AFM Newsletter #110 -
November 2022

 

Our fencers and fencing families travel all over the country and even the world not only for fencing competitions but for fun. This year, we’d like to engage our community in a new way and on social media. 

 

Here’s how to join! 

• Between November 20th, 2022 and January 20th, 2023, upload photos or videos of you in your AFM jacket, AFM t-shirt, or the AFM logo anywhere in the pic.

• Take AFM to the zoo, the movies, a ski resort, the ocean, on a hike, or anywhere that you’re out adventuring!

• Share your posts on Instagram and Facebook and tag AFM, including the hashtag #afmeverywhere in your post.

• The three posts with the most likes will win a prize from AFM!

 

What do you win? A brand new puffy AFM vest! These are made especially for our coaches, and they’re just as warm to wear as they are cool to look at! 

This social media contest is an opportunity for you to share your love of fencing and to show that fencers are indeed everywhere. Though we spend a lot of time together in the club and at competitions, we’re also people out in the world having adventures outside of fencing. 

You can show off your AFM logo anywhere you might be. Playing with your pets, at holiday feasts, or traveling over the break. Wherever you are, we want to see your unique voice, because this is what you bring to our fencing community.

Unleash your creativity! We can’t wait to see where you’re headed. 
 

 

We know that fencers are multitalented, incredible individuals who can do just about everything, and now USA Fencing is asking fencers to showcase those skills.

This year, USA Fencing is putting out the call for fencers to create compelling visual imagery for posters that will be displayed at national competitions and offered to clubs across the country. They’re looking for a wide variety of topics, ranging from environmental justice to mental health awareness to education about fencing. The broad range of subjects means that you can follow your ideas and engage with passions that you might have outside of fencing!

Here’s the full list, but the competition encourages you to think outside the box:

• Anti-Discrimination (posters that fight against ageism, sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, classism, weight, or other ways that people might discriminate)

• Fencing is for ALL (posters that promote unity and/or inclusion)

• Anti-sexual harrassment

• Anti-emotional abuse

• Mental health awareness

• Environmental justice

• Fencing for people with disabilities (including but not exclusive to parafencing)

• How to qualify for national or international events 

• Why someone should try fencing

• Explaining the basic rules of fencing

Applicants must be 13 years or older. You can either enter individually, or you can join with a couple of friends to form a group entry of up to three people. 

USA Fencing has created a committee of people from the organization to vote on the winners.  The top five will be posted at national tournaments this season, and the winner will receive a year of competitive membership in USA Fencing. 

We highly encourage everyone to be creative and submit! 

 The deadline for poster submissions is December 23rd, 2022, and you can submit to the following link! https://www.usafencing.org/news_article/show/1245146

The most important thing for us is the safety of our students. This extends both to fencing itself and to pandemic safety. 

At the beginning of each season, we start classes with full reminders of our safety policies. Fencing is an extremely safe sport with very low rates of injury, but this low rate is because we are so consistent in our vigilance about safe practices. 

Parents, we appreciate your help keeping your kids in touch with what the rules are. After the time of training at home so much through the pandemic, fencers became accustomed to having their weapons at home. The safety precautions in the club are an extension, and we can never reinforce these practices too much. 

Here are two of our articles that will help you to check if your child completely understands all AFM safety rules (especially for the younger kids): 

1.Important Fencing Safety Rules. 

2. Fencing Safety Rules [Infographic]

Again, thank you so much for your help and consistency! Your children’s safety is the gateway that allows them to learn and grow through fencing.