Operations Manual 2011 Edition
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Operations Manual 2011 Edition USA FENCING Operations Manual USA Fencing 1 Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5774 Phone: 719-866-4511 Main Fax: 719-632-5737 Membership/Events Fax: 719-325-8998 Business Development Fax: 719-325-8997 Finance Fax: 719-325-8996 International Fax: 719-325-8995 Web Site: www.usfencing.org Email: [email protected] Updated: 30 September 2011 Please note that some Appendices will be updated in October 2011 with World Championship results Ops Manual - October 2011 - ii Preface and Acknowledgements The United States Fencing Association (USFA), also known as USA Fencing and referred to herein as USFA, is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Colorado. The Internal Revenue Service has recognized the Association as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and contributions qualify as charitable deductions for the donor to the extent permitted by law. Information about such contributions may be obtained from the USFA National Office. Operations Manual History The Board of Directors shall provide for the creation and maintenance of an Operations Manual, an Athlete Handbook and Rules of Competition to provide information about the policies, procedures and operations of the USFA. Such documents shall include, but need not be limited to: procedures for handling disciplinary issues; resolution of grievances by individuals or organizational members; removal from a team or declaring an athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator or official ineligible to participate; and the sanctioning and conduct of fencing competitions. The Operations Manual, Athlete Handbook and Rules of Competition shall be published in a manner, which may be electronic, that makes them generally and easily available to members of the USFA, and all members shall be deemed to have notice of the contents thereof. [USFA Bylaws, Article VII, section 15, revised July 2010] This edition of the Operations Manual is an update to the major revision of the Operations done in November 2006. This version incorporates actions of the Board and procedural changes of the USFA that have occurred since the 2006 edition. The manual will be updated periodically in accordance with the actions of the USFA Board of Directors and on the basis of recommended corrections and/or modifications. Certain Appendices in this version are works in progress as information is compiled and collated to provide one source of a permanent record. Revisions will be noted by the date given on the footer of each page. Unless otherwise explicitly provided, references in this Operations Manual to other documents and publications should be construed to mean the current versions of those materials at the time of the application of the provision in question. Major revisions and reorganization of previous editions of the USFA Operations Manual could not have succeeded without the pioneering efforts of the task force appointed in 1998: Nancy Anderson, George Kolombatovich, George Masin and David Sapery. Their efforts remained in limbo as others sought to find sufficient time to continue the goal of a manual that could be used with ease in the “field”. The 2006 revision: Kalle Weeks and Tanya Brown of the Tournament Committee, David Sapery of the Data Management Resource Committee, Edwin “Buzz” Hurst of the Division and Section Committee, Sam Cheris, Vice President (2004-2008) and key administrator through the years, Donald Alperstein, League counsel and Past President (1996-2000), Nancy Anderson –USFA President (2004-2008), Bill Oliver and Greg Dilworth of the FOC, and USFA staff, particularly, Dana Brown, Christine Simmons, and Corinne Greenman, had aided, abetted and given impetus to then editor in chief, Carla-Mae Richards. Suggestions to enable this manual to be more user friendly are welcome and should be forwarded to [email protected]. It is anticipated that revisions will be made every two years. The Operations Manual is the property of the USFA and is available on the USFA website, Resources Tab/Documents: www.usfencing.org. Permission is granted for reproduction of any portion of this book. Hard/Bound copy of the Athlete Handbook can be ordered from the USFA via email to [email protected] with payment of $50 (includes shipping) Carla-Mae Richards, Past Editor-in-Chief Retired Director of Technical Programs Version 2006-1, November 2006 Version 2008, March 2008 Tanya Brown, Current Editor-in-Chief USFA Competition Manager Version 2011, October 2011 Ops Manual - October 2011 - iii Table of Contents Chapter 1 – USA Fencing .......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 The Corporation ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 USFA Purpose ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.3 History Overview .................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.4 Jurisdiction and Affiliations .............................................................................................. 1-2 1.5 National Office ................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.6 Volunteer Administration Structure .................................................................................. 1-3 1.6.1 Board of Directors ................................................................................................ 1-3 1.6.2 Committees, Commissions and Task Forces ...................................................... 1-3 1.7 Publications and Communications .................................................................................. 1-3 1.7.1 American Fencing ................................................................................................ 1-3 1.7.2 ENewsletter/EBlast .............................................................................................. 1-4 1.7.3 Athlete Handbook ................................................................................................ 1-4 1.7.4 Operations Manual .............................................................................................. 1-4 1.7.5 Financial Policy and Procedures ......................................................................... 1-4 1.7.6 USA Fencing Bylaws ........................................................................................... 1-4 1.7.7 USFA Website ..................................................................................................... 1-4 1.8 Organizational Units ........................................................................................................ 1-4 1.8.1 Division Specifications ......................................................................................... 1-4 1.8.2 Group Exemption ................................................................................................. 1-5 1.8.3 Policy on Mailing List (BoD, July & October 2000) .............................................. 1-6 1.9 United States Fencing Foundation [USFF] ...................................................................... 1-6 1.9.1 USFF History ....................................................................................................... 1-6 1.9.2 Trustees ............................................................................................................... 1-6 1.10 USFA Hall of Fame (See Appendix I) .............................................................................. 1-6 1.11 Coach Recognition Programs .......................................................................................... 1-7 1.11.1 USOC/USFA Coach of the Year Program ........................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2 – USA Fencing Membership ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Rights of Membership ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Voting Privileges .................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 International Licenses .......................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.3 New Members ..................................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.4 Membership Definitions ....................................................................................... 2-2 2.2 Definition of Division Membership .......................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Dues Sharing (BoD, July 2010) .............................................................................................. 2-3 2.3.1 Rebate of Share of Dues ........................................................................................ 2-3 2.4 Arrears .................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Chapter 3 – USA Fencing Competitions.................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1 Authorized/Sanctioned Competitions ..................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.1 Definition ................................................................................................................