Annual Meeting & Election

June 17, 2023 @RFC and Virtually via Microsoft Teams

12:00 PM

The Michigan Division Board is elected by members at the Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the Michigan Division Senior Championship-Foil/Saber tournament in June. Elected board members serve a one-season term from August 1st through July 31st. According to the bylaws, "Written notice of the date, time, and place of the annual meeting shall be given to all members not less than fifteen (15) days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall contain a statement of offices to be filled at such a meeting and any proposed amendments to the By-laws to be voted upon." This year, we have a full agenda and a membership vote to adopt new Bylaws and an Operating Guide received from USA Fencing.

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Current Agenda

Iron Man/Woman/Youth Awards
New Bylaws (see info below)
Financials
Elections (see candidates below)
New and Old Business
Meeting Adjourn

All Michigan Division Members in good standing, 18 years old or older by election day, with an Access Membership or greater, are allowed to vote in person or by proxy ballot, assigning power of attorney to another member in good standing. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person to vote, you may submit the PROXY VOTE below. This proxy must be returned to Evelyn Gerson midivfencing@gmail.com at least 72 hours before the meeting; midnight of June 14th

To date, we have a couple of new folks throwing their hats into the ring for the next season. Should you want to run or nominate someone, please contact Lauren Hirsch, Nominating Committee Chair, at lsnirsch@yahoo.com.

Chair:

The Chair presides over all meetings. It is their responsibility to file annual reports with US Fencing and file all sanctioned events with new ratings earned to US Fencing.

Vice Chair:

In the absence of the Chair, shall perform the duties of the Chair. The Vice Chair runs all Division events and posts these events on Askfred. Responsibilities also include finding refs for all Division events, getting medals, etc.

Treasurer:

The Treasurer keeps the accounts of the Division, receives money, dues, and fees of the Division, and pays all bills. At the annual meeting, the Treasurer shall submit a financial report.

Secretary:

The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence, keep records of the meetings of the Division, and issue notices of the members of the meetings. Responsibilities also include sending out the newsletter and posting events on social media.

Meet The 2023-24 Candidates

Chair

Beth Vance (she/her)

Beth Vance has been active in MI Division fencing for over 20 years, serving as Chair in 2004-2005, 2021-2022 and Vice Chair in the 2022-2023 season. Beth was on the 2013 Veteran World Women's Saber Team, and has taken first place in a Veteran Combined Saber NAC, and consistently finishes in the top 8 at Veteran NAC's and Summer Nationals. Beth trains at the Renaissance Fencing Club where she also serves as an assistant coach for the beginner, adult, and competitive youth saber program.

Vice Chair

Laurie Lapp (she/her)

Laurie has been the Division Treasurer from 2019-2023, and sees fencing as a sport that can benefit the young and more mature in a multitude of ways. Laurie started fencing mid-life in 2012. Since this time she has obtained a rating in all three weapons, certification to referee in all three weapons, and has obtained Moniteur coaching status. You will find her at Traverse City Fencing Club in Traverse City, Michigan. Laurie works as a professional human resources consultant for small businesses and charter schools across the state of Michigan.

Treasurer

Gretchen Payne (she/her)

Gretchen is a proud fencing parent of two young, competitive foilists and an advocate for the power of sport in developing confidence, responsibility and team work. She is a parent-volunteer at Grand Rapids Fencing Academy (GRAFA), where she has experience organizing and running local club meets and regional tournaments. She also volunteers as a club manager at PASS FC soccer club, which has reinforced her belief in the power of coaching and competition in developing skills needed in any future path. When not at the fencing club or on the soccer field, Gretchen serves as Vice President of HR at Amway Corporation. She hopes to bring her passion for fencing and her ability to drive strategy and organization in complex situations to this role, serving as a parent advocate for fair play and competition.

Secretary

Ceili Widmann (they/them)

Ceili is the President-elect and women's epee Captain for Michigan State University Club Fencing, where they have fenced for the last 8 years. Prior to moving to Michigan for college, they lived in Ashland, OR and fenced for SOFC/Rogue Fencing. They hold two bachelor's degrees from MSU and are a candidate for the M.A. in Arts & Cultural Management, focusing on sports rhetorics, fencing history, and nonprofit management. They hope to continue to build the division's communication strategy, online presence, and overall accessibility practices.

New Bylaws & Operating Guide

After the Division Election, the membership will be voting to adopt new bylaws and a division operating guide given to us by the National Office. The Division’s Executive Committee unanimously endorses adopting the proposed articles of incorporation as the current MIDIV Bylaws, originally adopted in 1973, and last updated in January 2004, and the forty-year old operating guide, have numerous errors, inconsistencies, and do not reflect the best practices of a 21st-century Division (e.g. Zoom meetings, website/social media management, etc.). Here is some background from the National Office in addition to what has already been sent to all USFA members:

"In 2020, the Board of Directors charged the Division Resource Team with the task of assuring that all Divisions operate in compliance with USA Fencing’s Bylaws and policies and the requirements imposed by law. To this end, the Board later authorized and approved a set of documents for the governance of all Divisions. These consist of a uniform set of Division Bylaws, a Division Operating Guide, and a set of Division Operating Guide Instructions. These documents may be accessed here. All Divisions will need to transition to the new Bylaws and adopt the Division Operating Guide by August 1, 2023, and to report having done so when they file their officer reports no later than September 1, 2023."

The Executive Committee embraces these updates as a long-overdue, streamlined, modernized, and professionalized path to responsible Division governance. We encourage all division members to read the proposed bylaws/operating guide and email us with any questions/concerns at midivfencing@gmail.com.

According to “Article XI- Amendments” of our current bylaws, we will be voting on these proposed articles at our Annual Meeting, and with a “two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of all votes cast by members voting either in person or by valid, written proxy” we hope they will be adopted. If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person on June 17th, we encourage you to fill out the proxy vote below and appoint a member who will be in attendance.

Proxy Ballot

Any member of the Division meeting the qualifications above may submit their vote for the election of officers and any other business contained in the written notice of the meeting, by assigning a proxy before midnight, June 14, 2023.

Proxy Ballot

First Name

USFA member number

Last Name

Date of Birth

I assign the following MI DIV member as my proxy

This is to certify that the undersigned, a current member in good standing and voting member of Michigan Division of the USFA, has designated his or her representative to cast all votes and express all approvals or disapprovals that said member may be entitled to cast or express at the Annual Meeting of the Michigan Division, to be held on June 17, 2023 and any lawfully adjourned meetings thereof, and for all purposes provided by the the By-Laws of the Michigan Division.

In no event shall this proxy be valid after June 17, 2023 when the MI Division elections are held for the 2022-2023 USA Fencing Season. Before June 17, 2023, this proxy shall be revocable, at any time, at the request of the undersigned voting member.

Your Signature

Thanks for Voting! Proxy Submitted!

This form no longer accepts submissions. Deadline was June 14th at midnight.