Agenda - Board of Directors Meeting, July 5th 2009

[passata_sotto]

I would be looking at $30 | $60 | $90 with $90 at the high end at an Omni or Westin. (I stayed at the Omni Atlanta for $79/night several years back.)

That was probably Atlanta Nationals four years ago. We stayed there too - way convenient .It was full of volleyball girls I was glad my son was only nine.

[TBean]

- The USFA, not THS, will be in charge of approving waivers

- THS will provide multiple levels of hotel (cheap, meduim, expensive)

- If you find a rate at another hotel, THS will book you an comperable room at the same rate (which most often results in them booking that room, just through THS)

- If someone finds a room at the THS hotel independantly at a lower rate (say a last minute price drop on the part of the hotel), the entire THS block at that hotel will be assigned that lower rate

And this entirely onerous process is laid at the doorstep of membership - contacting THS or obtaining a waiver.

When I find a cheaper room, I will now be required to contact THS - which historically has always shown exemplary levels of customer service - to see if they can either contact that hotel to add it to their list so I can reserve through them or they find me a room at the same rate at another property. If they cannot do that or I don't want their other property, NOW I have to fill out a fricking waiver, send it to the national office and wait for them to get back to me. In meantime what about the room I found? Do I book-it and cancel it (possibly incurring a fee) or do I not book-it and run the risk of losing the room and the rate - both of those are not satisfactory.

This has now wasted a great deal of my time, forcing me to deal with over the course of several days instead of just being done when I originally found my room. Really my life has enough hassles in it - I don't need this one on top of that. It's frantic enough planning to get to an NAC, I don't want or need the addition of several steps in that process that already has plenty of opportunity for human error. This is simply asking for ****-ups.

I want to is to find my damn room and book it. I am not adverse to paying a moderate rate for a hotel, and if I thought THS was anything but an awful company I might not mind Stay & Play. They are thee for three with me. Why should I give them another chance to leave me staring at an apologetic hotel desk clerk, with no reservations for me and no rooms available at 10:30 at night. I don't want to go through that again. I have no confidence in their abilities to do this in a manner that is beneficial in a meaningful way to the majority of the fencing community.

[edew]

That was probably Atlanta Nationals four years ago. We stayed there too - way convenient .It was full of volleyball girls I was glad my son was only nine.

No, the Div II/III/Vet NAC about 2 years ago.

[occasionalfencer]

And this entirely onerous process is laid at the doorstep of membership - contacting THS or obtaining a waiver.

When I find a cheaper room, I will now be required to contact THS - which historically has always shown exemplary levels of customer service - to see if they can either contact that hotel to add it to their list so I can reserve through them or they find me a room at the same rate at another property. If they cannot do that or I don't want their other property, NOW I have to fill out a fricking waiver, send it to the national office and wait for them to get back to me. In meantime what about the room I found? Do I book-it and cancel it (possibly incurring a fee) or do I not book-it and run the risk of losing the room and the rate - both of those are not satisfactory.

This has now wasted a great deal of my time, forcing me to deal with over the course of several days instead of just being done when I originally found my room. Really my life has enough hassles in it - I don't need this one on top of that. It's frantic enough planning to get to an NAC, I don't want or need the addition of several steps in that process that already has plenty of opportunity for human error. This is simply asking for ****-ups.

I want to is to find my damn room and book it. I am not adverse to paying a moderate rate for a hotel, and if I thought THS was anything but god-awful company I might not mind Stay & Play. They are thee for three with me. Why should I give them another chance to leave me staring at an apologetic hotel desk clerk, with no reservations for me and no rooms available at 10:30 at night. I don't want to go through that again. I have no confidence in their abilities to do this in a manner that is beneficial in a meaningful way to the majority of the fencing community.

Now here is the part I just don't get. Let's say the fencer did some of these things- found a cheap room, applied for the waiver, waited for days, but at some point gets fed up with the process, takes the room, and then refuses to take the THS option when THS finally gets around to making some offer. Now does the USFA ACTUALLY CANCEL the registration of the fencer? Or is the registration not even allowed until we show THS compliance?

As pointed out above, this takes a few minute process and turns it into a multi-day process- when it works. That is not including the problems when it does not work. It also does not include the work going on at the USFA office, cross-checking registration and hotels and checking waivers.

