Membership problem

[leftyboy]

If I had a problem concerning membership, who should I contact at the USFA? Should I just call the national office?

My problem goes thusly: I renewed my membership at the Garden State Games. Afterward, I went by the assumption that I was a member in good standing. So I fenced in another tournament and earned my C07 rating. I thought I'd check to see if it had hit the registry yet, and lo and behold I'm not listed! Upon further inspection the check had not cleared either. It's as if the GSG people had not sent the form. What happens now?

Any input would be appreciated.

[seven6ty]

Did they give you a receipt? If so, it should be simple to follow up on. Just check in with the USFA, check to see if they received/processed the paperwork. If not, follow up with the organizers. In any case, your receipt, if you have one, should be good enough to get things cleared up.

[leftyboy]

Did they give you a receipt? If so, it should be simple to follow up on. Just check in with the USFA, check to see if they received/processed the paperwork. If not, follow up with the organizers. In any case, your receipt, if you have one, should be good enough to get things cleared up.

I do not remember getting a receipt; I'm firing off an email right now.

[seven6ty]

That could be bad. It seems like they shouldn't have let you fence in the tournament you earned your C in, then, if you couldn't prove to them that you were a member of the USFA.

[leftyboy]

That could be bad. It seems like they shouldn't have let you fence in the tournament you earned your C in, then, if you couldn't prove to them that you were a member of the USFA.

Then how does signing up at the door work? There's nothing to say you are a member than that you were a member and are in the process of renewal.

For all I knew, I was a member. I know, I'm an idiot for not checking. But I was simply waiting for the card to show up.

[seven6ty]

Well, usually when you sign up for your USFA membership at the door of a tournament, they should give you a little receipt type of thing, stating that you have paid your membership fees and that it is processing. You have to take this with you to any tournament you enter into, until you receive your actual card in the mail. That's why it's important to make sure that you get a copy of this when paying your membership fees. Sometimes, the local people putting on the tournament will get a listing of people in their division, who are USFA members. That's not always going to happen though, so you should be ready to show some sort of proof of USFA membership at the door of every tournament you go to, unless they have verified it previously.

[leftyboy]

Well, usually when you sign up for your USFA membership at the door of a tournament, they should give you a little receipt type of thing, stating that you have paid your membership fees and that it is processing. You have to take this with you to any tournament you enter into, until you receive your actual card in the mail. That's why it's important to make sure that you get a copy of this when paying your membership fees. Sometimes, the local people putting on the tournament will get a listing of people in their division, who are USFA members. That's not always going to happen though, so you should be ready to show some sort of proof of USFA membership at the door of every tournament you go to, unless they have verified it previously.

So, effectively, it is out of my hands and I'm screwed.

Wonderful.

[seven6ty]

Well, you never know. Maybe the tournament organizers are good people and will find it in their hearts to actually turn everything in to the USFA.

[mrbiggs]

Well, usually when you sign up for your USFA membership at the door of a tournament, they should give you a little receipt type of thing.

I've never gotten one without asking.

Your situation isn't all that rare. Just contact the USFA to see if they have it, then the BC for the Garden State Games. Someone should be able to give you an idea of where it is.

[teacup]

Well, usually when you sign up for your USFA membership at the door of a tournament, they should give you a little receipt type of thing, stating that you have paid your membership fees and that it is processing. You have to take this with you to any tournament you enter into, until you receive your actual card in the mail. That's why it's important to make sure that you get a copy of this when paying your membership fees. Sometimes, the local people putting on the tournament will get a listing of people in their division, who are USFA members. That's not always going to happen though, so you should be ready to show some sort of proof of USFA membership at the door of every tournament you go to, unless they have verified it previously.

Actually a receipt from a tournament organizer is not acceptable proof of USFA membership since the receipt does not prove that the membership application ever made it to the USFA.

Proof of USFA membership is either an unexpired membership card, an email printout from the USFA National office or your name is listed on the website since the USFA is now updating memberships on the website every Thursday.

http://www.usfencing.org/usfa/content/view/1895/150/

Until the USFA receives the membership form, organizers will probably ask you to fill out a new membership application when you register at tournaments. If possible it is better to put the fees on a credit card since the card won't be charged if you do indeed have membership.

