Post by kb on Oct 1, 2005 19:35:44 GMT -6
Dear Fencers, Parents, and Voting Members of the USFA,
After this last year of ill feelings within the division, I was hopeful that after the USFA's intervention, the members of the division would learn to play nice. Specifically, the Officers of the GCD.
I arrived at Alliance fencing this morning, ready to help Andrey with his tournament. (Note to those who don't know me-I'm with another club, Katy Blades, and I'm helping with a tournament at Alliance.)
The Houston Cup #1 Youth tournament had been postponed from last weekend b/c of the arrival of Hurricane Rita in our area.
Houston Cup #2 Adult tournament was to be held tomorrow (Sun. 10/2) at Salle Mauro, but for reasons that are not really any of our business, Mauro could not hold the tournament. He asked Augie of Katy Blades and Andrey of Alliance if they could take it. Andrey agreed.
So we have two tournaments, both announced, but with two small changes. 1) HC1Youth had to be postponed b/c of a major weather event to the next weekend. Andrey had emailed all coaches and fencers that there would be a postponement of this tournament. 2) HC2Adult had a change of venue only.
Imagine my surprise when someone dropped a printout of an email to the LOC, the Tournament committee, and the Officers of the GCD, from Matt Delevoryas, Division Secretary on the table.... let me quote the first sentence:
"The consensus of the Officers of the Gulf Coast Division is that no competition (event) held this weekend, as part of either Saturday, Oct. 1, or the Sunday, Oct. 2 tournament, is eligible to produce newly earned fencer classifications."
He goes on to say (in a mere 4 pages)-and let me interpret here-this is because there wasn't 'adequate notice' given for the changes made.
These tournaments had been scheduled, approved by the tournament committee, and on Askfred for the required time. Fencers and coaches were notified of the changes due to the weather event.
You know friends, in a normal, supportive world, where fencers unite for the common good of elevating the sport, when a hurricane blows through town, and a tournament gets moved, NORMALLY everyone would rally around the tournament and say "Wonderful, we have a free day, let's do it then".
Four very deserving fencers EARNED a new rating classification today. This Cadet Epee event, with 18 fencers was an A1 event. Ever notice that we mostly have "A" rated events here?
Lance Skopik from a C05 to a B05
Jesse Black from a D05 to a C05
Trevor Pedersen from an E05 to a D05
Magnus Ferguson from an E05 to a D05.
At least one of these fencers will be traveling to Miami to participate in the NAC. Shouldn't his new classification make the trip with him?
All of us but the four above, and their parents, can sit back and say "well, its a shame, but what can we do about it, its not my kid".
Well, the next time it could be your kid. It could be you.
The issue at hand is getting the USFA to recognize these rating changes and any that may be earned tomorrow.
Please join me in protesting this action to the USFA, the Division Committee, and the Section Officers.
I'm sure you can email Augie or Andrey for a copy of the email from Matt if you would like to read it in its entirety.
Best Regards,
Kathy Bone
After this last year of ill feelings within the division, I was hopeful that after the USFA's intervention, the members of the division would learn to play nice. Specifically, the Officers of the GCD.
I arrived at Alliance fencing this morning, ready to help Andrey with his tournament. (Note to those who don't know me-I'm with another club, Katy Blades, and I'm helping with a tournament at Alliance.)
The Houston Cup #1 Youth tournament had been postponed from last weekend b/c of the arrival of Hurricane Rita in our area.
Houston Cup #2 Adult tournament was to be held tomorrow (Sun. 10/2) at Salle Mauro, but for reasons that are not really any of our business, Mauro could not hold the tournament. He asked Augie of Katy Blades and Andrey of Alliance if they could take it. Andrey agreed.
So we have two tournaments, both announced, but with two small changes. 1) HC1Youth had to be postponed b/c of a major weather event to the next weekend. Andrey had emailed all coaches and fencers that there would be a postponement of this tournament. 2) HC2Adult had a change of venue only.
Imagine my surprise when someone dropped a printout of an email to the LOC, the Tournament committee, and the Officers of the GCD, from Matt Delevoryas, Division Secretary on the table.... let me quote the first sentence:
"The consensus of the Officers of the Gulf Coast Division is that no competition (event) held this weekend, as part of either Saturday, Oct. 1, or the Sunday, Oct. 2 tournament, is eligible to produce newly earned fencer classifications."
He goes on to say (in a mere 4 pages)-and let me interpret here-this is because there wasn't 'adequate notice' given for the changes made.
These tournaments had been scheduled, approved by the tournament committee, and on Askfred for the required time. Fencers and coaches were notified of the changes due to the weather event.
You know friends, in a normal, supportive world, where fencers unite for the common good of elevating the sport, when a hurricane blows through town, and a tournament gets moved, NORMALLY everyone would rally around the tournament and say "Wonderful, we have a free day, let's do it then".
Four very deserving fencers EARNED a new rating classification today. This Cadet Epee event, with 18 fencers was an A1 event. Ever notice that we mostly have "A" rated events here?
Lance Skopik from a C05 to a B05
Jesse Black from a D05 to a C05
Trevor Pedersen from an E05 to a D05
Magnus Ferguson from an E05 to a D05.
At least one of these fencers will be traveling to Miami to participate in the NAC. Shouldn't his new classification make the trip with him?
All of us but the four above, and their parents, can sit back and say "well, its a shame, but what can we do about it, its not my kid".
Well, the next time it could be your kid. It could be you.
The issue at hand is getting the USFA to recognize these rating changes and any that may be earned tomorrow.
Please join me in protesting this action to the USFA, the Division Committee, and the Section Officers.
I'm sure you can email Augie or Andrey for a copy of the email from Matt if you would like to read it in its entirety.
Best Regards,
Kathy Bone