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