MINUTES OF THE NORTH TEXAS DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING
May 16, 1999

Meeting called to order at 2:30 pm by Kevin O’Neill, Chair.  Kevin introduced Ovy Waddoups, Parliamentarian, and Brenda Waddoups, Secretary.

Minutes of 1998 Annual Meeting were mailed to each North Texas Division and were available at this meeting.  Ovy Waddoups moved to accept the minutes as mailed; Pat White seconded; no discussion; motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report given and accepted.

Jeff Crowe presented the Division Equipment report.  Jeff stated we still need to purchase four reels and two 3-weapon boxes.  We also need to purchase wire for the older reels.

Kevin O’Neill asked for Section Report from Rhonda Trietsch.  The incoming Section Officers are:  Gary Murray, Chair; Oscar Barrera, Vice Chair; Rhonda Trietsch, Secretary; Ray Sexton, Treasurer.  Shreveport has a verbal okay to host a NAC.  The Section Qualifier will be held over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Allen Gall reviewed the Division competitions (JO Qualifier, Wilson-Silvia, Regional Youth Circuit, Division Qualifier for Summer Nationals, and DeGall).  General comments were the quality of fencing was good.  All club members and fencers should educate themselves on how to run a tournament.  We need to get more people involved from our clubs and bring our older fencers back to help run the tournaments.  Kevin O’Neill suggested we create a tournament operations manual.  Directors are desperately needed in the Division.  Waldek Czaja is an FOC representative and qualified to administer director’s tests.  Andy Shaw has also expressed willingness to come and give a clinic.  It was suggested the Division start giving certificates for participating directors at the end of the tournaments.  David Sierra suggested we also establish a Director’s Committee which is separate from the Bout Committee.  Helen Mitchell moved the Division hold Director’s workshops; seconded by Allen Gall; no additional discussion; motion passed unanimously.  David Sierra moved the Director’s Clinic be held after Summer Nationals and before the first tournament if possible; Allen Gall seconded; no additional discussion; motion passed unanimously.

Ovy Waddoups moved to table the selection of tournament dates until the Executive Committee has an opportunity to meet; seconded by Denise Walton.  Discussion ensued to request the information from the Executive Committee by 15 August.  George Stone moved to amend the motion to include the 15 August date; seconded by David Sierra; no further discussion; motion to amend passed unanimously.  Ovy Waddoups called the question; motion to table as amended passed unanimously.  Secretary was directed to send this request to the incoming Executive Committee members and Clubs.

Ovy Waddoups placed the Nominating Committee’s slate in motion.  David Sierra seconded.  Nominating Committee’s report is attached.  Allen Gall declined the position as Division Chair and nominated Jeff Crowe as Division Chair; nomination seconded by Pat White.  Jeff Crowe declined nomination to the Executive Committee and nominated Allen Gall; seconded by Denise Walton.  David Sierra moved to accept the slate as amended; seconded by George Stone; motion passed unanimously.  Kevin O’Neill called for nominations from the floor, once, twice, three times.   Nominations were closed.  Hearing no nominations from the floor, the slate was accepted as amended:
 Jeff Crowe, Division Chair
 Kevin O’Neill, Division Vice Chair
 Brenda Waddoups, Division Secretary
 Pat White, Division Treasurer
 Executive Council:

  Baylor FC                          Russell Hogg
  Dallas FC                          Carter Tiernan
  DeSoto HSFC                   Martin Johnsen
  Hockaday FC                    Pat White
  Fencing Inst.                      George Stone
  Greenville FC                    Leslie Todd
  Lockheed Rec. FC            Michael Jaixen
  LSFC                               Michael Kim
  Renaissance FC                Allen Gall
  Rockwall FC                    Carolyn Hoyle
  Sheppard AFBFC            Kate McGraw
  SMU                               Jay Saenz               Club not fencing at present 7/99
  St Marks FC                   Dan Northcutt
  Tex Coll FC                    Della Ellis
  Tex Women’s UFC         Stuart Gelb
  United FC                      Elsayed Emara        Club not fencing at present 7/99
  Univ N Tx FC                Rhonda Trietsch
 Representative and Alternates to USFA Annual Business Meeting:
  Waldek Czaja, Representative
  Hossam Mahmoud, Representative
  Ovy Waddoups, Alternate
  Jose de Olivares, Alternate
Kevin O’Neill stated that he goes to local schools and sells his scholastic programs.  He discussed this with George Stone and Bakoko and offered to teach them how to get junior fencers.  Kevin stated all the clubs in the area may want to consider this.  Mindy Yates stated Renaissance doesn’t want to teach youth fencers and aren’t prepared to do so; Kevin agreed that Dallas Fencers weren’t interested either.  Discussion followed concerning media coverage and media market share (competition with Cowboys, etc.).  Denise Walton moved to establish a media committee; seconded by Allen Gall.  Discussion from Mindy Yates presented a committee structure currently in place under the Division Secretary.  Motion was withdrawn.

George Stone told us FIT is sponsoring a Stage Fight Actor/Combatant demonstration at 4 o’clock Saturday, May 22, at the FIT facility.  Anyone interested in seeing theatrical fencing is invited to attend.

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm to feasting and fencing.  A special thank you to Fencing Institute of Texas for hosting the Division meeting and allowing us to fence.  Hats off to Ovy Waddoups, the new lights are great!
 

Respectfully submitted,
 
 

BRENDA WADDOUPS, Secretary