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Post by Dan Gorman on Apr 20, 2006 0:28:03 GMT -6
The only way we can fencing varsity again is to start making some money for the schools. Be that through alumni donations (A&M could possibly make that harder to do without an outright ban, but I'm not sure how), paid admissions, sponsorships, or something else, it has to happen.
We also need to increase our profile in the general public. That'd really help with the money thing.
Dan
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Post by LongBlade on Apr 20, 2006 0:43:56 GMT -6
No, he's ours. He practices with ATAC. ATAC offers college credit? When can I enroll? (I worked in UT Admissions for 2 years, and saw transcripts for universities all over the state, country and world. I never saw one from ATAC...) Also, given he wears a longhorn on his glove and modified his introduction at the Reno NAC awards presentation to mention UT, he's a bit partial to us, I think. No, ATAC doesn't offer college credit. John Moreau is the university fencing coach for Texas State. Gotta ask him about that. I'm just the coach for the TSU rec sports club.
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Post by LongBlade on Apr 20, 2006 0:54:05 GMT -6
Golly... what would you think if the Catholic University in Corpus started a program this summer and had a team? AND... what if my two new students from Texas A&M in Corpus Chrisiti decided to participate in SWIFTA? You guys just might have a few more college kids to cross blades with from my neck of the woods! Who would have dreamed of such a thing? Now, the question is--- must their schools offer college credit for fencing in order for them to be a part of SWIFTA? Hmmmmmmm....... Can I take a correspondence course and fence as the third, Saberbob? Will they take a Methodist? ;D
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Post by kd5mdk on Apr 20, 2006 0:56:28 GMT -6
UMass has a "Friends of UMass Fencing" organization that seems to mostly consist of alumni and the like, who donate money and provide some focus to fundraising (and I don't know what else they do). It may be that similar groups would be of help. I'm very much not in a position to do much now about this, but in some time I'd like to create something similar for UT, working with the Texas Exes. (The nice thing about that, is, if I can get Texas Exes on my side, Rec Sports can go entertain themselves, because they're flat outranked.)
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Post by Dan Gorman on Apr 20, 2006 2:27:11 GMT -6
Be careful about that. Schools can have specific rules against student organizations asking alums for cash directly. They tend to hate competition.
Dan
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Post by kd5mdk on Apr 20, 2006 3:33:42 GMT -6
I'm not a student. Specifically, there's a long tradition of alums who feel their main affiliation with the school is through the sports. We see their names on lots of stadiums, and stuff like that. I'm proposing working with the school to extend that to another sport.
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Post by Parry Nine on Apr 20, 2006 8:41:17 GMT -6
Touche...touche...
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liz
Apprentice
[ss:Default]
Posts: 6
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Post by liz on Apr 20, 2006 10:31:11 GMT -6
Hey all, I've got a quick question - is there going to be a meeting associated with the SWIFA Championships which is going to include discussion of the future of SWIFA? And if so - when? Thanks for any info.!
P.S. - Also thanks for posting the working proposal.
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Post by Boney on Apr 20, 2006 16:48:40 GMT -6
wow!!! i never knew this forum existed!!! i just have comment about the Gary Job Corps.
i know SWIFA has been around longer than my fencing career. but from when i started 3 years ago in jan. to now i have not seen Gary Job Corps. participate. i really believe that SWIFA should be strictly for collegiate fencing. i have nothing against other groups but this is something for college fencers. and we could make exceptions here and there for other clubs that aren't collegiate, but why? as parry nine said before there is always USFA. if exceptions are made for one group i feel that as time goes on more and more clubs will begin to recieve teh exception status. i think that the SWIFA BY-laws posted by longblade is an excellent start.
but i think we should keep it purely collegiate.
