WRESTLERS WITHOUT BORDERS NEWSLETTER
Volume 3, 1st Quarter 2001 - Jan. 1 2001
Welcome to the first WWB update of the new millennium. You will notice that these updates are now titled w/volume
and issue numbers. I did this for two reasons. The first reason is that I am hopeful that this will make it easier to keep track of
updates. The second reason is the hope that this will inspire me to insure that I get these out at least quarterly. We can only
hope.
Speaking of hope-I hope you all know that I welcome any submission, news, etc. that you might have. Feel free to
e-mail me w/any special events, gossip, whatever that your clubs are having.
The results are [finally] in. I would like all the WWB Club Reps to join me in welcoming our newest member clubs.
The Membership [re]applications of The San Diego Bulldogs, represented by Russ Connelly and Amsterdam Tijgertje,
represented by Jeroen Tan, were approved by a vote of 9 for 0 against, and 2 not voting. Jeroen and Russ are now entitled to
vote on WWB issues on behalf of their clubs.
Sydney 2002 Announces Early Registration Launch
On 1 March 2001, Early Registration for GGVI will commence. I would encourage those of you who are planning to
go to GGVI to take advantage of the discounted registration fees that are available to early registrants. By registering early,
you are insuring that there will be a place for you in your competition. I personally encourage every one to register early so that
the Tournament Organizers will have a better handle on the number of participants to expect on the mats in 2002.
To that end, Sydney 2002 is encouraging organizations to conduct a registration launch party in your hometown with
your coordination with your City Team and athletic groups in your respective communities. Sydney will provide registration
materials, fliers, etc. Sydney 2002 would like to ask you to consider the following for an event plan:
Host City would be required to provide the following:
- Arrange a venue for this date
- Promote/advertise to all members and interested participants in locality
- Provide PC access for on-line registration (paper registration forms will be provided for backlog or unavailability of PC's)
- Other entertainment as required by host
Gay Games VI will provide:
- Registration information
- Registration brochures and handout material providing up-to-date information
- Promotional Material
- Supporting Sponsors material and information
- Promotion of the registration event via GGVI E-newsletter
- Items to auction as they come to hand
- Lots of thanks!
Benefits of hosting a launch event:
- A great fundraising initiative
- A local team-building event through encouragement and leadership
- Consistency in registrations i.e. team registrations
- A huge momentum of Involvement and Participation for the whole world to see
- Great publicity possibilities locally, Nationally and Internationally
- An immediate registration impact to go out in BIG way
- FUN!
There is a basic questionnaire on pages 8-9. Sending the completed questionnaire to Jeff Drew will provide him with
some good feedback for your requirements when planning for the event and will also allow for some event consistency. Please
send completed form to admin2002@gaygamesvi.org.au.
Local Federation of Gay Games Contacts
Several WWB Clubs are located in cities that are home to a Federation Director or two. I would encourage anyone planning an early registration event to contact the Director in your area for some input! Listed below are some Directors that are near some of you and may be of help. Do tell them I sent you.
Wrestling Club News
The Golden Gate Wrestling Club is planning of producing a special edition calendar to take to Sydney for GGVI. They intend to have more pages than previous calendars and the club is making an offer to every wrestling club to submit a single page (8.5 x 11) team photo with some graphics/info that pertain to their club.
I encourage all interested clubs to contact Gene Dermody at wrestler@pacbell.net for further details.
WWB CALENDAR OF EVENTS
If you have an event you would like posted in the calendar, please contact me.
Sydney 2002 Gay Games has Moved!!
Well, not the Games but the administrative offices of Sydney 2002. The State Government of NSW and the South Sydney Council in a show of support have provided Sydney 2002 Gay Games Ltd with new office space. Listed below are the details. Please update your records accordingly.
Sydney 2002 Gay Games Ltd (Administration)
Macquarie Street (Hyde Park end)
Level 2, Building I (via the Sheriff's Office Gate)
SYDNEY NSW AUSTRALIA 2000
Mailing Address:
GPO Box 2763
SYDNEY NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Our new telephone number is 61 2 9235 7000
Our fax number is 61 2 9221 9990
Sydney 2002 Gay Games VI, Sport & Cultural Festival
(Store/Shopfront Information)
92 Oxford Street
DARLINGHURST NSW AUSTRALIA 2010
Mailing Address:
GPO Box 2763
SYDNEY NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Telephone number is 61 2 9380 8202
Fax number is 61 2 9360 1220
Sydney 2002 Gay Games VI Report
My Personal Impressions: I really enjoyed my stay in Sydney. It is a beautiful city, and the people were very
friendly. Public transportation is very user-friendly, the weather was [pretty] good. I managed to visit many landmarks, hit a
few bars, and I got to work out with the Sydney Harbour Wrestling Club-a great group of guys. They have a great space for
wrestling. Barry honored me by allowing me to coach his practice. Thanks Barry! I am looking forward to returning in 2002.
I have to say that when I do return, I am going to make every effort to stay for 3 weeks!!
