Agenda - Board of Directors Meeting, July 5th 2009

[Philistine]

On a procedural question--who (and in what context) would make the decision to sign an S&P contract with THS? Would it be a contract entered into by the ED or the Executive Committe and then ratified after the fact by the full board? Or is it anticipated that it would be put forward as a first and second motion to the full board?

--Philistine

[TBean]

The USFA benefits in a number of ways:
- Cheaper rates to house tournament staff (referees, armorers, etc.)
- More rooms rented means cheaper, if not free, venue rental
- More kickbacks to the USFA (USFA gets a percentage of room rental $)
- More likely to host events in more "desirable" cities

The presentation I saw on this showed a cost savings of nearly $120,000 for the USFA over the course of a season. Given our current finances, that's a pretty significant amount.

So the USFA clearly benefits and the membership really gets what beyond a $20 savings per night? Will that $120,000 the USFA is saving mean my tournament fees are going down anytime soon?

Really, the three times I have used THS my reservation has been screwed up, when I have since compared THS rates they are never cheaper, and now you are going to tell us we have to use those idiots? I really understand the economies of scale, but this company sucks.

[oiuyt]

Kind of tangential to the issues, but is there any particular reason he doesn't regularly read FNet that you're aware of?

If there is he has not communicated it to me.

While I understand what a colossal timesink FNet can be, I don't see a good reason not, at least occasionally, to lurk. While I know some other staff members do visit more or less frequently, my understanding is that Kurt does not. I could, of course, be mistaken.

Heck, maybe someone already does.

While FNet discussions have been cited in Board and EC debate on a variety of topics over the past number of years, there has been no systematic effort to pass around links to relevant conversations. I can't recall even a single instance of a link to a FNet discussion being sent to the Board.

-B

[seak]

So the USFA clearly benefits and the membership really gets what beyond a $20 savings per night?

If the USFA is able to start paying down their debt, the refs at the NACs might actually get paid. I feel this would be a significant positive for the membership. Granted I could be biased

[teacup]

I'm not sure when and in what context THS said they won't offer suites. That doesn't fit what I've seen on S&P. Perhaps either as part of a discussion of current offerings or something that was interpreted in that context?

The comment was in regard to the 2008-09 season. It will be great if they have more options in the future.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

I can't recall even a single instance of a link to a FNet discussion being sent to the Board.

Geez...after all my efforts? I gotta try harder, then.

I would agree with the posters who have some scepticism about THS' ability to pull this off. I'm 0-4 with trying to successfully use the company, and found them almost impossible to deal with.

I suspect there is a large percentage of people who have attempted to use THS over the years that will be aghast at the thought of granting them a monopoly on providing mandatory hotel rooms for anyone who wants to fence in a USFA national competition.

Unless the contract specifies a $10,000 penalty for every botched reservation. Given THS' track record, that could be the answer to the USFA's financial difficulties.

[Peach]

Piping up with the usual contrary remark: Since I routinely book through THS (I like being near the venue, and I'm stingy in other areas of my life than fencing travel), this is basically good news for me.

[teacup]

Wouldn't verifying and processing hotel waivers increase the work load of the national office staff?

And what happens to people who have already booked hotel rooms for next season?

Or people that book or prepay for a room BEFORE they register for the event?

Or people who get a waiver and then end up needing a hotel after THS has given back the room block?

Will waivers be given to those who don't meet the minimum stay requirements if any?

This seems very complicated.

If the USFA officers and staff do not want to read fencing.net for feedback, then why not create a discussion board, at least for specific issues, on the USFA website?

[fdad]

Did the new Hang-A-Star system go live on 7/1 as scheduled? I can't see any change in the interface to the membership database.

[teacup]

Piping up with the usual contrary remark: Since I routinely book through THS (I like being near the venue, and I'm stingy in other areas of my life than fencing travel), this is basically good news for me.

I use THS whenever possible too. It may be due to the economy, but this season there were more incidences of the venue hotel prices dropping lower than THS rates closer to events.

The Galt Hotel, the Doubletree, Red Lion and Marriott, all had cheaper rates booked either directly with the hotel or with other websites closer to the event.

Some, such as the Doubletree's Memory Maker weekend rates which included breakfast, were still cheaper than what THS was offering.

The Gaylord and the Broadmoor were examples of hotels that were more expensive not booked through THS. Booking with THS for these hotels meant no resort fees but it did mean a two night minimum for the Broadmoor, which was a problem for some.