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Post by LongBlade on Apr 21, 2006 3:32:52 GMT -6
wow!!! i never knew this forum existed!!! i just have comment about the Gary Job Corps. i know SWIFA has been around longer than my fencing career. but from when i started 3 years ago in jan. to now i have not seen Gary Job Corps. participate. i really believe that SWIFA should be strictly for collegiate fencing. i have nothing against other groups but this is something for college fencers. and we could make exceptions here and there for other clubs that aren't collegiate, but why? as parry nine said before there is always USFA. if exceptions are made for one group i feel that as time goes on more and more clubs will begin to recieve teh exception status. i think that the SWIFA BY-laws posted by longblade is an excellent start. but i think we should keep it purely collegiate. Welcome to the forum, Boney! Register and become a member! You are welcome! Anyway, I have been involved in fencing for 30 years now, (competitor, coach, trainer, armorer, director, club officer, division officer... you name it... I've done it!) and I was here long before SWIFA ever came about. And I've been out of college fencing for more than 22 years now. I put that in there as a talking point - knowing it would be an issue, because I was asked to do so. Salle Gary still wants to be able to compete with SWIFA! And I just think it's right and fair to let them in when they have been there with us before. Maybe there is a way to work it in so that Gary Job Corps can still compete in SWIFA without defeating the idea of SWIFA. Maybe not. I just personaly hate to cut anyone out. Even though they haven't been really very active in SWIFA in the last couple of years, some of their people still do show up at ATAC/Texas State/FAST practices now and then... and they really just want the chance to learn something about fencing, and they just want to fence! Teams ebb and flow. I know this from reviving Texas Tech's team which died with their coach about the time I was born. Something you should know is that I started the Texas Tech team back up in 1981, when I was marooned there for 3 years of law school. I put in 6 years here at SWT (now Texas State) adding majors so I could stay eligible to fence. Lubbock isn't that bad of a place when you adjust to the flat land, and the people up there were really, very nice and fine folks! And my kids up there really just wanted to be able to fence! I just really hate trying to exclude anyone when all they want is to try and fence! I remember how hard it was for me to get any help and get something started up there all those years ago, with no help, and no recent tradition of fencing in the area. And... I don't ever want to see anybody, ever excluded again! I do see the need for some rules for SWIFA. I agreed to write the draft proposal for that r
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Post by Damaris on Jun 13, 2006 10:51:21 GMT -6
What happend to the last few pages of this section?
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Post by Dan Gorman on Jun 13, 2006 20:21:58 GMT -6
Beats me, it was here last time I logged in.
John, you know anything?
Dan
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Post by schlager7 on Jun 13, 2006 21:43:45 GMT -6
Hmm, not being involved in SWIFA, I've largely been away. I see we're on page six.
Why? How far had this thread run before?
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Post by Damaris on Jun 14, 2006 13:35:37 GMT -6
It was 8 pages
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Post by kd5mdk on Jun 14, 2006 20:32:06 GMT -6
Specifically, there was talk about the meeting in San Marcos a week or so ago, both before and after.
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Post by Prudence on Jun 21, 2006 20:34:30 GMT -6
Dan: ps I'm sad that Andrew ruined my game. I was enjoying Jay not getting that I was talking about college credit in general. LOL oh you're bad Dan. Actually when I read your very first post when you mentioned credit, my first thought was "hell yeah we need some credits for participating in these tournaments".. but then logic kicked in and I realized what you were talking about. Kd5mdk: As for getting venues taken away, I can't really see what you expect to do about that; hold the tournament in the parking lot as a series of one touch dry bouts? ... umm no.Parry Nine: I personally, would like to see us begin to host tournaments that follow USFA rules, specifically the rule about attire. Yes, I DO realize that some of the fencers at these tourneys are beginners, but baseball pants are $10-$15 at Walmart. Fencing in SHORTS is unacceptable. .. I agree. If I can't wear my hoochie-mama shorts to tournaments, neither can the newbies. I've tried to get away with doing that during practice a couple of times and I never heard the end of it when I did. haha So YES this rule should be enforced. Longblade: ...God I hope I never have to sleep in someones garage... varsity sport.. aww that would be swell. Anyway, about how much power to give the EC, that's a very difficult thing to decide. Some prefer them to have more power, more centralized that way, and other's don't believe they should create policies.. I tend to agree with this more. We have all seen what can happen when one person, or even a group of people, have most of the power. Just go to any Gulf Coast USFA meeting and you'll see what I'm talking about. I don't want to see this happen with SWIFA either. OHH and I almost forgot to mention my opinion on the whole high school C fencer. Allow only college fencers to fence SWIFA. If finding a third person is a problem then I think something needs to be done about that school's recruiting methods. Allowing high school students is NOT the answer. If I wanted to fence that age group I'd go back to Westchester.
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Post by Parry Nine on Jun 21, 2006 22:50:44 GMT -6
I believe that all the above concerns were addressed at the SWIFA meeting held at Longblade's office. Kyle should be putting up the new Bylaws on the SWIFA site soon. (Or someone will. Not sure who.) If you contact Damaris or Kyle, I'm sure they can let you see a copy of the new bylaws. They're a good start.
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Post by LongBlade on Jun 22, 2006 14:16:35 GMT -6
I'll have the most recent version up shortly. Sorry, but I've been busy moving and had some computer problems on top of that.
