Usfa Calls Off Election

[seak]

Bags and stuff. Ms. Hurley was handing them out at the Chicago NAC

[jjefferies]

From JEC

What I want to know is how many of those 452 member only signed the petition because they got something for signing it?

Just wondering....

A handshake and a bit of hope was all that we got on the west coast.

[jjefferies]

And is it in anyone's experience that getting lawyers involved makes muddy situations clearer?

Of course it does. Afterwards you count the bodies, the knives and empty wallets.
Lawyers always win.

[jjefferies]

If we do that, then, his opinion (a NC member) is the only one that matters (i.e.: NC slate is sworn).

Hmm, No disrespect intended but this didn't parse for me.

If it was a joke my apologies for ruining it by asking.

[tchwojko]

Of course it does. Afterwards you count the bodies, the knives and empty wallets.
Lawyers always win.

Yes, the lawyers win, but the situation is then muddy AND bloody, certainly not clearer.

I have this image of two groups of fencers with their lawyers on either side of a table with the bylaws, arbitration agreements and other paperwork in the middle. The lawyers all grab the papers, fight tooth and nail, shred them to bits, while trampling the fencers in their zeal.

When the lawyers are done, a judge walks in and doles out the confetti among the trampled fencers, most of whom just came in to see what happened.

[sheck]

Hmm, No disrespect intended but this didn't parse for me.

If it was a joke my apologies for ruining it by asking.

sworn "in"

[TrainingDummy]

From JEC

What I want to know is how many of those 452 member only signed the petition because they got something for signing it?

Just wondering....

I don't know about anyone else but Coach Skopik showed the form to me, explained it, and I signed it. I fenced at Katy Blades and I've personally witnessed the issues with Gulf Coast that he's had a problem with. I don't know enough about either slate to have made up my mind on which is better, but I knew he had a legitimate grievance and I support the alternate slate's right to run. I hate the two party system we have for presidential elections; why would anyone want only one option for the USFA election?

[schlager7]

I don't know about anyone else but Coach Skopik showed the form to me, explained it, and I signed it. I fenced at Katy Blades and I've personally witnessed the issues with Gulf Coast that he's had a problem with.

Uhmmm, to date, since the season began on 1 August 2007, the Gulf Coast Division has had 12 weekends that no club used/requested to hold tournaments on. Additionally, there have been 3 or 4 scheduled tournaments that cancelled.

If a club wants to hold more tournaments, the tournament calendar is an excellent tool to employ. There are lots of open spaces no one went for.

For reference:
Gulf Coast Division Tournament Thread

[TrainingDummy]

Uhmmm, to date, since the season began on 1 August 2007, the Gulf Coast Division has had 12 weekends that no club used/requested to hold tournaments on. Additionally, there have been 3 or 4 scheduled tournaments that cancelled.

If a club wants to hold more tournaments, the tournament calendar is an excellent tool to employ. There are lots of open spaces no one went for.

For reference:
Gulf Coast Division Tournament Thread

I moved out of Texas in the beginning of September.

[KD5MDK]

Were you there for the meeting where the USFA sent in lawyers and observers to rewrite the bylaws because Gulf Coast was allowing tournaments on top of each other?

[Snowbabe]

Getting back on topic, the Nom comm did their job. The Nom slate did theirs. Neither had anything to do with this developement. There are bylaws in organizations for a reason. They are not a guidelines. If the alternate slate read only part of them, then should they be in office? Giving them the benefit of the doubt, when they presented the petitions, did they ask for the arbitration agreement to sign? There are several places where the ball could have been dropped. If I was so against the slate presented that I was going to challenge it, I would make sure that I did everything to the letter.
For those of you into the conspiracy theory, maybe we are selling the alternate slate short and they knew all about this and wanted to add more fuel to the fire. Just a thought.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

All of the above said, I hope that T and the "Change" candidates will not resort to the courts if rebuffed on their grievance.

Would it not be easier, cheaper, and probably with higher change of success for them to first go the recall route?


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[darius]

Where's Tracey now? She was all over this thread for a while, but since the challenge, has disappeared.

There's still one fundamental question that hasn't been answered, and that is: "Did the USFFC candidates request the specific document previous to April 1?"

I understand that the petition validation didn't happen until later; if that's the case, I'd like to think the challengers' due diligence would be :
- Sending in one's petitions.
- Sending an email to Election Committee and General Counsel saying, "Hey, looks like we're right up against a bunch of deadlines. Where's the form?"

darius

[keith]

Where's Tracey now? She was all over this thread for a while, but since the challenge, has disappeared.

Since this is the subject of an appeal/grievance we shouldn't expect to hear anything until that has run its course. Appropriate conduct and all that

I understand that the petition validation didn't happen until later; if that's the case, I'd like to think the challengers' due diligence would be :
- Sending in one's petitions.
- Sending an email to Election Committee and General Counsel saying, "Hey, looks like we're right up against a bunch of deadlines. Where's the form?"

I doubt we are ever going to get an agreed upon timeline.

[epeeforlife]

News Flash!

From http://usfencersforchange.com/news/

4/23/2008 USFA Election Committee will hold a re-consideration hearing. This will take place in Portland at 4pm PDT on Friday, April 25, 2008 and will include all parties either in person or via telephone conference.


The only question I have now is - where can I buy tickets!

[KD5MDK]

I recommend www.kayak.com if you're not loyal to a particular carrier. If you are, go to www.aa.com or whichever airline you prefer.

[rdg]

News Flash!

From http://usfencersforchange.com/news/

4/23/2008 USFA Election Committee will hold a re-consideration hearing. This will take place in Portland at 4pm PDT on Friday, April 25, 2008 and will include all parties either in person or via telephone conference.

This is excellent news.

Sam

[Philistine]

News Flash!

From http://usfencersforchange.com/news/

4/23/2008 USFA Election Committee will hold a re-consideration hearing. This will take place in Portland at 4pm PDT on Friday, April 25, 2008 and will include all parties either in person or via telephone conference.


The only question I have now is - where can I buy tickets!

Unless the hearing consitutes "deliberations in arbitration" it's open to all members. (At least that's my reading of the bylaws).

--Philistine

[rdg]

I don't know about anyone else but Coach Skopik showed the form to me, explained it, and I signed it. I fenced at Katy Blades and I've personally witnessed the issues with Gulf Coast that he's had a problem with. I don't know enough about either slate to have made up my mind on which is better, but I knew he had a legitimate grievance and I support the alternate slate's right to run.

Ditto for me, except I only visit Katy Blades when I am in TX.

For those who don't know it is a very innovative, fast growing, young and competition driven club. I wish them and the rest of the Gulf Coast clubs the best in promoting more competitions. One of Coach Skopik's (Augie's) goal is to create something like the BayCup in the Gulf Coast - Too bad EDEW, who I understand help originate BayCup, isn't on the slate. He is an excellent organizer.

Finally I think getting innovative people on the slate is good for all of us. Even if they lose, it improves the conversation.

Sam

[fencerbill]

I moved out of Texas in the beginning of September.

You should change your handle. Dummy is no longer appropriate.