BACK
YOUR PRESIDENT'S PEN
by Trudi Barlow , SFA President
It's hard to believe that the current fencing season is almost behind us. We've had some good results! (Check out the statistics which are always included in the Sask Sword.) You can always contribute an observation to this publication, you know.The SFA Board Retreat was more productive than we had anticipated. My appreciation to Brian Zulkoskey for assisting me with the organization and also for moderating half of the sessions. By all accounts, this may just have been the first of a future annual event. Recommended changes to the Rules and Regulations went forward to the Board and were ratified along with a "Mission Statement". It is not necessarily that having a Mission Statement is of utmost importance but that the process of evolving it is most educational in terms of where our emphasis is and where we wish to go. The Mission Statement for the Saskatchewan Fencing Association is:
It is extremely important that we offer an opportunity to our youth.
As anticipated we have once again suffered a funding reduction of 5% from Sask. Sport Inc. This is the third consecutive year for reduced funding and reemphasizes the importance of fund raising at the Club level
One of the ramifications of continued funding reductions is that travel, for both our athletes and our Provincial Coach, is adversely affected. The ramification of reduced travel is, very simply, fewer points and, therefore, lower rankings. We will, however, survive; but it will take more volunteer effort on everyone's part. For now we are rooting for Saskatchewan fencers at the Nationals in June and wishing Allan Francis success in his efforts to be in Atlanta for the Olympics.
For those of you whom attend and assist with tournaments, you have my utmost admiration and appreciation. It is fun, but hard work. The results of our athletes and the growth of fencing in Saskatchewan evidence the positive results of your efforts. Keep up the great work!
The SFA AGM (4 May) is passed and, as your outgoing President of two years (Interim President to 31 July 1996) and Canadian Fencing Federation Representative for the coming year as a continuing Board member, there is a thought I wish to share with you.
As a parent of a fencer, and never having been a fencer myself, it has been most educational to have been involved with the SFA during the past two years as President.
Prior to that time I worked in the competition concessions, billeted out-of-town fencers, and drove the nefarious venue van during the 1989 Nationals, which we hosted. It has been most rewarding. It is my opinion that "the more one puts in, the more one gets out".
I thank the SFA for the opportunity to learn and grow as a person and wish the same for many of you.
