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Post by Odie on May 11, 2005 17:18:19 GMT -6
If, as David S. says, "fencing isn't our full-time job", he's hitting the nail right on the head. No, you don't get a salary for this at all. No, it's not a job, its the responsibiltiy of those persons who RAN and were ELECTED to do their duties of their position in a timely manner. It is not their perrogative to sit on their hands and delay ratings changes that affect not one, but two qualifying tournaments. Ratings affect pools, pools affect seeding, which in turn affects the DE chart. The neglect in this, and at least one other delayed rating change are entirely on the heads of the Excecutive Committee of the Gulf Coast Division.
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Post by Odie on May 11, 2005 20:40:29 GMT -6
Of course, while I was formulating and posting the previous, Mr. Bassa put it more eloquently and with great style.
I bow down to him.....and that Tom Bone isn't so bad either.
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Post by Margaret Horscroft on May 11, 2005 21:11:35 GMT -6
I think this will be my last comment on the situation.
It should never have arisen.
Being an elected officer is a thankless task, but those taking such positions should be aware of this. It also comes with responsibilities and the ability to delegate if you cannot complete a task. Tournaments are planned well in advance. If you are going on vacation the day after then delegate your work.
It is strange that the following week Matt and Louise were both present at the Divisional Quals at A&M. John and Nicole were also present. Surely there had been communication about this event. Could they not find a microsecond to complete their prior responsibility of the Clear Lake Open. Matt certainly wasn't on vacation then!
I let it go for 2 weeks before contacing USFA National Office because that is the limit on time considered acceptable by the USFA OPS Manual. This time frame takes into consideration allowances for vacation, illness and other factors out of one's control.
It would have been acceptable to have had an explanation for the delay, but the silence is ringing in my ears!
I look forward to an explanation this weekend.
Whether the matter will be resolved is out of my hands now. I know that I will enjoy supporting the young (and not so young) fencers as they compete.
Nicola is competing on Sunday, but we hope to be able to attend briefly on Saturday.
I look forward to meeting all involved and especially those that have offered assistance.
I can bring the Ice-Cream!
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Post by DavidSierra on May 11, 2005 22:47:59 GMT -6
Gorgio,
First of all, I want to extend my appologies if it seems by not having Andrey and Sabina refereeing this weekend, I'm somehow snubbing them. I personally have worked with them at a number of events this year, and know their skills to be of the highest caliber. I specifically made sure that they were hired for the North Texas Grand Prix and have suggested them to two other people. Originally, they WERE going to referee. Actually, we had a lot of offerers by many skilled and highly qualified referees to work at Sectionals, way more than we would ever need. And so some decisions had to be made about who to use and who not to use. As an aside, does anyone have any idea just how absolutely wonderful it is to have more referees than you need? Now, I then called Andrey and presented the situation to him, we had more referees than we needed, and would he prefer instead to be free to coach his students? The answer was a resounding yes. I presented this same offer to another coach/referee, from another Division and he also jumped at the chance.
Okay, so yes, we could probably run the entire event using a referee cadre composed entirely of people from Gulf Coast. This is a bad idea, for a number of reasons that are too numerous to list, but short of it is that we've a referee cadre that is balanced from across the Section, with referees from Oklahoma, North and South Texas, and Louisiana, in addition to Gulf Coast. Many of the Gulf Coast referees (but not all, for example Beau Brunson, rated 5 in foil, 5 in epee and 6 in sabre which is bloody impressive) that will be used are what we call "developmental" referees - rated below a 6, who will benefit from the opportunity for mentoring by the senior and experienced referees that are coming in. These senior referees were chosen by a number of different critiria, not the least of which was their willingness and capability to work with developmental referees while making sure the adjudication level remains high. Since these developmental referees work frequently with the same people there in Gulf Coast, it will be very good for them to have the opportunity to work with some senior and expereinced people from outside their Division. At least its hoped that it will work out that way. I've recieved inquiries from a number of developmental referees wanting to take part in Sectionals, and I hope as many of them as possible show up.
And finally, I know you're not listed on the referee database on FRED, but that is notoriously out of date and there have been at least 2 different referee clinics in Gulf Coast recently, that you could have attended, taken the test and passed a practical at. The question was not asked in a tongue-and-cheek manner, but sincerely. If you'd indicated a interest, my next question would have been "whom did you take the clinic with and assigned you to your current rating?" so that I could talk to that person and get an assesment of your skills.
