Ontario Fencing Association Membership Guide

1
Ontario Fencing Association Membership
Guide

• 2006-2007

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Canadian Fencing Federation License

• As of July 2006 the CFF is requiring all
  participants in fencing in Canada to hold a
  license.
• 10
• Register on line from CFF website
• www.fencing.ca
• All OFA members are responsible to register for
  this license independently of the OFA

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OFA Membership Categories

• Basic
• Must have CFF license
• Basic is a flat fee that covers insurance and
  registration for all members
• Includes volunteers, club administrators and
  board members, school and community program
  participants, competitors, coaches, referees etc.
• Current rate is 5. per individual
• All participants of fencing in Ontario must hold
  at least a Basic membership
• Included in some Membership Categories

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Membership Categories

• Competitive Youth
• CFF license 10
• Only for Youth under 15 yrs.
• Covers entry to Youth Circuit events only
• Upgradeable anytime in the season
• Includes Basic
• 25 plus CFF License

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Membership Categories cont

• Competitive Pay As you Go
• CFF license 10
• One time Basic 5.
• plus a 15 user fee for each Ontario competition
• Covers all competitive events in Ont.
• No eligibility for OFA funding or training
  programs
• All fencers who compete at any level must hold a
  competitive membership
• With this membership you are only a competitive
  member for the day you compete and a Basic member
  for all other time.

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Membership Categories cont

• Competitive Seasonal
• CFF license 10 plus
• 50 (Basic included) plus CFF 10 60
• Entry into all competitions held in Canada
• International competitions. (May need additional
  FIE license for some Levels)
• Eligibility for funding and training programs and
  teams

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Membership Categories cont

• Club
• 100
• Each club may register as many as 20 Basic
  members free as part of their club fees.
• Process for registration for complimentary
  members is the same for any Basic member
• Suggestion is to use these complimentary
  memberships for volunteers, administrators and
  board members as well as sponsors etc.
• Eligibility for OFA grant programs
• Sanctioning of program activities and
  competitions

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Membership Categories

• Officials and Coaches
• 10 CFF license plus Basic 5. plus
• 10 OFA total 25.
• If Competitive Seasonal member then no fee
  required
• Eligibility for all OFA and CFF Officials
  programs and NCCP Certification

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Registration

• Memberships become active when fees and
  applications are received by the club officer or
  on line
• Basic is registered by Club
• Memberships for non-competing members are the
  club responsibility
• A list of names and appropriate fees are
  submitted to the OFA Office on a regular basis.
  The club keeps a record of names and contact
  information.

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Registration cont

• Competitive
• Online registration for CFF license
• Youth and Seasonal members register with the OFA
  
• On line via website www.fencing.on.ca
• Pay by Credit card or send cheque
• By Form and Cheque to OFA office or on site
  person
• Send to
• 984 Main St. W.
• Hamilton, Ont
• L8S 1B2
• through club membership officer

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Q and A

• I am a coach (official) but also a competitive
  athlete.
• A Competitive Seasonal Membership will also cover
  your Coaching and Official roles. Be sure to
  include this information on your application. You
  will need only one CFF license.

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Q and A

• I am a volunteer at my club and help out
  occasionally. Why do I need a membership?
• Clubs have the option of registering you as a
  complimentary member. Membership in the OFA shows
  a commitment and appreciation for a sport that
  gives us so much. It boosts our numbers to help
  us become eligible for increased grant money and
  makes us more attractive to sponsors. This is a
  way you can help the general fencing community as
  well as your club. Thank you for everything you
  do for fencing!

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Q and A

• I am just starting to compete. What if I dont
  like it?
• The Pay As You Go is perfect for you. You can go
  to your first competition for only your Basic 5.
  plus 15 . This is a total of 20 which is a
  savings of 30 compared to the Seasonal. And if
  you love it (you probably will)
• you can upgrade any time during the season

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Q and A

• Why do the participants in my club have to buy a
  CFF license if they dont compete anywhere
  outside of my club?
• According to the CFF Regulations with which we
  must comply, every participant in fencing in
  Canada must have a license. It will be the clubs
  responsibility to make sure that each member
  carries a license before their names are
  registered with the OFA. We will audit the list
  of licenses randomly to see if members are
  registered. Failure to get a CFF License may
  result in the suspension of OFA membership
  privileges. See the CFF website www.fencing.ca
  for more information on this License.

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Q and A

• Where does my membership money go?
• In past years, over 50 of the OFA budget was
  comprised of membership fees. Ontario fencing
  traditionally has been the poorest funded
  province, even though we are the largest
  membership base by far. We depend on membership
  dollars to educate coaches and referees, plan
  programs, fund athlete programs and do the work
  of the organization. The Ontario Government is
  currently recognizing the importance of sport by
  increasing availability of funds but the amount
  of money granted depends heavily on membership
  numbers.
• Most programs are subsidized by membership
  dollars.
• Even if you are not benefiting directly right
  now, it is more than likely that we are planning
  and developing a program that will help you
  improve your fencing in the future.
• Ontario spends the least amount of money per
  capita on administration than any of the other
  provinces. Most of the dollars go into
  infrastructure development and athlete and
  coaching programs or direct funding to athletes.
  In 2005, less than 18 of the budget went to
  administration and in 2006 the percentage will
  decrease.

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Q and A

• I just want to do the kids stuff. What
  membership do I need?
• A Youth Membership is specially designed for you.
  You can enter the Ontario Youth Circuit which is
  two competitions and two camps and includes the
  Ontario Armband Instruction for those who dont
  have it in their clubs and the Testing clinics. A
  Youth ranking is kept for Y14, Y12 and Y10
• If you want to compete in a non Youth event you
  can Pay As You Play or upgrade at any time to a
  Seasonal Membership.

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Benefits of OFA Membership

• Third Person liability insurance coverage for 5
  million
• Eligibility for OFA programs
• Entry to OFA competitive opportunities
• Eligibility for National Programs
• OWG/CWG
• Coach and Official Programs and Accreditation
• Eligibility for Provincial Grants and Bursaries
• Sanctioning of all Provincial Activity
• Inclusion in the Fencing Family
• Opportunity to use skills for the betterment of
  fencing at all levels from club helper to Board
  member
• With the new system all votes count so each
  member has an opportunity to contribute to the
  decision making process
• Access to International Competition
• Inclusion in the Canadian Fencing Federation

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Membership Guide

• A word about the CFF license
• See www.fencing.ca for complete information
• The CFF requires all participants in the sport of
  fencing to register for the license. This rule
  was passed at the 2006 CFF AGM