MINUTES OF MEETING OF DIRECTORS

OF

COLUMBUS OHIO DIVISION, USFA, INC. 

January 15, 2012

 

            A meeting of the Board of Directors of COLUMBUS OHIO DIVISION, USFA, INC. was held, pursuant to the notice given in accordance with the Code of Regulations, at approximately 7:30 PM at the law offices of on the 15th day of January, 2012. 

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

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

 

Joseph S. Streb, Chairman   Samuel Lillard, Director
  Terry Amrine, Vice-Chairman X Mark Hedien, Director
X Fred Hunker, Treasurer X Charles Simonian, Director
X Doug Bliss, Secretary X Tim Mills, Director
X Julia Richey, 2nd Vice-Chairman X Casey Cannon, Guest
X Russel Halsey, Guest X Patricia Cannon, Guest
X Mark Ditullio, Guest    

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes of the meeting of November 20, 2011 were approved.

 

OFFICER'S REPORTS:

 

Chairman --  Joseph Streb: The next COD event is the Todd Curn Memorial Tournament to be held at the OSU Steelwood facility on Saturday, January 21, 2012 (it has been made a one-day event).  After that, the Division II/III Summer National Qualifier is tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2012 at Steelwood.  Otherwise, the GLS Championship is tentatively scheduled for May 19 & 20 in Louisville.  Otherwise, the main purpose of the meeting is to consider the closing of Dublin Sport Fencing and the disposition of the COD Equipment now in storage on Billingsley Road in Dublin.  It is further noted that pursuant to requests, the Referee Committee has scheduled a Referee Seminar to be held at the OSU Steelwood facility on Saturday, January 28, 2012 with Iana Dakova.

 

Secretary – Doug Bliss:  Mr. Bliss reported that several email correspondences were received concerning fees for the Todd Curn Memorial.

 

Treasurer -- Fred Hunker:  Mr. Hunker reported that he had rented a storage space on Billingsley Road, Columbus for the storage of the Division’s equipment at $78.00 per month, and that payment has been made until February.

 

    Checking:                      $  5,094.51

    Vanguard Bond Fund:   $  5,876.90

    Total                             $10,971.41

 

Vice Chairman --  :   Terry Amrine: Absent. No report.

 

2nd Vice Chairman -- Julia Richey: Ms. Richey noted that the SYC event at the Arnold Fencing Classic has been approved.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Referee Committee – Joseph Streb reported that he has arranged for a referee training seminar on January 28, 2012 at the OSU Steelwood facility, and this will be a one-day seminar, so some volunteer fencers will be required.

 

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

 

MATTERS OF DISCUSSION (No Formal Action):

 

            (1).    There was discussion of events historically operated by the Columbus Division.  Mr. Bliss pointed out that in the past, the Division had to operate one event per year in order to be sanctioned as an administrative unit of USFA, and that was the origin of the Columbus Open.  In subsequent years, in addition to the Columbus Open, other events were also held, being the JO Qualifier, the Todd Curn Memorial, the Division II/III Summer National Qualifier, and the Ohio High School Championship.  Mr. Hunker noted that clubs began to hold tournaments, so the Division became less involved in operating tournaments, and recently, the number of volunteers has fallen off, so it is a burden on the Division to operate multiple events.  Ms. Richey mentioned that her club Royal Arts could take over from the now defunct Dublin Sport Fencing as the site of qualifying events.

 

            (2).    There was discussion of whether the events at this year’s Todd Curn Memorial should be fenced mixed.  Mr. Streb was very opposed to holding the event mixed because the event is traditionally a single sex event, the permanent trophies are all single sex trophies, and, other than the qualifying events (which are not open events), it is the only single sex event in Ohio, and female fencers like having it.  Mr. Bliss pointed out that he had included language on the AskFred posting allowing the event to be fenced mixed, if there were fewer than six entrants.  The matter was left for further consideration later, if necessary.

 

            (3).   Mr. Bliss mentioned that Todd Curn’s mother contacted him and may attend the Todd Curn Memorial event.  Dr. Simonian mentioned that he was the coach who brought Todd Curn to Columbus.  It was determined that should Mrs. Curn appear, she would be given an opportunity to give a short eulogy, as is done at the Bautista Memorial event.

 

            (4).  Mr. Hunker mentioned that it would be good if Mr. Streb procured the medals for the Todd Curn event and Mr. Streb said he would.

 

            (5).  Mr. Bliss asked about referees for the Todd Curn event, and Mr. Streb mentioned that some OSU fencers would be there to assist in return for community service hours.  Otherwise, the usual referees would be used.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS: 

 

            (1).   OFFICIAL COD EVENT CALENDAR 2011-2012, etc.:  

            BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2011-2012 schedule of COD and other notable fencing events will be as follows:  

  

COD JO Qualifiers  (at DSFC) December 4, 2011
Regional Youth Circuit (at Columbus Zoo) November 12-13 *
Todd Curn Memorial (at Steelwood Fencing Center) January 21, 2012
Junior Olympics USFA February 17-20, 2012*
Arnold Fencing Classic / SYC (Columbus Convention Center) March 2-4, 2012*
Ohio High School Fencing Championships (Steelwood Fencing Center) March 31-April 1, 2012
Great Lakes Championships (Louisville, KY) May 19-20, 2012*
COD Division II/III Qualifiers (at Royal Arts Fencing Academy) May 6, 2012

             

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

 

            (2).  INSURANCE ON COD EQUIPMENT:  Mr. Hunker affirmed the equipment is still insured.

