USFA Election 2008 Debate Question #6: FIE Politics

[epeemike81]

Traditionally, the President serves as our congress rep, though it is not a requirement that it be the President. While both Presidential candidates have some international experience (Ms. Hurley as a parent and coach and Ms. Weeks as a member of the DT), neither has been involved in international politics.

This is an area where knowing the players is crucially important so that our international interests can be protected when, for example, somebody tries to change the rules in WS to disallow low line in order to curtail our extensive success.

To both slates: What are your plans regarding dealing with the FIE Congress? Who do you intend to have as your FIE Congress representative, and whose counsel (if anybody) do you intend to seek out to aid with the politics at the FIE level?

-m

[KD5MDK]

Continuing the topic raised elsewhere, I think you mean to ask "whose counsel" they intend to consult. Otherwise I nominate the Council of Rivendell.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Just keep the Dwarves out of the council....all they want to do is whack stuff with an axe.


Hmmm.......

[tchwojko]

Just keep the Dwarves out of the council....all they want to do is whack stuff with an axe.

And the problem with that is...?

[keith]

And the problem with that is...?

low line attacks lack RoW?

[KD5MDK]

Not anymore.

[keith]

Not anymore.

Well the axe probably makes it moot although they might counter the approach with a stout pair of greaves.

[Peach]

Dealing with the FIE Congress should take the form of a yearly offering. The rep should be an innocent virgin bathed in lambs' milk and clothed all in white.

[tchwojko]

The rep should be an innocent virgin

That eliminates anyone reading fencing.net.

[KD5MDK]

Some people stay out of the water cooler.

[keith]

The lambs' milk might also be a bit of challenge.

Perhaps we can offer up some grisled community elder bathed in Nestle instant milk as a substitute?

[KD5MDK]

Inquartata for a USFA Office!

[arc]

Just keep the Dwarves out of the council....all they want to do is whack stuff with an axe.

I'm with tchwojko ... as long as "stuff"=Rene, how can that be bad?

[dekko]

Mike, good question, too bad it has been met by the silly comments listed above. I do hope the two candidates can see past the silliness and actually bother to answer the question. While this topic may not be as important or immediate as others listed it is stil very relevant and hopefully we can get some serious answers and discussion.

[keith]

Well they have had over four hours to get their answers in, you'd be forgiven for thinking they might be making some of this stuff up as they go along.


and compared to the level of discussion on most of the other threads this one has stayed quite highbrow.

[gorgie101]

Mike, good question, too bad it has been met by the silly comments listed above. I do hope the two candidates can see past the silliness and actually bother to answer the question. While this topic may not be as important or immediate as others listed it is stil very relevant and hopefully we can get some serious answers and discussion.

QFT..

This is a very important topic. I really hope the canidates will repond soon.

[Peach]

My response was actually silly only on the surface. I don't think there are many eligible US candidates for successful FIE Congress representation because it requires a set of characteristics not common in the US, such as being part of the genuine Old Guard (European, not US) and speaking a language other than English. A capacity for long-term political thinking, a lot of connections, and a willingness to horse-trade, threaten, and go along as necessary would also be nice. Failing that, a sacrificial virgin would be indicated because if you're throwing someone to the wolves, they might as well be innocent and decorative.

[tchwojko]

Mike, good question, too bad it has been met by the silly comments listed above.

Election Night Special:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHlqfTkWU28

Seriously, though, I would like a serious answer to the original question as well.

[T]

Sorry for the late response...it's final exam week (ya know...the day job that pays the bills)

FIE politics is an important issue (I didn't think that I would find myself thanking epeemike81 for ever bringing anything up but I'll give credit where credit is due...).

There are 2 parts to this issue:
1) developing the political relationships and building allies and
2) acting with those allies to vote in unison.

At the Sr. World Championships as well as the Junior World Championships this year, I discussed this very issue with two key FIE/Pan American representatives, Jorge Castro Rea (MEX and Pan Am Confederation President), and Gabriella Mayer (CAN, SEMI Commission member). I discussed with Jorge the idea of developing a stronger Pan Am Confederation that can vote and act as a group to ensure that rules are passed that we feel are advantageous to fencers in our region. Gabriella Meyer was also in favor of this. Jorge is also interested in initiating a North American Confederation. I discussed with Jorge the possibility of having a true “North American Cup” with at least one event held in Mexico and one held in Canada. While these are small steps, they are the types of discussions and actions that need to take place to start build alliances and there are many advantages to them.

Bruno Goossens is our point man for the FIE Congress. While Bruno will be the Congressional representative, I will be working to develop political allies by pursuing Pan Am Confederation allies. Bruno will be charged with developing political allies in Europe through his significant contacts in the European fencing community.

In terms of counsel, concerning rule changes, our National Coaches would be the primary consultants in terms of what is best from our fencers’ perspective. In addition, I would seek the counsel of Jeff Bukantz who is one of the most notable ‘rules’ experts (and very politically saavy) and Dan DeChaine who is one of the most notable armorers that the USFA has.

[FencingKitten]

Wow. I didn't know that Jeff Bukantz had an entire Council. I knew Dan may as well have a fan club (also known as the USFA!) but I wouldn't quite call that a full council either... seriously, at this point the counsel of the council of Rivendell would be just as much help...

Unless you would like their counsel, in which case Dan's would be invaluable and I highly encourage the next president to seek it.


(ETA: I really have tried to resist the urge to be flippant lately. But I'm a linguist by training; incorrect use of homonyms just fracking bugs me.)