Hi, there!
My internet cookies tell me it's been 5 MONTHS since we last had a chat. Well, that's not exactly true, we've seen many of you at competitions. AND WHAT A SEASON IT'S BEEN!!!! Congratulations to you all for all your hard work this year. Through all the victories and all the losses - big and small - you've grown. And it shows! Give yourselves a big pat on the back!
So, first order of business: we got what we came for.
Youth National Events were NOT cancelled! NICE WORK, EVERYBODY! Couldn't have done it without you. Literally.
But the fun doesn't stop there...
USA Fencing Board Elections are coming up (OPENING ON MAY 15th, 2023) Which means you'll be getting some VITAL INFORMATION in the coming weeks. Starting right now:
- CHECK YOUR VOTING STATUS. Kids under age 18 cannot vote, so we have to do it for them! Be their voice. If you did not register to vote by Feb. 1, 2023, of this year you cannot register now, so your job will be to make sure that anyone and everyone in your club that is registered votes. If you are registered, get ready! It's almost time!
- KNOW YOUR VOTE. Information about the At-Large Board candidates will be posted online in the coming days here: 2023 Election Info
- SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. Tonight was the first of two Candidate Forums (via Zoom call). The next one will be at 8:00 p.m. ET on May 9, 2023 (see the link above). Join the call & ask questions if Zoom is your thing. If not, join us online!
- JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP. Social media is soooo much more fun than email. Join us here: Advocates for Youth Fencing (Facebook) We will be posting updates, photos, videos, etc. as we do our best to get the word out about the candidates WITH A TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORT for robust youth programming.
- GET INVOLVED: Send emails and texts to your buddies. Tell them about our petition. Tell them what happened. Tell them how the Board microscoped Youth Fencing, burying its business deep in meeting minutes with no public input. Tell them what we did to push back . . . and how we succeeded! Tell them why it matters. What has fencing done for your kid, your family, your community? Personal stories can move actual mountains. (That's a real thing, I swear.)
- DON'T BE FOOLED. When deciding who to vote for, remember this rule: If it sounds like a politician, it probably is a politician. This Petition was designed to Save Youth National Fencing from the chopping block (and it was on the chopping block, make no bones about it). But there are many issues important to us all and we need strong leadership, not lip service. We aren't looking for stage rehearsals, sound bites, gimmicks or newly-recycled "fresh" ideas. We're looking for honesty, integrity, action, fearlessness and experience. We're looking for people who know the sport of fencing and respect all of its valued members (past, current and future!).
Fencers, coaches, parents, refs: this is about you. It's about us. It's about growth and the future and making space for more, not settling for less!
Now, let's get together and do this thing!
Lots and lots of love & talk to you soon!
Christina Mazaheri
[Cover Photo: Dr. Ann-Marsh Senic OLY]