Post by schlager7 on Mar 16, 2005 11:20:04 GMT -6
I recently received this from listserv I belong to. Because of how it is addressed, I have decided to duplicate it here:
To the fencers of the Southwest Section:
Many of you know me, for those who do not, I have fenced in this section
since 1987, first in the North Texas division, and currently in the
South Texas division. I was twice Section Chairman (once vice-chair),
and began the original Section Circuit back in 1994. I got fencing into
the Games of Texas in 1991 and ran the fencing event until 1997. I have
been a traveling competitor for most of those years (regionally and
nationally), but recent events ( having two children over the last 5
years) have kept me from going to many tournaments and from being
involved in the Section politics.
When the Section circuit was begun, it was meant to encourage fencers to
travel to the other divisions and compete, and to build up the fencing
community in our Section while having fun. This year, when I saw the
onerous penalties being levied against fencers who didn't get registered
for a tournament before certain deadlines, I felt that the direction of
fencing in our Section had gone somewhere not good.
I talked to several fencers who would have fenced at tournaments at the
last minute, but opted out because of the huge penalties. I was planning
on fencing at the Grand Prix, and thought I had pre-registered 2 months
ago, but when I checked the list of fencers, I was not on it. I am not going to pay the
huge penalty to fence in any tournament in this Section. We are not USFA
NAC tournaments, and I don't think the penalties make much of a
difference to the overall planning of the tournaments, but they do make
a difference to the friendly, welcome feel of the tournaments.
You may say it's just my tough luck, but I shall miss visiting with my
fencing friends. I hope that if you care about the issues affecting the
tournaments in this section, you will either be at the Section meeting,
or give your proxy vote to someone who agrees with your position. As for
me, I hope to get rid of these penalties and find a better way to
encourage pre-registration.
If you want to respond to me directly, use my personal e-mail address
bjgoins@texas.net, otherwise, your e-mail response will be read by
everyone on this list.
Happy fencing!
BJ Smiley Goins
To the fencers of the Southwest Section:
Many of you know me, for those who do not, I have fenced in this section
since 1987, first in the North Texas division, and currently in the
South Texas division. I was twice Section Chairman (once vice-chair),
and began the original Section Circuit back in 1994. I got fencing into
the Games of Texas in 1991 and ran the fencing event until 1997. I have
been a traveling competitor for most of those years (regionally and
nationally), but recent events ( having two children over the last 5
years) have kept me from going to many tournaments and from being
involved in the Section politics.
When the Section circuit was begun, it was meant to encourage fencers to
travel to the other divisions and compete, and to build up the fencing
community in our Section while having fun. This year, when I saw the
onerous penalties being levied against fencers who didn't get registered
for a tournament before certain deadlines, I felt that the direction of
fencing in our Section had gone somewhere not good.
I talked to several fencers who would have fenced at tournaments at the
last minute, but opted out because of the huge penalties. I was planning
on fencing at the Grand Prix, and thought I had pre-registered 2 months
ago, but when I checked the list of fencers, I was not on it. I am not going to pay the
huge penalty to fence in any tournament in this Section. We are not USFA
NAC tournaments, and I don't think the penalties make much of a
difference to the overall planning of the tournaments, but they do make
a difference to the friendly, welcome feel of the tournaments.
You may say it's just my tough luck, but I shall miss visiting with my
fencing friends. I hope that if you care about the issues affecting the
tournaments in this section, you will either be at the Section meeting,
or give your proxy vote to someone who agrees with your position. As for
me, I hope to get rid of these penalties and find a better way to
encourage pre-registration.
If you want to respond to me directly, use my personal e-mail address
bjgoins@texas.net, otherwise, your e-mail response will be read by
everyone on this list.
Happy fencing!
BJ Smiley Goins