Kelley Hurley in the news

[peet]

I've had a number of conversations with the ED and don't ever remember him saying anything like this. Are you sure of the context?

Greg

I'm quite sure. At summer nationals. If you remember the year that I stood at the BoD meeting and asked some questions about online registration, it was that year. Atlanta, wasn't it?

Michael and I had some long conversations about the idea of me helping out with technology things. Before we got started, he asked "how are things at your club?", which surprised me, 'cause I'm not so sure he actually knew/knows what club I go to.

I said "Not too bad. It's a little tough right now, because after a few years of great growth, we're having a little trouble attracting new members."

M: "That would be us."
P: "Hmmm?"
M: "In the past we did a lot to promote membership growth, but not any more. We don't really need to be doing that now."
P: "Hmmm.

(All of this paraphrased, of course, because my memory is good, but not "verbatim from years ago" good.)

I think his point was that he didn't want the USFA to outgrow its resources, that we should be focusing on improving quality (of service) rather than quantity (of members). One could make a good argument in this direction, but I still can't say I agree.

This summer, a friend of mine attended coaches' college. Michael met with the students at some point and said much the same thing, but I'll wait until I can talk to her and verify what he actually said before posting more about that.

-p

[edit]
Oh, and of course he certainly could say very different sounding things to other people such as yourself, and really mean them. Also, the reality of the situation could be different from how he portrayed it to me. I wouldn't really know.
[/edit]

[sheck]

i
In Germany enough people are interested in fencing for them to cover it evidently. I do not think that is the case here. It makes a great interest piece on the local morning news, but certainly not a regular thing. Also aren't the Germans professionals and get paid for fencing? If so maybe the money makes it more interesting. I have to imagine the money is the only thing that makes golf such a popular sport to watch in this country.

Yes there is more interest but it isn't that great. They do a very good job of promoting the sport even at the local level. Just look at their website.

http://www.fechten.org/

They are always pushing the sport to the sports media and potential sponsors.

[JEC]

This kind of thing would be really really really great. Who remembers what became of the video that the USFA had made years ago (something like 2002)? I had the impression that it's intent was exactly this. I never saw it outside a Congress session at Summer Nats though.

FYI: The USFA executive director has stated a number of times that the national organization purposefully does not promote membership growth any more, because he believes the USFA has enough members already. He's said that they used to promote membership growth (how, he didn't say), but that they'd made a conscious decision to stop.

Can't say I agree.

-p

The USFA Promo video was from 2004: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1688746sXJdKh4N
It was linked in the SI Sports vault.