May, 2010

2010 World Cup in NYC
Check out world-class fencing in your own back yard! Events will be held at the Marriott New York at the Brooklyn Bridge [map], 333 Adams Street.

• Friday, 6/18 - Men's and Women's Saber Pools
• Saturday, 6/19 - Women's Foil Pools, Men's and Women's Saber DE's and Finals
• Sunday 6/20 - Women's Foil DE's and Finals

May, 2010

Use of "Championships" designation at local events
Some of our member clubs have started to use "Championship" in the titles of some of their local competitions and they're not allowed to do that. The Sectional Championships are a qualifying path to the Summer Nationals. If more than one competition appears on our schedule as a "championship", confusions will arise as to which competition is the qualifying competition. Since we are both a Division and a Section, we could theoretically hold a separate Divisional Championship. So they should be instructed that they must take "championship" out of the names of competitions that have not yet been held and not use that term in the future; "Championship" is reserved for the use of the USFA.

Events which continue to use the term "Championship" will not be sanctioned events (i.e. fencers will not be able to earn classifications from those events).

March, 2010
Please be advised of a motion undertaken by the Metropolitan Division Board at the March 2010 meeting:

Per the national office, the Division can't (and therefore will not) sanction events held outside the 5 Boroughs of NYC, regardless of whether the organizer is a Metro member club or not. Likewise, any tournament held in NYC must be sanctioned through the Metro division to be a USFA event, regardless of the organizers' home division.

As part of the 2016 Olympic bid, Metropolitan Division fencers Tim Morehouse and Daria Schneider demonstrated fencing on the White House lawn for President Obama. Check out Tim's blog for more on the event (including more photos and links to news coverage).
September 17th, 2009
Location: Fencers Club

In attendance: George Masin (Chairman), Jonathan Bartlett (Secretary), Rachel Fedde (Bout Committee / Vice Chair), Ellen Heasley (treasurer), Rolando Balboa (BkFC), Julia (Sheridan), Arnold Messing (N/A), Michael Aufrichtig (NYAC), Julia Gelman (MFC), Steve Khinoy (SIFC), Boris Vaksman (FC)

2009-2010 competition schedule has been resolved and approved. Everyone has paid the $100 sanctioning fee except for Empire United; to be invoiced.

Financial status is good. 2008-9 season paperwork to be completed by Ellen Heasley and submitted to the National Office. George Masin and Ellen will investigate getting account maintenance fees waived or changing banks.

The board discussed several ideas for promoting fencing in the city. Tim Morehouse is already doing substantial media outreach; Michael Aufrichtig will contact him to find out if there's anything the division might do to support his efforts.

The board discussed what we might do to support our Junior Olympics fencers. In the past, we have given an equipment gift certificate of $100 for the top qualifier, men's and women's, each weapon and age category.

May 20th, 2009
Location: Fencers Club

In attendance: George Masin (Chairman), Rachel Fedde (Bout Committee / Vice Chair), Ellen Heasley (treasurer), Rolando Balboa (BkFC), Julia Gelman (MFC), Boris Vaksman (FC) The board for the 2009-2010 season was officially nominated as follows:

Executive Board
Chair: George Masin
Vice & Bout Committee Chair: Rachel Fedde
Secretary: Jonathan Bartlett
Treasurer: Ellen Heasley
 
Board and Congressional Slate
Rolando Balboa (Brooklyn)
Boris Vaksman (FC)
Mike Wallace (Gotham)
Julia Gelman (Manhattan)
Jason Riffaterre (NAFA)
Michael Aufrichtig (NYAC)
Stephen Khinoy (SI)
Arnold Messing (N/A)
Alex Abend (NYAC)
 
Alternates
Jed Dupree (EMP)
Patrick Durkin (NYAC)
Benjamin Bratton (FC)
Stahis Verras (Gotham)
Yury Gelman (Manhattan)
Elise Baker (NAFA)
Susan Monardo (SI)
Greg Pennington (Gotham)

Member clubs wishing to host USFA competitions in the upcoming season (i.e. competitions which can award classification changes) are reminded that your schedules must be submitted by 8/15 to Bout Committee Chair Rachel Fedde. Please contact her if you are interested in running an event and did not receive the event submission information. The annual event sanctioning fee of $100 is due at the first meeting of the season (9/17).

