---

From: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Abdul Habek
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 5:57 PM
To: eastbayfencers
Subject: [eastbayfencers] Thank you

Hi guys,

 

All of you was very big help yesterday.

Thank you very much. I hope everybody had a good time.

 

See you Tuesday.

Abdul

 

 

 

Hi All,

I am not sure if everyone got this, but with all of the hub-bub going
on with the recall, I thought this was interesting.
With some luck and the settling of thing in my life I shoud l see you
all again soon (if not tonight)!

I hope that everyone has a happy and healthly New Year.
~ Heath

--
Heath Winer
hwiner@...

Begin forwarded message:

> From: US Fencing <fencing_news@...>
> Date: January 6, 2006 10:01:40 PM PST
> To: hwiner@...
> Subject: USFA Newsletter: A Message from the President
>
> US Fencing Association
> News Blast
>
> In this issue, you'll read:
> Message from the President
>
> MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION:
>  
> Because I have taken a new job and have relocated my home, I was
> unable to submit my normal column to American Fencing Magazine and
> this year-end communication is what I would have published in that
> column.
>  
> The 2005 year has come to a close. I want to thank all of you at every
> level for your support and participation in a sport that brings all
> 25,000 members of the USFA the challenges and satisfaction that keep
> us all involved.
>  
> The USFA is in good health:
>  •  USFA membership is larger and stronger than it has ever been.
>
>  •  USFA finances are robust.
>
>  •  Our athletes continue to show VERY strong results in the
> international arena.
>
>  •  I'm sure you are all well aware of the excellent showing of our
> athletes at the Leipzig World Championships!
>
>  •  Looking at Cadet/Junior world results thus far, we have 7 gold
> medals, 4 silver medals, 6 bronze medals, and an additional 18
> athletes finishing in the top eight. Excellent promise for the
> future! 
>
>  •  Many of our top athletes are receiving significant stipends to
> help them focus on training and competition.
>
>  •  USFA national tournaments are bigger and stronger than ever. The
> level of officiating is consistently high and the venues are meeting
> the demands of the tournaments.  
>
>  •  This growth creates significant challenges; there is a Task Force
> in place charged with revisiting the purpose and effectiveness of
> these events for all participants. 
>
>  •  The Regional Youth program is coming into its own, with better and
> larger local competition for our youngest athletes,
>
>  •  There is increased visibility and attention to Veteran and
> Wheelchair athletes.
>
>  •  A professional marketing group has been hired to place our sport
> into the broader public eye, leading to increased media coverage and
> sponsorship potential.
>
>  •  We are implementing programs to showcase fencing in schools for
> increased awareness of the sport.
>
>  •  The Athletes Advisory Group is developing a plan to form a US
> Olympic Fencing Alumni association that will promote the sport and
> support athletes in their Olympic endeavors.
>
>  •  The Fencing Officials Commission has a program to identify and
> facilitate the development of referees at every level.
>
>  •  We have reformatted our website, but there needs to be greater
> currency of events and information. That is being attended to. We are
> in the process of migrating our DOS database out of the USOC domain
> and into a database that is under our control. This database is
> compatible with current on-line registration technology and will
> finally allow us to enter the on-line registration world.
>
>  •  If you or anyone in your club, team, group of parents, etc., would
> like further information on any of these points, please contact me
> directly at nanderson1@... and I will be happy to dialogue with
> you or make sure that your inquiry is attended to by the most
> efficient means possible.
>  
> The ship in on a steady course. Occasional waves and storms along the
> way? Of course. That is the nature of sailing these waters.
>  
> With my warmest wishes that 2006 will bring you and yours good times
> and good friends, both within and beyond your fencing aspirations!
>  
> Nancy E. Anderson
> President, United States Fencing Association
>
> Back to top
>
>
> To remove yourself from this mailing list, click here.
>
> Published with Newsletter Ease

Hi guys,
We had several people sign up to EBFG yahoo group
in the last couple of days and there were a couple of bounces
from my previous message so I'm sending this out again.

Here's the latest. We're having a party saturday night
Jan 7, 2006. This is the night before our first
EBFG BayCup of the season. All welcome.
Starting around 6:30 PM. Suggest getting a map
from google. Address is
727 Santa Clara, Alameda CA 94501
Tele: (510) 865-9482
cell: (510) 909-3147
e-mail: <jonathanjefferies@...>

BYOB or whatever you would like to show off
with and we will be supplying non-alcoholic
drinks and small foods.

Closing time the next day is 10:AM for the ladies
and 1:00 PM for the men. So fencers will have
plenty of time.


Here are our old pre-google directions:
Directions to 727 Santa Clara, Alameda CA

  From the East (Walnut Creek)
West on Hwy 24, continue straight where 24 turns to 980.
Exit 980 at 14th street. If you take large  curve you've gone too far.
Exit puts you on Brush. Continue straight until street passes under
freeway and elevated BART tracks. Turn left onto 5th st and parallel BART.
See TUBE below

  From the West (San Francisco) and North (Berkeley)
Take 80 to 880 South and then the Alameda, San Jose signs.
Take Alameda Exit. At foot of exit ramp turn right and continue straight
and
you will parallel the freeway and BART (5th st).
See TUBE below

  From the South
Take 880 North and take the Broadway exit in
downtown Oakland. At the foot of the exit ramp go
left under the freeway and at the other side of the
freeway (at light) take next 120 degree turn down into
the TUBE

TUBE: At 5th and Broadway you will find a 5 way
intersection. 3 are Oakland streets and 1 is a
freeway on-ramp. Follow signs to Alameda and
take the 5th turn which goes under the freeway
and down into the "TUBE". Coming out of the TUBE
stay to the right forsaking
the left branch of the "Y".
This is Webster street.
Continue for 4 stop lights to Santa Clara and turn left.
(At Santa Clara there is a Sushi Restaurant, A Bank,
and Tillie's Restaurant all very visible.)
727 Santa Clara is the 3rd house on the left after
Tillie's Restaurant. Tall fence with monster vine
around the front. Parking is on street or in the
city parking lot between Tillies and our house.

