USFA Enfranchisement

[jjefferies]

I'm sure by now you are aware of the thread on the USFA election. My post here is that if YOU as a USFA member don't sign the petition for an alternate slate of candidates and just as importantly if you don't hit your club mates up to sign then there won't be an election. If the number of signed petitioners isn't great enough to meet the requirements in the bylaws then the slate nominated by the USFA's committee will automatically ascend into the Organization's elected offices.

I am not urging you to vote for one person or the other. But I am urging you to sign the petition to put the alternate candidates on the ballot by downloading a copy of the petition from the "US FENCERS FOR CHANGE" or contact Tracey Hurley and get a copy. AND get it back to Ms. Hurley.
http://www.usfencersforchange.com/

If there is an actual election then we at least ask the candidates - not their supporters - why they should hold the office. The history of the US is one of a long series of battles over enfranchisement. Even if you do not care to vote yourself I sincerely hope that you feel that others can care enough about the USFA to be interested in it and vote. Even if the slate nominated by the USFA should all be elected, I believe that their knowing that they were actually elected can only have a positive effect. Whether or not it makes any difference in policy or how things are run, psychologically I feel it makes sense to have the USFA officers beholden to the USFA membership which elected it more than to a nominating committee.

[jfarmer]

Grumble. It would be nice if I could see something other than the one page of the site...

[keith]

Grumble. It would be nice if I could see something other than the one page of the site...

The arguement is that an election might be the only way to get some actual details (assuming anyone knows them).

[epeemike81]

I'm sure by now you are aware of the thread on the USFA election. My post here is that if YOU as a USFA member don't sign the petition for an alternate slate of candidates and just as importantly if you don't hit your club mates up to sign then there won't be an election. If the number of signed petitioners isn't great enough to meet the requirements in the bylaws then the slate nominated by the USFA's committee will automatically ascend into the Organization's elected offices.

I am not urging you to vote for one person or the other. But I am urging you to sign the petition to put the alternate candidates on the ballot by downloading a copy of the petition from the "US FENCERS FOR CHANGE" or contact Tracey Hurley and get a copy. AND get it back to Ms. Hurley.
http://www.usfencersforchange.com/

If there is an actual election then we at least ask the candidates - not their supporters - why they should hold the office. The history of the US is one of a long series of battles over enfranchisement. Even if you do not care to vote yourself I sincerely hope that you feel that others can care enough about the USFA to be interested in it and vote. Even if the slate nominated by the USFA should all be elected, I believe that their knowing that they were actually elected can only have a positive effect. Whether or not it makes any difference in policy or how things are run, psychologically I feel it makes sense to have the USFA officers beholden to the USFA membership which elected it more than to a nominating committee.

So, your argument is that even though I don't and never would support the Hurley slate, I should sign their petition so that we can waste $30,000 on an election and I'll get the right to vote against them...

yeah, no thanks. I'm gonna go ahead and exercise my right to voice my opinion right now by NOT signing the petition.

-m

[jfarmer]

The arguement is that an election might be the only way to get some actual details (assuming anyone knows them).

I'm not disagreeing with that point. However, I went to the given address to find only a single page with no connections to where the petition is, or for that matter, anything else. It's only when I looked at the source for the page than I found any links to other pages of the site.

If I can't find the petition, I can't sign the petition...

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I'm not disagreeing with that point. However, I went to the given address to find only a single page with no connections to where the petition is, or for that matter, anything else. It's only when I looked at the source for the page than I found any links to other pages of the site.

If I can't find the petition, I can't sign the petition...

Yup. Worst. Website. Ever.

[keith]

I'm not disagreeing with that point. However, I went to the given address to find only a single page with no connections to where the petition is, or for that matter, anything else. It's only when I looked at the source for the page than I found any links to other pages of the site.

If I can't find the petition, I can't sign the petition...

They have indeed done the impossible and made a bad website worse.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

So, your argument is that even though I don't and never would support the Hurley slate, I should sign their petition so that we can waste $30,000 on an election and I'll get the right to vote against them...

yeah, no thanks. I'm gonna go ahead and exercise my right to voice my opinion right now by NOT signing the petition.

-m

Agreed. If I support the NC slate, why would I then try to give another crew a chance to run against them and possibly then win the actual election? This way it's like I get to vote against the USFFC now and possibly in the future.

Not to mention how expensive holding an election is actually going to be.

[epeemike81]

They have indeed done the impossible and made a bad website worse.

yep. Kinda makes you think twice about putting them in charge of a large, complex organization, huh?

-m

[keith]

yep. Kinda makes you think twice about putting them in charge of a large, complex organization, huh?

-m

First coherent plan for the USFA gets my vote. So in the event of a contest I get to save the postage .

[hello?]

Agree with Mike. I am voting for the well-researched, well-selected NC slate by not signing that petition. Let's not waste the money in an election.

[ivlobane]

Agree with Mike. I am voting for the well-researched, well-selected NC slate by not signing that petition. Let's not waste the money in an election.

