Post by MTD on Mar 18, 2004 1:36:42 GMT -6
I threatened (see campechesteel.proboards15.com/index.cgi?board=Division&action=display&thread=1079586617) Bylaw change proposals. Here is the fifth one. It's actually pretty simple, a replacement of words, but it deserves a long explanation.
"Proposition 5": Transmutation of the Divisional Championships into Divisionals
Overview:
When the Bylaws were written, there was a yearly tournament referred to as the Divisional Championships, which was open to all Division fencers. This tournament has been replaced by the USFA-required Divisional qualifying tournament for the Summer Nationals, colloquially referred to as Divisionals. Unlike the Divisional Championships, Divisionals consists of youth events and classification-restricted adult events. There actually no longer is such a tournament as a championship of the Division. Everywhere but one where the Bylaws refer to Divisional Championships, current practice is to treat the Bylaws as if they actually specified Divisionals instead.
The one exception is where the Bylaws define what it means to be a "novice". The intent of the framers of the Bylaws was to have the privileges of "novice" status in the Division immediately vanish upon demonstration of sufficient skill that the benefit of participating in "novice" activities intended for developing fencers should no longer be allowed. (It has been some time since there was any event offered for Division members who were "novice" according to the Division, but there is no reason to assume there will continue to be no such events.) They provided for novice privileges to vanish upon winning an open event. They also provided for the same upon winning in Divisional Championships. Undoubtedly, they were picturing an event with the age restrictions of open events and not being able to be called an "open" by virtue of being restricted to Division members. They were not picturing what is held at Divisionals, i.e., youth events (including youth events where the winner might be unopposed), and adult events which are restricted to C and under. It seems appropriate to replace the specific words used by the framers (""Division Championships") with descriptive words which indicate what was meant without reference to a specific tournament name. (See the terms "open", "closed", and "restricted" as defined by the USFA.)
Current text:
In several different places (underlining added for emphasis)
Motion:
In the Gulf Coast Division Bylaws, in the four locations
1. Article IV, Section 4, Sub-Section A, part 1, sub-part 3
2. Article V, Section 3, part 3
3. Article VII, Section 1, part 2
4. Article IX, part 3
substitute "Divisional qualifiers for Summer Nationals" for "Divisional Championships", and in Article X, Section 2, substitute "a Closed Tournament which is not a Restricted Tournament" for "Divisional Championships".
"Proposition 5": Transmutation of the Divisional Championships into Divisionals
Overview:
When the Bylaws were written, there was a yearly tournament referred to as the Divisional Championships, which was open to all Division fencers. This tournament has been replaced by the USFA-required Divisional qualifying tournament for the Summer Nationals, colloquially referred to as Divisionals. Unlike the Divisional Championships, Divisionals consists of youth events and classification-restricted adult events. There actually no longer is such a tournament as a championship of the Division. Everywhere but one where the Bylaws refer to Divisional Championships, current practice is to treat the Bylaws as if they actually specified Divisionals instead.
The one exception is where the Bylaws define what it means to be a "novice". The intent of the framers of the Bylaws was to have the privileges of "novice" status in the Division immediately vanish upon demonstration of sufficient skill that the benefit of participating in "novice" activities intended for developing fencers should no longer be allowed. (It has been some time since there was any event offered for Division members who were "novice" according to the Division, but there is no reason to assume there will continue to be no such events.) They provided for novice privileges to vanish upon winning an open event. They also provided for the same upon winning in Divisional Championships. Undoubtedly, they were picturing an event with the age restrictions of open events and not being able to be called an "open" by virtue of being restricted to Division members. They were not picturing what is held at Divisionals, i.e., youth events (including youth events where the winner might be unopposed), and adult events which are restricted to C and under. It seems appropriate to replace the specific words used by the framers (""Division Championships") with descriptive words which indicate what was meant without reference to a specific tournament name. (See the terms "open", "closed", and "restricted" as defined by the USFA.)
Current text:
In several different places (underlining added for emphasis)
- Article IV -- Officers, Section 4 (Treasurer), Sub-Section A. Duties of the Treasurer, part 1, sub-part 3: "on the same day as the prior to the beginning of the Divisional Championships"
- Article V -- Management by the Executive Committee, Section 3 (Meetings), part 3: "at the discretion of the Chairman, so long as it shall convene at least three calendar weeks prior to the Divisional Championships."
- Article VII -- Meetings of the Members, Section 1 (Annual Meetings, although it is proposed that this title might change), part 2: "On the same day as and prior to the beginning of the Divisional Championships; to receive reports from the executive committee, financial report, inventory and condition report of Divisional equipment, recommendations by outgoing officers, and to elect and qualify new officers."
- Article IX -- Traditional Tournaments of THE DIVISION, part 3: "The Divisional Championships, which are closed to all but Gulf Coast Division members in good standing."
- Article X -- Classification of Divisional Fencers, Section 2: "... Novice status, after the first calendar year, shall cease immediately upon a fencer's winning first place in an Open Tournament or Divisional Championships."
Motion:
In the Gulf Coast Division Bylaws, in the four locations
1. Article IV, Section 4, Sub-Section A, part 1, sub-part 3
2. Article V, Section 3, part 3
3. Article VII, Section 1, part 2
4. Article IX, part 3
substitute "Divisional qualifiers for Summer Nationals" for "Divisional Championships", and in Article X, Section 2, substitute "a Closed Tournament which is not a Restricted Tournament" for "Divisional Championships".