*Here's the information on time and place
Golden Gate this coming
Saturday April 8, 2006*
indiv - *2:00 PM *
Senior Team - Immed. Following Indiv.
So there's no firm time for the team.
Will try to get one set.

Jonathan

Ok guys,
Here is what I understood from our conversations Tuesday evening.
EBFG is going to field men's epee teams in Senior and Div I. That means
1. We have to have a minimum of four people show up saturday April 8.
     and at least 4 with a "C" and above classification for the Div I
2. At summer nationals we have to have four fencers present at the
     Div I men's epee Sunday July 2, 2006
3. at summer nationals we have to have four fencers present at the
     Senior men's epee Sunday July 9, 2006.

Note that the Div I is saturday July  and
Div I team is the following day (monday)

Div III is on wednesday,
Div IA (qualifier is in Las Vegas in May) is on thursday,
Vets is friday,
Div II is saturday
Senior Team is Sunday.

So you need to figure out how long you will be willing to be in Atlanta
and pick your events accordingly. We want a head count of who is
doing what.

Jonathan

Schedule for Qualifiers, (Div I team and Senior Team, Div II and Div III
and veterans)
There is a tentative schedule, but I don't think Sandy has had a chance
to post it on the web.

Epee is Saturday, April 8th @ GGFC.  WE at 11:00 am.  ME at 2:00 PM.

Foil is Sunday, April 9th @ HFC.  MF at 10:00 am.  WF at 12:30 PM.

I believe Tomek had sent out an e-mail previously asking the club reps
to indicate who would have which team in order to determine times for
the team competition.

My understanding was that the Jr Team qualifier was in May.

Anna


Anna Estrada

Secretary

Northern California Division

evaelle@... <mailto:evaelle@...>

You can access the store through this link

http://www.cafepress.com/ebfg

thanks

ad


Quoting Keith Lichten <keith_lichten@...>:

> Hey all,
>
>  If you find you want to order some EBFG logo wear using the link to
> Cafe Press that Andy set up from our web page, don't forget to use a
> coupon.
>
>  The following code is good for $5 off any purchase of $20 or more
> until April 1.  DULLSADDUCT  (just enter it into the promotional code
> section at checkout).
>
>  If you don't use that code, it doesn't hurt to do a search for Cafe
> Press promotional codes on google or yahoo, and something should come
> up, usually $5 off a purchase of $20 or more.
>
>  -Keith
>

---

From: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of jonathan jefferies
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 6:43 PM
To: eastbay fencers
Subject: [eastbayfencers] Epee Team

  Hi all,
We need to make some decisions here fairly soon. Summer national
schedules have been
posted. We have spoken about putting an epee team together.
1. The teams have to qualify at divisional qualifiers April 8&9

08-Apr-2006           NorCal Div II/III/Vet Team U19T SNQ           Div Req    
NorCal Div   
09-Apr-2006           NorCal Div II/III/Vet Team U19T SNQ           Div Req    
NorCal Div   

There appear to be two possible teams Senior and Div I. Div I (I believe
requires that
we have "C" and above (or is that "D" and above??). Senior is just open

2. The summer national schedule as posted:
http://www.fencing.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1405&d=1142985814
has Division I team on July 2. This is the day after Division I epee, July1.
Whereas Senior team is on July 9 the day after Division II, July 8.
I'm noting that my main event, Vet60 epee, is on July 7 which mens that
I'm naturally
going to lean toward the Senior event. Here are the applicable parts:

Men's Epée

Friday

June 30

     


Wheelchair #

Saturday

July 1

     

Division I #

Youth 12

Sunday

July 2

     

Youth 14 #

Division I Team

Monday

July 3

     

Under 16 #



Tuesday

July 4

     

Under 19 #

Youth 10 #


Wednesday

July 5

     

Division III #


Under 19 Team

Thursday

July 6

     

Division IA #




Friday

July 7

     

Veteran 40 #

Veteran 50 #

Veteran 60 #

Saturday

July 8

     

Division II #



Sunday

July 9

     



Senior Team

Hello to all my friends out there.

I am hosting a very special art making event THIS SATURDAY from 2-4pm

It will be the first in a monthly art making experience called the
Human Loom.
The Human Loom Project is a community weaving event when a group of
people work together to create a piece of fabric.
Woven into the fabric are each other's hope, dreams, wishes, and
stories.

