Club news

• Glen Falls FSC is raffling away Mia, the 2008 American Girl Doll of the Year, and several of her accessories! Tickets are $5 each or purchase a book of eight tickets for only $10. Drawing will be held on December 14 at Moments in Time, the club's ice show in celebration of the Glens Falls City Centennial. You do not need to be present to win. To get tickets, e-mail info[AT]glenfallsfigureskating[DOT]com or call (518) 747-6571.

• Saratoga Springs FSC announced the members of its 2008-2009 Open Juvenile Synchronized Skating Team. Teammates include: Michelle Bennett, Meghan Berman, Kerry Caher, Whitney Flansburg, Christina Gong, Serena Heard, Carly Jones, Madison Near, Rachael Rodriguez and McKayla Williams. Coached by Melissa Williams, the team kicked off the opening of its season with a successful Coin Drop on August 29 at the entrance to Wal-Mart in Wilton. The first event for the skaters is the Cape Cod Classic held in Bourne, Massachusetts, on December 12 and 13. For more information about the team or to discuss available sponsorships, please e-mail missyskatemail[AT]yahoo[DOT]com. (photo at right, Michelle Bennett and Whitney Flansburg at the Coin Drop. The girls used their skate boots to collect donations.)

• Wichita FSC member Mirielle Chambers did her club proud at the 2008 National Collegiate Championships in Colorado. She finished eighth in the competition, had a personal best overall score of 100.77, and met one of her idols Alissa Czisny! The event was hosted by Mile High Figure Skating Association which is based in Littleton, Colorado.

• I really like the cool newsletter by the Diamond Edge FSC in Little Rock, Arkansas. Great layout, interesting items of information and pleasing to the eye...

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Everett FSC: Celebrating many firsts

The 2008-2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series kicks off with Skate America on October 24, in Everett, Washington. With preparations underway to welcome the world's top skaters, the Everett Figure Skating Club is right in the midst of the excitement. The Everett FSC was established in 2004 and was granted full club membership from the U.S. Figure Skating Association in September 2006. Since then, the club has experienced many firsts, including hosting it's first U.S. Figure Skating competition - the Pacific Northwest Interclub Skating Championships in early August of this year.

This growing club of over 70 members, ranging in age from six to sixty-six, will also take part in the success of Skate America. Many of Everett's members will be volunteering for the event and three of it's young skaters, Madison Barczyszyn, Shailyn Berry and Hailey Palm, have been selected to be Flower Sweepers. The club's Skating Director, Kim Derickson, will also be coordinating an on-ice press event with some of the Skate America competitors as the competition draws closer. As club president Kirsten Early puts it, "Any opportunity to participate in Skate America is a thrill for Everett Figure Skating Club."

Ms. Early further noted that,

Being such a young club we have recently passed many firsts: Justin Biringer passed his Senior Moves in the Field and Senior Freeskate, Selah Early and Julia Smith passed their Senior Moves, Selah and her former partner Mark Jahnke competed Intermediate Ice Dancing at the 2008 U.S. Junior Championships placing fourth in Compulsory Dance and sixth overall. Shailyn Berry and Hailey Palm recently placed at the Washington State Games and will go on to represent Everett FSC at the National State Games, next fall in Colorado. 

In addition, in February, two teams from the Everett Silver Blades, the club's synchronized skating division, were medalists at the 2008 BC/YT Section Festival Synchro Skate held in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada. Director and Coach Melani Young said of the skaters, “They all worked really hard and it showed, and we can’t wait to see what happens next season." Well, next season is here, and my guess is that Everett FSC will shine at Skate America and beyond!

(Photos below: Ice dancers Selah Early and Mark Jahnke, Everett FSC Seussical Group, Everett Silver Blades Synchronized Skating Team)

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Los Angeles FSC: Celebrating 75 years

On July 28, 2008, the Los Angeles FSC celebrated their 75th year as a member of U.S. Figure Skating. A star-studded gala was held at the Pickwick Ice Arena in Burbank, California, which brought together skating greats from the past and present. In addition to Michelle Kwan and 2008 U.S. pairs champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker, the event was also attended by past greats Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, Linda Fratianne, Lisa-Marie Allen, Tiffany Chin, Debi Thomas, and Mr. Debonair himself, Richard Dwyer, from Ice Follies and Ice Capades fame.

The roster of Olympians and World medalists from the club is impressive -- The Los Angeles FSC has had 174 National and World champions as well as 100 World and Olympic team members during its 75-year history. Carla Golubski, president of the club, said the celebration was a huge success and was kind enough to share some photographs from the event.

