JO's Question

[dekko]

Does anyone know if the folks checking equipment will be doing so on Thursday night before the events begin Friday? I know in the past they have but there have been some events where they did not. Just curious if anyone knew the specifics of this event and whether that check would be done the night before.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Well, there are only two kinds of "night before JOs weapons checks": those that happen, and those that don't.

In all seriousness, the vast majority of the time, the armorers are there for at least a while in the late afternoon/early evening before the day of the first event. Plan on showing up, and if they're there, get it done and avoid an earlier morning the next day.

Of course, if Donald does his usual flamboyant arrival, decked out in a lampshade and hollering "Tequila shooters for everyone!!!" the weapons check station gets pretty hit or miss pretty quick.

[dekko]

I am hoping that they will help several of us avoid the massive delay and line of checking equipment and let the kids actually do warm up and getting ready for the event.

I am mainly curious if anyone in Cleveland or an armourer who will be there knows if this will happen of we have the super long line Friday morning.

[edew]

If people go during their appointed time, there will be less delay, as only those whose events are coming up should be getting their equipment checked.

That generally helps things move.

[dekko]

Eric, dude, it may have been a while since you were in JO's but you know as well as anyone, the first day of a national event sometimes has a delay becuase of the people standing in line waiting to get stuff checked. And with one event of each kind needing stuf checked the line could be a problem and cause the event to start late. Especially with all the stuff sabre needs checked.

I am hoping that someone from the amouring corps or someone in Cleveland knows whether the night before checking will be done.

[edew]

I think I've been to every JOs as a referee for the past 8 years or so. I might not have gone last year. That said, the main problem, as Joe Byrnes writes in the American Fencing magazine, is too many people going for weapons check when they shouldn't.

[DHCJr]

Ron Herman said he was going to be the Head Armorer for the J.O.'s. I know Joe and Ted will be there also as well as some others. They will all want to have control the night before. I will contact Ron and tell him of your concerns.

Saying that, the Armorers do not always have a choice, based on the site, not allowing people in and the organizers. When I hear something I will get back to everyone.

Eric, being a referee, you know you would never want to room with an Armorer because of the start of our day. What they are talking about is the lines before any referee is even out of bed. For the NAC in San Jose, I was supposed to room with an referee. That got changed rather quickly. I had to be on site, 3 hours before he was even going to be getting up.

[dekko]

Thanks for the info but please don't misunderstand, I have no issue with the armourers and in no way want to suggest that they are the problem with this situation, I am just curious what to tell my kids going to this event about their schedule day before and day of.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

[DHCJr]

Sorry, if that is how it looks. Actually, I was making a friendly jab at Eric. I can do that, because we have known each other for many years. There has always been a rivalry between the Armorers and referees (notice the capilization). We complain about having to be trere so early and leave so late and have to buy and carry all our tools. But we both have important jobs and to have the rivalry, allows us to blow off steam without problems. There are not many Armorers, who would want to change places.

[dekko]

no biggie, I'm a ref as well and try to fix stuff before you guys are called. Unfortuntely, there are too many fencers like Eric who are 'certain kinds of people' and demand an armourer.

Anyway, still looking for info on whether or not there will be the opportunity to have equipment checked the night before it all gets started.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I have a question about this rivalry. Who gets better compensation, the Refs or the Armorers?

[oiuyt]

Under the new system armorers get paid at a rate that is better than a level 3 referee but not as well as a level 2 referee. Armorers are paid at the same rate as pretty much any other non-referee service person (bout comittee, etc.).

-B :)

[KShan5[PrFC]]

What sort of rating do you need to ref at a NAC?

[KShan5[PrFC]]

I jsut realised I have a question about JOs. Will a lettering booth be there? Cuz I just neither my knickers nor my lame have anythign on it.

[labouche]

Originally posted by KShan5[PrFC]
I jsut realised I have a question about JOs. Will a lettering booth be there? Cuz I just neither my knickers nor my lame have anythign on it.

I'd be willing to bet it'll be there. It has been the last 3 years anyway.
-la bouche

[The0ne]

Or you can do the lame yourself!!! I just did and it's really easy and cheap. All you need is stencil paint, printer paper, your computer+printer, and contact paper!

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by oiuyt
Under the new system armorers get paid at a rate that is better than a level 3 referee but not as well as a level 2 referee. Armorers are paid at the same rate as pretty much any other non-referee service person (bout comittee, etc.).

-B

That is one of the contentions between Armorers and Referees. If you compare the Armorers and the referees and their are more referees, you will find there is more total international experience on the armory staff then the referees. Of the top of my head, the Armorers for J.O.'s have worked at 7 Olympics between them and I would hate to guess the number of World Championships, Pam-Am's etc.

You have Joe and Ted who have worked at least 3 Olympics each getting paid less than someone who has never worked an international event.

Marx enterprise will be at J.O.'s. I checked when I was in San Jose.

[swordsen]

for your jacket and knickers any t-shirt shop or decent print shop will be able to out your name one them. No need to wait for the last minute.

[DHCJr]

Originally posted by swordsen
for your jacket and knickers any t-shirt shop or decent print shop will be able to out your name one them. No need to wait for the last minute.

But for your lame be careful. I once worked a tournament where a whole club had the most beautiful FELT lettering on their lames. Know and understand the rules and make sure whoever does it does also.

Also make sure they understand size is important. They must be between 8 and 10 cm tall (approximately 3 1/8" to 4")

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Wow thanks, I'm getting in pretty eraly so I will wait till the last minute probably.