State of the Association

[oiuyt]

Just posted to the US Fencing website by Kurt Aichele.

http://usfencing.org/news/2010/03/11...4480?ngb_id=19

[Purple Fencer]

Props to Kurt for both the intended posting schedule and opening himself up to being swamped with complaints....Mike Massik never did that, if I remember.

[pillow]

So the ED is appealing directly to the membership for ideas on how to make the USFA better. I would think just reading the email he will get is going to be a full time job, but it's good idea nevertheless.

My first suggestion, which I will make a matter of public record, is to eliminate the word "stakeholder." This bit of jargon is so overused, it probably tops the list of annoying words for this year, and it's only the third month of 2010.

More seriously, it is unclear how suggestions sent to the ED will be evaluated. In other words, many items we are interested in, such as revision of the rating system, elimination of Sections, etc, may already be under study by USFA committees. It would seem likely that many ideas we send in will simply be bounced to an existing committee. It would be nice to know exactly what specific areas are under consideration, so the stakeh...oops, members, can better evaluate what suggestions to send to the USFA.

[piste off]

My first suggestion, which I will make a matter of public record, is to eliminate the word "stakeholder." This bit of jargon is so overused, it probably tops the list of annoying words for this year, and it's only the third month of 2010.

.

Probably a backlash to of all the vampire stuff in 2009.

R-

[hello?]

Probably a backlash to of all the vampire stuff in 2009.

R-

Mhm, 'stake' in its vampirical context might actually be a better 'reflection' (no pun intended) of how a lot of people have been feeling about the USFA lately!

As to Kurt's message, kudos for “trying.” However, if our ‘voices’ are crucial to the success of the USFA, I would appreciate a sign that they are indeed being heard. The last few times I have written to the USFA suggesting changes or asking for explanations, I have been severely disappointed. The latest was when I wrote asking that the Vet WE Team and Vet WE Individual Team be switched in the National Schedule so that the individual team would not be held on the very last day (on a Wednesday) and the day after team. I wrote to several people at the USFA and, other than an email from Mark saying that he had forwarded my message, I got absolutely NO response. NO explanation why not (I had checked -- and the change would not have caused major chaos with strips of referees given our low numbers). NO acknowledgement that the email had even been received. Several Vets wrote to me after the ‘revised’ schedule was posted, asking me what I had heard back. It was disheartening to have to say “absolutely nothing.” Why would I send any more emails to the USFA?

[oso97]

You're complaining because you were frustrated about a single event swap at a national tournament and don't want to give any more feedback because of that?

That's not even taking into consideration the nature of the events we're talking about. They're on two different days, and so while, no its not "optimum for your personal benefit" it doesn't preclude you competing. Tell that to the Women's sabre fencers who had to choose between DivIA and DivIII for three of the past four years, because they were on the same day.

Personally, I think its a good initiative and hope it continues. I may disagree with some of the decisions made, but think this will only help. Its about time that someone "up there" stood up and realized that one-on-one chats don't get the job done, and "broadband" communication is needed!

[hello?]

You're complaining because you were frustrated about a single event swap at a national tournament and don't want to give any more feedback because of that?

No, no, no. If you read my post, I said "THE LATEST." I have written to the USFA at several times this year. That example was just the last time that I wrote and got NO feedback.

This is not about the vet-team/individual event order -- a done deal, obviously. It's about the fact that I have yet to receive an answer to a suggestion/comment/request for policy explanation. So, yes, why bother?

But that's just me. Other people might be quite content to keep sending off emails and getting absolutely no response (other than once, like I said, getting one from Mark saying that my email had been forwarded to the appropriate person...who then did not see fit to respond). More power to them, or absolutely-no-power to them, or whatever...

[gladius]

However, if our ‘voices’ are crucial to the success of the USFA, I would appreciate a sign that they are indeed being heard. The last few times I have written to the USFA suggesting changes or asking for explanations, I have been severely disappointed....