The Event will be at 3278 West Street, Oakland, CA 94608 (corner of
33rd and West Streets).

If you would like to see what it is about you can check out my pics
on my tribe.net site.

http://people.tribe.net/heath

I hope you can make it.

~Heath



--
Heath Winer
hwiner@...

Hi all,
We need to make some decisions here fairly soon. Summer national
schedules have been
posted. We have spoken about putting an epee team together.
1. The teams have to qualify at divisional qualifiers April 8&9

08-Apr-2006      NorCal Div II/III/Vet Team U19T SNQ      Div Req
NorCal Div
09-Apr-2006      NorCal Div II/III/Vet Team U19T SNQ      Div Req
NorCal Div

There appear to be two possible teams Senior and Div I. Div I (I believe
requires that
we have "C" and above (or is that "D" and above??). Senior is just open

2. The summer national schedule as posted:
http://www.fencing.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1405&d=1142985814
has Division I team on July 2. This is the day after Division I epee, July1.
Whereas Senior team is on July 9 the day after Division II, July 8.
I'm noting that my main event, Vet60 epee, is on July 7 which mens that
I'm naturally
going to lean toward the Senior event. Here are the applicable parts:

Men's Epée

Friday

June 30




Wheelchair #

Saturday

July 1



Division I #

Youth 12

Sunday

July 2



Youth 14 #

Division I Team

Monday

July 3



Under 16 #



Tuesday

July 4



Under 19 #

Youth 10 #


Wednesday

July 5



Division III #


Under 19 Team

Thursday

July 6



Division IA #




Friday

July 7



Veteran 40 #

Veteran 50 #

Veteran 60 #

Saturday

July 8



Division II #



Sunday

July 9





Senior Team

Ok guys, I got it wrong from the telephone
blurb they were putting out when I called about
reservations at the Riviera. It isn't Neal Diamond
but some impersonator doing a tribute to Neal Diamond.
I just figured it probably was N.D. and maybe he was
coming down to fence, believe he was a fencer back
in college (team captain or some such?).

Oh well. Maybe some other interesting shows on the
strip.
Jonathan

Dolphin Graphics in Haywar


>From: jonathan jefferies <jonathanjefferies@...>
>Reply-To: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
>To: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [eastbayfencers] Embroidered Names
>Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 09:35:14 -0800
>
>Andrew Davis wrote:
> > Can anyone suggest a vendor to have your name embroidered or painted
> > on the back of a jacket. Other than marin of course :)
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Andy
> >
> >
>The place we've gone to locally is
>Sports & Graphics
>435 Huntington Ave
>S. San Francisco
>(650) 588-3216
>It's off I380 near the Tanforan? Shopping Center
>
>Their price for embroidering a fencing jacket with
>your name and USA was $17. a few months ago.
>
>CAUTION however, the largest size they
>can do is 3 inches. And that fails the minimum size mandated
>by the FIE and USFA by  3/4 inch. (Legal size is just under
>3 3/4 inches.)
>Which means that in a ugly situation you could be carded
>for not having the legal size name on your jacket.
>My understanding is that they did check at  a  J.O. a while back.
>However, locally or regionally no one ever checks. Originally
>we got the name of these folks from Eric Hansen who I believe
>uses their services as well.And no one looked at me twice
>at the Pittsburgh NAC. Just realize YMMV. So carry a strip of
>cloth with your name and country on it at the legal size and if
>forced pin it to the back of your jacket.
>
>Also there are a number of smaller outfits that can do
>characters of up to an inch for personalizing your gear.
>Monogram Plus at the Serramonte Mall is one such.
>And there are probably others. try (650) 755-6450
>
>Jonathan
>

_________________________________________________________________
Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/

hey guys,
sports graphics in south san francisco does a good job for $15.
you might want to request 3" lettering for those world cups! ;)

touche,
franc

--- "Smith, Jim" <jimsmith@...> wrote:

> Andy,
>
> I got mine done a national tournament a few years back.  Pretty sure is
> was $20 a piece.
>
> I think it was from these guys.  I am very happy with the results.  Gone
> through many washings but hasn't faded much.
>
>
> Marx Enterprises
> 7825 SW 11th
> Portland, OR  97219
> (503) 245-9271
>
> But its obviously inferior to Marin's handiwork.  (maybe she could find
> a more manly font for you :)
>
>          ~jim.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>  From: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew Davis
>  Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 7:43 PM
>  To: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
>  Subject: [eastbayfencers] Embroidered Names
>
>
>  Can anyone suggest a vendor to have your name embroidered or
> painted
>  on the back of a jacket. Other than marin of course :)
>
>  thanks
>
>  Andy
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>  YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
>
>  *  Visit your group "eastbayfencers
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eastbayfencers> " on the web.
>
>  *  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> 		 eastbayfencers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:eastbayfencers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
>
>  *  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
> Terms of Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
>

Andrew Davis wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a vendor to have your name embroidered or painted
> on the back of a jacket. Other than marin of course :)
>
> thanks
>
> Andy
>
>
The place we've gone to locally is
Sports & Graphics
435 Huntington Ave
S. San Francisco
(650) 588-3216
It's off I380 near the Tanforan? Shopping Center

Their price for embroidering a fencing jacket with
your name and USA was $17. a few months ago.

CAUTION however, the largest size they
can do is 3 inches. And that fails the minimum size mandated
by the FIE and USFA by  3/4 inch. (Legal size is just under
3 3/4 inches.)
Which means that in a ugly situation you could be carded
for not having the legal size name on your jacket.
My understanding is that they did check at  a  J.O. a while back.
However, locally or regionally no one ever checks. Originally
we got the name of these folks from Eric Hansen who I believe
uses their services as well.And no one looked at me twice
at the Pittsburgh NAC. Just realize YMMV. So carry a strip of
cloth with your name and country on it at the legal size and if
forced pin it to the back of your jacket.

Also there are a number of smaller outfits that can do
characters of up to an inch for personalizing your gear.
Monogram Plus at the Serramonte Mall is one such.
And there are probably others. try (650) 755-6450

Jonathan

---

From: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew Davis
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 7:43 PM
To: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [eastbayfencers] Embroidered Names

Can anyone suggest a vendor to have your name embroidered or painted
on the back of a jacket. Other than marin of course :)

thanks

Andy

Can anyone suggest a vendor to have your name embroidered or painted
on the back of a jacket. Other than marin of course :)

thanks

Andy

Ok vets,
Forgot to mention it last night
but it's Salle Santa Cruz
Saturday 1:30 PM checkin time for epee.
They're showing it in East Field house BUT be
sure to double check saturday morning as they've
been known to change the location at the last
minute.

J.

Hi all

If you are going to Reno in March - I noticed that Southwest Vacation
Packages including air and hotel (at the Hilton -  USFA's host hotel
and venue) total plus taxes for 3 nights and air = $284 - you can also
tack on other stuff like hot air balloon rides, ski stuff and white
water rafting. . .but the cost goes up. . .

but if you book hotel through USFA - the Hilton is 95 a night and then
air fair only via southwest is 118 -

So. . .118 + (95 not even including taxes yet x 3)= 403!

hmmm,

gee - maybe cheaper and better to book everything through southwest??

I only checked for the dates 3/11-3/14 since I needed to figure my own
stuff (vet 40), but you all might want to check SWest Vacation Packages
for your travel dates.

See you around the pool deck . . .oops I mean fencing strip.

Simone

Here are the details from BayCup

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Senior Foil and Épée Bay Cup in Palo Alto
	 Senior D & Lower Mixed Épée #3    1:30PM check-in close
	 Senior D & Lower Women's Foil #3    3:30PM check-in close

Entry fee is $20 for Bay Cup members, $25 for non-members
NOTE: Foil bouts will use NEW TIMINGS.
Prizes will be awarded for the top eight finishers, in addition to the
usual Bay Cup medals
for the top four in each event.

Cardinal Fencing Club is located at the Arrillaga Family Recreation
Center, at the
Corner of Campus Dive and Galvez  (cut across Embarcadero into the
campus - it will become Galvez).
After you pass the Stadium and track on your left, you will come to a
stop sign and the new building is on
the other side of the intersection on your left hand side.  The
fencing Salle is located downstairs.
For information call 650-725-3601

---

From: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew Davis
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 4:23 PM
To: eastbayfencers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [eastbayfencers] Weights and Shims

I have an extra set that i picked up after the event on sunday. Is
anyone missing theirs? I'll have them in my bag

Andy

I have an extra set that i picked up after the event on sunday. Is
anyone missing theirs? I'll have them in my bag

Andy

---

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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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.