[pillow]

Now here is the part I just don't get. Let's say the fencer did some of these things- found a cheap room, applied for the waiver, waited for days, but at some point gets fed up with the process, takes the room, and then refuses to take the THS option when THS finally gets around to making some offer. Now does the USFA ACTUALLY CANCEL the registration of the fencer? Or is the registration not even allowed until we show THS compliance?

As pointed out above, this takes a few minute process and turns it into a multi-day process- when it works. That is not including the problems when it does not work. It also does not include the work going on at the USFA office, cross-checking registration and hotels and checking waivers.

This was probably mentioned already, but if the USFA actually voids a registration, which would be a very serious problem--will the USFA send a REFUND?--if so, when? The National Office staff has really bitten off more than it can chew with this plan.

[dekko]

By the way, looking back I realized that this is THE important leak. Thank you so much.

Leak? That would be no. I am not an officer, I am not on the BOD, I am not a hired employee of US Fencing. If I were one of the mentioned people then yes it would be a leak. I am not, therefore this is not a leak situation.

The confusion is I tend to get my info and news from more than fnet. We all love fnet but there are more sources and outlets for fencing news than this website.

I am, always have been and always will be a random nothing special rank and file fencer, ref and coach. Sure I have had some limited success in each of those areas but I am not special nor do I get special treatment or info the rest of you don't have access. The only aspect that makes this seem like a 'leak' is that I was the first on fnet to ask the question and make the mention.

The info was easily available to those who PAY ATTENTION to their fencing surroundings and look for more in more sources that fent. Most of you people are chat board junkies, I am not. It is true I have from time to time checked fnet for info when I have learned something somewhere else but I have never used fnet as my sole source of info and have never used fnet as my sole source of deciding how I feel about a subject.

Bottom line folks, in the 'news' world chat boards and 'blogs' are at the bottom of the barrel for getting information to use for anything useful, 99.9% of the time. Quit using fnet as your sole source of news for this sport. Sure sometimes fnet is good for some things but chat boards are all about opinions and conjecture, nothing more. Start PAYING ATTENTION to your fencing surroundings, go to these BOD meetings, if you can't go have a friend go and tell you what happened. I have been in fencing almost 20 years and know who to chat with and where to look for useful info.

There is no doubt this issue could be seen as jerking with the idea of what we were lead to believe by the news officers coming in when they had the chant of transparency as part of their campaign. The flip side is this idea didn't come from them it came from the new ED who was hired not elected. Should this go through the voting process at a BOD meeting, maybe, but I'm not well versed enough in how all that works to say definitely either way but it would seem as though this new policy was done in a very different way than most new policies but it is what it is and now we as fencers have to deal with it. Kurt isn't going anywhere and it seems this policy isn't either.

I do admit I have ideas about trying to fence at some national events this year but now since I can't afford $110 a night for a hotel and would stay with people every chance I got I will not be risking signing up only to be cancelled. I know there is a waiver situation but I will also not risk getting denied such a waiver and have another THS screw up happen and get my registration cancelled. I know it's no big loss to the fencing world that 'I' will not be doing any national events as long as this policy is around but.....

Bottom line, back away from the leak idea. That just isn't what we have here and PAY ATTENTION to what is going on and this won't seem like a 'leak'.

[flechewounds]

Since this is directly related to both board responsibilities and the THS program, I am cross posting it - sorry about the extra text, but it is important that it be included in both contexts...

Brad, et al -

One of the challenges with this program has been information - or lack thereof. I know from a number of private conversations that there are board members who are unhappy about this program, but I'm also confident (anecdotal evidence, prior board experience, etc.) that there is strong social pressure not to "rock the boat." (this is one of the reasons that I'm not the world's greatest board member - I have little problem rocking the boat).

From my perspective, however, the board needs to be far more active in dealing with this program. Unlike location and venue selection - or even e-registration - Stay and Pay represents a fundamental shift in the relationship between USFA management and its membership. Kurt is, in effect, trying to insert itself into our bedroom and direct choices for us that are unrelated to the sport of fencing. In my opinion, this type of program is above Kurt's pay grade and requires close, careful board consideration. You guys can't "mail it in" on this one - and I'd argue that doing so may be an actionable breach of your fiduciary duty to the membership.