The new website has been redirected.   www.eastbayfencers.com now has the new
materiel.

--joel

eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 at 10:51 AM -0800
wrote:
>Hello everyone,
>
>I've redone the bulk of the website and would like any feedback any of
>you might have. You can find it at http://ebfg.adada.com/
>
>Here are the things i know need to be done:
>-more and different photos
>-spell check
>-add news (Frank, Marin and Jonathon finishes at the NAC)
>-More substantial Bios for Abdul (and Jonathon etc.)
>-Add t-shirt designs for shopping area
>-finish the gallery section. Any photos greatly appreciated
>
>Once these changes are made I'll see about redirecting the IP address
>so visitors to the site are sent here
>
>thanks
>
>Andy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Andrew Davis wrote:
> Here are the things i know need to be done:
> -more and different photos
>
We've got some old photos from NAC's and that sort of thing would they
be like you want?
> -add news (Frank, Marin and Jonathon finishes at the NAC)
> -More substantial Bios for Abdul (and Jonathon etc.)
> -Add t-shirt designs for shopping area
>
We've got t-shirts?
> -finish the gallery section. Any photos greatly appreciated
>
> Once these changes are made I'll see about redirecting the IP address
> so visitors to the site are sent here
>
> thanks
>
> Andy
>
Jonathan Jefferies

Hello everyone,

I've redone the bulk of the website and would like any feedback any of
you might have. You can find it at http://ebfg.adada.com/

Here are the things i know need to be done:
-more and different photos
-spell check
-add news (Frank, Marin and Jonathon finishes at the NAC)
-More substantial Bios for Abdul (and Jonathon etc.)
-Add t-shirt designs for shopping area
-finish the gallery section. Any photos greatly appreciated

Once these changes are made I'll see about redirecting the IP address
so visitors to the site are sent here

thanks

Andy

Hi guys,
Here's the latest. We're having a party saturday night
Jan 7, 2006. This is the night before our first
EBFG BayCup of the season. All welcome.
Starting around 6:30 PM. Suggest getting a map
from google. Address is
727 Santa Clara, Alameda CA 94501
Tele: (510) 865-9482
cell: (510) 909-3147
e-mail: <jonathanjefferies@...>

BYOB or whatever you would like to show off
with and we will be supplying non-alcoholic
drinks and small foods.

Closing time the next day is 10:AM for the ladies
and 1:00 PM for the men. So fencers will have
plenty of time.


Here are our old pre-google directions:
Directions to 727 Santa Clara, Alameda CA

  From the East (Walnut Creek)
West on Hwy 24, continue straight where 24 turns to 980.
Exit 980 at 14th street. If you take large  curve you've gone too far.
Exit puts you on Brush. Continue straight until street passes under
freeway and elevated BART tracks. Turn left onto 5th st and parallel BART.
See TUBE below

  From the West (San Francisco) and North (Berkeley)
Take 80 to 880 South and then the Alameda, San Jose signs.
Take Alameda Exit. At foot of exit ramp turn right and continue straight and
you will parallel the freeway and BART (5th st).
See TUBE below

  From the South
Take 880 North and take the Broadway exit in
downtown Oakland. At the foot of the exit ramp go
left under the freeway and at the other side of the
freeway (at light) take next 120 degree turn down into
the TUBE

TUBE: At 5th and Broadway you will find a 5 way
intersection. 3 are Oakland streets and 1 is a
freeway on-ramp. Follow signs to Alameda and
take the 5th turn which goes under the freeway
and down into the "TUBE". Coming out of the TUBE
stay to the right forsaking
the left branch of the "Y".
This is Webster street.
Continue for 4 stop lights to Santa Clara and turn left.
(At Santa Clara there is a Sushi Restaurant, A Bank,
and Tillie's Restaurant all very visible.)
727 Santa Clara is the 3rd house on the left after
Tillie's Restaurant. Tall fence with monster vine
around the front. Parking is on street or in the
city parking lot between Tillies and our house.

FYI

-----Original Message-----
From: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Mary Griffith
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 11:16 AM
To: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mtnvalley] Bay Cup task force

A reminder to anyone interested in the future of the Bay Cup:

The three Bay Cup divisions are forming a task force to discuss and plan
the future of the Bay Cup tournaments. The task force will be composed
of three representatives from each of the divisions, including at least
one division officer from each division.

So far, Wendy Kershaw has expressed interest in serving as one of the
Mountain Valley representatives. If you or anyone you know who is a
current USFA member in the Mountain Valley Division, please let me know
as soon as possible.

Current thought is that at least a preliminary meeting of the task force
will take place during RYC #2 in Menlo Park next month.

Thanks,

Mary


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Yahoo! Groups Links

Hi All,
Abdul and I had a chance to talk last night
and we agreed that the idea of a party after
the tournament on Jan 8 probably wouldn't
fly too well. It being a sunday and everyone
tired etc. SOooo, We're going to do it on
the preceding saturday Jan 7 evening.

