From the USFA Nominees, "The first 100 days in Office."

[arc]

There are divisions that charge to sanction tournaments? Our division requires all tournaments to be sanctioned at the beginning of the season; when we finalize our division calendar. If a club wants to add a tournament after that date they must do so two weeks before the event and it must be approved by the division ex-com. I would think charging to sanction a tournament would be a questionable business practice. IMHO.

Our typical practice is actually thirty days' notice, absent emergency situations, although for the last several years we've been able to have one unified calendar at the beginning of the season with few tweaks, the most notable exception being the scheduling of divisionals this year. On the charge to sanction, it can be an appropriate division fundraiser, particularly in those divisions that allow the hosting club to retain profits from the entries. The biggest challenge facing any such scheme, though, is to ensure that fairness is applied in allocation of tournaments and sanctioning fees -- many of the divisional disputes occur not only over tournament scheduling, but over divisional events being used as money funnels for the largest clubs (i.e., the ones with the most votes and/or organized proxy system) ...

[fencerX]

I would think charging to sanction a tournament would be a questionable business practice. IMHO.

Charging to sanction a tournament is not a questionable business practice in itself. [Though how some divisions go about it is questionable.]

If a club wants to add a tournament after that date they must do so two weeks before the event and it must be approved by the division ex-com.

However having to seek and gain your competitors' approval to run an event is a very questionable practice. A lot of division ex-coms include a rep from each club in the division so that means your business competitors are being asked to approve or deny your business proposal. That's simply wrong.

[gorgie101]

However having to seek and gain your competitors' approval to run an event is a very questionable practice. A lot of division ex-coms include a rep from each club in the division so that means your business competitors are being asked to approve or deny your business proposal. That's simply wrong.

The approval is only required when the tournament was not Originally scheduled. Example: Club A had a tournament scheduled and it had to be canceled due to weather conditions. Club A can reschedule the tournament with no approval at all. Now if Club A decided to host a tournament that was not on the schedule then they must get the Ex-Com approval. If club A is worried that their tournament will be voted down then they must schedule it at the beginning of the season. Pretty simple to me.

What I don't think is reasonable is to have clubs give a portion of their profits to the division. Who gets to say what is done with that money? I would expect it to be the same business competitors that might not sanction the tournament.

I would rather plan the date of my tournament a few months in advance and get to keep the profits.

[Inquartata]

Regardless who is elected change will happen! You can't prevent it, it must be.

Well, I am not holding my breath.

I have seen too many times at first hand the awesome power of bureaucratic inertia.

Ah, but if the FIE decided to change back to traditional rather than Lexan masks and fencers could only wear white you would be rather happy, right?

Change can be good. It is only when it ***ks up something good that it is bad.

Rick

So, by your logic, rescinding a change...is a change.

Is rescinding a tax cut itself a tax cut?

[KD5MDK]

No, but it is a tax change.

[piste off]

Is rescinding a tax cut itself a tax cut?

No. It is Socialism.

Rick

[needle]

Well, I am not holding my breath.

I have seen too many times at first hand the awesome power of bureaucratic inertia.

Yes, Minister
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=dgDxvaCsZMI[/youtube]

[foiled once again]

The approval is only required when the tournament was not Originally scheduled. Example: Club A had a tournament scheduled and it had to be canceled due to weather conditions. Club A can reschedule the tournament with no approval at all. Now if Club A decided to host a tournament that was not on the schedule then they must get the Ex-Com approval. If club A is worried that their tournament will be voted down then they must schedule it at the beginning of the season. Pretty simple to me.

Can the ex-com not shoot it down at the beginning of the season just as easy as 30 days out.

[KD5MDK]

Unless it was scheduled on top of an event already scheduled in that meeting, probably not.

[gorgie101]

Can the ex-com not shoot it down at the beginning of the season just as easy as 30 days out.

No. As long as it does not conflict with another tournament. Our division is pretty small, club wise. We have three major clubs and two that are not USFA competition clubs. The three major clubs each host a big tournament. We try to scatter them out on the calendar as best we can. As long as you have your tounaments on the calendar by the set date they are sanctioned.

Only tournament dates not set at the beginging of the season are put to a vote for sanctioning.

Hope that helps.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

An excellent idea!

I think we should insist on this Scoresheet post-election, regardless of the final composition of the elected officers.

Is there one?

[Mr.MightyMouse]

Dear USFA members,


Our approach is decisive, strategic and inclusive. There are lots of terrific ideas for improving the USFA--you probably have some yourself! But in order to implement new ideas, we will need to build the structures and recruit the people who will make them happen, including the new executive director.

At the September annual meeting we will work with the board to develop the final strategic plan and implementation activities. You'll see a Strategic Plan Scoresheet on the website as we track our progress in meeting goals.

In addition, you can count on us to do the following in our first 100 days in office:
[*]Develop a balanced budget; provide regular financial reports to the Board
[*]Create a Technology Committee with the mandate to present a comprehensive technology plan, including funding implications and implementation schedules
[*]With coaches, develop athlete training plans that look to 2012 and beyond
[*]work with the FOC to expand our referee development system
[*]Appoint a Fund Raising Task Force whose goals will include both short and long term approaches
[*]Restructure committees to reflect the strategic plan goals
[*]Develop a strategy for identifying member skills and resources; create a database
[*]Appoint a Parent Advisory Council

With these initial actions and structures in place the officers and members alike can explore new ideas, evaluate them against our goals, and determine how best to move forward.

So are the 100 days over yet?

[oso97]

So are the 100 days over yet?

There is about another month to go.

[edew]

Looks like Bob Cratchit will be busy during the holiday season. Hope USFA has enough coals on hand for warmth.