This is <snip> about the fact that I have yet to receive an answer to a suggestion/comment/request for policy explanation. So, yes, why bother?

As a "stakeholder" I welcome Kurt's initiative which I assume is with the full support of the EC of the Board. If this is the case they all deserve recognition.

But I also agree with the excerpted comments above. Many of us have taken the time to submit, suggest, offer many ideas and have asked on occasion for simple policy explanations. But it has been for the most part a one-way street. Hopefully things will change...

One personal comment about Kurt's "fire chat invite"

Please don't refer to your predecessor (Michael Massik) or the previous administration (Nancy Anderson) as the point of reference in a bottomless pit. Do your job the way you see fit and to the best of your ability. No need to make unfair comparisons in some areas (management, finances) and forget about others (competitive results). Times are different, people are different and even people with whom I disagreed profoundly (Massik) did what they did hoping to do their best. They certainly had their shortcomings but talking about them will not make your results thus far any better.

Keep looking forward, keep your eyes and ears open, and show that deeds will follow your words.

Best of luck to succeed, since your success will be the success of US fencing.

[pillow]

As a "stakeholder" I welcome Kurt's initiative which I assume is with the full support of the EC of the Board. If this is the case they all deserve recognition.

But I also agree with the excerpted comments above. Many of us have taken the time to submit, suggest, offer many ideas and have asked on occasion for simple policy explanations. But it has been for the most part a one-way street. Hopefully things will change...

One personal comment about Kurt's "fire chat invite"

Please don't refer to your predecessor (Michael Massik) or the previous administration (Nancy Anderson) as the point of reference in a bottomless pit. Do your job the way you see fit and to the best of your ability. No need to make unfair comparisons in some areas (management, finances) and forget about others (competitive results). Times are different, people are different and even people with whom I disagreed profoundly (Massik) did what they did hoping to do their best. They certainly had their shortcomings but talking about them will not make your results thus far any better.

Keep looking forward, keep your eyes and ears open, and show that deeds will follow your words.

Best of luck to succeed, since your success will be the success of US fencing.

Although I certainly agree with your enthusiastic encouragement of the ED's current offer of more open lines of communication, I believe it is unwise not to refer to the previous administration. Very serious mistakes were made, and in order not to repeat them, one must not be reluctant to use those errors as a frame of reference. We can, and must, learn from the immediate past.

[KD5MDK]

One of the problems the USFA has been facing has been performance in the National Office. It's hard to talk about that, even when it explains some of the past issues that people have been demanding answers to. This looks like it covers a lot of what can be said. Hopefully, this commitment to future communication with the membership from the ED will allow us to understand a lot more about what exactly is going on.

[Inquartata]

So the ED is appealing directly to the membership for ideas on how to make the USFA better. I would think just reading the email he will get is going to be a full time job, but it's good idea nevertheless.

Perhaps he'll delegate the reading to Christine. I mean, she's already doing it for Jeff Bukantz.

My first suggestion, which I will make a matter of public record, is to eliminate the word "stakeholder." This bit of jargon is so overused, it probably tops the list of annoying words for this year, and it's only the third month of 2010.

Seconded, and I will go farther and say that he should drop the bizspeak altogether. I know he's a biz guy, and I know that's how they all talk to each other ( at least formally ), but we are not all biz people, and a lot of us think it's stilted, artificial and intended to allay suspicions and quell dissatisfaction without actually saying much of anything.

I mean, I read his letter, but---did he actually explain any of his decisions? Not that I saw. He laid out some sort of decision-making process for firings, but didn't actually say why so many people have been fired recently, in what ways they are supposed to have failed, etc. From the outside looking in it appears that in fact the firings have been of precisely the wrong people, and one is left to wonder whether it was because maybe they weren't asking "How high?" when the boss said "Jump", or worse, personality factors. One is left to wonder, because he offers no real explanation, just vague generalities, smoke and mirrors...

[MdA]

This is a good start. Let's see if he can keep it up every two weeks...and read the mail.