So mark it on your calendars and I'll send
out details like how to find my place later.

Jonathan

Hi guys,
I've had a few questions. Here is what I've learned today:

As the amount of information on the website is fairly sparse I e-mailed
Paul Soter of Golden Gate Fencing Center, GGFC, asking for what he
knows. And just a brief aside, I was a member of GGFC for several
years but left for reasons. I do not always see eye to eye with
Paul but given his breadth and depth of experience with fencing
and the fencing communities (he was the US national men's
epee coach in Athens) I listen rather carefully when he speaks.
The following is his response to me - which he gave permission
to quote or pass on:

My original e-mail slightly abridged:

I signed the petition passed it around in Pittsburgh. But do you
know anything more about who's behind it? I understand it is more of a
national than regional effort. I've tried to pass word around but
it would help to answer questions if I knew more about the proposal.
Is there a plan for what to do if the petition succeeds?
Who are the persons that would be the persons to take over. Is there
more planned for the national office?

Paul Soter's response:

Hi, Jonathan -

Those are good and fair questions. Here are some answers:

Procedure:
If the petition succeeds in obtaining a recall, the Board may choose, by
a 2/3 vote, to suspend the President pending its resolution. The
Executive Committee can then select one of the three VP's as interim
President. Indications are that Cheris is willing to serve in that
capacity and Sobalvarro is not. I don't know about Wright, but as he has
the least experience, I would doubt it.

The recall process consists of a recall election like we had in
CaIifornia last year: the President runs against a nominee selected by
the Nominating Committee. Other candidates may also be nominated by
petition.

Movers
The movers include Jeff Bukantz, who is the US Team Captain and former
Chair of the FOC; Carl Borack, former Team Captain and USFA VP; and
Cathy Zagunas, mother of our only Olympic Gold Medalist. I suppose you'd
have to include me in the moving group, too. As you know, I am a former
everything, but most relevant, former PCS Chair, USFA VP, and USFA
Secretary.

None of us relishes the prospect of a petition drive, recall election,
and new election. The question is whether those steps are better or
worse for US fencing than another 2 1/2 years of the current situation.
In our view, the recall is the lesser evil. We are not happy about
having to do so, but we feel that the USFA will continue to implode if
changes are not made at the top.


Basis for the Recall
The recall movement can be boiled down to three bases. First, the USFA's
high-level international competitive program is a shambles due to
incompetence and poor oversight. Second, the National Office is out of
control and is offering an unacceptable level of service to the
membership, again due to incompetence and poor oversight. Third, the
major committees are having a terrible time performing their basic
functions, again due to poor oversight and coordination. These are the
President's responsibility, and she has failed to take appropriate
action in these areas, and in other areas where there are serious issues.

Those of us who have attended Board meetings have seen this lack of
leadership and competence in action. There seems to be little or no
advance planning, and no serious follow-up at the presidential level. I
can provide some specifics if you like.

National Office
This is really the key issue for me. With the notable and admirable
exception of Christine Simmons in Tournament Services, I feel that the
level of service provided by the Office is completely unacceptable. It
is impossible to reach a live person at the Office. Voice mails left
with the Office are not returned. The Director of International
Programs, hired shortly before the Olympics, was fired within a year and
has still not been replaced, leaving his functions unfulfilled. The new
Web site is barely functioning, and crashes consistently at the worst
possible times (right before NAC entry deadlines, every time). Worst of
all, the Office has failed to implement a system for online entries for
NAC’s and other national tournaments, despite specific representations
by the Executive to the Board of Directors that an online entry system
would be in place for the start of the 2005-2006 season. The President
has failed in her obligation to provide leadership and supervision for
the Office, and the situation shown no signs of improving.

Final Thoughts
I can't emphasize enough how loathe I was to come to the conclusion that
I had to agree that this was necessary. Since I resigned as NC, I have
been having a wonderful time actually spending my time teaching and
working on developing my own club. Getting sucked into this kind of USFA
brouhaha is the last thing I wanted to do. I had to recognize, though,
that my fencers ultimately need a functional USFA to help them achieve
their goals in fencing, rather than a disfunctional USFA impeding them
from achieving those goals. So, here we are. Thanks for your interest.
Feel free to quote or appropriate any of this message. Let me know if
you need anything else from me.

P
BTW, everything the general membership is suffering, the people trying
to run the USFA's international competitive program are suffering
worse. Every single national coach is reported to support the recall,
because the inefficiencies, arbitrariness, incompetence, and
indifference of the administration is having a daily effect on their
lives and the lives of their families, students, students' families,
and friends. It's just horrible: you can't get a decision made, and
when it finally is, you can't get it implemented. The only thing
that's keeping anyone involved at that level is their love of fencing
and of the fencers. I don't know how long they can hang on, though.

--------------END of Paul Soter's comments----------------------

Just some stray thoughts. The USFA's office crew is tiny, 8-9 people.
Undoubtedly overworked, the only way they can possibly perform the
functions that we need is if they are incredibly efficient. The web,
computers, cell phones are essential. And the USFA website is NOT
a luxury but a necessity for the organization to function. In Pittsburgh
I heard some concerning comments about the awarding of the contract
for the new not functioning so well website. My personal feeling is
that the USFA needs more visibility and transparency in its decision
making. In order to get there the members have to be informed of what
is going on and be able to take part. I believe the current set up
has USFA officers being elected by persons appointed by the division
chairs. Perhaps at one time this had a reason but today it sounds
very undesirable. Even wallstreet allows for election of officers by
means of the web.

