Stretching the Dollar

[bellakasumi]

Hello Everyone!

I am the president of my high school's fencing club. While rather underfunded (the max we can get from our student council is $125/yr), we try to do our best for the students. We have some (pretty old) gear from when the school used to have a fencing gym class (they no longer do), and a lot of it needs improving. As it stands, gloves, a few jackets, and some new blades would be really helpful. But, as aforementioned, we are on a very, very tight budget. Any ideas on where I can get some inexpensive gear that won't fall apart?

Thanks!

[Phaeton]

Hello Everyone!

I am the president of my high school's fencing club. While rather underfunded (the max we can get from our student council is $125/yr), we try to do our best for the students. We have some (pretty old) gear from when the school used to have a fencing gym class (they no longer do), and a lot of it needs improving. As it stands, gloves, a few jackets, and some new blades would be really helpful. But, as aforementioned, we are on a very, very tight budget. Any ideas on where I can get some inexpensive gear that won't fall apart?

Thanks!

I hate to say it, but you generally get what you pay for (IMHO with a few exceptions. I've never had any good experiences with LP stuff.)

Honestly...the bes thing you can do is maybe throw a tournament together, talk to you student council and see if you can do some fundraising...

[Applesauce and Foils]

Best deal I found was from Blue-Gauntlet, with their club discount on sets of 10.
Hope it helps.

AF

[michaelheggen]

You might also investigate a USFA equipment grant. Your club would need to be a USFA member club to take advantage of this, but club dues are only $40 a year.

-Mike

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hmm, tell us more. . .
AF

[michaelheggen]

See: http://www.usfencing.org/content/index/3866

Over on the right side under "attachments" is information about the USFA Development Grant and Equipment Grant programs. These are last year's applications, but stuff for the current season should be up shortly (I would guess).

I had forgotten about the Development Grant, but that sounds like it might be perfect for you.

Good luck!

-Mike

[Applesauce and Foils]

Nice information. Thanks!

AF

[michaelheggen]

You're welcome!

-Mike

[oiuyt]

Nice information. Thanks!

AF

As long as you're thanking him, click that little balance scales icon to the lower left of his post. Give him some rep too. It's not JUST for jokes and being an epeeist, after all.

-B

[Jason]

You might also investigate a USFA equipment grant. Your club would need to be a USFA member club to take advantage of this, but club dues are only $40 a year.

-Mike

While well-intentioned, that sounds like a pretty bad idea. Not only is the USFA membership a significant chunk of the school's budget, the fact that US Fencing is an economic disaster would lead me to believe that it would be extremely unlikely that the school (or anyone else) could consider applying for a grant to have a high-probability of success. No sense in throwing away 30% of your budget on a long-shot.

Local fund-raising is a better bet.

[oiuyt]

Note also that when the US Fencing equipment grants are given they are done so on a matching funds basis. I.e. they cover $500 towards $1,000 of purchases.

-B