Brad and Kalle's Coffee Talk at NJFA

[Craig]

I've started getting the vidoes online at fencing.net. You can see the first of 9 here:

Brad and Kalle, US Fencing nominees - part 1 of 9

The rest are being uploaded today. I'll see about transcripts. (Don't know if my service will do video.)

For those that are subscribed to the podcast, they will be available tonight.

Craig

[oso97]

I've started getting the vidoes online at fencing.net. You can see the first of 9 here:

Brad and Kalle, US Fencing nominees - part 1 of 9

The rest are being uploaded today. I'll see about transcripts. (Don't know if my service will do video.)

For those that are subscribed to the podcast, they will be available tonight.

Craig

Excellent. Let us know when they all are up!

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Thanks Craig

[oso97]

What is the status on the rest of these? I thought they were going up last night?

[Craig]

Tell that to the kid who wouldn't go to sleep last night.

[KD5MDK]

You didn't try to sooth him to sleep with talk of Fencing's future? Maybe these videos are less boring than people expected.

(I enjoyed the one I had a chance to see so far)

[FoilParent]

Thanks for posting, looking forward to the other installments.

FoilParent

[Mr Epee]

I'm not sure exacty what this is, but I can assure you that it's boring, circular, and is significantly less than inspirational...

Allow me to summerize the substance of parts 1 & 2.

We need a plan.
The USFA needs a plan.
We need a plan.
The USFA needs a plan.

We are asking everyone else to tell us what that plan is by emailing us.

We will accept plans from world champions and scrubs.

We need a plan.

We also need to figure out why we are having tournaments.

[Mr Epee]

I'm sure that I need to hear the whole shebang before making any final decisions, but after re-listening to the second clip this morning there were a couple things that stood out as particularly egregious.

1. The creation of a database that tracks USFA member areas of expertise for the purpose of better drawing upon USFA members for volunteer projects... This seems like an impossible project with very limited upside.

2. Re: USFA committees... Kalle mentions that there are several current committees that haven't been heard from for several quads. She thinks that it's important to recognize those people's willingness to volunteer and serve on a committee, so they should be moved to another committee where they can continue to contribute... I'm not sure how that dog hunts.

[Jason]

I'm not sure exacty what this is, but I can assure you that it's boring, circular, and is significantly less than inspirational...

Agreed. This is not a positive message at a time when when the USFA needs strong leadership. Hopefully the rest of the videos are redemptive.

[fencerX]

I'm not sure exacty what this is, but I can assure you that it's boring, circular, and is significantly less than inspirational...

Allow me to summerize the substance of parts 1 & 2.

We need a plan.
The USFA needs a plan.
We need a plan.
The USFA needs a plan.

We are asking everyone else to tell us what that plan is by emailing us.

We will accept plans from world champions and scrubs.

We need a plan.

We also need to figure out why we are having tournaments.

In Part 3 the camera pulls back to reveal a whiteboard. On it is a flow chart titled "Planning to Plan"

By part 4 someone hands Brad a red Swingline Stapler to play with so he'll stop the hand fidgeting / appearance of trying to thumb wrestle with himself while speaking.

(Just guessing )

[oiuyt]

By part 4 someone hands Brad a red Swingline Stapler to play with so he'll stop the hand fidgeting / appearance of trying to thumb wrestle with himself while speaking.

You forgot Part 5, which includes a brief visit to the local ER to remove the staples that my incessant futzing with the stapler ends up embedding in my hands.

-B

[Craig]

OK. I've got all the videos converted for online viewing now and will have parts 3, 4, and 5 ready in a couple of minutes.

[Craig]

Direct Links:

• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9

I have them all in queue to be transcribed as well.

Craig

[Mr Epee]

Thanks Craig.

Thanks for ruining my day.... the more I watch... the more worried I get.

The one thing I'm not seeing in these clips is leadership.

Where's the initiative? Where's the passion? Where's the inspiration?

Where is the ability to provide a ready answer an obvious question like "what are the three biggest challenges facing US Fencing" (or however that was worded)? Shouldn't a candidate already have those lined up as talking points BEFORE stepping to the mic?

Where's the basic public speaking coaching?

