I can't say 'thank you!' enough to everyone who has had helped with things, including providing suggestions and supportive comments for the upcoming club transition. This is especially true of Dave and Tanya Yeager and Scott Young. These three have been putting some enormous time and energy into ensuring that fencing continues as seamlessly as possible after I leave. You. Guys. ROCK!
Now for upcoming changes:
In September, the club will transfer to their control. Practices will be on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 at IWFC and will be open to fencers of all levels. (Note: No fencing this Monday, September 2, due to Labor Day.) I'll be there as much as I can until midmonth to help with things but they'll be the Official Voice of Fencing Awesomeness as of September 1.
There are many other changes under way, including searching for a new location. A new location means a new name so welcome to the Hampton Roads Fencing Club! And what does any awesome fencing club need? An awesome logo! Submit your ideas for a new club logo to hrfencingclub@gmail.com or bring them to a club practice no later than September 9. For a color palette, use the blue, white, and green of the Hampton Roads flag. If you decide to add more colors, please remember that the more colors there are in a design, the more expensive it is to get done on shirts, patches, etc.
Some key notes to help this transition go smoothly:
* If you've left fencing equipment at the salle, make sure you either collect it or make arrangements for someone to pick it up for you in the immediate future.
* Make sure your account is paid up. It will make it much easier on us all!
* I will not be doing a club equipment order in September after all. I have to stop trying to Do All the Things!!! or I'll never get anything done! If you have questions about ordering stuff yourself, just let me know and I'll help however I can.
* Continue to watch the usual places for updates and information. We'll let you know via these channels as things change -- including if these channels change!
* Although the club swag sale started because I wanted that space back in my car, the sale is still on because now the PFC and IWFC tees, socks, water bottles, etc. are collector's items! Really. Honest. Let me know what you want, either at club or via email, and it's yours if I have it! Tees, socks, and water bottles are $10, patches and key chains are $1.
28 August 2013
20 August 2013
Tournament, articles, and photos - 20 Aug 13
This weekend is the annual Back to School Brawl in Charlottesville. There will be unrated and C-and-under events in all three weapons as well as Y10 and Y12 foil. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be there (life gets in the way of fencing, go figure) but I'll be on hand at club this week to help you make sure your equipment's ready to go.
Don't forget about equipment changes for tournaments! If you're planning on going to a foil event, your mask's bib has to have that conductive covering now. (Effective at the beginning of last season.) You don't have to buy a whole new mask, you can buy a cover that just needs to be stitched into place and you're good to go! (Well, that and a mask cord to connect the bib to the lamé.) And epeeists, don't forget to change the wiring on your socket if you haven't already. That went into effect at the beginning of the current season, August 1.
Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson recently fenced an Olympic medalist. How did it go? (Dang, not only did he used to be the 7th-ranked fencer in Great Britain, he's also a rated pilot -- as in 'he can pilot a Boeing 757' rated. Cool!)
Thank you, everyone who came out to AJ Gator's last Saturday! We had a great turnout and a fun afternoon. And there are even a few photos as proof.
And lastly, a HUGE thank you to all of our Poquoson Fencing Club folks who have made the past five years there so great! It was hard closing up for the last time Sunday but we had a lot of fun taking pictures and such beforehand so we did end on a happy note! Stay tuned to PoquosonFencingClub.com for ongoing news and updates via your preferred means (see options at the top of the page if you haven't already) -- fencing may be coming to a location near you!
Don't forget about equipment changes for tournaments! If you're planning on going to a foil event, your mask's bib has to have that conductive covering now. (Effective at the beginning of last season.) You don't have to buy a whole new mask, you can buy a cover that just needs to be stitched into place and you're good to go! (Well, that and a mask cord to connect the bib to the lamé.) And epeeists, don't forget to change the wiring on your socket if you haven't already. That went into effect at the beginning of the current season, August 1.
Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson recently fenced an Olympic medalist. How did it go? (Dang, not only did he used to be the 7th-ranked fencer in Great Britain, he's also a rated pilot -- as in 'he can pilot a Boeing 757' rated. Cool!)
Thank you, everyone who came out to AJ Gator's last Saturday! We had a great turnout and a fun afternoon. And there are even a few photos as proof.
And lastly, a HUGE thank you to all of our Poquoson Fencing Club folks who have made the past five years there so great! It was hard closing up for the last time Sunday but we had a lot of fun taking pictures and such beforehand so we did end on a happy note! Stay tuned to PoquosonFencingClub.com for ongoing news and updates via your preferred means (see options at the top of the page if you haven't already) -- fencing may be coming to a location near you!
14 August 2013
Odd and ends, Poquoson schedule - 14 Aug 13
The order/payment page on the IWFC site is behaving again!
