MINUTES OF MEETING OF DIRECTORS

OF

COLUMBUS OHIO DIVISION, USFA, INC. 

July 27, 2008

            A meeting of the Board of Directors of COLUMBUS OHIO DIVISION, USFA, INC. was held at the law offices of Joseph Streb at approximately 7:30 PM on the 27th day of July, 2008.

            The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Joseph S. Streb.

ROLL:  A roll of Directors was taken and it was reported that, pursuant to Article VI(A) of the Amended Bylaws, a quorum did exist. The following Board members and invited guests were present: 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes of the meeting of April 20, 2008 were  unanimously approved. 

OFFICER'S REPORTS:

Chairman --  Joseph Streb:  The Chairman reported that he attended the 2008 Summer Nationals as a referee, participant, and GLS representative to the Board Of Directors of USFA. 

As all of the COD Board is aware, USFA is in bad financial condition due to budget overruns in the $1 million range, and this resulted in the U. S. Olympic Committee (USOC) taking over the USFA High Performance Committee for purposes of the upcoming Beijing Olympics.  Further, as a result of USFA's failures to timely respond to inquiries by the parents of an injured fencer, a New York City attorney and former member of various USOC committees, was hired by the parents to do a compliance review of USFA which review found USFA severely wanting in many respects, including without limitation, non-compliant By-laws. 

At the February 2008 USFA Board Meeting, two new committees, the Budget Committee and Audit Committee, were formed to attempt to deal with the financial crisis.  The reports of these two committees at the July Board Meeting were the only mention of any troubles, along with some comments by Mr. Streb.  The financial reports, as usual, were woefully lacking in detail, apparently because the new committees were unable to extract any hard data from out-going Executive Director, Michael Massik, or the current USFA accountants. 

President Nancy Anderson, who was vilified in a recent Sports Illustrated on-line publication, was not present at the Board Meeting, which was conducted by Vice-President, Sam Cheris.  The day before the Board Meeting, at the USFA Congress meeting, the results of the contested election were published, and the Search Committee selected candidates won every office.  For the  important office of President, the challenger, Tracy Hurley of Texas, received 600 votes to the 893 received by Kalle Weeks of New Jersey, who is head of the powerful Tournament Committee that selects venues for NAC events.  The other new officers are Jerry Benson as Vice-President, Mark Stasinos as Vice-President, Brad Baker as Secretary, and Greg Dilworth as Treasurer. 

Mr. Streb reported that he is on reasonably good terms with these incoming officers; however, on July 14^th he wrote a letter to Ms. Weeks setting forth suggestions for dealing with USFA's current imperiled status.  Since the suggested changes involve difficult, and most likely unpopular decisions, they are not likely to increase his popularity, as there is almost always an attempt to kill the messenger by certain people within USFA.  At the conclusion of the Board Meeting, Mr. Streb requested that the new management team prepare a report to the members stating (a) the nature of the problems faced by USFA; (b) the plan for correcting them; (c) what will be done quickly; (d)  what will take some time, and; (e) how USOC concerns are being addressed.   The incoming President seemed to agree with this, but it remains to be seen whether anything of substance will result, or whether there will be further attempts to sweep problems under the carpet. 

Secretary – Doug Bliss:   Mr. Bliss was unable to attend, and he submitted his report via e-mail.

Treasurer -- Fred Hunker:  Mr. Hunker mentioned that the COD has not yet paid the GLS its share of the net revenues of the GLS Championships, and that net revenues were low as a result of the unexpectedly high $1251 rental fee charged by Dublin Coffman High School.

Vice Chairman --  Mark Hedien:   Absent. No report.

2nd Vice Chairman – Jeffrey Wilson:  No report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Referee Committee – Mr. Streb reported that he and his son were hired to work at the 2008 Summer Nationals.  Mr. Streb was selected to do one of the final four bouts in Div. IA foil.  Streb, Jr. was selected to do one of the final four bouts in both Div. II and Div. III foil, and both officiated for the Div. I team event.  There were many novice referees at this year's Summer Nationals due to USFA's failure to pay many experienced referees for recent past NAC events.  The next NAC is in Columbus in October, and the need for referees may be greater than has been true in the past.  This year, Indianapolis has the right to have the GLS sponsored referee seminar because it is hosting the GLS Championship.  Of course, the COD could also host a Division sponsored referee training event, if we so choose, perhaps a Good Call Open.   

Nominating Committee – (Streb, Simonian, Wilson):  No report.

MATTERS OF DISCUSSION (No Formal Action):

            1.  2008 GLS CHAMPIONSHIPS:  Since there has been no meeting since the GLS Championships in May, the Chairman again wishes to thank all those who participated as volunteers, referees, administrators, and representatives of the COD to the GLS Executive Committee.  The COD is especially appreciative of the efforts of Mr. Birkhoff in arranging for Dublin Coffman High School to host the event and of the efforts of Mr. Bliss in keeping the event moving.  In addition, Betty Brown and Jeff Wilson are to be congratulated for devising a method of putting the borrowed OSU metal strips together (using an 8 foot 2x4 piece of lumber inserted under the section to be added and the last section added to compensate for bowing), and this method has been passed on to the OSU coaches, despite their insistence that the strips go together easily and there must be something wrong with the floor at Dublin Coffman gym.  It is hoped that prior to the COD hosting another GLS Championship, it will acquire more modular strips of the same type as currently owned, eliminating the need to borrow from OSU.

OLD BUSINESS: 

            (1).   OFFICIAL COD EVENT CALENDAR:

            BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2008-2009 schedule of COD and other notable fencing events will be as follows:    

*    Non-COD event, being put on schedule for reference purposes.

#    Participants must sign-up electronically by the date specified on the website.

            (2).  INSURANCE ON COD EQUIPMENT:  At a prior meeting, Sam Lillard was authorized to do all things necessary and proper ascertain the cost of obtaining insurance on COD equipment.  Although this agenda item was noted some time ago, a report to the Board has yet to arrive.

NEW BUSINESS:

            (1).   CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS:  The results of the following events were unanimously certified:

            Dublin Sport Fencing Events:

                          --Mistress of Blade Open, April 26, 2008

                          --Lady of the Lake Open, May 24, 2008

                          -- Royal Pummel C & Under, June 7, 2008

                          --MacBeth's Defeat Open, June 21, 2008

                          --The Alexander Dumas Open, July 19, 2008

            (2).     NEW EQUIPMENT:   There was some discussion of more modular strips being acquired in the future, but no action was taken.

MISCELLANEOUS:

            (1).   Joseph S. Streb reported that he qualified in foil for the U. S. Fencing Team to participate in the 2008 Masters' World Championships to be held October 1-5 in Limoges, France.  Any interested spectators are welcome to attend.

            (2).  There will be an attempt to schedule a gathering of the Board at Schmidt's in German Village on SEPTEMBER 20, 2008, if possible.

            (3).  The next meeting of the Board will be in October and will be noticed via e-mail for a Sunday at 7:30 P.M. at the law office of Joseph Streb, 736 Neil Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 224-0200.

ADJOURNMENT:  A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and unanimously passed. 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Secretary                                                         

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Chairman