-----side note-------
I don't know how we can go from "fencers are so smart" to a lengthy explanation of how technology is a good thing. The question in 2008 is not "can technology make our office work easier". Adults do not need this explained to them. Tell me how you are going to implement it. Provide specific details.
---------------------

[oso97]

Funny how I get a very different impression from viewing...

[fencerX]

Funny how I get a very different impression from viewing...

Sad more like.

[fencinginDC]

I listened to all the recordings, as I did with those of the other group. I think the nominated slate understands the problems faced by the USFA, so does the alternative slate, so do people who read the forum on Fencing.net. Knowing the problems is not hard. Talking about them, saying we need a plan... what is not being said is what people are going to DO. Create a database of volunteers?!?! I (or a lot of other people) could spend an afternoon on the phone and identify a few key folks for a specific task, give them some guidance on what to do and who else to include, and let them produce a specific set of recommendation based on their specific skills and experience. Competing slates say they can't be that specific because they are not elected yet, or need to review/discuss/analyze the issues, or form a task force without a clear expectation of the end product. That's not leadership. That's stating the obvious and hoping that someone with come up with a idea that will offend the smallest numer of people so it can get passed. Lots of people WANT to lead.

So what sort of things do we need? Here are a couple of examples:

There needs to be someone able to confidently lead and inspire the staff, volunteers and USFA members. They are likely NOT going to be the same person/people best suited to raising money, or deciding a system of ratings, or even making a plan. This is such an important piece of the puzzle. I don't see where it will come from.

There needs to be someone with the skills to quickly gather information, organize it in a way that leads to evaluating alternatives, and putting the information in comprehensive and coherent strategy that can help the USFA reach its goals. The same skills will be needed to identify and prioritize those goals. This person will likely not be good at raising funds, or determining a good ratings system, or having exceptional leadership skills.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT ANY NEW OFFICERS/BOARD CAN DO IS IDENTIFY VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN HELP ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS MOST NEEDED AT THE USFA, AND NOT PRETEND THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. That, at least, is a first step in providing some degree of leadership. The best leaders are those that recognize their shortcomings and surround themselves with people can compensate for those shortcomings, and work well together as a team. Bickering over elections does NOTHING to indicate that either group can put the needs of the USFA first.... not just say they do. I know both slates want what's best, but doing is a lot harder than saying.

The Audit and Finance Committee proposals/approvals are two of few recent good examples we have. There are a lot of things that can be accomplished by people who know what the heck they are talking about. I guess what I can hope for are people who step up in their respective fields and actually DO the work, and present proposals. That won't happen if they believe their time and efforts will be wasted. Will TBean (sorry to use you as an example, but it's an obvious one) be willing to utilize her experiece in fundraising and the non-profit sector to help develop a fundraising plan from scratch? Will GregD be willing to apply his financial expertise to produce a transparent budget and reporting system that ensures proper cash flow planning and fiscal accountability? Will our three key IT experts be willing to propose an effective IT strategy without the fear of hitting roadblocks made up of people who don't understand or are two decades out of step? Will someone be able to propose a 21st century structure for the USFA that won't be shot down because intrenched cluelessness insists "But we've always done it this way".

I really don't want to be negative. That's not my nature. I know... I would like a very compelling argument that proves me wrong. That would be awesome! Please.

[fencinginDC]

With all due respect, if you can't articulate the most likely IT solutions for the USFA, explain why previous attempts to implement systems have failed, why it will be successful this time, what resources we have at our disposal, how corporate donors might be involved in supported related costs, estimate a timetable... for goodness sake, I could go on and on. THAT is the type of explanation that needs to be provided on a topic that has been so thoroughly discussed already. You don't have to have EVERY detail, but should at least have a darn good idea of what needs to be done. Actually, you don't even have to have a clear solution in most cases. Just tell me exactly who, what, where, when and how you will organize you efforts to find a solution. If you don't have a clue, say so and explain how you will find a clue.

By giving vague answers, you remove accountability/measurability and greatly reduce the chances of things getting done.

I have no interest in picking on Ms. Weeks. Ms. Hurley may have suggested more individual solutions related to a number of important issues but, with both candidates, I don't have confidence in their ability to gets things done.

I'll say it again, their collective credibility would have been greatly enhanced if the two groups worked together and consolidated the slate to include the only very best people.

Funny how I get a very different impression from viewing...

[KD5MDK]

In my considered opinion, that has already been done.