Dear USA Fencing Members:
Here is my response to the Conflict of Interest report by the USA Fencing Ethics Committee.
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Nearly all of the current board members are involved in ongoing litigations, either as plaintiffs or defendants. By that standard, the entire USFA board has serious conflicts of interest and almost all are not qualified to assume their board duties.
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In contrast, I or FFO have not filed any litigation against USA Fencing or any of its board members, nor have we been parties to these lawsuits. Any actions taken by FFO were intended solely to exercise our right to free speech, as protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
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The derivative lawsuit filed by certain current Board members was not a lawsuit against USA Fencing itself. Rather, it was filed on behalf of USA Fencing against other Board members for alleged failures to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.
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The Conflict of Interest report was issued by an Ethics Committee chaired by an individual who is also a candidate in this Board election. Members can draw their own conclusions about the timing and intent of this report. We believe the report contains seriously wrong information, and we have responded to its Chair through legal counsel regarding concerns about ethics, conflicts of interest, and potential legal violations.
This is yet another example of individuals in positions of power within USA Fencing attempting to silence member voices. To qualify for the ballot, I collected more than 1,100 ink signatures from voting members - an unprecedented requirement and level of effort in USA Fencing's history. This obstacle resulted from bylaw changes passed by the current Board last year despite overwhelming oppositions from members. Now, these same forces appear to be attempting to undermine my campaign by discouraging members from supporting me.
The choice before members is clear.
If you support continuing on the current path - one that believes in limited transparency, reduced accountability, and political agendas over member interests, then I may not be your candidate.
But if you believe USA Fencing needs meaningful reform; if you want an organization that listens to its members, supports fencers, coaches, and parents, and focuses on promoting and strengthening the sport of fencing - then I respectfully ask for your vote, and for your support of Abdel Salem as well.
If you have any further questions or would like to have any policy discussion, please feel free to reach me at jason.liu@fairfencing.org.
Together we will refocus, rebuild and grow USA Fencing!
Thank you,
Jason Liu