Well-researched? Well-selected? What are you, Fox News now? They are very good at presenting opinion as fact too...

[KD5MDK]

Give me an reason to think that hello? is wrong. From my experience, they are correct.

[keith]

Give me an reason to think that hello? is wrong. From my experience, they are correct.

well since I beat my deadline I went back and had a look at the BOD minutes for the last few years. Only comment (beyond 'passed as submitted') on finances was a notification of a change in USOC funding.

Lots and lots and lots on rules and regs.

I don't doubt that the nominating committee slate are more than capable of running the USFA as it has been in the past*, but it would be nice to hear why I am wrong.


*and up until the surprise budget announcement that would have been fine.

[KD5MDK]

There's a lot of discussion that isn't making it into the minutes, I'm afraid. I sought out a specific example I remembered seeing and here's the written status.

Incidentally, I'm disappointed that the USFA doesn't have the July 2007 BoD minutes up. I had to go find Brad's threads:
July 2007 Board of Directors Meeting
September 2007 BoD Meeting

At the July meeting, which I attended as a visitor, Greg Dilworth asked the Executive Director why we had such giant variances between the budget approved by the Board and what was being reported as actual expenditures. The ED replied that unexpected events were causing this volitility. Greg inquired who approves the variances, and what the process is. The ED admitted it is entirely done by him personally and there is no oversight process at all.

You'll see no mention of this conversation in the minutes, only a few minor adjustments to the Budget Report (which isn't published).

I don't think that the nominated officers intend to accept the status quo or continue business as usual. It's just that their reform efforts have been suppressed by an inactive Executive Committee this past quad and haven't shown up in the minutes.

[edew]

I do have to agree that the usffc website is about as bad as it gets. I think I made a very rough "hello world" website once that would be worlds better than that.

Get a Mac. Use iWeb. Upload. Rinse, repeat.

[jjefferies]

I will be happy to send the petition to anyone who cares to private message me with an e-mail address I can send it to.

Jonathan

[jjefferies]

So, your argument is that even though I don't and never would support the Hurley slate, I should sign their petition so that we can waste $30,000 on an election and I'll get the right to vote against them...

yeah, no thanks. I'm gonna go ahead and exercise my right to voice my opinion right now by NOT signing the petition.
-m

No the argument is that if there is an election the people you want in charge would have to stand up and say why they should be in charge. And hopefully give the USFA membership some hope that the stupid things that have been such an irritant for so long will be fixed. For instance on line registration for NAC and SNQ. And $30,000. is nothing compared to the $1,000,000. that apparently we've gone in the hole during the leadership of the last nominating committee selected officers.

But that's not a real part of your complaint is it? I don't see any argument for a position to move forward in any of your posts. All I hear from you is that you aren't willing to do anything for anyone. Not even vote.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

As onerous as an actual election might be, without one, what incentive does the NomCom slate of candidates have to enunicate any ideas or platform?

They could be hoping the petition people just wither and go away. They could be loathe to provide ammunition for prospective opponents. They could be wary of stimulating enough voter interest to plump up the petition signature count.

It'd still be nice to hear a lot more of the NomCom plans for the next quadrennial, especially given the latest disturbing USFA news.

[epeemike81]

No the argument is that if there is an election the people you want in charge would have to stand up and say why they should be in charge. And hopefully give the USFA membership some hope that the stupid things that have been such an irritant for so long will be fixed. For instance on line registration for NAC and SNQ. And $30,000. is nothing compared to the $1,000,000. that apparently we've gone in the hole during the leadership of the last nominating committee selected officers.

30,000 here, 30,000 there, soon it starts to add up to real money...

As to the current officers, I share many of the feelings expressed about some of them. That has no bearing on my feelings toward the newly nominated slate. It is important to examine the candidates carefully: both their qualifications and their MOTIVATIONS. Why do these people want the offices they seek?

I am the beneficiary of a good amount of knowledge about the nominated slate, as I know many of them quite well. They are among the most dedicated, hard-working, knowledgable, and competent members of the USFA.

But that's not a real part of your complaint is it? I don't see any argument for a position to move forward in any of your posts.

then you need to read more. if you don't see me as an advocate and agent of change, then you don't know me, who I am, or what I'm about.

All I hear from you is that you aren't willing to do anything for anyone. Not even vote.

not true at all. As previously stated in this very thread, I am very willing to vote, and I essentially am by refusing to sign this petition. should Ms. Hurley's petition succeed, I will gladly and wholeheartedly vote AGAIN for the Nominated slate.

As for my willingness to "do anything for anyone," I've donated (and that's essentially what it is) my time to refereeing at the national level on a regular basis for the last 4 years and will continue to do so as much as I'm able. I also coach a high school team, help organize and run tournaments on the local, sectional, and regional level.

But, no, I'm not willing to sign this petition because I STRONGLY disagree with its intent. Please don't try to equate my opposition and disagreement with apathy. You look ill-informed or stupid.

I've been called many things, but I do believe you're the first person to ever call me apathetic.

-m