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Post by Damaris on Jun 22, 2006 15:53:20 GMT -6
I dont think fencing in shorts is the same as not requiring true fencing pants. I think we should require pants. and...... baseball pants at all the stores i went too would not fit my boyfriend. 6'2" 190lbs. (academy and sports athority)
Will the Usfa let you fence in baseball pants truly? I mean at a NAC were they can be there and actuly see what ur wear-n?
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Post by Prudence on Jun 22, 2006 20:04:53 GMT -6
Well I look forward to seeing a copy of that.. I've been out of the loop and wasn't sure how much progress had been made. To the best of my knowledge the USFA requires all fencers to wear actual knickers, but that's just what I remember. You MIGHT be able to get away with baseball pants (not quite sure), but it's my opinion that you should just go ahead and invest in a good pair of actual fencing pants. If you decide to participate in summer nationals, etc. you'll have to anyway. Have to go, we're celebrating my mom's 40th birthday tonight!
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Post by LongBlade on Jun 22, 2006 20:27:35 GMT -6
Damaris: I really do not care what the USFA wants. Or the FIE for that matter. I was speciffically told that this was what the majority of the people contributing in, and participating in, the meeting at my office earlier this month wanted. I was not asked to follow USFA rules and was told that they would NOT govern in place of a SWIFA rule to the contrary. I was asked to put up some initial working rules for SWIFA. This is an issue for the SWIFA members to determine. SWIFA sets the rules for SWIFA. I was specifically asked to put in provisions that USFA membership and rules could be waived. Not that they should be. I particularly agree with all the safety rules! I look at my old mask from the mid-70s and cringe! I do not have the same feeling about baseball pants for SWIFA fencers. That's just my opinion. The rules have provisions for a change if a majority votes that way. Look in the last article of the proposed By-Laws. That's where they are. I don't claim it's perfect, but it will get the group up and running... until we get an "Operations Manual" in place and make the needed changes. Kyle
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Post by LongBlade on Jun 22, 2006 20:39:09 GMT -6
Here is the most recent proposal for the way SWIFA runs. There will be other opportunities for you to comment or make changes! The idea is just to get up a running operation! We can fix it later! (THIS IS JUST PROPOSED!!!)
By-Laws of the Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association
ARTICLE I: Name of Organization 1. The name of the organization shall be the Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association, hereinafter “S.W.I.F.A.” . S.W.I.F.A. shall be a non-profit Association governed under the laws of the State of Texas.
ARTICLE II: Objectives The purposes and objectives of S.W.I.F.A. are as follows: 1. To promote, encourage, and develop the sport of collegiate fencing in Texas. 2. To provide local competitions and tournaments for collegiate fencers in Texas. 3. To assist individual member fencers and member teams in reaching their full potential in the sport of fencing whether as competitors, coaches, armorers, or referees.
Article III: Membership - Dues - Competitions a) Individual Membership Section 1. Any individual who is 17 years of age or older and a member of a collegiate fencing club within the boundaries of the State of Texas is eligible for membership in S.W.I.F.A. Section 2. Members must be enrolled in an accredited public or private vocational school, two year or four year college or university, graduate school, or similar institute of higher education. Section 3. Members must not be on academic or disciplinary probation. Section 4. Any individual not meeting the above qualifications may petition the Executive Committee for a waiver of the requirements. b) Team Membership Section 1. Teams who are members of S.W.I.F.A. shall include the following organizations: Baylor University, The University of Houston, The University of Texas, Texas A & M University, The University of Texas - San Antonio, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Rice University, The University of North Texas, Gary Job Corps. Section 2. Any member team shall be qualified to vote and shall have one vote at the Annual Meeting or any called Special Meeting. Section 3. Additional teams may become members of S.W.I.F.A. upon application and a simple majority vote of the existing member teams at the next Annual Meeting. Section 4. Membership fees, registration fees, and entry fees, if any, shall be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time. Section 5. Annual team dues of $350.00 are due on or before September 1 of each year. If the annual dues are not timely paid, a team may not compete in the first S.W.I.F.A. competition of that competitive season. If the annual team dues of $350.00 are not paid on or before November 1 of each year, a team may not compete in any S.W.I.F.A. competition of that competitive season. Section 6. The S.W.I.F.A. Executive Committee shall prepare the seasonal fencing schedule and shall determine the conditions and restrictions governing the qualifications, entries, and conduct of all competitions under its jurisdiction. Section 7. These rules shall not be interpreted to prohibit participation of a