 

            (3).  Upon a motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously approved, the following resolution was adopted with respect to the entry fees for this year’s Todd Curn event:

 

            BE IT RESOLVED, that the entry fees for the 2012 Todd Curn Memorial event are $15 for the first weapon fenced, and $10 for each additional weapon fenced.   

 

            (4).    DIVISION II/III/Y14 QUALIFIERS:   RAFA proposed to host the COD qualifiers, which was moved, seconded and passed. Fees will be collected by COD, which will operated the event.

 

NEW BUSINESS:    

 

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

 

                       November 26     Fattened Pilgrim Open

                       December 3       Winter Warlock Youth/Open

 

            (2).     FINANCIAL ARRANGMENTS FOR REFEREE SEMINAR:  As previously reported to the Board, the Referee Committee has arranged for a referee training seminar to be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the OSU Steelwood facility with Iana Dakova.  In order to make this happen, the Division had to guarantee Ms. Dakova $650.  Further, as usual, the Division has represented that COD members who pass the seminar and become rated or who increase existing ratings  will receive reimbursement.  The sign-up for the seminar is on AskFred.  Upon a motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously passed, the following resolution thereon was passed:

 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Referee Committee, Joseph Streb, is authorized to do all things necessary and proper with respect to the upcoming Referee Seminar, including without limitation, paying Ms. Dakova $650 from Division funds, and the Treasurer is authorized to put those funds into the hands of Mr. Streb for such purposes. 

 

            (3).   RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS RELATING TO MOVE AND STORAGE OF COD EQUIPMENT:  Upon a motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously passed, the following resolution thereon was passed:

 

            BE IT RESOLVED, that all actions of the directors, officers, and volunteers of the COD with respect to procuring storage for, moving, and storing the fencing equipment belonging to the COD to the date hereof are hereby ratified and approved.   Further, the Treasurer is authorized to do all things necessary and proper to pay for the continued storage of said equipment, until further action of the Board.   Further, the COD President, Treasurer, and Secretary are authorized to allow the use the equipment for COD events or for other fencing events in Ohio, as long as the organizer of any such non-COD event provides any requested documentation.

 

            (4).   DISPOSITION OF COD EQUIPMENT:  In connection with the purposes of the COD to foster and promote the sport of fencing, the COD has stated its intention to consider requests by fencing clubs for the use of the COD equipment now in storage on Billingsley Road in Dublin.  There have been several requests for use and custody of the equipment. Upon a motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously passed, the following resolution thereon was passed:

 

            BE IT RESOLVED, that Columbus Fencing & Fitness operated by Sam Lillard, Stan Prilutski, and Patricia Cannon shall be given custody and use of one Favaro scoring machine, one Eigertek scoring machine, four reels and four floor cords.

 

            FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that Columbus Fencing Club operated by Dr. Simonian shall retain possession of the Eigertek scoring machine currently in his possession. 

 

            FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that Doug Bliss is given authority to do all things necessary and proper with respect to the Division’s Windows ’98 computer, including without limitation, scraping it. 

 

            FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that Royal Arts Fencing Academy operated by Julia Richey and Tim Mills shall be given custody and use of the remainder of the Columbus Division equipment, including the right and duty of taking the Division’s copper strips to a scrap yard and to take from the proceeds funds to reimburse for the rental of a vehicle to move equipment to her location.

 

            FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that with respect to equipment not scraped and consistent with the above, these grants are made on the following conditions:  That the Club(s) bear the expense of and arrange with the COD officers for the movement of the equipment; that the equipment be used for fencing; that the equipment be immediately be made available to the COD for use by the COD in any fencing event as determined in the sole discretion of the COD; and, that the equipment shall be returned to the COD immediately upon written demand (including without limitation e-mail demand) signed (either manually or electronically) by the President and Secretary of the COD; the Club owner(s) execute any documentation deemed appropriate by the COD.

            (4).    MICHAEL SHEARER EQUIPMENT:  A motion was made, seconded and passed to write a "thank you" letter to Mr. Shearer for his contribution of used fencing equipment, valued at $450. The equipment will be given to a group working with Columbus area disadvantaged young people, to promote interest in the sport of fencing. Mr. Bliss is requested to draft and, after review, send the letter.

 MISCELLANEOUS: 

            (1).   The move of COD equipment into storage was accomplished on December 31, 2011 with the assistance of a group of officers and dedicated volunteers.  The Division formally thanks all who participated. 

            (2).  The next meeting will be called by the President prior to the Division II/III Qualifier. The meeting will be held at 736 Neil Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 224-0200.

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

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Secretary, Doug Bliss

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    Chairman, Joseph S. Streb