As one who has take a very vocal role in this issue, I have faced withering criticism from several board members for (a) using my industry knowledge to hypothesize about the program, (b) then looking at an analogous program at US Volleyball and hypothesizing about the program, (c) then reading (apparently too carefully) the PowerPoint circulated by Kurt and drawing conclusions about the program from USFA materials (logo and all), and (d) then reading the actual details posted by the USFA on its web site and drawing conclusions about the program (I was even told yesterday that the materials were in error and that the revised materials would be posted today). I would expect that the mantra would now be "wait and see the great hotels offered by the program - you'll never want to use Priceline again."

Whether the USFA management likes it or not, it has a deep hole to dig itself out of. You may not be guilty of the sins of the past, but you are stuck with its legacy. About the only indication that management recognizes this is the attempt to capitalize on Christine's goodwill to shove this down our throats.

Face it, even if this program fails miserably and is terminated, it is the membership that suffers the ultimate harm. We will be stuck with room commitments for the year or two after termination. Kurt will move onto a bigger sport, highlighting his "successful income generating program" (and conveniently ignoring the fact that the membership wants his scalp) - and we'll be stuck with this potentially disastrous legacy. After all, if the USFA guarantees a city 6,000 rooms, but only 4,000 show up, who pays? Answer - the USFA (not THS, not Kurt). The USFA will be forced to require compliance - whether it is THS or SH*T or someone brother-in-law acting as the agent. That is the dirty little (ok, dirty big) secret behind this program.

Feel free to call me alarmist, petulant or any of a number of other, less savory adjectives. However, anyone who looks at this thing objectively recognizes the problem... it's pretty obvious. And no one - not Kurt, not Christine, not the board - is addressing these issues. Why? Because they are, in fact, not addressable. I'm not yelling "fire" in a theater - I'm yelling "fire" in the middle of a burning building. There is a major difference.

Again - Stay and Pay is a major change in the way the USFA relates to its membership. It needs real adult supervision. Please, for your own good and the good of the membership, pull this up to the level that it needs to be - and then kill it before it consumes what little reservoir of goodwill the management has re-earned. I don't think it is in anyone's best interest to have the membership pining for the good old days of the Anderson/Massik administration.

USFA OUT OF OUR BEDROOMS - NOW!

[Inquartata]

A NOW I have to fill out a fricking waiver, send it to the national office and wait for them to get back to me.

And be sure to do it at least two weeks before the tournament. I recommend twice that, to allow for staff overwork, people being out sick or off at meetings or what have you...

Now does the USFA ACTUALLY CANCEL the registration of the fencer? Or is the registration not even allowed until we show THS compliance?

Neither in the official "overview", nor in Mr. Aichele's blog/interview with Craig, nor in Christine's letter is there any mention of this angle, unless I've missed something.

Now, why would the architects of S & P be soft-pedaling the main point of contention in their explanations to the membership, do you think?

[oiuyt]

Draft Minutes

The minutes will not be official until approved by the Board, which is expected to happen at the Annual meeting, September 19-20. Meanwhile, as has been customary practice this season, a draft version has been posted to the US Fencing website.

-B

[fencerwallet]

SO, oiuyt, you're not listed as being in attendance, but you presented many of the first motions?

[keith]

The professional membership looks like a step in the right direction but why on earth would anyone take it?

After all;

Coaches Liability Insurance; contact USFA Membership Services for details.
“U. S. Fencing Association (USFA) offers general liability coverage for membercoaches at no additional cost. This coverage is extended to all USFA sanctioned andnon-sanctioned fencing events/activities. This coverage is provided as an added benefit of coach membership through USFA.” [BOD Agenda, Sept. 2005]

A very small proportion of coaches are going to require the benefits of being 'credentialed'. Also given the vagaries of state law, and time of residence, I am assuming that a declaration of absence of conviction from a list of offenses would be included?

[oiuyt]

SO, oiuyt, you're not listed as being in attendance, but you presented many of the first motions?

I was in El Salvador refereeing at the Zonal Championships at the time.

