Post by August Skopik on Mar 31, 2004 23:20:40 GMT -6
Dear Fencers,
It has been commented that I have not announced myself as a candidate for the upcoming election. I have been studying what is best for the division and USFA, since I have been told by several sources that one if not more clubs will want to place a lawsuit against the division or USFA because of my election I have been introspective. I do have a vision for fencing, and whether I am a candidate or not is up to whether the members feel this is a real threat or bluff, (even though the USFA is insured against this action). We need to do this in our division no matter who is an officer:
1. We need to pass new by-laws. These current by-laws were not well written when they were passed, but because fencing is a gentlemen's and ladies sport is has not been an issue until the 1990's. Not all fencers adhere to this code or sportsmanship any longer.
2. We need to add competitions for all fencing types in the division. Every fencer should have a local, GCD, competition every month if possible (December is tough). This is not necessarily the GCD's responsibility, but it is the clubs in the GCD in terms of scheduling. We also need the clubs to be more cooperative and not schedule on top of each other with such aggression. We also should be reasonable in that an Open competition does not compete with an age or school restricted competition or a veterans. We do compete with resources, but if we can plan well the market will bear our fruit.
3. We need the parents to be involved. I have seen comments on the costs of tournaments, and the conundrum is how do we maintain costs or lower the fees? We need inexpensive venues and volunteer officials and help. If the fenue is $500 per day and the cost is $25 for the first event, then we need 28 fencers to break even before trophies, tape, food, etc. with referees at $50 per day. $500 is cheap for a quality venue. A school in my area is more in the line of $1,000. If another club schedules on top of your tournament and threatens their students not to attend then you can lose a tremendous amount of money even if you run an excellent event.
4. We need to continue the committee in a form of an Executive Committee that is voted upon at the meeting. This is available in the GCD by-laws and the USFA National by-laws. This committee is part of the decision process, and will improve communication. This committee has voting power, and will have input as far as tournaments and direction of the GCD.
5. We need to continue to work our market niche opportunities. Each club in this division has enough fencers within a five mile radius to keep it full. I have made it a point of not recruiting any fencers from existing clubs, and I did receive one fencer from Salle Mauro. Without that fencer, I have helped add 31 USFA members that competed this year. Each club has the same or greater opportunity and niche.
6. We also need representation in the Section. I made a mistake last year in believing the Section had some authority over the division, and this is not a mistake I or anyone in this division should repeat. No section officer has any influence or position of authority in the Gulf Coast Division, but the Gulf Coast Divison should have influence or a position of authority in the Section. The GCD is one of the largest divisions in the country, and we should take our responsibility in the section.
There are other issues that need to be addressed, but as in life's pyramid we need to complete the essentials before we address the others. The essentials are the competitions. They are the whole reason for the USFA. I will be doing my part this next season now that I will have access to scoring equipment whether I am an officer or not. I challenge each club and member to do his or her part if you are interested in the sport of fencing.
I would also like to say that each time I have posted to this or any thread in the regards to fencing I use my name. My opinions and positions are well-posted, and I admit to being wrong in the past, (look at item 6 ), but if we can all at least learn from my mistakes we don't have to repeat them.
August Skopik
It has been commented that I have not announced myself as a candidate for the upcoming election. I have been studying what is best for the division and USFA, since I have been told by several sources that one if not more clubs will want to place a lawsuit against the division or USFA because of my election I have been introspective. I do have a vision for fencing, and whether I am a candidate or not is up to whether the members feel this is a real threat or bluff, (even though the USFA is insured against this action). We need to do this in our division no matter who is an officer:
1. We need to pass new by-laws. These current by-laws were not well written when they were passed, but because fencing is a gentlemen's and ladies sport is has not been an issue until the 1990's. Not all fencers adhere to this code or sportsmanship any longer.
2. We need to add competitions for all fencing types in the division. Every fencer should have a local, GCD, competition every month if possible (December is tough). This is not necessarily the GCD's responsibility, but it is the clubs in the GCD in terms of scheduling. We also need the clubs to be more cooperative and not schedule on top of each other with such aggression. We also should be reasonable in that an Open competition does not compete with an age or school restricted competition or a veterans. We do compete with resources, but if we can plan well the market will bear our fruit.
3. We need the parents to be involved. I have seen comments on the costs of tournaments, and the conundrum is how do we maintain costs or lower the fees? We need inexpensive venues and volunteer officials and help. If the fenue is $500 per day and the cost is $25 for the first event, then we need 28 fencers to break even before trophies, tape, food, etc. with referees at $50 per day. $500 is cheap for a quality venue. A school in my area is more in the line of $1,000. If another club schedules on top of your tournament and threatens their students not to attend then you can lose a tremendous amount of money even if you run an excellent event.
4. We need to continue the committee in a form of an Executive Committee that is voted upon at the meeting. This is available in the GCD by-laws and the USFA National by-laws. This committee is part of the decision process, and will improve communication. This committee has voting power, and will have input as far as tournaments and direction of the GCD.
5. We need to continue to work our market niche opportunities. Each club in this division has enough fencers within a five mile radius to keep it full. I have made it a point of not recruiting any fencers from existing clubs, and I did receive one fencer from Salle Mauro. Without that fencer, I have helped add 31 USFA members that competed this year. Each club has the same or greater opportunity and niche.
6. We also need representation in the Section. I made a mistake last year in believing the Section had some authority over the division, and this is not a mistake I or anyone in this division should repeat. No section officer has any influence or position of authority in the Gulf Coast Division, but the Gulf Coast Divison should have influence or a position of authority in the Section. The GCD is one of the largest divisions in the country, and we should take our responsibility in the section.
There are other issues that need to be addressed, but as in life's pyramid we need to complete the essentials before we address the others. The essentials are the competitions. They are the whole reason for the USFA. I will be doing my part this next season now that I will have access to scoring equipment whether I am an officer or not. I challenge each club and member to do his or her part if you are interested in the sport of fencing.
I would also like to say that each time I have posted to this or any thread in the regards to fencing I use my name. My opinions and positions are well-posted, and I admit to being wrong in the past, (look at item 6 ), but if we can all at least learn from my mistakes we don't have to repeat them.
August Skopik