composite team in a S.W.I.F.A. competition. ARTICLE IV: Officers and Duties The officers of S.W.I.F.A. shall consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. All officers shall take office the first day of the month next following their election, and shall hold office until the last day of the month following the next Annual Meeting. The duties of the officers shall be as follows: Section 1. Chair: Shall preside at all meetings of S.W.I.F.A. and its Executive Committee, and perform other duties as usually pertain to that office and are not inconsistent with these By-Laws. The Chairperson may assign officers and members to chair standing or ad-hoc committees. The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. Section 2. Vice-Chair: Shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in their absence, and any other duties as assigned by the Chairperson and/or the Executive Committee. Section 3. Secretary: Shall conduct all official correspondence, keep a record of the meetings of S.W.I.F.A. and the Executive Committee, issue notices to members of all meetings, and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Chair or any other proper authority. The Secretary shall also be official custodian of S.W.I.F.A. and Executive Committee records. The Secretary shall maintain a website which sets out the names and contact information for the members of the Executive Committee, information concerning the tournaments scheduled for the coming competitive year, these By-Laws as may be amended from time to time, and any other information which may be of use to the membership. Section 4. Treasurer: Shall, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, present a budget for the following fiscal year at the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer Shall keep the accounts of S.W.I.F.A., receive all monies, fees, dues, pay all bills approved by the Executive Committee, and preserve all vouchers for such disbursements. The Treasurer shall, at the Annual Meeting, submit a report of the financial transactions of the preceding period. All disbursements shall be made by check from the S.W.I.F.A. checking account. Receipts stating the nature of the transaction and the payee must support such disbursements. All funds of S.W.I.F.A. shall be maintained in an FDIC insured account under the name of S.W.I.F.A., checking and/or savings. No amounts above $50 will be dispersed without Executive Committee approval, and no amounts over $1000, not part of the budget presented at the annual meeting, will be dispersed without the approval of S.W.I.F.A. membership by a majority vote. Said vote may be taken by either electronic mail or at a membership meeting. The Treasurer will provide upon written request of at least five (5) members of S.W.I.F.A. current financial records within one (1) month of the request. The Treasurer shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chair or other proper authorities. Section 5. Any officer of S.W.I.F.A. may be removed from office by the following procedure: 1. A petition by one third (1/3) of the member schools of S.W.I.F.A., and 2. An election in which the officer receives less than a majority. 3. The election may be held at either an Annual meeting or a special meeting of the S.W.I.F.A. membership. ARTICLE V: Management by the Executive Committee Section 1. Composition: The management of S.W.I.F.A. shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of S.W.I.F.A.. Section 2. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. Section 3. Meetings: Meetings shall be held on a regular basis at such time and place as shall be designated by the Chair, and shall also be called upon the request of two or more members of the Executive Committee. All members shall be given not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior notice of all special meetings. All meetings except those in which disciplinary action is to be taken or contemplated against any Executive Committee member or S.W.I.F.A. member shall be open to the membership. Section 4. The Executive Committee using the following procedures may remove any member of said same Executive Committee who fails to perform his or her duties: a. Written notification of the causes for removal must be provided to the entire Executive Committee, including the member to be removed. b. At any meeting in which the removal of any member of the Executive Committee is contemplated, three quarters of the members of the Executive Committee must be present. c. The member so charged has the right to appear at the meeting and present any arguments against removal. d. The member who is contemplated for removal has no vote at this meeting. e. The majority of the Executive Board members present must vote for removal before the person in question is removed. Section 5. The Executive Committee may replace a member who has resigned or who has been removed by the following procedure: a. At any Special Meeting where a new member is to be voted upon, a majority of the members of the Executive Committee must be present or attend by telephone or telephone conferencing. The use of proxy votes is not allowed for members of the Executive Committee. b. A majority of the member teams at this meeting must cast votes of approval before the new member of the Executive Committee is approved. Section6. Quorum: shall consist of those member teams of S.W.I.F.A. present in person, by written proxy, by telephone or teleconferencing, and a majority of those present shall control.