Also, if anyone is seeing the words "developmental referees" and "Sectional Championships" in the same sentence and having heart palpitations, I can assure you, novice referees will not be thrown out on strip. There will be enough referees rated 6 or better to run the entire event, without even having to use a single "developmental" referee. Any referee rated below a six that is used for this event will 1) be currently rated at least an 9 and 2) have demonstrated in a previous event the skill and poise associted with a higher rating by someone whose judgement of referee skills I and the other officers personally trust. Primarily, these are people who are capable of refereeing high level bouts, but haven't been able to when 1) there was an FOC examinar who could award a higher rating present or 2) the level of the tournament where the FOC was present wasn't such that they truely had the chance to show what they can do. Even Andrey, when he went to the Oz Parson's in Oklahoma this past November was only rated an 8, because that was the highest level that the RYC tournament at which he'd been intially observed could have given him. Even though it was clear that he was much more capable than that. Jerry Benson was able to upgrade both him and Sabina to 6's at the Oz, and now, they've both worked national events, and hold ratings comensurate with their skills.
Every "deveopmental" referee at Sectionals will be sent out hand-in-hand with a senior referee. Rather much like the National FOC does at NACs.
Oh, and the ratings from the Clear Lake event have been verified by your Division and are good to go. They'll be used at Sectionals. All involved, please check the seeding lists posted at the venue and if there are errors, please bring them to our attention, in a courteous and prompt manner, and any errors will be fixed. And I do take my responsibility as an elected officer seriously, thank you very much, as this should show.
Good luck to all the competitors this weekend - its going to be one heck of a strong (if smallish) tournament.
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Post by August Skopik on May 23, 2005 9:09:32 GMT -6
Dear Fencers of the Gulf Coast Division: This email was posted to the Texas Fencer's List as a general distribution from the Southwest Section Secretary or at least magnetfencing. Some of you have lived through this year of ratings issues with Salle Mauro's tournaments being unsanctioned, delays in ratings for many fencers from multiple clubs (Krudy, Moss, Trapani, Smith, Bibb, etc.) some that had an effect at NACs or national events shortly thereafter. This CLFC rating was not the first time. I will also post my response email shortly after. WE HAVE ELECTIONS SHORTLY, AND DO NOT BE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. Ask the members I listed that earned classifications, or Robert Reed, when his new rating was denied at a local tournament. Then make a decisision when elections come that are the best for the division. "Hey John (Nicole), I logged on and voted.. not sure why - I can only stand so much of the forum a year! haha. I was just reading the CLFC problem that occurred. MY GOD.. do they see conspiracy behind and around every corner? The problem was, by the time it got around to being cleared, Louise was on vacation, then Matt was on vacation. Couldn't someone say that? Instead, it's Giorgio (my SECOND language is English, but I'm gonna correct yours) Bassa ranting on about Matt's incapability, and it's Augie finding fault with everyone on the very things he is so inept at doing himself! And I so wanted to write that if Augie hadn't (unethically) taken other people's private correspondence some of it not even to him!! and placed it for public viewing this problem would have been reduced considerably. Some of us will NEVER write Augie a note again. Louise is one of those that says she will never send another email because it ends up online. She did it in person at the event. DELETED SECTION Houston Sports Authority is the host NOT Augie. I would like to talk to that Cathy woman, but I can't locate a phone number for HSA!! No one at the convention center knows who she is. Oh well. I'll do that in January I guess. You're a good man, Charlie Brown. I don't know anyone who would willingly put up with this much punishment day after day. me" HERE IS MY RESPONSE TO THE BOARD. "Dear Terry, I would like to clear up a few things about the ratings in this division, since you accuse me of being inept. The ratings for the tournament could have been cleared up when Louise, Matt, John and Nicole were sitting in the same room at divisionals the next weekend. Instead, Matt told the fencers that there were problems with the ratings, (and the fencer's parents). The HSA is not me as I have pointed out, and the contact person is Cathy Dean. I need to congratulate them, and you met her at the NCAAs and made your presence known already. If you need her direct number call me. They are going to be bidding on many events for fencing over the next coming years. I posted to the division website when the USFA office sent me emails about the ratings. It happens all the time around here. You appear to be very good about the keeping up with the ratings system, so I won't insult you in saying things that aren't true about you in that manner. You don't know how I handled the ratings when I had control of it, so I will take your insult in the same manner as your ability on the strip. Augie"
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