Hello all,

For anyone who wasn't at practice tonight the news from Pittsburgh
is that Frank took a silver in the Vet 40 combined epee and I got
a bronze in the Vet60 epee. Abdul reminded me that it is my  best
result at a National. Not sure if that's true for Frank as well.

A couple of items of news: Just in case anyone isn't aware, there is going
to be a BayCup event at EBFG on Jan 08. (I believe this is a sunday).
It will be a SDHME3 and SAWE3 (D and higher mens epee and all women's
epee??  I couldn't make out what the codes meant). And unless someone
raises an issue we'll have an EBFG party afterwards at my house to
celebrate the new year, having survived the day's tournaments and
look forward to the upcoming fencing events. We would have had a
party earlier in the festive season but it seems everyone is already
booked up or is out of town.

Another, less happy piece of news is that there is a recall petition
drive going on for the USFA president. Most of you probably aren't
particularly interested but I thought that those who are USFA members
ought to be aware. NOTE *** you have to be eighteen and a USFA member
to vote on this. Bottom line is that there is a lot of complaints
about USFA activities or lack there of in addition to our local
complaints about USFA impact on the Bay Cup.

This is all being phrased very politely at least for now. Complaints are that
the President has not been responsive and has not fulfilled promises
made. If you have interest in the details as I've learned them then give me
an e-mail. Obviously if this succeeds then it could affect all of us.
Bottom line is this is a wakeup call to the entrenched volunteer
bureaucracy of the USFA.

There is a Web site regarding this issue. The address is:
http://www.geocities.com/save_usfencing/
There's very little there yet but it may snowball in the
future. Attached is a copy of the petition if anyone has
strong feelings at this point.

And I personally feel that this sort of information should be shared
with the rest of the fencing community. So if you know of USFA members
who are out of the loop on this you might want to let them know.

Jonathan Jefferies

Hi. I was wondering if anybody happened to pick up a Leon Paul body cord
during last night's practice. If so, let me know. Thanks!

Erik
ebatoog@...
510-501-6058

Jonathan, now's your big chance.

         ~jim.

-----Original Message-----
From: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Mary Griffith
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:17 AM
To: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mtnvalley] Bay Cup update

The following message has been posted to the Bay Cup website. If you are
a current Mountain Valley USFA member and are interested in serving on
the Bay Cup Task Force descibed here, please let me know at
mary.griff@.... The divisional executive committee decide on the
three MV representatives by the end of the year.

Mary

-----

A message from the Chairs of the Northern California, Central
California, and Mountain Valley Divisions:

A great deal of confusion and misunderstanding has arisen over this
season's Bay Cup tournaments. We hope this explanation will clarify
matters for fencers and their families, and we ask that you consider
carefully what Bay Cup is and ought to be and help to develop a
healthier Bay Cup for future seasons.

I. Background

On August 15, we three division chairs were notified by USFA that Eric
Dew was ineligible to act in any official capacity in USFA matters due
to a pending disciplinary investigation. We inquired of USFA for
specifics of how this would affect Mr. Dew's role as Bay Cup
administrator, and were told that we should wait for clarification until
the disciplinary panel's report was made at a September 11 meeting of
the USFA Board of Directors.

On September 16, we received official notification that Mr. Dew's USFA
membership had been suspended by the USFA Board of Directors for the
remainder of the 2005-2006 membership year, and that he was therefore
prohibited "from taking part in USFA sanctioned events as a competitor,
or referee, from holding any office, appointment or position in the
USFA, including its divisions and sections, or voting in USFA elections.
It also means that any actions taken by him may not be covered by USFA
liability, medical or other insurance." Eric will be eligible to apply
for reinstatement to the USFA after the end of the 2005-2006 membership
year, subject to his meeting certain preconditions.  (This action is
documented in the Minutes of the September Board of Directors meeting,
posted on the USFA Web site.)

Since the extent to which these prohibitions affected the tasks Mr.
Dew has performed for several years as Bay Cup administrator was not
entirely clear, we sent a list of questions regarding such matters as
handling Bay Cup funds, running tournaments, maintaining the Bay Cup
website, etc., to USFA, asking for specific guidance.

On September 28, USFA Executive Director Michael Massik and USFA General
Counsel Donald Alperstein arranged and participated in a conference call
with the three division chairs, as well as Buzz Hurst, USFA Divisions
and Sections Committee Chair, to discuss the consequences, for both Bay
Cup and the three divisions, of Mr. Dew's suspension. In the course of
the discussion, in order to get answers about what Mr. Dew was and was
not allowed to do, we had to explain what Bay Cup was, what Mr. Dew's
role with Bay Cup was, and how Bay Cup has been managed over the past
several years. As the discussion progressed, we chairs were told in no
uncertain terms that we had been derelict in allowing Bay Cup as much
independence as it had had over the past several years, and that in
order for Bay Cup events to be sanctioned (that is, covered by USFA
liability insurance and able to award new classifications), Bay Cup
governance had to be clearly subordinate to the divisions.

Specifically, we were told that:

-- an independent bank account with access by only one non-elected
individual was improper.

-- classification changes must be submitted through the division where
the event is held and not through any independent entity.