1. New Clubs
    
   The Division would like to recognize three new clubs:
    
   
   • Empire United Fencing
   • Gotham Fencing
   • Manhattan Fencing (225 West 39th Street, 2nd Floor)
   
   We wish them all the best of luck in increasing interest in fencing in New York City.
    
   
2. Arnold Messing Proposal
    
   A proposal was submitted via email for a grassroots program for junior fencers. The board feels the program has many merits, but felt that the proposal itself needed more work, especially concerning the details of administration. The proposal was unanimously sent back for more scoping.
    
   
3. Junior Olympic Qualifiers
    
   The Division unanimously decided to grant oversight of the Junior Olympic qualifying competitions to the New York Athletic Club (epee), Fencers Club (saber), and Brooklyn Fencing Center (foil). These clubs are responsible for posting dates, taking registrations online through the AskFRED system, and running the events in accordance with Metropolitan Division and USFA rules.
    
   In order to ensure the highest quality of event administration, the Division's grant of these events is contingent on two new regulations:
    
   
   • Each club must notify the Division Secretary by email of who the USFA accredited referee, with a 5 or higher rating in the weapon being hosted, will be present throughout the event and responsible for oversight. Included in the notification should be that referee's contact information. The club owner/manager and this oversight referee will be responsible for ensuring a smooth and rule-abiding event.
      
     
   • The Division has capped the maximum amount that may be charged at $40 per event. This is inclusive of both registration and event fees (e.g. if there is no registration fee, event fees can be a maximum of $40; if the registration fee is $20, event fees cannot exceed $20). The Division has also capped the maximum late-fee amount that may be charged at $40 per event. On-time entries may therefore never exceed $40 total per event, and late or on-site entries may may never exceed $80 total per event ($40 for the event, and $40 for the late-fee). Clubs should note that these are absolute maximums, and are encouraged by the board to make qualifying events as accessible as possible by keeping costs as low as possible. The future grant of qualifying events to clubs may be determined in part or whole on each clubs ability to run both a smooth and accessible event from the point of view of our fencers.
   
   Any club who does not notify the Division Secretary with the referee and contact information specified above, or who will not meet the entry fee requirement, will have their grant of the qualifying event revoked. The Division may revoke the right to hold qualifiers from any club at anytime and choose to relocate the event.
    
   
4. National Championship Qualifiers
    
   The Division has decided to hold off on granting oversight of National Championship qualifiers to any club until after the Junior Olympic qualifying events. Grants decisions will be dependant on the perceived smooth running of those Junior Olympic qualifying events. The grant of oversight for any national championship qualifying events will be contingent on two new regulations:
   
   
   • Each club must notify the Division Secretary by email of who the USFA accredited referee, with a 5 or higher rating in the weapon being hosted, will be present throughout the event and responsible for oversight. Included in the notification should be that referee's contact information. The club owner/manager and this oversight referee will be responsible for ensuring a smooth and rule-abiding event.
      
     
   • The Division has capped the maximum amount that may be charged at $40 per event. This is inclusive of both registration and event fees (e.g. if there is no registration fee, event fees can be a maximum of $40; if the registration fee is $20, event fees cannot exceed $20). The Division has also capped the maximum late-fee amount that may be charged at $40 per event. On-time entries may therefore never exceed $40 total per event, and late or on-site entries may may never exceed $80 total per event ($40 for the event, and $40 for the late-fee). Clubs should note that these are absolute maximums, and are encouraged by the board to make qualifying events as accessible as possible by keeping costs as low as possible. The future grant of qualifying events to clubs may be determined in part or whole on each clubs ability to run both a smooth and accessible event from the point of view of our fencers.
   
   Any club who does not notify the Division Secretary with the referee and contact information specified above, or who will not meet the entry fee requirement, will have their grant of the qualifying event revoked. The Division may revoke the right to hold qualifiers from any club at anytime and choose to relocate the event.