Fencing North Committee Meeting
Wednesday 5th August 2015, 7.30pm
Meadowbank Community Centre, Meadowbank
Present:
Eric Buisman (Vice President)
Linda Boyd (Treasurer)
Oliver Agnew (Secretary)
Nelly Dyson
Jeremy Dyson
Laura Harvey
Judit Fliszar
Hamish Bulmer
Gaylene Ongley
Apologies:
John Garelja (President)
Meeting starts 7.30pm:
Minutes from previous meeting:
Laura Harvey moves that we accept the previous minutes. Linda Boyd seconds. All in favour.
Matters arising from previous meeting:
None
President’s Report:
None for this meeting.
Treasurer’s Report:
Linda Boyd presented her treasurer’s report.
Oliver Agnew moves that we accept the treasurer’s report, Hamish Bulmer seconds. All in favour.
Notes:
We need to work out when our next insurance payment should be. We should look at reviewing our current arrangement and seeing if we can get a better product/price – John to action.
Competitions Report:
Tournament sub committee provided reports on Secondary Schools #3 and Secondary Schools #4.
Event: Secondary School #3
Foil: 57
Epee: 22
Sabre: 17
Total number of fencers: 84
Entry vouchers: 5 issued
Event: Secondary School #4
Foil: 64
Epee: 23
Sabre: 14
Total number of fencers: 87
Entry vouchers: ? issued
Referee/Volunteer Rewards:
Jeremy Dyson moves that volunteers receive $20 petrol vouchers for assisting at regional secondary school and age group events for the balance of 2015. Laura Harvey seconds. All in favour.
Payments:
Meadowbank Community Centre Rent:
Gaylene informs that our rent for the Meadowbank Community Centre has gone from $11 each use to $15/hr. She has a bill for $47 additional that covers our rent for our monthly meetings through till end of December we need to pay. We have written her a cheque for this.
Entry Fee Payments for International Competitors:
$110 to Daniel Garelja, Christine Chen, Darya Kharitonova
$50 to Steph Wyllie, Chris Bell, Alice Boyd, Hamish Chan
Repayments:
Payment of $41.67 made to Eric Buisman for Printer Ink
Payment of $378.47 made to Oliver Agnew for Prizes, Food, Printer Ink, and Cardboard.
Oliver still needs to be paid $24.95 for the Secondary School Shield engraving – carry over to next meeting.
Assets Register:
Note from Gaylene that we ensure that the cupboards we bought to store gear in will end up in our asset list.
NZSS & U20 Champs:
We have 7 pistes and would like another piste. Daniela will ask Fencing Central if we can borrow one of their pistes for this event.
Oliver has organised to have Connor Foley-Walker & Jonathan Brill as referees from Christchurch
John to ask Nicola Shackleton if she can come to referee for this event.
Fencing North Awards Night:
Daniela Ravera to look into organising a regional awards night.
Next Meeting:
Because we will be busy setting up for NZSS/U20s on the evening of our next meeting, we are bringing it forwards a week to the 26th August.
Meeting closed at 9.05pm
Fencing North Committee Meeting
Wednesday 6th June 2015, 7.30pm
Meadowbank Community Centre, Meadowbank
Present:
John Garelja (President)
Linda Boyd (Treasurer)
Oliver Agnew (Secretary) – holds proxy for Hamish Bulmer
Nelly Dyson – holds proxy for Gaylene Ongley
Jeremy Dyson
Laura Harvey – holds proxy for Chris Lear
Apologies:
Eric Buisman (Vice-President)
Judit Fliszar
Anya Kamynina
Hamish Bulmer
Gaylene Ongley
Meeting starts 7.30pm:
Minutes from previous meeting:
John Garelja moves that we accept the minutes, Jeremy Dyson seconds. All in favour.
Matters arising from previous meeting:
None
President’s Report:
John Garelja moves that we accept the President’s report, Oliver Agnew seconds. All in favour.
Treasurer’s Report:
Oliver Agnew moves that we accept the treasurer’s report, John Garelja seconds. All in favour.
Competitions Report:
Tournament sub committee provided reports on Ongley Open and Regional u20 Champs.