ARTICLE VI: Meetings of the Member Teams Section 1. Annual Meeting : The member teams of S.W.I.F.A. shall hold an Annual Meeting which shall be held during the last tournament of the competitive season. The Chairperson shall designate the date, time, and place for the meeting. Section 2. Special Meetings: a Special Meeting may be called at any time, and held at any place where a member team is located, by the Chair, and shall be called by the Chair upon request of not less than a majority of the member teams of S.W.I.F.A.. Member teams shall be given no less than two (2) weeks advance notice of any such Special Meeting. Section 3. Quorum: shall consist of those members of S.W.I.F.A. present in person, by written proxy, by telephone or teleconferencing, and a majority of those present shall control. ARTICLE VII: Elections Section 1. Candidates for all offices established under these By-Laws, except for the initial volunteer officers serving as the initial Executive Committee, shall be nominated from the floor by the member teams at the Annual Meeting of S.W.I.F.A.. Section 2. If not more than one (1) nomination is made for any office, the Secretary of S.W.I.F.A. shall cast a unanimous ballot at the Annual Meeting for the candidate nominated. If two (2) nominations are made for any office, voting for the candidates shall either be in person or proxy or by telephone or telephone conferencing, and the candidate receiving the majority of the votes shall be elected. Written ballots shall be used. In the event that three (3) or more candidates are nominated for any office, and no candidate receives a majority vote, a run-off election shall be conducted between the two candidates receiving the most ballots on the first round and the winner shall be declared elected. Section 3. Members teams in good standing may give their proxy for election of officers only to any other member team in good standing of S.W.I.F.A. All proxies shall be in writing and verified by the Secretary. The member team designated in the proxy must be in attendance at the Annual Meeting in order to exercise it.
ARTICLE VIII: Tournaments Section 1. Number: S.W.I.F.A. shall hold no less than four (4) nor more than six (6) sanctioned tournaments in a competitive season. The final tournament shall be a two-day tournament at which the Annual Meeting shall be held. Section 2. Rotation of Competitions: Each member team shall be allowed to bid to host a tournament. To ensure that all member teams are allowed to periodically host a sanctioned tournament, the chairperson shall draw the names of the member teams at the first meeting of the Executive Committee following the adoption of these By-Laws to establish the order of the teams which may bid to host a tournament or decline in favor of the next team in the rotation. The order of the teams in the rotation shall continue from season to season, and shall begin with the next team which did not decline or bid on a tournament in the preceding competitive season . No member team shall be required to host a S.W.I.F.A. sanctioned tournament in any competitive season in order to compete at other tournaments or maintain standing as a member of the S.W.I.F.A. organization. Additional member teams which are allowed to join S.W.I.F.A. shall be added to the end of the rotation list unless a different order is approved by a simple majority of the member teams at the Annual Meeting at which the new teams is approved for membership. Section 3. Format and Rules: Any member team which undertakes to host a S.W.I.F.A. sanctioned tournament shall within thirty (30) days provide the Secretary with the format of the tournament and the rules which will govern said tournament, which shall be posted on the S.W.I.F.A. website and which shall be binding, unless changed by a majority vote at a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX: By-Laws, Rules, and policies of S.W.I.F.A. Membership in the United States Fencing Association shall not be required to participate in S.W.I.F.A. or in tournaments sponsored by S.W.I.F.A. or its member teams. All rules, regulations and matters of policy concerning the conduct of competitions as set forth in the Fencing Rules and Operations Manual of the United States Fencing Association are hereby incorporated as part as these By-Laws without action by the Executive Committee or member teams of S.W.I.F.A., unless they are specifically contradicted herein. The Executive Committee or the member teams, by a majority vote, shall have authority to waive any provision of the Fencing Rules and Operations Manual of the United States Fencing Association at the Annual Meeting, to become effective for the next competitive season. These By-Laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting of the member teams. An amendment receiving a majority of all votes cast by the member teams voting shall be deemed as adopted.
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Post by kd5mdk on Jun 22, 2006 23:57:50 GMT -6
Sounds pretty good to me. Any word on buy-in from the other schools?
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Post by Damaris on Jun 23, 2006 8:08:12 GMT -6
Kyle: i was talking to Prudence. I have no idea why you addressed me in that comment. I dont care what the usfa wants either. I dont know what you are reffering to when you say "this is what people want either". Are you talking about the pants?
Because if you read what i said, you can see im against forcing people to buy fencing pants for swifa too. Is that what your talking about?
I was just saying that not everybody can easily get baseball pants, because she made it seem like it was so simple to do. When in reality, ( it might have been the time of year we were looking), We went to like 3 stores in austin and called 3 more.
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Post by Damaris on Jun 23, 2006 12:27:34 GMT -6
I guess those were actualy the words of Parry Nine that were quoted as saying its only 10 or15 dollars to get baseball pants instead of Prudence.... but to make more clear, i do agree that shorts are dangerous in fencing. Just dont wanna force broke college students to buy fencing pants. My opininon on that is just my opinion though.
So like Kyle said, i also belive that these are the things to be voted on by the members of swifa. The more important stuff to me was to lay foundation, i dont really care all that much what color the curtains are. ;-)
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