-- the division is the basic unit of USFA administration; while
divisions may choose to cooperate in scheduling events open to USFA
members, there is no provision for any independent entity to run
sanctioned events outside the divisional/sectional structure. While
there is nothing to prevent a private entity from organizing and running
tournaments, those events would be private, unsanctioned events not
covered by USFA liability insurance and unable to award ratings.

-- during the period of his suspension,  which will run until he is
reinstated by the USFA, Mr. Dew may not perform through an agent any
tasks or duties he is prohibited from performing himself directly.

After this conference call, we three division chairs decided
emphatically that we wanted the Bay Cup to continue through this season,
and we began to consider steps to take to make sure that it could.
Fortunately, the schedule for the season had already been set; had it
not been, we doubt that Bay Cup could have worked at all for this
season.

We arranged with Mr. Dew for someone to take over access to the Bay Cup
bank account, and considered options for maintaining the website.
(USFA told us that Mr. Dew could do anything he wanted with the website,
but that if he maintained it himself, it could only be
unofficial--official information concerning schedules, closing times,
results, etc., could only come through regular divisional communications
channels.) After some fits and starts (Mary Griffith, for instance,
while willing, discovered that the website maintenance was more than she
had the knowledge or time for), we have found a suitable volunteer, Beau
Mitchum, to maintain the Bay Cup website, and we now expect to get
caught up with website updates fairly quickly.

We also considered the issue of the Bay Cup registration fee of $40 per
series. While we did not discuss the specifics of this fee in any detail
during our conference call with the USFA officials, there is some
question whether such a fee is in fact proper. In order to eliminate
that issue until we could get a definitive ruling from USFA and to
eliminate the task of tracking who is and isn't a Bay Cup member, we
decided to substitute a $5 per event surcharge for this season. While
most fencers in the Bay Cup area had no objection, a small but
exceedingly vocal minority, mostly in the NorCal Division, objected
vehemently. Given the controversy, we opted to allow fencers to choose
to pay either the $40 fee or the $5 surcharge, though this neither
eliminates the issue of the legitimacy of the fee nor simplifies the Bay
Cup membership recordkeeping.

II. Consequences

The Bay Cup tournaments are a huge and vital part of USFA fencing in
northern California. Eric Dew has done an unbelievable amount of work in
organizing and maintaining a growing series of events over the past
several years. We expect Bay Cup to continue to grow in popularity in
the future as it has over the past few years, and will do our best to
help it do so.

However, it is clear from our discussions with Michael Massik and Donald
Alperstein that we cannot simply return to the same structure and
administration for Bay Cup when and if Mr. Dew's USFA membership is
reinstated.

Generally, the USFA national office stays out of divisional business
until and unless a problem develops. In our case, until Mr. Dew's
suspension required it to take a closer look, the USFA was unaware of
how Bay Cup was structured and run. Now that USFA has taken notice, we
must change Bay Cup's structure to conform with current USFA rules.

We view this season as an interim year--one during which we will use the
schedule as it was created for this season, and do our best to make sure
events run as smoothly as possible under proper division oversight.

What we also want to do this season is create a viable permanent
structure and operations manual for the Bay Cup to use next season and
the years following. To that end, we propose the creation of a Bay Cup
Task Force, composed of three (3) representatives, including at least
one elected divisional officer, from each of the three Bay Cup
divisions. This committee would be charged with considering the purpose
and goals of the Bay Cup tournaments and creating an operations manual
outlining a permanent structure and procedures in compliance with USFA
regulations.

This committee should consider, among other things, what the goals and
objectives of the Bay Cup are, who fences in Bay Cup tournaments, how
many events should be held, what age and ability levels should be
included, how such categories should be determined and changed, how
tournaments should be managed, what standards and compensation for
referees should be, how seasonal awards should be determined, etc.--
everything from the specific and concrete details of administration to
the more philosophical issues of how events should be balanced between
the more recreational fencers and the ferociously competitive, and how
much one category should subsidize others.

To stimulate your thinking about these issues, you might like to take a
look at the fencer numbers from last season in this Excel sheet which
shows how many events were fenced by fencers in each category.
(Surprisingly, in almost every category except Youth-14 Boys' Foil, more
than 75% fenced in three or fewer events.)



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
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If you are interested in serving on this proposed Bay Cup Task Force,
please contact your division chair. The committee members will be
selected by their respective divisional executive committees no later
than December 31.

Creating this new structure for Bay Cup will not be an easy process.
We have many fencers and coaches and parents with strong and
differing views of what Bay Cup should be, and reconciling the many
different views will be a difficult undertaking. We hope that
everybody, though, shares our objective of helping the Bay Cup
survive and grow through its current upheaval to remain the premier
regional tournament series in the country. We hope that you will help
us achieve this goal.

Tomek Amborski
Chair, Northern California Division

Rita Comes
Chair, Central California Division

Mary Griffith
Chair, Mountain Valley Division

Hi guys,
Practice your patience on this one for a while yet. I'm sure everyone who is
interested has already heard about EDEW's suspension. This appears to be
one more roll from the wannabe political ninnies to carve up the Bay Cup
and force us back into the dark ages. At best it means we'll get maybe $10
back, i.e. $5 x 6 ==$30 instead of the $40 we paid for each BayCup. But as
Erik points out those who are in the open and the D and under may wind up
paying more. I suspect the idiots who did this didn't bother to think it
through.
I'll send out requests for clarification.