Event: Secondary School #1
Foil: 30 boys / 25 girls
Epee: 6 boys / 12 girls
Sabre: 10 (8 boys / 2 girls)
Total number of fencers: 71
Entry vouchers: 8 issued
Event: Macleavy Champs
Foil: 26
Epee: 14
Sabre: 8
Total number of fencers: 45
Entry vouchers: 5 redeemed
Event: Secondary School #2
Foil: 41 boys / 26 girls
Epee: 10 boys / 12 girls
Sabre: 12 (10 boys / 2 girls)
Total number of fencers: 87
Entry vouchers: 6 issued
Payments:
Jeremy Dyson moves we pay outstanding affiliations to Fencing New Zealand, ($3690.00) Laura Harvey seconds. All in favour. This brings the total paid so far to $6240.00 for 118 full members and 17 associate members.
Laura Harvey moves that we pay her $94 to cover prizes, Oliver Agnew seconds this. All in favour.
Laura Harvey moves that we pay Eric Buisman $217.71 to cover prizes, Linda Boyd seconds. All in favour.
Oliver Agnew moves that we pay John Garelja $460.00 to cover the cupboards he purchased to store equipment in. Jeremy Dyson seconds. All in favour.
Oliver Agnew moves that we pay Jess Gracie $225.50 for Fencing North’s canteen expenses at SS1 & SS2. Laura Harvey seconds. All in favour.
New Zealand Teams Competition:
We haven’t received any firm expressions of intent to enter a National Teams competition. We were hoping for at least 8 teams for any of the six events to go ahead, but unfortunately this didn't happen. We have called off the event and let the other regions know.
Assistance to Fencing North Fencers Competing Abroad:
We have decided to pay for the most expensive entry fee for each of our fencers competing overseas in June/July this year at Asian Champs/World Champs/Commonwealth Junior/Cadet Championships/World University Games. We expect that this will cost us $530, and we will need fencers to provide a receipt for their entry fee before we pay them back for this. Fencers benefiting from this are Alice Boyd, Chris Bell, Hamish Chan, Daniel Garelja, Darya Kharitonova, and Stephanie Wyllie. The motion to do this was moved by Jeremy Dyson and seconded by Oliver Agnew - John Garelja and Linda Boyd abstained, all others were in favour.
Catering for NZ Secondary Schools and U20 Championships:
Catering services at this event will be provided by Auckland High Performance Fencing.
July Fencing North Meeting:
We have cancelled the July Meeting. Our next meeting will be held on the 5th August.
Meeting closed at 9.10pm
Fencing North Committee Meeting
Wednesday 4th February 2015, 7.30pm
Meadowbank Community Centre, Meadowbank
Present:
John Garelja (President)
Eric Buisman (Vice President)
Linda Boyd (Treasurer)
Oliver Agnew (Secretary)
Hamish Bulmer
Chris Lear
Laura Harvey
Gaylene Ongley
Jeremy Dyson
Judit Fliszar
Anya Kamynina
Apologies:
None
Meeting starts 7.35pm:
Matters arising from previous minutes:
Gaylene queries the need to submit our officers to the incorporated societies.
The officers are available as part of our AGM minutes that we send to incorporated societies.
Chris Lear moves that the minutes are correct, Gaylene Ongley seconds. All in favour
Treasurer’s Report:
There was no treasurer’s report this meeting
Email Actions from Vicci Lamb (Secretary of Fencing NZ):
We received an email from Vicci Lamb asking for responses on three actions.
1: Acceptance of Selection Criteria for Commonwealth Cadets:
A selection criteria had been provided that sets out three tiers for selections. Fencers selected into the first tier are expected to win team medals. Fencers selected into the second tier are expected to be able to place in the top half. The third tier lets fencers be selected who still have two years left in the cadet age group, this provides a development opportunity for them. The document provides specific criteria that needs to be met at each tier (including requirements to attend specific tournaments).
Our response is that we don't accept this selection criteria. The document is designed to prevent people from attending if they don't exactly meet one of these tiers (for whatever reason), and we think this needs to be more flexible and provide that if the team isn't full once nominees have been selected against the criteria (as is often the case) we are happy to let fencers attend even if they don't meet the criteria. Giving the opportunity to participate is extremely important to us, and the argument that "we will look bad" if our fencers come last is nonsensical. It should be in FeNZ's interest to grow and develop the sport by sending as many people as we can, as such the selection criteria should only be used to prioritise which fencers should attend in a situation where more fencers meet the criteria than there are positions in the team.
