US Fencing 2020 Board Election Nominees - Get Ready to Vote!

Election Nominees Cover.jpeg

Why parents should vote in the Board elections

The most effective way for our voices to be heard and our interests recognized and respected at US Fencing is to elect Board members who are committed to respect and respond to the interests and needs of fencing families. Our children represent a majority of the US Fencing membership, but they are without a vote. Only we, parents, can represent them and make our voices heard.

The implementation of Town Hall meetings with the US Fencing Board and senior staff in the 2019/2020 fencing year is a direct response by the Board to parent voices asking to be heard. This is a great 1st step!

We are also tremendously appreciative of the NAC Schedule 2020/2021, which makes enormous strides in location selection and fairness to fencing families throughout the country. We thank US Fencing for this schedule. The early release of the Summer Nationals day schedule is also appreciated.

US Fencing has an estimated 20,000+ members under the age of 18, at both the competitive and non-competitive levels. These fencers under 18 represent about 57% of the total US Fencing membership, but they cannot vote in US Fencing elections. As parents, we must do so on their behalf.

Parents can be a powerful force in the elections. There are, at least, 8,000 (a conservative estimate) of us with competitive fencer children under the age of 18. We constitute one of the potentially largest voting blocs in US Fencing.

Coaches (club and collegiate), referees and tournament officials represent an estimated 3,200 members of US Fencing, or 9% of the total US Fencing membership. (FP added up the total number of adult members who are CheckEd qualified, which would include all adults who participate in the sport in an official capacity and who have routine contact with youth fencers).

US Fencing Board elections typically attract less than 2,000 voters every year. We, parents, have the potential to make a BIG difference!

See: Why should parents care about who is on the US Fencing Board of Directors

See: Who goes to NACs and pays the fees 2017 - 2019?

NOTE:

Parents, if you are a current Supporting member of US Fencing, you are eligible to vote in the Board elections this May. Under the Byelaws, Article IV, Section 3, you have a right to vote provided you sign-up as a new member, or you renew your membership before February 1 this year. The fee for an annual Supporting membership is $25. You can sign up HERE

 

Who’s up for election

The US Fencing Nominating Committee recently announced the nominees for the upcoming Board Elections, usually held in May.

Three positions are up for election, but only one of them is currently being contested.

1 Nominee for President

Donald Anthony, Jr (the incumbent President)

1 nominee for Treasurer

David Arias (the incumbent Treasurer)

4 nominees for 1 At-Large Director position

Laurie Marcil Holmes (currently an At-Large Director, running for re-election)

Vicki Miller

Scott Webb

Richard Weiss

FP will share information on the nominees for the At-Large Director position once we find out more about their backgrounds, their vision for US Fencing as an At-Large Director and how they see their role in supporting the interests of young fencers and their families in the sport of fencing.

While the Nominating Committee has completed its’ nominations process, under the Byelaws, members of US Fencing can still nominate candidates through a petition process to run for any of these Board positions up for election.

 

the current composition of the US Fencing Board

There are currently 13 Board members on the US Fencing Board.

Of these 13 members, only 5 are elected by US Fencing members in an open election. They are the President, Treasurer and the 3 At-Large Directors.

This means only 38.5% of the Board is elected by the membership. The remaining 61.5% is appointed either by the President of US Fencing, or by the Athletes’ Council pursuant to the law (Amateur Sports Act).

The 3 Independent Directors are not elected, but are appointed by the US Fencing President.

The 3 Vice Presidents are also not elected, but are appointed by the US Fencing President.

The 2 Athlete Directors are appointed by the Athletes’ Council pursuant to the Amateur Sports Act and USOC Rules.

See: How the US Fencing Byelaws bypass the membership and create an unaccountable Board

While we understand that the Board of a sports national governing body needs some members steeped in knowledge and rules of the sport, the US Fencing Board is quite notable for its lack of skills diversity, important for any 21st century Board of a rapidly growing organization with multiple constituencies.

On the current Board, this is how it looks:

Coaches (includes 1 Athlete Director)

Board members with strong fencing club affiliations

Lawyers

Athlete Director

Total

5

1

3

1

10

38.5% of the Board

7.7% of the Board

23% of the Board

7.7% of the Board

77% of the Board

2 of the remaining Board members have non-profit experience, and the 3rd remaining Board member is a former Olympian and now banker.

Coaches make up less than 7% of the membership, but hold 46.2% of the Board seats (including fencing club affiliations).

It is no wonder that we parents who represent the interests of 57% US Fencing’s membership feel that our interests have been neglected.

FP’s post laying out the qualities we want in a Board member can be seen HERE

We summarize below who the current Board members are, their position on the Board, what jobs they do and what other relevant experience they may have that contributes to the Board’s skill sets.

name

Donald Anthony Jr.

Board position

Chairman of the Board/US Fencing President (elected)

profession

Head Coach - Ohio State University

President of Swordsport, a fencing media production company

Founder of Warrior Group, a consulting firm

other info

Vice-President of FIE Executive Committee

Serves on various non-profit Boards

Former Saber Team USA member


David Arias (CPA)

Treasurer (elected)

Executive Director - Birmingham Humane Society

President of Birmingham Fencing Club


Donald Alperstein

At-Large Director (elected)

Lawyer in private practice

Member of FIE Commission on Discipline.

FIE level referee.

Former President of US Fencing (1996 - 2000)


Laurie Marcil Holmes

At-Large Director (elected)

Partner at Sidley Austin, a global law firm

Mother of Epee Olympian, Katharine Holmes.


Ann Marsh Senic

At-Large Director (elected)

Emergency room physician

Coach and Head of Programs at Renaissance Fencing Club

Former US Foil Olympian

Former Athlete Director on the Board


Raquel Brown

Independent Director (appointed by the President)

Board advisor to non-profits

Board member of US Fencing Foundation


Cliff Bayer

Independent Director (appointed by the President)

Banker at RBC

Former US Foil Olympian


Alan Kidd

Independent Director (appointed by the President)

President and CEO of the National Association of Sports Commission

Former President of San Diego Sports Commission

Previous career in marketing and advertising.


Sam Cheris

Vice President (appointed by the President)

General Counsel

Board member of US Fencing Foundation

Former member of FIE Executive Committee

Various non-profit Board member positions


Cody Mattern

Vice President (appointed by the President)

Epee Program Director at Northwest Fencing Center

Former Athlete Director on the Board

Former US Epee Olympian


Jeff Salmon

Vice President (appointed by the President)

Head Coach - Mission Fencing Center

President of Suffolk County High School Fencing Coaches Association

Founder of Ward Melville High School Fencing Club

Former member of several US Fencing Task Forces


Daria Schneider

Athlete Director (appointed by law pursuant to the Amateur Sports Act)

Head Coach - Harvard University Fencing

Former Head Coach at Cornell University Fencing

Former Saber Team USA member


Adam Watson

Athlete Director (appointed by law pursuant to the Amateur Sports Act)

Analytics executive at Initiative, a global communications agency

Former Epee Team USA member



Please share this article with everyone who will find it useful