J O H N J . S T R A S S C PA

APPLICATION  TO  SERVE  AS  AN  AT-­‐LARGE  MEMBER    ON  THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  OF  

 THE  UNITED  STATES  FENCING  ASSOCIATION  FOR  THE  TWO  YEAR  TERM  COMMENCING  SEPTEMBER  1,  2011  

WHY I WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

§  The Board of Directors is vested with the full powers and responsibility for the management and policies of the USFA.

(Article VII - Bylaws United States Fencing Association, Effective August 28, 2010)

§  A successful Board of Directors includes members with varying backgrounds.

§  I wish to offer my business and fencing experience to help improve the organization for the benefit of the United States Fencing Association, its members and the sport.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 2

MY COLLEGE EDUCATION.

University of Notre Dame § Graduated in 1978 with a Bachelors of Business Administration

Degree in Accounting.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 3

MY  WORK  EXPERIENCE.  

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING

§  Six years with Ernst & Whinney.

§  Tax Manager. §  Provided tax, accounting and

litigation support services. § CPA licensed to practice in the

State of Texas since 1981. § New York CPA license issued in

June 2010.

PRIVATE INDUSTRY

§  Twenty-fours years in private industry.

§ Chief Financial Officer of privately held businesses having annual revenues up to $200 million.

§ Manager of Accounting for a publicly traded company with over $1 billion annual revenues.

 

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 4

MY FENCING EXPERIENCE.

HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE

Notre Dame High School, Niles IL §  Competed in foil for NDHS. §  Competed in foil and epee at local

competitions; and, epee at national tournaments.

University of Notre Dame §  Four year starter in epee with a

record of 111-42. §  Team took 1st in NCAA’s junior

and senior years; and, 3rd freshman and sophomore years.

 

ADULT

•  Resumed fencing in 2002 at the San Antonio Sports Foundation.

•  Daughter’s first coach. She is now a freshman epee fencer on the Columbia University team.

•  Monituer in foil and epee awarded by the USFCA.

•  Paul Pesthy’s assistant coach at 15th Touch Fencing Club in San Antonio TX.

•  Recreational fencer at Fencer’s Club of New York.

•  May participate in Vet events.  

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 5

MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE USFA.

AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBER

§  Member of USFA Audit Committee from 2008-2010.

§  Analyzed financial data for the years 2004-2008.

§  Reconstructed and reconciled balance sheet accounts.

§  Prepared draft report of findings for Ed Wright, Audit Committee Chairman.

DISCIPLINARY PANEL MEMBER

§  Served on Frank Van Dyke Disciplinary Panel.

§  Analyzed financial data with regards to alleged financial irregularities in the Pacific Coast Section.

§  Prepared draft report of findings for Alex Wood, Disciplinary Panel Chairman.

 

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 6

THE USFA NEEDS TO BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS.

§  Every organization, whether it is for-profit or not-for-profit, needs to be run like a business in order to serve its customers.

§  The failure of USFA management to abide by this tenet was the root cause of the organization’s distressed financial condition.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 7

§  Per the graph at left, the net asset balance has historically hovered around -0-. The USFA spends money as fast as it is received.

§  A breakdown in management left the USFA with more debts than assets.

§  This led to changes in the management team and board of directors.

§  The USFA has been in a workout mode since 2008 to rectify the problem.

THE USFA IS IN A WORKOUT MODE.

Source:  United  States  Olympic  CommiOee  Audit  Report  dated  July  28,  2008    

8

THE USFA NEEDS TO BE CUSTOMER FOCUSED.

§  A successful business knows its customers.

§  Products and services are tailored to meet the customers’ needs.

§  The business model is reviewed periodically to make sure it is relevant.

 

 

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 9

WHO ARE THE USFA’S CUSTOMERS?

§  Fencers §  Parents §  Coaches §  Fencing Clubs §  USFA Divisions and Sections §  College Teams and Clubs §  National Collegiate Athletic Association §  Officials, Armourers and Volunteers §  Fencing Equipment Dealers and Manufacturers §  United States Olympic Committee §  Federation Internationale d’Escrime

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 10

WHO ARE THE FENCER-CUSTOMERS?

