Impressions of the USFA

[Inquartata]

If the alternative is to pay100% of the travel and lodging expenses, plus all out of pocket expenses, plus entry fees, plus loss of pay for any workdays...you bet your sweet bippy!

[Peach]

Originally posted by Inquartata
So, let me see...when you ( and I ) go to FENCE, we do exactly the same thing...with ZERO reimbursement...do we not?
( Additionally, if you are salaried or can take the time off paid, as many are and can... )

Were I a referee the USFA wished to use, I could go to NACs, fence my events, and defray the cost by refereeing other events. I would consider that a fairly sweet deal, myself.

When I fence, I don't generally referee, and many of the referees I know don't fence when they referee. It's just too darn much, though I do know a number of moderately impoverished people who try to make it work. Referees who do that get an even smaller portion of their expenses reimbursed, by the way.

Last time I both refereed and fenced at a national event, I tore my calf from the wear and tear on my legs and had to fence my main event (the veterans) with my back leg taped and without being able to lunge. That's why I won't fence and referee if I can help it. I'm also a little too old to compete at Saratoga Springs

No, refereeing is not a sweet deal. It costs me more than it pays me, to be honest. When I go and don't referee, it's a lot less expensive for me emotionally, physically, and mentally. And there isn't any incentive to *spend* anything extra. They usually provide our meals on site, they only reimburse a small amount of your hotel bill and they are good at penny-pinching if they don't like your expenses.

All that said, I still enjoy it. I'm one of those people who loves watching fencing, and refereeing allows me to watch a lot of it.

[edew]

The only way for referees and others to "game" the system would require fraud. I would have to obtain a receipt for something I didn't pay for. Otherwise, I gain nothing: I just get reimbursed for my expenses.

The winners would be the long-term parking company, or the particular airline or hotel. The referee is neither a winner nor loser (if you don't include the opportunity cost associated with what else I could have done with that time), and the USFA may wind up as a loser if it had to pay more than if other options allowed me to take a cheaper route.

Here's another example: suppose (like in Columbus) the referees stayed at a hotel that's beyond walking distance to the venue. If I take a bus to the venue, it may cost me $1.00. If I take a taxi, I would cost me $6.00. But the taxi would be reimbursed whereas the bus would not. If they allowed reimbursements for either case, I'll take the bus (unless I'm so late that I have to get to the venue really quick) to save USFA money. But knowing that public transportation isn't reimbursed, I'd rather USFA take the hit than me. So USFA loses and I break even.

I do fence and referee (not on the same day and event, of course), and I am happy that USFA pays for part of my travel and part of my lodging. It works out that I'm a little bit ahead, but maybe just by pennies. At the very worst, I'm not $600 in the red for the weekend.

[Inquartata]

Thanks, Eric, you said it all much more succinctly than I, both on the disincentive-to-economize embedded in the current system( "I'd rather USFA take the hit than me" ) and on the attraction of reffing and fencing ( "At the very worst, I'm not $600 in the red for the weekend" ).

I can understand why an individual's preferences would make them shy away from doing both activities, BTW. One has to take psychic and physical reasons into account as well as economic ones. If you find the hassle too much, or don't care for the harried schedule, or it takes too much of a toll on your body, or whatever---there are certainly a lot of perfectly valid reasons not to do it. It's a matter of personal choice. Clearly, though, it need not be the inevitable choice for everyone.

[135711]

this is my impression of the usfa:

elderly female voice warbles on answering machine:

'hello, this, is, the, usfa, thank you for calling. we're not in right now, some of the boys went out skiing. but mama [we're just country folk] in her cap can call you right back [in about three days, when we get back from a little apres skiing to continue, thank, you again, for, calling, [cough softly] the united states chess federation, i mean the us fencing association. we do believe your call is important, and just as soon as , PUSH ONE [now spoken boldly], for TED, push TWO for me!!! that's right, now PUSH THREE for the other guy, we don't remember his name, anyway: Happy new Year'

[135711]

Why doesn't eric et al, get some of his team together, or someone who knows what they're doing, make a video, UP CLOSE of REWIRING WEAPONS:

foil, epee and sabre, as well as other care of equipment stuff. I think it would be great..... step by step approach:
from removing old wire, how to prepare weapon for new wire, removing the barrel, putting new one on etc: if it's good, maybe craig wouldn't mind marketing it for you on the web-site.

[edew]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Thanks, Eric, you said it all much more succinctly than I, both on the disincentive-to-economize embedded in the current system( "I'd rather USFA take the hit than me" ) and on the attraction of reffing and fencing ( "At the very worst, I'm not $600 in the red for the weekend" ).

I can understand why an individual's preferences would make them shy away from doing both activities, BTW. One has to take psychic and physical reasons into account as well as economic ones. If you find the hassle too much, or don't care for the harried schedule, or it takes too much of a toll on your body, or whatever---there are certainly a lot of perfectly valid reasons not to do it. It's a matter of personal choice. Clearly, though, it need not be the inevitable choice for everyone.

Certainly, if I go to an NAC without the benefit of refereeing and its attendant partial compensation, I would do it the most economical way possible. I would stay in a cheaper motel, I might drive there, if possible (for example, for the upcoming NAC in San Diego, I might consider driving there as opposed to flying, even though it would take me a whole day there and back). I might stay at friend's homes, etc. And certainly, I would not stay the whole three or four days of the competition: I'll arrive, stay the night before, if necessary, compete, and go home immediately. Through that route, I'll save tremendously on the lodging and food costs, so I won't be $600 in the red; more like $150 in the red.

[edew]

Originally posted by 135711
Why doesn't eric et al, get some of his team together, or someone who knows what they're doing, make a video, UP CLOSE of REWIRING WEAPONS:

foil, epee and sabre, as well as other care of equipment stuff. I think it would be great..... step by step approach:
from removing old wire, how to prepare weapon for new wire, removing the barrel, putting new one on etc: if it's good, maybe craig wouldn't mind marketing it for you on the web-site.

I'll work on this. Might be able to have something video-wise by the end of the month, perhaps.

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by 135711
Why doesn't eric et al, get some of his team together, or someone who knows what they're doing, make a video, UP CLOSE of REWIRING WEAPONS:

foil, epee and sabre, as well as other care of equipment stuff. I think it would be great..... step by step approach:
from removing old wire, how to prepare weapon for new wire, removing the barrel, putting new one on etc: if it's good, maybe craig wouldn't mind marketing it for you on the web-site.

Funny you should ask that. A video with Dan DeChaine, Joe Byrnes and Ted Li was made by Tim Loomis a number of years ago on armoring. The problem was Tim's partner ran off with every thing, the tapes, equipment and money. At the next NAC, ask Tim about the story, especially about the Vegas Businessman father of someone he saved in Vietnam. That is some story.

I actually got to see an outtake from the video, which was so funny. Each of them showed the proper way to crush a beer can. The best was Ted Li. I think he will be at J.O.'s and ask him to demonstrate, but make sure you have enough full cans of Guiness, that he can empty, so he can show you again if you didn't quite get it the first time.

[135711]

it may be related to safety and security, they probably have enhanced security ability if one carrier is selected; however, if a lot are selected security becomes more difficult.