The same with ratings changes. A card from an organizer is not proof of a ratings change.

[chefencer]

Proving once again why it is important for tournament organizers to Check Your Card at the Door for every tournament.

[Mauler]

Something to consider...

I visited the USFA office in early August. There were mountains of paper stacks everywhere (I exaggerate a little). I recognized some of the stacks as membership renewal forms with checks stapled on them presumably still waiting to be processed (i.e. data entry) prior to any further steps (i.e. deposit checks).

This can be a very difficult time for a team of small staff, with thousands of mail being dropped off in bags. It's been several weeks since my visit, and I know another big batch of referee payments (low priority item) have gone out since. So there's definitely an evidence of work being done (and I'm finally getting paid for April NAC, woo hoo!)

In my experience, the staff has been incredibly helpful in the matters of membership. So if you were to bring it to their attention that processing your membership is a high priority item because you are already actively competing (as opposed to other divisions where they don't really start anything until much later), I'm sure they'll settle things right away for you.

Good luck.

[mfp]

Proving once again why it is important for tournament organizers to Check Your Card at the Door for every tournament.

Tournament organizers shouldn't be checking your card at every tournament. Competent organizers will have the USFA's membership list from the USFA web site to check for membership and current classifications. Really, really competent organizers will have checked all preregistered fencers membership status and classifications against the USFA's list before the fencers even make it to the door and will only need to check any walkups.

USFA cards should go the way of paper airline tickets.

Since new USFA cards don't have classifications listed on them you need to check the USFA's list anyway. And any old, but unexpired cards that do have classifications on them will be on the USFA list as well. So why bother asking people to dig through their pockets for a now fairly useless card?

If an organizer doesn't recognize an entrant they could certainly ask to see some ID, but it doesn't need to be a USFA card (which doesn't have a photo or any real distinguishing info on it anyway).

[4qtrs]

Tournament organizers shouldn't be checking your card at every tournament. Competent organizers will have the USFA's membership list from the USFA web site to check for membership and current classifications. Really, really competent organizers will have checked all preregistered fencers membership status and classifications against the USFA's list before the fencers even make it to the door and will only need to check any walkups.

USFA cards should go the way of paper airline tickets.

Since new USFA cards don't have classifications listed on them you need to check the USFA's list anyway. And any old, but unexpired cards that do have classifications on them will be on the USFA list as well. So why bother asking people to dig through their pockets for a now fairly useless card?

If an organizer doesn't recognize an entrant they could certainly ask to see some ID, but it doesn't need to be a USFA card (which doesn't have a photo or any real distinguishing info on it anyway).

I think you are imposing a level of computerized sophistacation that not all divisions have obtained yet.

[mfp]

I think you are imposing a level of computerized sophistacation that not all divisions have obtained yet.

The minimal level of "sophistication" required is the ability for someone involved to print some info off a web site beforehand. If that level of sophistication can't be found in a division then the Peace Corps should be sent in.

[mrbiggs]

I think you are imposing a level of computerized sophistacation that not all divisions have obtained yet.

The Papua New Guinea division?

EDIT: damn, beaten to the joke by an hour

[KD5MDK]

The minimal level of "sophistication" required is the ability for someone involved to print some info off a web site beforehand. If that level of sophistication can't be found in a division then the Peace Corps should be sent in.

Rep to you.

[leftyboy]

I just went and re-upped online, so I don't have to wait to get any fencing done. Hopefully that should cover the bases. I bet there's something I'm missing: if there is, I'm sure I can work it out.

[Inquartata]

Thank you, Signore Mussolini, I do so appreciate the trains running on time...

[4qtrs]

The minimal level of "sophistication" required is the ability for someone involved to print some info off a web site beforehand. If that level of sophistication can't be found in a division then the Peace Corps should be sent in.

Ah, I see, so instead of checking a card the bout table will be checking a sheet of paper. Hmm, sounds like the same job to me, verifying membership and rating.

I see it from an organizers viewpoint. For an open with/or without pre-reg I would have to print four divisions listing not just my own. In this area people often fence in other divisions' tournaments.

It would be faster for me to take someones card and check them in then fiddle with the paper.