Whether THS rates are better may depend on what nights fencers need to stay. If a Thursday night is needed then THS rates may be less, but many hotels in financial districts offer great weekend deals, for those who only need a Saturday night stay.

Currently the rates for hotels closest to the Des Moines and Kansas City Convention Centres are either booked or expensive.

[oiuyt]

Did the new Hang-A-Star system go live on 7/1 as scheduled? I can't see any change in the interface to the membership database.

I believe the current live date is 7/27. Obviously this is a slipped schedule from the date included in Kurt's report from June.

-B

[Dev]

I'm just wondering why most of the major problem-solving initiatives we've seen from our new Executive Director just happen to be back-scratch jobs for other companies outside of fencing that nobody likes (Hang-a-Star, THS).

Also I find it troubling that details of the Stay and Play program have not been released because they are not "finalized"--does "finalized" mean a done deal? If that's the case, isn't this decision simply being made by fiat without any consultation of the membership? Isn't that exactly what everyone wanted to avoid?

[TBean]

If the USFA is able to start paying down their debt, the refs at the NACs might actually get paid. I feel this would be a significant positive for the membership. Granted I could be biased

No, that is a significant positive for the refs, and a potential positive for the membership. I'm not saying I don't want you to get paid in a timely manner, I do, however not all gains are worth the cost.

The first dropped or screwed up reservation by THS or better still (if this can really happen) the first tournament registration that is cancelled because THS was not used, the USFA will be in for a world a grief.

[hello?]

On a procedural question--who (and in what context) would make the decision to sign an S&P contract with THS? Would it be a contract entered into by the ED or the Executive Committe and then ratified after the fact by the full board? Or is it anticipated that it would be put forward as a first and second motion to the full board?

--Philistine

I would like to see an answer to this question.

[oiuyt]

On a procedural question--who (and in what context) would make the decision to sign an S&P contract with THS? Would it be a contract entered into by the ED or the Executive Committe and then ratified after the fact by the full board? Or is it anticipated that it would be put forward as a first and second motion to the full board?

--Philistine

I would like to see an answer to this question.

Sorry, I'd missed the question the first time.

It would be a decision made by the ED/staff, as are other operational decisions regarding national tournaments. In the same way that the EC/Board are not involved in other contract negotiations regarding hotels, venues, equipment, etc., they/we would not be ratifying or approving this decision.

-B

[hello?]

Sorry, I'd missed the question the first time.

It would be a decision made by the ED/staff, as are other operational decisions regarding national tournaments.

-B

Thank you. (When can we start emailing Kurt?)

[pillow]

No, that is a significant positive for the refs, and a potential positive for the membership. I'm not saying I don't want you to get paid in a timely manner, I do, however not all gains are worth the cost.

The first dropped or screwed up reservation by THS or better still (if this can really happen) the first tournament registration that is cancelled because THS was not used, the USFA will be in for a world a grief.

That would be the understatement of this thread.

[hello?]

I emailed about this to a couple of friends and heard this back from someone who was at the meeting. At least this does pose a benefit that seems considerable (and a better timeframe):

"For this year it will not be required and will stay that way until ths shows they are up to it. For summer nationals the omni was only going to block 250 rooms but with this program the will block 800."

[Philistine]

It would be a decision made by the ED/staff, as are other operational decisions regarding national tournaments. In the same way that the EC/Board are not involved in other contract negotiations regarding hotels, venues, equipment, etc., they/we would not be ratifying or approving this decision.

Thanks.

That's what I figured, but in this case, given the fairly large effect its going to have on anyone going to an NAC, I'd think an very open period of discussion with the membership, rather than a fait accompli is probably the best idea.

My gut says that its probably going to be extremely unpopular based on the general stories of THS I've seen here (though usually only the bad stories get tossed around), and my feeling that people aren't going to be comfortable with restrictions on their hotel reservations, especially if their personal upside is only in the range of $20, at best.

But seak argued upthread that she didn't think that many people would really notice a significant difference--I'm not convinced, but I don't really have a good feel for it.

I think the opposition is going to be pretty vocal, and especially so if they feel that they've been railroaded, without the opportunity to meaningfully have input.

--Philistine

[telkanuru]

Piping up with the usual contrary remark: Since I routinely book through THS (I like being near the venue, and I'm stingy in other areas of my life than fencing travel), this is basically good news for me.

If you have the money to do so, it's very nice.

I don't. The only thing I can see this doing is making it so I don't go to as many national tournaments.