A few of the housekeeping motions (receiving the various reports, approving the previous meeting's minutes, etc.) are attributed to me as Secretary and come from my duties in the preparation of the agenda. None of the six first-hearing motions were mine, nor any of the procedural motions made at the meeting.

-B

[oiuyt]

The professional membership looks like a step in the right direction but why on earth would anyone take it?

Under that motion, the professional membership replaces the current coach memberships (coach-competitive, coach-associate).

That motion included a very extensive amendment of the previously-submitted motion, which I suspect significantly contributed to it being tabled to the next meeting. I believe there will be significant further discussion and likely additional amendments before passage.

-B

[keith]

Under that motion, the professional membership replaces the current coach memberships (coach-competitive, coach-associate).

That motion included a very extensive amendment of the previously-submitted motion, which I suspect significantly contributed to it being tabled to the next meeting. I believe there will be significant further discussion and likely additional amendments before passage.

-B

I saw that the coach membership was removed, but coaches liability insurance is listed as a membership benefit in the modified operations manual text. So it seems to read that a competitive membership would include coaches liability insurance. Which comes back to why one would want a professional membership.

It also seems odd that a club application does not require a professional membership, for anyone.

[mfp]

Draft Minutes

The minutes will not be official until approved by the Board, which is expected to happen at the Annual meeting, September 19-20. Meanwhile, as has been customary practice this season, a draft version has been posted to the US Fencing website.

-B

Alperstein is listed as "in attendance" instead of as a "guest"; is he now on the board?

And where on the USFA website can an up to date list of who's on the BoD be found?

[oiuyt]

is he now on the board?

No. Thanks for pointing it out.

For that matter, Kurt presented to the Board, but doesn't appear in the minutes in either category (also not a member of the Board).

And where on the USFA website can an up to date list of who's on the BoD be found?

I don't believe it can be.

Either the Board from last season or with the changes that have taken place in the past couple of weeks with the new season.

-B

[Allen Evans]

I'm very curious about the rationale behind the changes from "Coach Competitive" to "Professional Membership". Despite the difference in costs, there don't seem to be any difference in rights or opportunities for the joining member. If anything, Professional Membership adds extra responsiblities and costs to the member since "credentials" (unspecified) have to be obtained by the member.

Answers? Thoughts?

[qatet]

Brad, do you know anything about how this would impact thse of us in the middle of paying for a multi-year life membership?

[arc]

I'm very curious about the rationale behind the changes from "Coach Competitive" to "Professional Membership". Despite the difference in costs, there don't seem to be any difference in rights or opportunities for the joining member. If anything, Professional Membership adds extra responsiblities and costs to the member since "credentials" (unspecified) have to be obtained by the member.

Answers? Thoughts?

The bottom line is TANSTAAFL. Right now, coaching members are covered by a (I think) $1M policy for acts & omissions arising out of their coaching. This is a benefit which is not extended to ordinary competitive members. The Association has been picking up the cost of insurance for coach members (coach members who become life members can even request the national office to continue the coaching insurance coverage at no additional cost), and the changes to the coaching membership are intended to pass those costs on to the member, rather than having everyone pay for that policy. Furthermore, it's my understanding that the institution of the background check process (again, at the expense of the individual seeking the benefit) is to address concerns which have been raised by the carrier regarding what control is exercised to ensure that we're only covering those individuals who are truly insurable; otherwise, there's a distinct possibility, for example, that we could end up with someone covered by the insurance who is a registered sex offender ... and what do you think would happen to the policy as soon as a claim was made that that individual engaged in further peccadillos with a minor student?

As far as changes to the operations manual which were part of the amendments to my original motion, I will state broadly that the revisions were not quite completed by the start of the Board meeting (I had very short notice of the need to draft an amendment after the referral of my original motion to the resource development committee, and I clearly missed some things (and misread some others) in my haste to try to get the amendments in place for the July meeting), and the amendments (and revisions to the operations manual) will be substantially redrafted for the upcoming annual meeting of the Board. Keep an eye out for the agenda which will be coming within about ten days or so as committees submit reports and Board members submit motions.

[arc]

Brad, do you know anything about how this would impact thse of us in the middle of paying for a multi-year life membership?

Those who have started the life membership on a payout plan would be allowed to finish paying for their membership at the rate which was in effect at the time they started paying, i.e., the terms they contracted for originally.