2: Commonwealth Cadets and Juniors Manager:
A call for nominations to the position of manager for this team was put out, there was one response (from Charlotte Dewsnap). Vicci is looking for us to endorse her as manager.
Our response is that we support Charlotte's selection as manager and think she'll be a fantastic person to work with parents and fencers in organising what's required for this competition. One thing that we want to be sure of is whether or not the number of fencers who end up being selected will require a manager to travel with the team. If numbers are low it would be sensible that the manager doesn't travel with the team. Another thing to we discussed is that there may be parents/coaches travelling with the team that can take on the management duties at the event.
3: Fencing New Zealand Affiliation fees for 2015:
At the last FeNZ meeting in December 2014, Vicci Lamb and Ken Claridge (President FeNZ) mentioned there are opportunities to lower the affiliation fee for particular age groups. Vicci said she would conduct analysis into alternative fee structures, but she hasn't done it. As a result she's recommending that we keep the same fees as 2014 ($50 for full membership (fencers) and $20 for associate membership (non-fencers)).
Our response is that we agree to keeping the same fees as last year, but we still insist that this analysis occurs. The aim of the analysis should be to work out the lowest fee FeNZ we can charge fencers in order to cover their operating costs. Additionally we recommend that fees need to be set at the end of Q3 in FeNZ's financial year.
Selection Issues:
There are issues with Fencing New Zealand's selection process that Oliver will address at this Fencing New Zealand's February meeting. In short, nominations are opened far too late and the process takes too long. This means less fencers are able to represent New Zealand at these important competitions. Additionally fencers and their families often have a terrible experience dealing with FeNZ.
For some recent context:
Asian Cadet and Junior Championships are being held from the 28th February this year in Abu Dhabi. FeNZ called for nominations on the 12th December with a cut off date of the 21st December. Selections still hadn't been made by the 16th Janurary and weren't finally announced until 2nd February (for a competition that begins on the 28th February). This is appalling.
The same process is in the works at the moment for World Cadet and Junior Championships which start on the 1st of April in Tashkent. Nominations for this event closed on the 1st February and we're waiting to see what happens now, but any fencers selected will have hardly any time to book flights/accommodation and plan their trip.
In contrast to this, the Australian Fencing Federation were able to announce their team for Asian Cadet and Junior Champs in early December (before FeNZ had started their nomination process), and their team for World Cadet and Juniors in early January (also before FeNZ had started their nomination process).
This has been an ongoing problem with Fencing NZ and a solution is required.
Calendar Issues:
Move SS1 to the 9th
Move Macleavey to 16th
Move SS2 to the 23rd
Oliver to check Macleavy/Fenton/Larsen are in the calendar
Oliver to forward competition dates to Massey High/John so we can book the gym for the year.
Oliver will put a call out to clubs for interest to run specific competitions. Fencing North are prepared for clubs to run up to 5 events (not the SS Circuit/North Open Champs). Auckland Swords have indicated they want to run Ongley Open and Auckland High Performance have done the same for Regional U15 Champs. This leaves 3 events for other clubs to run, contact Oliver Agnew by 1st March if you're interested. If no other clubs indicate an interest Auckland Swords/Auckland High Performance will be able to run additional events.
Gear Lockup at Massey High School:
John Garelja want us to spend ~$600 for gear containers for Fencing North equipment to be stored at Massey High School. Gaylene Ongley moves that we do this and Jeremy Dyson seconds, all are in favour.
Tournament Sub-Committee:
This year we are re-establishing the tournament sub-committee. This committee will organise all regional tournaments, this also involves managing aspects of our website and Facebook page to distribute event info and entry forms.
Members:
Laura Harvey (Leader)
Heather Claydon
Eric Buisman
Gaylene Ongley
Hamish Bulmer
Chris Lear
Chris Bell
Stephanie Wyllie
More members may be added as required.
Discussion about using a subscription management system:
Oliver is able to build a subscription management system into our website to collect affiliations (and payments) online. From initial discussion it sounds like everyone is keen to do this, but we need to do some research and look into how this business process will work.
Bills to pay:
$127.10 to Oliver Agnew for annual website hosting and domain registration for www.fencingnorth.com