Approval of WWB Request for Modifications to GGVI License Agreement: GGVI Sports Manager Stuart
Borrie set up a 3 November 2000 meeting to discuss the WWB Requests for Modifications and some other wrestling issues.
Attending this meeting were GGVI Sports Manager Stuart Borrie, Sydney Harbour Wrestling Club President Barry Webb,
Federation of Gay Games Sports Committee Cochair Mike ZuZu, [Sydney Harbour Wrestling Club], NSW Wrestling Sports
Development Officer Sean Smith, and myself. After much discussion, it was agreed that all of the accommodations requested
by WWB could be accommodated except for the issuance of Day Licenses. Borrie agreed to do some quick research and
meet w/me later in the week where we would finalize discussion and Borrie would sign off on the Modification.
Stuart and I met later that week. Borrie signed off on document with the caveat that he may not be able to guarantee
the issuance of day licenses for the competition. We agreed that if Sydney was not going to be able to provide day licenses
that Sydney would send correspondence to the wrestlers instructing them to contact their local/national FILA associated
Wrestling governing body to obtain a competitors license. I plan on sending copy of said document to each club rep later this
month.
GGVI Site Visit: Olympic Site Visit: Tour of the sports venues and some of the Cultural venues and Opening
Ceremony. Sydney 2002 has decided to reserve the smaller stadium for Opening Ceremonies in order to make the event more
of a community affair and a hometown feeling. The larger location, Stadium Australia, in addition to being more costly, also has
so much space that even an event with 30 to 40 thousand spectators would still make the stadium appear quite empty. The
other facility is used by the national softball team and is large enough to seat over 30 thousand people. All other sports will be
using many of the same facilities used during the Olympic Games in 2000. And of course the wrestling venue was first class.
Sydney 2002 Staff Changes: Executive Director Garrie Gibson parted amicably from his position as ED. Stuart
Borrie is currently Acting ED until a replacement is hired, hopefully some time in March. Marcus Bear, the Marketing Director, is no longer employed by Sydney 2002.
Videotaping GGVI Wrestling Competition: At the 2000 WWB Annual Meeting we all agreed that we would like
an archival videotape of the GGVI Wrestling Competition produced. Steve Driscoll of BG East was contacted by Dermody
and myself. Several e-mails and one marketing director later, Steve has finally received official contact from Sydney 2002.
Gene and I will continue to assist Steve and 2002 in bringing this to fruition.
Gay Games VI Merchandise: Currently there is merchandise available in Sydney however as of yet it is not
available on the website. I would say keep checking in at www.GayGamesVI.org.au. Tell them I sent you..
Federation of Gay Games 2000 Annual Meeting Report
The Annual Meeting of the Federation of Gay Games was held from 5 - 10 November 2000 in the city of Sydney,
Australia. Rather than subjecting all of you to the minutiae of the whole meeting, I have opted to report the highlights of the
meeting that have a direct effect on WWB.
Executive Committee Report: The Federation Copresidents announced that, in October of 2000, just prior to the
annual meeting, the USOC and the IOC sent letters to the Federation in which the USOC has agreed to end their dispute of the
use of the Federation's logo of three inter-locking rings. The IOC 's letter confirmed the spirit of the USOC's agreement and
added that the IOC will not object to the use of the Federation logo and that if any National Olympic Committee objects to the
use by the Federation, the IOC will take reasonable steps to obtain withdrawal of such objection.
Membership Committee Report:
The Membership Committee requested and received Board approval for
changing Committee’s name from Membership to Directors and Nominating Committee (DANCOM), a name that more
accurately reflects Committee’s responsibilities. The Membership Committee recommended the following individual's for the
position of Federation Director and the Board approved all of them.
- New Director Organization: International Front Runners (IFR);
- New Individual Director: Kile Ozier (background in event management and promotion)
- Renewing Director Organizations: International Gay Bowling Organization, Lesbian & Gay Bands of America, Swiss Gay & Lesbian Sports
- Renewing Individual Director: Susan Kennedy
The Membership Committee did not recommend the following because they have not fulfilled the requirements of Directorship. The Board approved the Membership Committee’s recommendation of each of these. Lambda Rowing International, Team Atlanta, Team Chicago.
The Membership Committee recommended that the following individuals be granted Honorary Life Membership (HLM). The Board approved the Committee’s recommendations. Herb King, Rose Mary Mitchell, Jeff Pike, Larry Sheehan. It was noted that the following chose not to renew their Directorships: Team Frankfurt, Lisa LaBrecque, Rose Mary Mitchell, Steve Mumby, Jeffry Pike, Rob Wardell.
Sports Committee:
Mike ZuZu and Kathleen Webster were reelected as Sports Committee Cochairs. As usual,
Mike and Kathleen are showing their managerial expertise keeping a their watchful eyes on all aspects of the Gay Games
Sports Programme. Longo’s letter to the Federation was included in the Sports Committee Report.
Gene Dermody sought and was granted reappointment as the Federation Sport Coordinator for Wrestling. All
Federation Sports Coordinators report to Subcommittee Chairs Teresa Galetti and Jerry Lovell. The Subcommittee Chairs
report to the Sports Committee Chairs. FYI-Dermody’s report is on page 7.