Jonathan

Smith, Jim wrote:

>
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
>>[mailto:mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mary Griffith
>>Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 11:39 AM
>>To: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
>>Subject: [mtnvalley] Bay Cup changes
>>
>>Effective immediately, by agreement among the three division
>>chairs currently overseeing the Bay Cup tournaments:
>>
>>1. Bay Cup membership fee is no longer required. We will refund the
>>2005-2006 membership fees, less $5 for each event already
>>fenced, to those who have already paid them.
>>
>>2. In lieu of the membership fee, $5 will be added to the
>>entry fee for each event. Each host organization will submit
>>$5 per individual entry to the Bay Cup fund. Details of how
>>to submit those funds will be announced as soon as the proper
>>arrangements are made for the bank account.
>>
>>3. Because of these changes, any current USFA members may
>>compete in any Bay Cup event open to them by age and rating.
>>
>>If you paid your Bay Cup membership fee for 2005-2006 at the
>>Sr Bay Cup tournament held September 18 at the Sacramento
>>Fencing Club, I still have your check or cash and will be
>>contacting you shortly about your refund.
>>
>>Mary
>>
>>Mary Griffith
>>Chair, Mt. Valley Division
>>mary.griff@...
>>
>>
>>

I'm unclear as to the context of this email. Does this apply to
everyone competing in Bay Cup events? If so, it seems like a rather
harsh punishment for the people who fence often. What could possibly be
the thinking behind this? (other than people wanting a bigger coffer
for the Bay Cup)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mary Griffith
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 11:39 AM
> To: mtnvalley@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [mtnvalley] Bay Cup changes
>
> Effective immediately, by agreement among the three division
> chairs currently overseeing the Bay Cup tournaments:
>
> 1. Bay Cup membership fee is no longer required. We will refund the
> 2005-2006 membership fees, less $5 for each event already
> fenced, to those who have already paid them.
>
> 2. In lieu of the membership fee, $5 will be added to the
> entry fee for each event. Each host organization will submit
> $5 per individual entry to the Bay Cup fund. Details of how
> to submit those funds will be announced as soon as the proper
> arrangements are made for the bank account.
>
> 3. Because of these changes, any current USFA members may
> compete in any Bay Cup event open to them by age and rating.
>
> If you paid your Bay Cup membership fee for 2005-2006 at the
> Sr Bay Cup tournament held September 18 at the Sacramento
> Fencing Club, I still have your check or cash and will be
> contacting you shortly about your refund.
>
> Mary
>
> Mary Griffith
> Chair, Mt. Valley Division
> mary.griff@...
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite
> Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/VRUolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ------~->
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi Everyone!  Good Luck in Long Beach!  I'm buried learning a new job
in a new industry (biotech!)  I'll get in when I can, but it won't be
very much for a couple of months.

GO EBFG!

Linda

--
Heath WIner
hwiner@...

Long Beach Invitational
So who is going with us by car? At last nose count
we had Tod, Abdul, jonathan, mystery ryder
# 4 and possibly Frank.  Who is mystery ryder #4??

We need to know in order to work out the motel
arrangements. The Host hotel/motel has/had rooms
for friday night (not saturday but we don't care).
The LBI web page claims the hotel can accommodate
4 persons/room. Not knowing who was going to be
there I reserved one. Unfortunately I now learn
it has only 1 KING size bed. I can take an
air mattress and sleeping bag. So if we're three
we can fit, if 4+ then we need to make other
arrangements.

So let me know.

BTW, is there anyone from EBFG not on this list??

Jonathan

Hey everyone,

As you may know, I finish my comprehensive exams on Oct 7th. That
evening, I will be doing what any reasonable person would do after the
comps: drinking! And you're invited; as well as any friends, family,
acquaintances, or strangers off the street.

The "event" will be held at the Albatross Pub (because its walking
distance from my house) located at 1822 San Pablo Ave in Berkeley
starting at 8pm. FYI, if you want food, eat before you get there because
they don't really do food... but they have cool games.

Okay, hope to see you there; RSVP if you want.

-Skyler

I just sent this out and got Frank's bounce immediately,
so my e-mail list is probably not up to date. But anyway
I overheard Julian mention looking for an apartment in S.F. and
wanted to forward this to him. So if you have his latest
address kindly send it on to him.

Jonathan


-------- Original Message --------
Subject:  Apartment for rent
Date:  Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:57:08 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Cole Harkness <i_yeti@...>
To:  Cole Harkness <i_yeti@...>



Hi, kids!

The apartment above my cave on Langton St. is becoming
available soon, and my landlady (the coolest landlady
to walk the earth) asked me to ask around to see if
anyone I know is interested.

It has 3 bedrooms, 1 split bath (perfect for keeping
roommates/S.O.'s happy) hardwood floors, cat OK, next
to Howard/Langton garden.  There is laundry, cafes,
restaurants, a hippy food market and a fencing
supplier all within one block.  Some of SF's easiest
parking (with neighborhood permit).  Near Bart, Muni,
280 and 101.

$1850.00/month and a garage of your own for an
additional $150.00/month.

Please contact me if you or someone you know and like
is interested.

Ciao!

