USA Fencing

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – USA Fencing is pleased to announce the three active referees who will serve on the Referees’ Commission Nominating Committee.

Susan Belanich (Westford, Mass.), Jerry Benson (Oklahoma City, Okla.), and Tasha Poissant (Happy Valley, Ore.) join the eight-member committee that will select candidates for the three Vice-Chair positions (Domestic Assignments, Rules and Examinations, and International Assignments and Development) that become vacant on July 31, 2018 when the current terms end.

Nominated candidates were all required to have refereed a minimum of one North American Cup per year in the preceding two years. The nominees were then selected by a vote of referees who are eligible to fill this position on the nominating committee.  

The full nominating committee includes:

• Three (3) active referees: Belanich, Benson, and Poissant
• Two (2) members of the Referees’ Commission not running for an open position to be selected by the RC: Chair Sam Cheris (Aurora, Colo.) and Patrick Webster (Clinton Township, Mich.)
• Two (2) athletes selected by the USA Fencing Athlete’ Council: TBD
• One (1) Board member selected by the Board of Directors: Raquel Brown (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
• The National Office liaison selected by USA Fencing Executive Director: Sam Callan (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

In the upcoming weeks, the RC Nominating Committee will advertise for applicants interested in filling the Vice-Chair positions. After the application period has concluded, the RC Nominating Committee will be responsible for the vetting and ranking of all candidates. It will then release the names of two finalists for each position, who will be elected by all referees who are eligible to vote. The winner will be given to Donald Anthony and he will submit the names to the USA Fencing Board of Directors for approval.

More information on how to apply will become available at a later date.