December 2025 Board Meeting Recap: Board Enacts Bylaw Updates, Hall of Fame Change; Stapleton Named RC Vice Chair

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — With a docket full of decisions that will guide USA Fencing for years to come, the Board of Directors used its Dec. 6 meeting to sharpen the organization’s governance tools — approving key bylaw changes, elevating world champions to new recognition and filling a critical referee leadership role.

• Bylaw updates approved. The Board passed three governance motions — known as the Composition Motion, Petition Motion and Omnibus Motion — that update Board structure, refine the petition process for candidates and clean up language across the bylaws.
• Automatic Hall of Fame pathway for world champions. Fencers who win FIE World Championships or World Para Fencing World Championships will now be automatically inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame after a three-year retirement period from international competition (sanctioned by the FIE or World Para Fencing). USA Fencing World Champions Eli Dershwitz OLY and Miles Chamley-Watson OLY as a result will become Hall of Fame members at the three-year mark after their last FIE bout.
• Stapleton appointed RC Vice Chair (Grassroots). Lindsay Stapleton was appointed to fill the vacancy as Referees’ Commission Vice Chair of Domestic Referee Development (Grassroots) for the remainder of the current term.
• Conflict of Interest report sent back for clarification. The Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Report was returned to the Ethics Committee for reconsideration and clarification.
• Work begins on independent Nominating Committee proposal. A new working group was formed to draft language that would move the Nominating Committee toward an independent structure, with no current Board members serving on the committee.

The meeting opened with remarks from Board Chair Dr. Scott Rodgers PLY, including a moment of remembrance for two members of the fencing family: longtime volunteer leader Gladys Berardi and Olympian Dr. Eugene Hámori.

On the consent agenda, the Board approved prior minutes and a motion thanking and commending Stephen Hess for his years of service as legal counsel to USA Fencing.

The Hall of Fame Committee report was accepted, along with the recommendation to automatically induct FIE and World Para Fencing world champions after a three-year retirement from international competition. The Board also approved the appointment of Lindsay Stapleton as Referees’ Commission Vice Chair of Domestic Referee Development (Grassroots), following a vacancy in that role.

After reviewing the Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Report, the Board voted to send the report back to the Ethics Committee for additional clarification before final approval.

Directors received CEO, operational and financial updates, as well as committee reports, including a strategic plan segment focused on the college and NCAA fencing landscape. The Board also discussed brand alignment under a unified “One Logo” approach and previewed a budget update. These elements marked a new Board meeting format focused on discussion of key issues in fencing.

Governance occupied a significant portion of the agenda. The Board approved three major bylaw motions:

• Composition Motion: Adjusts Board composition to align more closely with best practices among national governing bodies.
• Petition Motion: Refines how individuals can petition onto the ballot for Board service.
• Omnibus Motion: Updates, clarifies and consolidates various bylaw sections for consistency and legal alignment.

Under new business, the Board discussed the structure of the Nominating Committee and supported the concept of moving toward a fully independent committee. A working group of Jackie Dubrovich OLY, Bruce Mitchell and Joe Inzerillo was tasked with refining the concept, and working with legal counsel to draft formal policy language and any needed bylaw changes, for eventual board and then membership review.The Board concluded the public portion of the meeting by voting to enter executive session and later adjourned. These highlights summarize approved actions from the Dec. 6 meeting. For full details, please refer to the official minutes posted on the USA Fencing website.