•  When do they start fencing?

•  What weapon(s) do they fence?

•  Where do they go to school?

•  What is their level of participation? §  Recreational. §  Local tournaments. §  National tournaments . §  College. §  International tournaments. §  US National Teams.

•  When do they stop fencing?

•  Can we get them back into the sport?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 11

THE USFA NEEDS FENCER DEMOGRAPHICS.

§  The USFA should develop detailed multi-year demographics data on its membership.

§  This data is crucial for developing a business plan for the USFA. § How many years of data are available? § What is the quality of the data? § Members have not been treated as individual customers in the

QuickBooks accounting system. This makes it harder to use the data.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 12

WHAT CAN THE USFA DO FOR FENCING PARENTS?

§  Parents pay a lot to support their child’s participation in fencing.

§  What services can and should the USFA provide to make fencing a better experience for the parents? § Where to find a place to fence. § Fencing instruction. § Make it easier to buy fencing uniforms and equipment. § Fencing safety. § Negotiate better travel deals.

§  How many parents are fencers themselves?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 13

WHERE CAN I FENCE? §  The USFA website lists clubs by state and division.

§  Additional information could make the page more useful. § How many active USFA members are in a club? § What are the coaches names and credentials? § Does the club specialize in one weapon? § How many fencing strips does it have? § What are the demographics by weapon for the division and

section? How many potential people are there to fence with nearby?

§ Hyperlink to club website.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 14

CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER TO BUY FENCING EQUIPMENT?

§  Have different size/age male and female fencers try on uniforms from the various manufacturers and vendors.

§  Publish a table that cross-references uniform sizes by manufacturer for the different body types (sex, height, dimensions). § This would reduce a barrier to entering the sport. § Help the fencers, their parents and equipment dealers fill orders

the first time; and, reduce equipment returns.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 15

IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS SAFETY?

§  Concerns about safety can be a barrier for parents and new fencers.

§  An eye injury is the easiest way to kill a fencing program. I know. An eye injury at my high school helped kill high school fencing in Illinois.

§  The USFA rulebook has uniform requirements. These requirements should be met as a condition of insurance coverage for clubs. § At USFA tournaments, require that masks be held in front of the

face when testing bell guards (epée) and lamés (foil). Award a yellow card for failure to follow safety protocols.

§ Establish the minimum safe distance between strips for clubs to prevent injuries.

§ Require that full uniforms be worn in fencing clubs as a condition of insurance. For example, epee fencers need to wear socks.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 16

WHY DO WE HAVE TWO FENCING COACH ORGANIZATIONS?

§  Is it in the best interest of US Fencing to have two separate coaching organizations? § United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA). § USFA Coaches College.

§ Would fencing coaches be in a better position to have a positive influence on the sport if they worked from inside the USFA instead of as a separate organization?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 17

CAN THE USFA USE THE INTERNET BETTER?

§  Fencers register for local tournaments on askfred.net; and, for national tournaments on the usfencing.org website. Would it be more efficient and cost effective to consolidate registrations on one site?

§ The USFA would need to maintain databases for rankings and points.

§ Many businesses respond to blog postings to address customer service issues. Is this something the USFA should consider doing as well?

§ Can the USFA stream national events over the internet?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 18

CAN WE PRODUCE INTERNET BASED INSTRUCTION VIDEOS?

§  Make it easier to start fencing programs in underserved parts of the country (and world) by offering online instruction videos. § What happens in a bout…how things work. § Footwork. § Fencing lessons. § Tactics. § Armourer skills. § How to run a tournament. § Referee lessons…multiple choice…you make the call.

§  Can we enlist film schools and studios to produce videos? §  Can we charge a user fee? This could be a source of revenue from

fencers in other countries.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 19

ARE THE SECTION AND DIVISION STRUCTURES FAIR?