[KD5MDK]

He laid out some sort of decision-making process for firings, but didn't actually say why so many people have been fired recently, in what ways they are supposed to have failed, etc.

Do you think that's the sort of thing he can talk about appropriately?

[Allen Evans]

Do you think that's the sort of thing he can talk about appropriately?

Many F.netters commonly confuse "gossip" with "transparency".

[pillow]

Many F.netters commonly confuse "gossip" with "transparency".

Please clarify. Are you saying that HR and privacy rules will permit open disclosure by the ED as to why we have lost so many NO people, and still have no HP Director or Director of Sport Strategy or a National Team Boss to fully fill Andrea's role, or are you saying these are confidential matters that will never be discussed openly with the membership?

[teacup]

As to the state of the association, news of the status of Hang a Star would be appreciated.

[hello?]

I mean, I read his letter, but---did he actually explain any of his decisions? Not that I saw. He laid out some sort of decision-making process for firings, but didn't actually say why so many people have been fired recently, in what ways they are supposed to have failed, etc......One is left to wonder, because he offers no real explanation, just vague generalities, smoke and mirrors...

I want to think that this letter is just the first attempt -- and that the next ones will be better. Otherwise, as far as the content of this one is concerned, I have to agree with Inquartata. I kept waiting for "the meat" to show up and, in my opinion, it never quite did.

To allude to FDR's Fireside Chats is fine. But I think those were successful in part because they gave the public very explicit outlines of policy and of clear-cut decisions that were being made. While I am by no means a history major, I think that that was what was reassuring -- not simply the fact that he was 'addressing' the public. These are some excerpts from the first one:

"…It was then that I issued the proclamation providing for the nation-wide bank holiday, and this was the first step in the Government's reconstruction of our financial and economic fabric.The second step was the legislation promptly…passed by the Congress confirming my proclamation and broadening my powers . The third stage has been the series of regulations permitting the banks to continue their functions to take care of the distribution of food and household necessities and the payment of payrolls. This bank holiday while resulting in many cases in great inconvenience is affording us the opportunity to supply the currency necessary to meet the situation. No sound bank is a dollar worse off than it was when it closed its doors last Monday…The new law allows the twelve Federal Reserve banks to issue additional currency on good assets and thus the banks which reopen will be able to meet every legitimate call. The new currency is being sent out by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in large volume to every part of the country. It is sound currency because it is backed by actual, good assets. As a result we start tomorrow, Monday, with the opening of banks in the twelve Federal Reserve bank cities …This will be followed on Tuesday by the resumption of all their functions by banks already found to be sound in cities where there are recognized clearing houses. That means about 250 cities of the United States. On Wednesday and succeeding days…"

I would imagine it would have been very different if he had said: "Things are bad. There is no money. We have gotten rid of the people responsible and have defined the jobs we now think they should have been doing. Send any and all your ideas on how to solve the problem to Dear FDR, The White House."

[fdad]

As to the state of the association, news of the status of Hang a Star would be appreciated.

Well, if you look at the ED's last attempt to communicate with the stake and pitch fork holders, you'd find this gem:

As of the writing of this report, we should have a “live” system by the time summer nationals begins. Hang-a-Star has done an excellent job of working with staff and volunteers alike to develop a comprehensive solution for us as an organization. The membership database is scheduled to go "live" on July 1, with the Tournament registration system to go live August 1, and the points calculation process to be automated by September 1. Once the system goes live, we’ll be able to have memberships last for one year from the date of registration. This is something that many have asked for and we are excited to now be able to provide. Updates on where the process will be regularly provided on our website, and I’m confident a more detailed report will be available from that Task Force.

It's no wonder he's been in hiding for the last nine months.

[oso97]

and I’m confident a more detailed report will be available from that Task Force.

Note that it was shortly after that report that the Task Force in mention was disbanded...

[darius]

Many F.netters commonly confuse "gossip" with "transparency".

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

darius