Do we ever get to choose new officers for the RMS? How do we select new officers -- election or committee selection? When does all of this happen? How many officers are there? What do they do?
Do we ever get to choose new officers for the RMS? How do we select new officers -- election or committee selection? When does all of this happen? How many officers are there? What do they do?
This year's annual meeting features elections of new officers. Two-year terms ending in even-numbered years (I was first elected in 2006, so it's not like it's been that long). Per both the national and section bylaws, the officers are selected by the Section Executive Committee.
Officers:
Section Chaircritter -- currently myself
Section Secretary -- currently Matt Hite of Plains Texas
Section Treasurer -- currently Gary Copeland of Colorado
Oh, and our annual selection of the Section's representative to the Board of Directors -- currently Gerrie Baumgart.
As far as what the officers do, well, in a perfect world, the Chair coordinates meetings of the Section Executive Committee and tries to line out sectionals in cooperation with the other officers, the Secretary takes minutes, maintains the Section list, makes the annual mailing, prepares the annual Section election report, etc., etc., and the Treasurer keeps track of the money, writes checks, and prepares the annual Section financial statement. In practice ... well, I'd just prefer not to go there.
Who's running? I have no idea. For some reason that I'm not sure even *I* can fathom, I am willing to continue on for another term as section chair. I'd like to think that despite what I'd like to think are relatively minor issues, I've done a good job at ensuring that the Section hasn't continued to bleed money on the sectional tournament (we actually approximately broke even last year), which is a minor miracle in and of itself. I don't know for sure about the other officers -- I know that in one of my conversations with Gary, he indicated that he believed it might be appropriate for someone else to take on the treasurer position. I have spoken with Gerrie, and I know that she is willing to continue on as our Board representative.
A recent Executive Committee report mentioned that he was the subject of a disciplinary hearing, but there was no mention of the offense or outcome.
Does he still hold the position, and does he hope to continue in the position.
When a Sectional Officer is the subject of a special disciplinary committee, it only seems logical to provide the members of the section with the general details of things. A concern for personal privacy is natural, but events surrounding alleged offenses of an elected officer are important.... especially since he is exactly the person who should be in charge of distributing the relevent information to the members of the section.
Considering the recent poor communication regardin sectionals, I assume he is no longer performing his duties.
Well, I guess this is as good a time as any… I’m considering running for secretary of the RMS section. I’ve worked with Aaron on many division and national issues. I’ve been talking with Aaron and others about ways to make the RMS more relevant to fencers than just holding the sectional tournament once a year. I’m a fencing dad with about 5 years in the sport. My daughter is an up and coming elite fencer with international experience. This has exposed me to many issues (that I was more than willing to share with NC chairman Aaron) within the USFA and has led me to develop relationships with many in the fencing world. If you have any questions, please reply or PM me.
Thanks,
Bary Nusz
I'm not sure what exactly you're seeking to know. Matt Hite is the current officeholder, as indicated previously.
Well, like I said there was mention of him being the subject of a USFA disciplinary hearing. The date of that event coincided with his last activity on this board (per his hpfencing profile data). Discipline from the USFA (assuming he was disciplined) generally involves things like suspension of membership or removal from office, or suspension from competition.
Have you communicated with him recently? I tried, but received no reply.
By all accounts, he is currently an officer of the RMS who is no longer performing his duties. The question is whether he was suspended, or is simply choosing not to perform his responsibilities.
Just to clarify, the EC approved the creation of a disciplinary panel. That panel has not yet reported to the Board and no sanctions have yet been imposed.
A couple of notes about the process:
A panel is convened and does it's job, investigating any complaint(s) and submits a report to the BoD including a recommended penalty, if warranted.
The BoD then determines a penalty up to but not exceeding that recommended by the panel (if any).
Until the BoD votes upon a penalty one is not imposed by this mechanism.
I have no further information about this particular panel or what the complaint(s) might be. Presumably the panel will report to the Board in July.
-B
"Oh but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!"
What officers and representatives from what divisions are showing up?
The only quibble I have with the question is that, ostensibly, at least, the ExComm has been the same the entire year, so 'comprises' would be a better term. Ostensibly, I say, because identifying the members of the ExComm is dependent upon the divisions to do their required reporting, and such reporting has a history of being spotty.
For instance, as of Oct 07, when I first requested that the National Office provide the names, etc. of the various division officers & Congress representatives, the current chairs and Congress reps were the following:
Andrew Carey, NM (Div Chair)
Jay Young, NM (Div Chair)
Mary Annavedder, AZ (Congress)
Adrian Douglas, AZ (Congress)
Sandra Goodall, AZ (Congress)
Kameron Hanson, AZ (Congress)
Ayden Young, AZ (Congress)
Gerrie Baumgart, CO (Congress)
Andrea Lagan, CO (Congress)
Robert Block, CO (Congress)
Gary Copeland, CO (Congress)
Carol Pfarr, CO (Congress)
Kristian Anderson, SD/NE (Congress)
Bary Nusz, PlTX (Congress)
Chuck Slaughter, PlTX (Congress)
My most recent request (Feb 08) adds the following individuals:
Pia Douglas, AZ (Div Chair)
Paula Smith, CO (Div Chair)
Brian McDow, KS (Div Chair)
Kristian Anderson, NE/SD (Div Chair)
Sharol Pestotnick, CO (Congress)
Given that the managing subcommittee of the Section ExComm comprises the section officers and division chairs, one can see how the late submission of election reports by the various divisions could have a bit of impact.
To date, only one division has appointed its additional representative to the Section ExComm: Plains, Texas (Julie Clements). It should also be noted that those individuals who wear more than one hat only get one vote.
Originally Posted by epeeforlife 