§  The USFA is organized into sections and divisions. § Do the sections and divisions fairly represent the membership

population? Congress redraws districts every ten years. When is the last time the USFA equalized sections?

§ Is it easier or harder for competitors from a given division or section to qualify for national tournaments due to the present borders?

§ What is the minimum number of clubs and fencers to form a division?

   

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 20

HOW CAN THE USFA HELP COLLEGE FENCING?

§  The USFA has a College Fencing Committee; but, the USFA as an organization has not actively thrown its support behind college fencing.

§  It would be interesting to analyze the demographics to determine how many members stop fencing after high school…and if they ever return.

§  The USFA should work with individual schools, conferences and the NCAA to grow the number and quality of varsity teams and clubs.

§  Why can’t the NCAA award separate NCAA Championship trophies for the Men’s and Women’s programs?

§  Can the USFA enlist the aid of college presidents and athletic directors to expand college fencing opportunities?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 21

HOW CAN THE USFA ENLIST THE AID OF ITS MEMBERS?

•  The USFA should use the voice of its 23,000 members to frame issues and influence outcomes affecting the sport of fencing.

•  The USFA should employ coordinated letter-writing campaigns from its 23,000 members. A physical letter is more powerful than an e-mail. •  To obtain sponsor support. •  To get better pricing from hotel chains, airlines and car rental

companies. Eliminate baggage fees for fencing bags. •  Lobby for/against FIE rule changes as appropriate. •  The affect of Title IX on men’s college fencing programs. •  Separate Men’s and Woman’s NCAA Championship trophies.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 22

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES OF THE USFA

1.  To serve as the National Governing Body for the sport of fencing in the United States, and in that capacity to fulfill the lawful obligations imposed on national governing bodies and to enjoy the privileges and prerogatives accorded national governing bodies by United States Law, the USOC and the FIE.

2.  To provide local, regional and national competitive opportunities for fencers of all levels of ability under uniform rules and regulations and to strive for improvement in all aspects of organizing and conducting fencing competition.

3.  To select, support and prepare individuals and teams to represent the United States in international fencing competitions.

4.  To develop, support and promote fencing referees in domestic and international competition.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 23

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES OF THE USFA (CONT)

5.  To promote the sport of fencing in the United States and around the world and to disseminate information about fencing so that people may be exposed to and enjoy its many physical, mental and social benefits.

6.  To provide support in the form of information and programs to fencing instructors and to organizations and groups that offer fencing opportunities.

7.  To make available information and opportunities that will allow fencing practitioners to enhance their skills and to increase the enjoyment and benefit they derive from the sport.

8.  To provide assistance and support to other organizations that promote fencing or conduct fencing competitions in a manner consistent with the purposes, goals and means of the

9.  To foster good will and harmonious relationships with fencers and fencing organizations in foreign countries for the betterment of the sport of fencing.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 24

THE USFA’S NINE (9) PURPOSES CAN BE ASSIGNED TO TWO BROAD CATEGORIES

DOMESTIC

•  Domestic purposes include all 23,000+ USFA members and other USFA customers. •  Fencers §  Parents §  Clubs §  Colleges §  Coaches §  Equipment vendors

INTERNATIONAL

§  International purposes include a subset of USFA members and customers. §  Elite fencers who are vying for

national teams. §  Individual and national squad

coaches. §  Internationally qualified

referees. §  Support personnel. §  U.S.O.C. and F.I.E.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 25

HOW SHOULD THE USFA SPEND MEMBER FUNDS?

§  I believe the USFA’s primary responsibility is to its 23,000+ members.

§  Should support for elite programs be limited to funds received from sources such as: § The US Olympic Committee. § Elite program sponsors and supporters. § Designated member contributions.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 26

SHOULD WE ELIMINATE THE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM?

§  A business cannot offer a product or program it cannot run.

§  A lifetime membership program can only work under the following circumstances: §  The proceeds are saved to match future obligations. §  The return on investment is great enough to meet future

obligations.