Cole,
AFS



__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com
.

I haven't gotten a pair. I just got new shoes at Duel in the Desert and can't
justify two pairs just now

AD




Quoting Heath Winer <hwiner@...>:

> Hey all,
>
> I just bought a pair and I should get then in about a week.
>
> I'll let you know.
> -Heath
>
> On Sep 21, 2005, at 12:16 PM, franc wrote:
>
>> hey andy,
>>
>>  have you tried out these shoes?
>>  what are your thoughts?
>>  i need a new pair for the ebfg gym floor.
>>
>>  thanks,
>>  frank
>>
>>  --- andy@... wrote:
>>
>>  > In case anyone is interested, Leon Paul is offering new shoes relatively
>>  > cheaply.
>>  >
>>  > details below
>>  >
>>  > AD
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  > Blade Fencing Shoes
>>  >
>>  > Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe
>> has been under
>>  > intensive development and testing for the last 6 months and is
>> designed to give
>>  > you the ultimate performance and durability in a shoe designed by
>> fencers for
>>  > fencers. The standard price is $109.95 but we are offering them
>> for only $85
>>  > including free shipping, an amazing $24.99 off, for the first
>> week after launch
>>  > (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
>>  >
>>  > Features include:
>>  >
>>  > - Extended sole for maximum traction while lunging
>>  >
>>  > - Protection zone to maximise lifespan if you drag your back foot
>>  >
>>  > -Sole designed to grip on both metallic strips and gym floors
>>  >
>>  > - Stability bar to prevent ankle injury when retreating
>>  >
>>  > AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
>>  >
>>  > For more details or to buy these shoes please visit www.leonpaulusa.com.
>>  >
>>  > _____________________________
>>  > Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
>>  > Hosting by http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  > ----- End forwarded message -----
>>  >
>>  >
>>  ---------------------------------
>>  Sword Fencing
>>
>>  SHOES RELEASED
>>   
>>               
>>
>>         
>>       
>>
>>          
>>       
>>  and
>>  present
>>        Blade Fencing Shoes
>>       
>>  Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe
>> has been under intensive
>>  development and testing for the last 6 months and is designed to
>> give you the ultimate performance
>>  and durability in a shoe designed by fencers for fencers. The
>> standard price is  $109.95 but we
>>  are offering them for only $85 including free shipping, an amazing
>> $24.99 off, for the first week
>>  after launch (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
>>                          Features
>> include:                            - Extended
sole for maximum
>>  traction while
>> lunging                                   
- Protection zone to maximise
>> lifespan
>>  if you drag your back
>> foot                          -Sole
>> designed to grip on both metallic strips
>>  and gym floors                          -
>> Stability bar to prevent ankle injury when retreating  
>>                 
>>  AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
>>         
>>          For more details or to buy these shoes please click  here.
>>         
>>       
>>       
>>         
>>
>>
>>  Leon Paul USA
>>    306 Candler Street, Atlanta, GA 30307-2034 USA
>>  Website: www.leonpaulusa.com
>>  Leon Paul and the Leon Paul Roundall logos are registered
>> trademarks , Contour Fit&copy;, X-Change
>>  System&copy;, Mini Fence&reg; are registered trademarks of Leon Paul.
>>
>>
>>  ---------------------------------
>>  Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
>>  Hosting by YourMailingListProvider
>>
>>
>>
>> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>>
>>  ▪   Visit your group "eastbayfencers" on the web.
>>  
>>  ▪   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>  eastbayfencers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>>  
>>  ▪   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>>
>>
>>
> --
> Heath WIner
> hwiner@...
>

Hey all,

I just bought a pair and I should get then in about a week.

I'll let you know.
-Heath

On Sep 21, 2005, at 12:16 PM, franc wrote:

> hey andy,
>
>  have you tried out these shoes?
>  what are your thoughts?
>  i need a new pair for the ebfg gym floor.
>
>  thanks,
>  frank
>
>  --- andy@... wrote:
>
>  > In case anyone is interested, Leon Paul is offering new shoes
> relatively
>  > cheaply.
>  >
>  > details below
>  >
>  > AD
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Blade Fencing Shoes
>  >
>  > Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe
> has been under
>  > intensive development and testing for the last 6 months and is
> designed to give
>  > you the ultimate performance and durability in a shoe designed by
> fencers for
>  > fencers. The standard price is $109.95 but we are offering them for
> only $85
>  > including free shipping, an amazing $24.99 off, for the first week
> after launch
>  > (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
>  >
>  > Features include:
>  >
>  > - Extended sole for maximum traction while lunging
>  >
>  > - Protection zone to maximise lifespan if you drag your back foot
>  >
>  > -Sole designed to grip on both metallic strips and gym floors
>  >
>  > - Stability bar to prevent ankle injury when retreating
>  >
>  > AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
>  >
>  > For more details or to buy these shoes please visit
> www.leonpaulusa.com.
>  >
>  > _____________________________
>  > Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
>  > Hosting by http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > ----- End forwarded message -----
>  >
>  >
>  ---------------------------------
>  Sword Fencing
>
>  SHOES RELEASED
>   
>               
>
>         
>       
>
>          
>       
>  and
>  present
>        Blade Fencing Shoes
>       
>  Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe has
> been under intensive
>  development and testing for the last 6 months and is designed to give
> you the ultimate performance
>  and durability in a shoe designed by fencers for fencers. The
> standard price is  $109.95 but we
>  are offering them for only $85 including free shipping, an amazing
> $24.99 off, for the first week
>  after launch (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
>                          Features
include:                           
> - Extended sole for maximum
>  traction while
lunging                                    -
> Protection zone to maximise lifespan
>  if you drag your back foot                         
-Sole designed to
> grip on both metallic strips
>  and gym floors                          - Stability
bar to prevent
> ankle injury when retreating  
>                 
>  AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
>         
>          For more details or to buy these shoes please click  here.
>         
>       
>       
>         
>
>
>  Leon Paul USA
>    306 Candler Street, Atlanta, GA 30307-2034 USA
>  Website: www.leonpaulusa.com
>  Leon Paul and the Leon Paul Roundall logos are registered trademarks
> , Contour Fit©, X-Change
>  System©, Mini Fence® are registered trademarks of Leon Paul.
>
>
>  ---------------------------------
>  Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
>  Hosting by YourMailingListProvider
>
>
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>  ▪   Visit your group "eastbayfencers" on the web.
>  
>  ▪   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>  eastbayfencers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>  
>  ▪   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>
>
--
Heath WIner
hwiner@...

