The Upper Valley Fencing Club - Organization and Mission

    The Upper Valley Fencing Club (UVFC) is an independent, not-for-profit association of fencers living and working in the upper Connecticut River valley. The UVFC's overall purpose is to provide fencers with people to fence and a place to learn, practice and enjoy their sport. Its goals are:

        to support and develop the sport of fencing,
        to foster respect, sportsmanship and safety as key values, and
        to serve our community through education and outreach programs.

    In practice, these goals require bringing fencers together, collecting dues and fees sufficient to basic needs, making arrangements for appropriate space, providing scoring equipment, and paying for insurance.
    As finances permit, and at the directors' discretion, the UVFC may hire fencing instructors, purchase certain types of equipment used in the sport of fencing, recruit and advertise, raise funds, seek a permanent home, and engage in educational outreach to schools and the wider community.
    UVFC members must pay any and all dues and fees in a timely fashion. Members are expected to join the USFA, in order to qualify the UVFC for USFA membership and to promote the sport of fencing nationally.
    UVFC will maintain United States Fencing Association (USFA) membership in order to promote the sport's national effort, to afford insurance and to give its fencers a formal home club for competitions. However, it is understood that competition is not one of the UVFC's prime reasons for being and while members may cite their formal UVFC affiliation to enter competitions, they must do so at their own expense and initiative.
    The UVFC seeks to preserve the sport's cooperative and respectful spirit, and members are expected to give freely of their experience. Members who choose to give formal instruction may receive substantial discounts on dues and fees at the discretion of the directors.
    Members may choose to enroll in any classes, workshops or camps offered by the UVFC, and/or they may choose to attend non-instructional fencing sessions. The nature of activities offered shall be decided by the directors and may or may not include more or less formal training and (routine) practice plans, to which those who attend these sessions must commit fully for the benefit of all participants.
    The UVFC will always be directed by a committee of three active or former fencers. There are one-year, two-year and three-year posts, with no term limits on re-election to any of the positions. All three directors are required to maintain "coach" status with the USFA, enabling insurance coverage for the UVFC. Directors share responsibility for providing supervision during UVFC's hours of operation, either in person or by arranging for responsible instructors. Directors make decisions by mutual consent and, if necessary, by vote.
    Unless and until the directors place the UVFC under another form of governance, the three original directors will nominate and elect their own replacements, passing their responsibilities and voting rights on to the new directors. Directors will always seek guidance from the UVFC's members.
    Because UVFC must provide insurance coverage, not least in order to be able to provide fencing venues, and because learning and sportsmanship are facilitated by safety and an atmosphere of constructive focus, the UVFC must and will be selective about membership, reserving the right to refuse or revoke membership if a person is unable to follow safety rules, attend to instruction, pay any dues and/or fees in a timely fashion, and/or provide approved personal safety equipment. Children will only be considered for membership if and when appropriate instruction and supervision can be provided.
    The UVFC cannot and will not be responsible for the safety or supervision of non-members present at any facility where the UVFC is meeting, nor can it be responsible for the safety and supervision of UVFC members who behave irresponsibly, regardless of whether or not they understand their error. The UVFC cannot and will not: allow members to play any other sports or engage in reckless physical play at any facility where the UVFC is meeting; allow unsupervised children to be present at any facility where the UVFC is meeting; or allow any member or non-member's behavior to distract or endanger UVFC members. Instructors and directors have the right to expel any member or non-member, effective immediately. Appeal may be made to the assembled directors, whose decision is final.