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E-mail Correspondence 2/9/07 Dear Wheelchair Athletes & Coaches: It is very disheartening to see so few of you have entered the March NAC, especially in light of the fact that it was necessary to cancel the December NAC due to insufficient number of entries for that one. For wheelchair fencing to be recognized as a true part of fencing in the United States it is important for those who are involved to participate in the competitions. We have limited funding to support the program and it is dependent on the USOC which scrutinizes all aspects of wheelchair fencing. If there are few to none at the national competitions, the USOC would have to reconsider any funding. We are looking to expand the program - to get more wheelchair athletes interested in fencing. We can't do it without your help and your support. Now that the Zonal Paralympic qualifying is postponed from April to a later date there is even more need for you to compete in March. And if we do host that tournament at our National Championships, we need to have a full turnout of wheelchair athletes to have it count as a qualifier to the Paralympic Games. If there is something we can be doing to create more interest in the national wheelchair Competitions, please let me know and we will certainly give it full consideration. Do you Have anyh suggestions as to how we can make these tournaments of greater interest to you? What changes would you like to see that would revive your interest in competing at the National level? It would be helpful to all of us if you would send us a brief note why you are not planning to compete at the March NAC. Christine Simmons, Director of Tournament Services, has agreed to allow an extension for filing entry for NAC Wheelchair competitions in March through Monday, 12th of February. The normal deadline is today. If you are considering entering now, let Ms. Simmons know at Christine.simmons@usfencing.org or fax your entry to the USFA Office with WHEELCHAIR Tournament in BOLD LETTERS on the top of the entry form. Remember the more competition each of you can get the better the fencer you will become both in the United States and at international competitions. One can only improve through competitions and statistics have shown that international performance is reflected by the number of competitive bouts a fencer has had every season. Please pass this on to any wheelchair fencer who may not be on our mailing list and may not be a current member of the USFA and might be interested in competing in Atlanta. Thank you for listening and working with and for US Fencing. Carla-Mae Richards Cc. Wheelchair Committee and Advisors 2/8/07 The USFA has received notice that the American Regional Qualifying Championships that was to be held in Canada the latter part of April has been postponed for a later date and another site. The USFA is investigating the possibility of hosting that tournament at the time and place of the Summer National Championships. It is not known if that bid will be accepted. As information becomes available you will be notified by email and via the USFA web site. Stay tuned. If you know of any wheelchair athlete, other than those shown above, please forward this information to them and send me names and email addresses. One of our goals is to expand the base of wheelchair athletes and the first step is to determine who is currently a wheelchair fencer, where they are fencing and who is their coach. Any information any of you can provide would be very helpful. Similarly, if you know of a coach who is working with wheelchair athletes please let me know. THANKS In the meantime, you should have sent in your entry for the March Wheelchair NAC. If you haven't, contact Christine Simmons at the USFA office immediately at Christine.simmons@USFencing.org . Carla Carla-Mae Richards |
4/25/07