Michelle Kwan (nine-time U.S. champion, two-time Olympian, five-time World champion):

Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker (2008 U.S. senior pairs champions):

Lisa-Marie Allen (three-time U.S. silver medalist and 1980 Olympian):

Linda Fratianne (four-time U.S. champion and 1980 Olympic silver medalist):

Richard Dwyer (Ice Follies, Ice Capades, 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame):

Tiffany Chin (1985 U.S. champion and two-time World bronze medalist) and Debi Thomas (1986 World Champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist):

Frank Carroll (former coach of Michelle Kwan, Linda Fratianne and current coach of Evan Lysacek):

From left to right: Atoy Wilson (novice men's champion), Joanne Funakoshi (Ice Capades, now photographer), Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner (five-time U.S. pairs champions, 1979 World champions, and 1980 Olympians):

Michelle Kwan and sister Karen Kwan Oppegard:

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Club news

• Glens Falls FSC in Glen Falls, New York, will hold a carwash fundraiser at Mr. Bill's Drive-in on Rt. 9, South Glens Falls on Saturday, August 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $7.00 per car and proceeds will help defray ice expenses for the club's learn-to-skate programs. So if you're in the area, why not have your car washed to support a great cause?

• Skating Club of New York is hosting the 83rd Middle Atlantic Figure Skating Championships (see right) from Thursday, September 11, to Sunday, September 14. The event will be held in Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in New York City. I'm helping out with registration from 4 - 8:30 p.m. so if you're competing or watching, please stop by and say hello!

• Skating Club of Novi, in Novi, Michigan, is hosting it's Falling Leaves Classic on Saturday, October 25. Entry deadline is September 13.

• IceWorks Skating Club in Aston, PA is holding it's 5th Annual Halloween Classic Adult Figure Skating Competition on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2. This year's competition features freestyle, pairs, interpretive, dance, compulsories, team events, a test session, and more. All ability levels are invited and the entry deadline is September 27. Please visit the club's website for more information or e-mail your questions to iceworkshalloweenclassic [at] iceworkssc [dot] org. Don't forget to replace [at] with @ and [dot] with .

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Getting your figure skating club on board

The June/July 2008 issue of SKATING magazine (see right, with pairs skaters Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker on cover) had a great article (not available online) about figure skating boards and what their roles and responsibilities are. The piece was written by Susi Wehrli, the Senior Director of Membership at U.S. Figure Skating. Ms. Wehrli advised that the information is distributed at U.S. Figure Skating Club Education Seminars to assist new and existing boards to become more effective and successful.

Reprinted with permission from SKATING magazine and the U.S. Figure Skating Club Education Seminars.

Getting your board on board
by Susi Wehrli

Serving on a figure skating board is not only a huge responsibility but it is also a huge privilege. One needs to remember that he or she is an ambassador for the sport of figure skating as well as his or her local club. According to nonprofit corporation law, a board member must meet certain standards of conduct and attention to his or her responsibilities to the club. These are referred to as Duty of Care, Loyalty and Obedience. Here are the definitions:

• DUTY OF CARE means using your best judgment and that you have exercised reasonable caution in making decisions.
• DUTY OF LOYALTY means putting your personal and professional interests aside for the good of the club.
• DUTY OF OBEDIENCE means being true to the club's mission.

BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF SKATING BOARDS

1. Determine the club's mission and purpose. A statement of mission and purposes should articulate the club’s goals, means, and primary constituents served. It is the board's responsibility to create the mission statement and review it periodically for accuracy and validity. Each individual board member should fully understand and support it.

2. Ensure coach representation to the board. This person can either be an adviser or an actual board member.

3. Support the coaching staff as a whole and review their performance. The board should ensure that the coaches have the moral and professional support they need to further the goals of the club. 

4. Ensure effective club planning. As stewards of the club, boards must actively participate with the staff in an overall planning process and assist in implementing the plan's goals.

5. Ensure adequate resources. One of the board's foremost responsibilities is to provide adequate resources for the club to fulfill its mission. The board should work club services, membership, club programs and raise funds from the community.

6. Manage resources effectively. The board, in order to remain accountable to its donors and the public, and to safeguard its tax-exempt status, must assist in developing the annual budget and ensuring that proper financial controls are in place.

7. Determine, monitor, and strengthen the club's programs and services. The board’s role in this area is to determine which programs are the most consistent with the club’s mission, and to monitor their effectiveness.

8. Enhance the club's public standing. A club's primary link to the community, including constituents, the public, and the media, is the board. Clearly articulating the club's mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public, as well as garnering support from important members of the community, are important elements of a comprehensive public relations strategy.

9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity and maintain accountability. The board is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms. Solid policies and grievance procedures will help ensure proper decorum in this area. The board must establish pertinent policies, and adhere to provisions of the club’s bylaws and articles of incorporation.

10. Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance. All boards have a responsibility to articulate and make known their needs in terms of member experience, skills, and many other considerations that define a "balanced" board composition. Boards must also orient new members to their responsibilities and the club's history, needs, and challenges. By evaluating its performance in fulfilling its responsibilities, the board can recognize its achievements and reach consensus on which areas need to be improved.

For more information regarding Club Education programs and services, please contact Susi Wehrli at swehrli(AT)usfigureskating(DOT)org. (Please replace AT with @ and DOT with . when e-mailing Susi.)

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