VFA Bulletin
October 23, 2023

1. Schedule
This week (Oct 24-26) all practices as normally scheduled.

Next week: special schedule swap in Charlotte due to Halloween
Tues Oct 31: 7-7:45 pm open fencing (arrive after trick or treating if you wish. Bonus points for arriving in costume. Double bonus points if the costume involves a sword). 7:45-9 p.m Level 2/3 class
Thursday Nov 2: 7-8:15 p.m Level 1 class, 7-9 pm Competitive Squad practice
Wednesday's practice in Middlebury is not affected by this.

The following week we are back to the normal schedule.

This week marks class #5 of the fall for Level 1, and class #6 for Level 2/3. If you bought a punch card at the first week of fall practices and have not missed any classes, Level 1 students will be due to buy new punch cards next week, and Level 2/3 fencers might need one this week. Of course, if you either missed some classes or started the fall with a punch card left over from last season, you might be on a different schedule. Punch cards are honor system. I rely on you to keep track of your own attendance, and buy a new one when you run out. Cards are $65 each, and never expire. If you come to more than one practice in a single week, you only need to punch it once. Newbies, if you are confused, read #2 below for more details.

2. Notes for newbies: re-upping your punch card, looking up your USAF number
The fee structure for Level 1 students can be a little confusing, so I just want to clarify. In September, new Level 1 students all gave me $115. This initial payment included 3 things:
a. USA Fencing membership for $30 (well, technically $29 with a $1 club fee to round up). This membership is good through July 31, so you do not need to pay it again this season.
b. Equipment rental for $20. This rental fee is good through the fall semester, until you turn your equipment in at the last class in December. You do not need to pay it again this fall.
c. Your first punch card for $65. Punch cards are how you pay me for my time. Each card is good for 5 classes, and you do not have to pay for classes that you miss (for example if you were sick or out of town one week). As people miss class and then return, you all get on to different replacement schedules for these, and I do not keep track of your attendance. I rely on honor system for you to do it yourself (most people just cross out the classes on the card as they use them up, but if you prefer to keep your own records some other way, that's fine). Once you have attended 5 classes, you need to buy a new card to continue on. If you have not had any absences this fall, that will be next week (so for some, but not all, of you). Cards are available from me whenever your use your last one up, for $65. They never expire, so if you take some time away and return later, you can always use it. They are not refundable, but they are transferable if you want to give it or sell it to someone else. Barring any unexpected class cancellations, I am planning 10 Level 1 classes for this fall, so if you attend all of them, you will use up 2 punch cards. As always with me, payment is by check or cash (exact change please), no credit cards or phone apps.

A little more about your USA Fencing membership: all of you now have "Access" memberships to USAF. This is the least expensive level of membership, meets our insurance requirements, and gives you the right to fence in local (but not regional or national) tournaments. If you haven't already done it, I suggest you reset your user name and password so that you can log in to your account to print out your membership card, and when the time comes (next fall), renew your own membership (I take care of it for you the first time only). You can reset your log in using your USAF member number. Here is how to find it:
Go to usafencing.org
Select "membership" and under the dropdown menu, select "current member list".
From there, you can either type in your name, or select "Green Mt" under "Division" and find yourself in the list. Your member number will be next to your name (you may have to scroll sideways to see it)

3. Vote to approve GMD bylaws
And now a note from your Green Mt Division officers, who have been working hard to bring our outdated bylaws into compliance with USAF requirements. You may have already received this message directly from the USAF, but it appears that some people did not receive it, so here is a duplicate blast.

"Hi Green Mountain Division voting membership (all members age 18+),

We need the Division membership to vote on adopting the new USA Fencing standard bylaws by next Friday, October 27th!
Adoption of the new by-laws is mandatory to remain affiliated with the USAF. We need your vote though to approve them!

Please place your vote here by filling in your USAF member number:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1H5amwHMiJL_gzmznpoE6TzGZyAe8Xqp612k23tTlCJc/viewform
If you need to find out your USA Fencing Number, see instructions under #2 above about how to look it up.

More information about the vote:
This year, USA Fencing put forth a standardized set of Bylaws and Operating Guidelines for adoption by all regional fencing divisions. In order to keep our standing with USA Fencing (our national organization), we need to adopt those new Bylaws. The new bylaws have very little flexibility, but fortunately, the Operating Guide template that USAF has provided allows us to capture many of the procedures that currently live in our bylaws. While you do not need to vote on the operating guide, we want to provide it here so that you can see that we have found a way to move almost everything from our old bylaws into our new operating guide.

Here are the current bylaws:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1En4SaebFy-2kY_wAqWAR5eFp4pX2u9RB/view?usp=sharing

Here are the proposed new bylaws:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v5B5cjFp_uIZipfzcWGmC4fgE4OQuTWv/view?usp=sharing

Here is the proposed new Operating Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1focaWdfFJe7JZ6x7Dnj2J_jjbd87be--/view?usp=sharing

Please vote!

Thanks,
Matthew Krohn
Green Mountain Division Vice Chair"

4. Register now for the Stick Season Stab-Open and Veteran events
Now is the time to sign up for the next tournament! Here (once again) is why
a. Because it is super helpful to the organizers. We have a whole new team of volunteers running our tournaments this season. Let's make life easy for them.
b. Because it helps attract out of state fencers when they see a tournament will be well attended
c. Because the November tournament will be held in a small gym. Therefore competitor numbers will be capped. There is a chance some of the events will fill up. Don't miss out, reserve your spot.
e. Because there is a $15 late fee if you sign up fewer than 5 days in advance. There is no penalty if you sign up now and later have to withdraw. Payment is made at the door.

Saturday Nov 11, Vt Commons School, S. Burlington, Stick Season Stab
10 a.m Veteran Epee, Open (Senior Mixed) Foil
1 p.m Veteran Foil, Open (Senior Mixed) Epee

Veteran events are open to fencers born 1984 or earlier (because everyone needs to play with kids their own age from time to time). Open events are open to fencers born 2010 or earlier. Veterans, please do not sign up for two events that start at the same time. You may choose one morning and one afternoon event if you wish. Unrated fencers, including first time competitors, are welcome in open events as long as you are not frustrated by fencing with more experienced opponents.

To register, get directions, and see who else is coming:
https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/8100f451-3775-4448-9e8e-3f8c248083d9