Policies and Procedures Committee Report:
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Delegate Jennifer Wilson and
myself were reelected as chairs of this committee. During the course of our report, we submitted several bylaw amendments to
the Board for approval. The majority of these passed. The most significant amendment to pass will give all Organizational
Directors two votes-one for each Delegate each organization is allowed to send. To exercise both votes, both Delegates must
be in attendance. This ultimately gives organizations that represent hundreds or thousands of constituents, more of a say in
how the Games are managed.
Site Selection Committee Report:
There are five bidding organizations from four different cities. These include:
Atlanta 2006, Chicago 2006, Los Angeles 2006 Inc., Gay Games VII Bid LA, and Montreal 2006.
2001 Timeline of the Bidding Process:
- 31 Jan 2001 - Deadline for all written bids to be submitted to the Federation.
- 15 May 2001 - Elimination vote to bring # of bids to four.
- June through August 2001 - Site visits by Federation inspectors.
- Oct or Nov 2001 - FGG Annual Meeting. Official presentation of bids by each bidding city. Host for Gay Games VII is selected during this meeting.
Election of Officers: The Federation of Gay Games election of officers cycle runs as follows: every year 1/2 of the
officers are up for election. This year the Offices up for election were that of Male Copresident, Treasurer, and Recording
Secretary. Charlie Carson [of IGLA] won reelection to the post of Recording Secretary by a good majority; Jerry Lovell [of
IGBO] was elected in an uncontested election to the post of Treasurer; Bill Wassmer [Team Seattle] won reelection over
Team Sydney’s Richard Hogan with a vote total of 20 to 19.
Federation Vicepresident [and LAW Delegate] Gene Dermody’s term is up for election at the 2001 Annual Meeting.
He has not indicated whether or not he will seek reelection.
2001 Annual Meeting: The 2001 Federation of Gay Games Annual Meeting will take place in Johannesburg, South
Africa sometime in October. The city that will host GGVII will be chosen at this meeting.
The list below is the updated WWB Membership/Contact List. If you are visiting a city that has a wrestling club, please
the effort to support these clubs either by contacting them and attending a practice, social event, or even a local event.
I would ask that no one list these clubs on their respective websites without the club contact’s permission but rather use
this list as a contact list. Thanks in advance for your respecting the privacy of the listed contacts.
If anyone has a contact name and e-mail address for a club that is not listed, please forward the club name and contact
information to me that I might list it.
New Contacts &/or non-affiliated clubs
Sports Coordinator Report-Wrestling
Subj: Sports Coordinator Report 2000: Wrestling
Date: 10/07/2000 8:52:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: wrestler@pacbell.net (Gene Dermody)
To: PeoBumJong@aol.com (Teresa Galetti), jerry.lovell@teletech.com (Jerry Lovell)
CC: rlvt1@aol.com (Rick Van Tassell), phillyzu@aol.com (Michael Zuzu), MooSaShin@aol.com (Kathleen Webster),
sborrie@ozemail.com.au (Stuart Borrie)
Teresa and Jerry...
This is my annual report as FGG Wrestling Sports Coordinator. I have done it in narrative form. Please let me know if it is
ok...
Gene
Since the last AM in Berlin 10/1999, I have done the following:
1. Worked with Rick Van Tassell of Wrestlers WithOut Borders on the preliminary revisions to the RedBook and S2002
contract for the wrestling section. These changes revolved around the explicit setting of the women's weight classes, the
pairing mechanism, and the version of the FILA rules to be used. The changes are basically generic, subject to further tuning as
we draw closer to the S2002 registration doc approval deadline (1/2001).
2. Served as a resource to Rick at the annual WWB meeting at Hillside PA, where the discussions of these same revisions
(above), and other issues such as the proposed 'Novice Division' concept were done in depth with the representatives of the
other wrestling clubs. Input from Kevin Martin, an M3 Olympic Official and Silver level coach, who officiated GGIV in NYC
was included.
3. Helped Rick write up the revisions plus the 'Novice Division' concept that was subsequently formally submitted to S2002's
Stuart Borrie.
4. Met with Stuart Borrie twice during my Olympics trip to discuss the language of the registration doc, plus some high level
scenarios of how the Sunday 'Developmental Program' would work. Also met briefly and informally with Geoff Marsh and his
staff of SOCOGS at the wrestling venue. This was *very* positive, and I look forward to a more formal 'details' meeting with
Geoff et all including Stuart, Barry, Shawn, and Rick during the week of the S2000 AM. I will leave it to Stuart to set this up.
5. Pending... brainstorming with WWB about the Sunday format... safety, pairings, clinics, officiating, etc... I'd like to have a
laundry list to give Geoff ahead of time if possible.
6. My own skills development: I will be attending the Monterey Coaches clinic in October for 2 days, and have plans to get
my Silver USA Coach's Certification in the spring.
Gene
--
Gene Dermody
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