terms of plans for '07, because according to their brochure, the DE games occurred over a span of several weekends in June of 2006. It could have been Paul Fleming's choice of that particular weekend for the fencing event.

http://www.delawaresports.com/Portal...ooklet%202.pdf

[fencerchica]

Originally Posted by Wafath

Maryland is organized into Counties and Baltimore City. If you look at a map of Maryland you would see that Baltimore City is one of five counties and county-equivalent entities that do not border another state. Seems pretty central to me.

Besides, what would you call central MD that does not include Baltimore?

It is too bad that Delaware does not have it's own division, otherwise this would be a non-issue.

W

LOL... I had no idea I was touching off a firestorm of controversy. But I was thinking along Wafath's lines. If you were trying to find the geographical center of gravity of a map of MD, I think it would be somewhere right around Baltimore. To make matters worse, I actually live in the south of Howard County MD, not in Baltimore city, which if anything is even more central, being a half hour west and south of B'more. (I left my profile alone because the Baltimore name is more recognizeable.)

[fencerchica]

Originally Posted by oldguy

I have sent an email to Mr. Manlove.

Eeeeexcellent! :-)

[oldguy]

Available dates for the Diamond State Games, per Marshal Manlove are June 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, or 24. Last years fencing was dry foil only. If there were enough interest on one of these dates, its possible the Philadelphia Division would consider helping out. Before asking them, what kind of event is practical? Do you have another dry event to attract the fencers who came last year? Most of them fence with Paul and so have no electric equipment, or knickers for that matter. Or do you have a Div 2 or 3 level that would attract experienced fencers and might coax some of Paul's students to invest in electric equipment?

[oiuyt]

You hold a low-level (anticipated) open. In at least three, if not six, weapons.

-B

[oldguy]

Before I ask if the Philadelphia Division is interested, I just want to make sure I understand the options.
By low level, do you mean a U or maybe E and under?
Do you think we could draw enough competitors to a Delaware location for 3 or 6 weapons? You have to remember that there are probably a half dozen competive fencers in Northern Delaware, all of whom fence at FAP or FASJ, and maybe another two or three in lower Delaware. The rest fence on Sunday afternoon at the YMCA outside of Newark, strictly dry with little or no cometive experience.
FAP did have a program at a Wilmington school for a while, but I don't know how advanced any of those kids are.
What do youcharge to cover costs of some real refs?
Am I wasting my time? Any one who would come to DE can make the 1/2 hour hike to Philly or hour drive to Baltimore to fence. Do we even need a competition in Delaware?

[oiuyt]

By low-level I mean that I would be unsurprised if the number of entries was lower than 15 in each weapon and that, if the 15-person threshold were met, the tournaments would still likely fall short of C1 status.

If, as part of the State Games thing there's some sort of interesting medal involved (interesting basically being defined as something that I don't already have -- and I have NO Diamond State Games medals, if it's a custom job, rather than awards catalog stock), and I didn't already have sometime else planned (ie if it's not opposite the PdT and I'm not honeymooning at the time) then I'd be tempted to come down, regardless of anticipated strength.

USFA sanctioning (ie involvement of the PhilDiv) is basically irrelevant to my decision-making process, unless the tournament is expected to be of a reasonably high standard (B1 or better). Being able to compete in multiple weapons would be a strong positive factor especially for weaker events. Having it be on one day would be a strong positive factor (ie I won't come down for two days).

My datapoint of preferences may or may not match any other potentially-interested fencer(s).

-B

[Fechter1]

Originally Posted by oldguy

Before I ask if the Philadelphia Division is interested, I just want to make sure I understand the options.
By low level, do you mean a U or maybe E and under?
Do you think we could draw enough competitors to a Delaware location for 3 or 6 weapons? You have to remember that there are probably a half dozen competive fencers in Northern Delaware, all of whom fence at FAP or FASJ, and maybe another two or three in lower Delaware. The rest fence on Sunday afternoon at the YMCA outside of Newark, strictly dry with little or no cometive experience.
FAP did have a program at a Wilmington school for a while, but I don't know how advanced any of those kids are.
What do youcharge to cover costs of some real refs?
Am I wasting my time? Any one who would come to DE can make the 1/2 hour hike to Philly or hour drive to Baltimore to fence. Do we even need a competition in Delaware?

Here's what you do: Make sure you advertise it well in advance, possibly with a preregistration list so you'll have a better idea how many to expect. A preregistration list also heps 'lure' other fencers to the competition, if they know they won't be the only people coming. To that effect, a good smattering of quality fencers should increase the drawing power. Might want to consider some sort of incentive like BCAF (A's fence free), or maybe the Cherry Blossom (first 4 As fence free). Try to pick a date with as little as possible conflicts (for example, June would be a rather bad month, as a lot of fencers would be ramping up for nationals). Get interesting medals/awards.

Basically, what Brad said. If the awards are unique, if it's not interfering with te rest of my fencing schedule, and if I'm not otherwise detained, I should be there.

[oldguy]

Stop me if I'm wrong, but here is what I understand:
- Since we are stuck with June, pick a date with the least conflicts with Philly and Baltimore events.
- Don't assume that an event in Delaware is necessarily a disinsentive.
- Shoot for three weapons (combining M & W depending on who shows)
- Get it on Fred, the sooner the more better
- Suck up to someone in the Philadelphia Division for scoring equipment
- Suck up to someone in the Philadelphia Division for refs
- Be unconcerned with any extraordinary efforts to involve any of the dry fencers in Paul's program
- Assume enough interest in fencing for the hell of it rather than be concerned about the level of competition

How about the youth? Do we just try to have a successful event this year and worry about involving the youth next year? Any chance of drafting ref assistance from MD?

I figure I will put Marshall in direct contact with FAP and help out however I can, but the trigger needs to be pulled now, so any further advice is appreciated.

[fencerchica]

I'm not a rated ref yet (haven't been able to make it to a ref clinic) but would be willing to help if the foil has to be made a full or partially self-direct event, assuming no schedule conflicts end up preventing me from coming. Would hopefully also be able to scare up at least another foilist or two from Baltimore who'd also be able to help with self-reffing.

You probably already know this, but two schedule conflicts which exist in June besides the PdT (which at least is a non-mid-Atlantic event) are NJ's Mr Ma Cup on the 2nd and 3rd of June, and Baltimore's Oil Change Open on the 16th and 17th. As a MD fencer who keeps up somewhat with the PA and NJ schedules, the weekend of the 9th and 10th looks more open. I wonder if this is true for many other people as well.

Finally, I wonder if running a gender-separate (ie 6-weapon) competition would result in more difficulty coming up with a reasonable number of people in each event. Maybe just a 3-weapon (assuming enough space, time, human resources to support 3 weapons) event would be more practical.

[DESports]

A couple of notes from the Diamond State Games.

1- The medals are customed designed. Whether they are the prettiest or not is surely subjective.

2- Yes, our date is flexible. It was not chosen by me last year and I had no idea it conflicted with another tournament.

3- The farther along the days go, however, the tougher it does become to secure a location.

4- Its not completely necessary to live very close to Delaware to run the event. I do most everything via the internet now until operating days...when of course it would be necessary for a coordinator to be present.

Thanks and regards,

Marshal Manlove
The Diamond State Games
302-547-4645