§  In the USFA’s case, the proceeds from lifetime memberships were spent as soon (or before) they were received.

§  The USFA cannot generate a complete list of lifetime members.

§  I propose that this program be eliminated; and, that existing lifetime memberships be amortized at a 5% rate of return (average CD rate).

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 27

§  If the US Speed Skating Team can raise $250k from the Colbert Nation in two weeks then why can’t the USFA find corporate supporters and sponsors?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 28

WHY CAN’T THE USFA FIND SPONSORS?

HOW CAN THE USFA THRIVE WITHOUT A MARKETING PLAN?

§  The USFA needs to actively promote the sport of fencing at all levels of participation. This plan should: § Inform the public about the sport of fencing. § Boost college team and college club participation. § Develop a host of materials for individual clubs to use to increase

local participation. § Develop a cadre of volunteers to support events.

§ When is the last time a fencer was on a Wheaties box? § Everyone loves a winner…capitalize on the moment of victory to raise

funds from corporate sponsors and individuals to support the program.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 29

SHOULD WE CHANGE THE ROTATING TOURNAMENT MODEL?

One of my daughter’s teacher told me: “Traveling around the country to tournaments is very glamorous. You see a lot of cities.”. I replied: “We usually see an airport, a hotel and a convention center”.

§  Would the USFA be better served with a permanent venue for holding national tournaments, training camps, coaches clinics and national office?

§  It’s hard to employ technology when we move from place to place.

§  It costs at least $10k-$15k to move equipment from venue to venue.

§  Can the USFA rent a suitable facility; or, receive a contribution for use of a facility?

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 30

CAN GYPSIES SELL NAMING RIGHTS?

§  The USFA could approach sponsors to sell naming rights for a permanent facility. That would be hard to do with the current tournament roadshow.

§  Considerations for a permanent facility location should include: § A central geographic location…possibly along the Dallas-

Memphis corridor. Study fencer demographics. § Located in a major air traffic hub with a numerous direct flights. § Having reasonable and plentiful hotel rooms and restaurants for

weekend stays near the facility.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 31

ARE FENCERS GETTING “BANG FOR THEIR BUCK”?

§  Traveling to national tournaments is expensive.

§  Under the current tournament format, are we giving the customer-fencers enough fencing “bang for their buck?

§  Should the USFA consider alternative tournament formats such as multiple rounds of pools to DE bouts starting in the Round of 64.

§  More frequent single-weapon tournaments that can be completed over a Saturday-Sunday to replace four-day NAC’s.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 32

CAN THE USFA EXPAND SUPPORT FOR INJURED ATHLETES?

§  It’s fantastic that the USFA offers wheelchair fencing. But what about injuries that do not require a wheelchair?

§  Fencing is an asymmetrical sport.

§  There have been improvements in prosthetic arms and legs.

§  Fencing could be beneficial to an individual for: § Rehabilitation. § Fine motor skills development. § Giving injured athletes a lifetime sport.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 33

§  The Wounded Warrior Project’s mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

§  If these warrior-athletes can navigate an obstacle course, then shouldn’t we try to get them on a fencing strip?

www.woundedwarriorproject.org

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 34

SHOULD WE WORK WITH THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT?

THE USFA NEEDS A STRATEGIC PLAN.

§  The USFA needs a long-range strategic plan that outlines the goals and direction of the organization.

§  Plans, budgets, fundraising efforts, facilities et al should conform with the strategic plan.

§  The plan should be published.

§  USFA members and sponsors will be more inclined to support the organization if they know where it is going.

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 35

§  I am running for an at-large seat on the Board of Directors for the betterment of the sport, not personal prestige or betterment.

§  This application was prepared in this format to raise questions about the direction of our sport.

§  I am offering my creativity and experience to help Fencing thrive in the 21st century.

John J. Strass CPA 250 West 103rd Street

Apartment 10D

New York NY 10025

jjstrass@gmail.com

JOHN J STRASS CPA, APPLICANT FOR AT-LARGE DIRECTOR 36

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY APPLICATION.