hey andy,

have you tried out these shoes?
what are your thoughts?
i need a new pair for the ebfg gym floor.

thanks,
frank

--- andy@... wrote:

> In case anyone is interested, Leon Paul is offering new shoes relatively
> cheaply.
>
> details below
>
> AD
>
>
>
> Blade Fencing Shoes
>
> Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe has been
under
> intensive development and testing for the last 6 months and is designed to
give
> you the ultimate performance and durability in a shoe designed by fencers for
> fencers. The standard price is $109.95 but we are offering them for only $85
> including free shipping, an amazing $24.99 off, for the first week after
launch
> (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
>
> Features include:
>
> - Extended sole for maximum traction while lunging
>
> - Protection zone to maximise lifespan if you drag your back foot
>
> -Sole designed to grip on both metallic strips and gym floors
>
> - Stability bar to prevent ankle injury when retreating
>
> AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
>
> For more details or to buy these shoes please visit www.leonpaulusa.com.
>
> _____________________________
> Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
> Hosting by http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com
>
>
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
>
---------------------------------
Sword Fencing

SHOES RELEASED








  and
present
       Blade Fencing Shoes

Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe has been under
intensive
development and testing for the last 6 months and is designed to give you the
ultimate performance
and durability in a shoe designed by fencers for fencers. The standard price is 
$109.95 but we
are offering them for only $85 including free shipping, an amazing $24.99 off,
for the first week
after launch (until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).
                         Features include:                            - Extended
sole for maximum
traction while lunging                                    - Protection zone to
maximise lifespan
if you drag your back foot                          -Sole designed to grip on
both metallic strips
and gym floors                          - Stability bar to prevent ankle injury
when retreating

AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

         For more details or to buy these shoes please click  here.






Leon Paul USA
   306 Candler Street, Atlanta, GA 30307-2034 USA
Website: www.leonpaulusa.com
Leon Paul and the Leon Paul Roundall logos are registered trademarks , Contour
Fit©, X-Change
System©, Mini Fence® are registered trademarks of Leon Paul.


---------------------------------
Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
Hosting by YourMailingListProvider

In case anyone is interested, Leon Paul is offering new shoes relatively
cheaply.

details below

AD



Blade Fencing Shoes

Leon Paul and Hi-Tec present a brand new fencing shoe. This shoe has been under
intensive development and testing for the last 6 months and is designed to give
you the ultimate performance and durability in a shoe designed by fencers for
fencers. The standard price is $109.95 but we are offering them for only $85
including free shipping, an amazing $24.99 off, for the first week after launch
(until 9am EST on Wednesday the 28th of September).

Features include:

- Extended sole for maximum traction while lunging

- Protection zone to maximise lifespan if you drag your back foot

-Sole designed to grip on both metallic strips and gym floors

- Stability bar to prevent ankle injury when retreating

AVAILABLE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

For more details or to buy these shoes please visit www.leonpaulusa.com.

_____________________________
Unsubscribe: http://www.ymlp.com/u.php?leonpaulusa+andy@adada.com
Hosting by http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com



----- End forwarded message -----

Leon Paul USA
306 Candler Street, Atlanta, GA 30307-2034 USA
Website: www.leonpaulusa.com
Leon Paul and the Leon Paul Roundall logos are registered trademarks , Contour Fit©, X-Change System©, Mini Fence® are registered trademarks of Leon Paul.

My husband Keith and I will see you all there.

Thanks!

Linda

Just wanted to let you know that sondra and I will be coming by.

thanks for the invite

AD



Quoting Keith Lichten <keith_lichten@...>:

> Many of you have already scheduled a fun activity for this coming Saturday
> night.  For those of you who, like me, are still looking for something to
> do, why not come to a housewarming?  Even better, it's at our house, so
> you get to see Michael and me, too.  We thought about scheduling it at
> someone else's house to reduce cleanup, and maybe we could just bring
> pictures of our new place, but that seemed like a lot of work.
>
> Here's the information from Michael--if you have questions, send email
> or give me a call at (510) 682-5493.
>
> If you are feeling socially awkward because you are receiving this
> invitation quite late, and are in need of an excuse for not coming, how
> about:
>
> 1.  I need to wax my sidewalk.
> 2.  I will be flossing my cat that night.
> 3.  My kids are grown and I am enjoying a night of peace and quiet at
> home.
> 4.  I don't have kids.
>
> -Keith
>
> ***
> At long last, Keith and I are having a house warming at our West
> Oakland abode. Your presence would be most appreciated--feel free to
> bring
> along beer, vegan pork rinds or anyone I may have inadvertently omitted
> from
> the mass email.
>
> Saturday, September 17th
> 344 Lewis Street
> Oakland, CA 94607
> 8pm
> (Two blocks from the West Oakland Bart Station, towards the post
> office)
>
> mallan@...
> 510-701-0242
>
>