The photos button on the club sites now points directly to our Flickr page and there's a new video button for our YouTube channel. Go check them out! Have some photos or videos you'd like to share? Send them in and I'll post them for you!
Don't forget our get-together at AJ Gators in Carrollton this Saturday. Everyone's welcome so Poquoson fencers, I hope to see you there too! (It's only about twenty minutes away from the Primary School.) And that also goes for fencers who haven't been able to come out and play for a while.
Speaking of Poquoson, I just heard from Parks and Rec yesterday that the school won't be available on August 25. The following weekend is Labor Day then after that I'm under the gun for the move so I'm afraid this Sunday, August 18, is our last Poquoson fencing practice. HOWEVER! This does not mean it's the end of fencing for you, however! Plans are under way for transitioning the parent club, IWFC, to new leadership so stay tuned!
The photos button on the club sites now points directly to our Flickr page and there's a new video button for our YouTube channel. Go check them out! Have some photos or videos you'd like to share? Send them in and I'll post them for you!
Don't forget our get-together at AJ Gators in Carrollton this Saturday. Everyone's welcome so Poquoson fencers, I hope to see you there too! (It's only about twenty minutes away from the Primary School.) And that also goes for fencers who haven't been able to come out and play for a while.
Speaking of Poquoson, I just heard from Parks and Rec yesterday that the school won't be available on August 25. The following weekend is Labor Day then after that I'm under the gun for the move so I'm afraid this Sunday, August 18, is our last Poquoson fencing practice. HOWEVER! This does not mean it's the end of fencing for you, however! Plans are under way for transitioning the parent club, IWFC, to new leadership so stay tuned!
08 August 2013
Equipment orders are due tonight - 8 Aug 13
Don't forget to turn in your equipment order and payment to me tonight! Equipment should be in by Wednesday next week.
07 August 2013
Social time! - 7 Aug 13
Let's get together and hang out for a while -- in air conditioning, no less! -- Saturday, August 17, at AJ Gator's in Carrollton from 2:00 to whenever. This is in the shopping center catty-corner from the Food Lion shopping center on 17/Bridge Road. Turn at the Bojangles stoplight and you're there. Everyone's welcome, current members, former members, families. The more the loude- I mean, merrier! Speaking of families, they have a 'kids eat free' special on Saturday afternoons (one kid per adult) so bonus. Leave the fencing gear in the car (hm, fencing in the parking lot?) but bring your happy and let's have fun!
06 August 2013
The Virginia Division tournament schedule is up! - 6 Aug 13
The Virginia Division just published the 2013-14 tournament schedule so grab your calendars and start marking dates! I'll get these added to the club calendar in the next day or two.
05 August 2013
Oops! We're on but I'll be a little late
I just locked my keys in my car for the first time in years! I'll be there as soon as I can get back into my car, dang it!
02 August 2013
Changes - 1 Aug 13
As many of you know, my husband has been living overseas for almost two years while I've stayed here to keep coaching and running the clubs. Unfortunately, the stress has gotten to be too much for us so we've decided that I'm moving to Germany in September. Club practices will continue on their usual schedule at least through August but private lessons are off as I need that time for other things now. In the meanwhile, if anyone is interested in taking over the club, knowing it will likely go back to its 'one or two nights a week in a gym' status (which is the norm for most fencing clubs and is how we got started), please contact me ASAP. (Note: This is club practices only. All coaching I've been doing outside of the club practices is something else entirely.) I'll do everything I can to help transition the clubs smoothly, including going over the general lesson plan I use for classes and anything else you might need. Running just the club itself is pretty straight forward and can be done easily by one person but if two or more of you choose to work together, that works too!
As you can imagine, this was not an easy decision for either of us. Helping fencing grow and expand in Hampton Roads over the past ten years has been a wonderful experience and it's you who have made it so. I'll brag to anyone who will listen about what great people my fencers are and I mean every word of it. Thank you all so very much!
Note to those who have paid ahead and to those awaiting equipment buyback payments: These refunds and payments will be sent out as soon as possible. Your patience is appreciated as I ensure the normal operation of the club continues as seamlessly as possible during this time.
As you can imagine, this was not an easy decision for either of us. Helping fencing grow and expand in Hampton Roads over the past ten years has been a wonderful experience and it's you who have made it so. I'll brag to anyone who will listen about what great people my fencers are and I mean every word of it. Thank you all so very much!
Note to those who have paid ahead and to those awaiting equipment buyback payments: These refunds and payments will be sent out as soon as possible. Your patience is appreciated as I ensure the normal operation of the club continues as seamlessly as possible during this time.
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