OFF THE ICE LETTER FROM MARK GREENWALD, ED


They say “time flies when your having fun”, and this past year has been a true tes- tament to that statement. After a little over one


year in this position, I can share that it’s been challenging, consuming, and effortful, but I do feel progress has been made on many fronts. It is also a time when the going get’s a lot tougher. Our athlete and membership standards are high and hopes remain for much more achievement.


Solid footing has been established on many fronts for US Speedskating (USS), and we are underway, moving forward and achieving a variety of our goals. As I reported recently at the USS Fall Board Meeting, there has been a great deal of change over the past year, including but not limited to: • A transition to a new USS President & officers of the Board of Directors


• Updated By-Laws • A new Board of Directors member • Approved USS High Performance Plan (with a decidedly quantitative approach)


• A new USS logo and re-branding • Acquisition of additional USS sponsors (apparel, auto, awards, graphic design, education, technical apparel, and sports medicine)


• A new USS Management Team in place and an organizational chart and responsibilities for staff revised


• USS coaches added • USS Committees formed and revised • A USS Athlete Agreement drafted and implemented


• Town hall meetings held at a number of USS events


• Outstanding 2010-2011 performances by USS Athletes


• Launch of a new USS Fan site (SpeedskaterNation)


• Organization of Strategic Planning Meeting and USS Committee Chair Training session


Many, many other items are underway. While USS is far and away from being exactly where I think we’d all like to see our sport, we are progressing and working hard at it. On the financial side in these challeng- ing times, we find ourselves a little over $1 million dollars under our 2010 budget, and


sitting presently near 2006 funding levels to run all aspects of our sport. Our needs and demands of both our high performance ath- letes and our membership have not dimin- ished, and there is some hardship being ex- perienced all around. We all would like to see our sport operate


like some of the larger NGB’s such as swim- ming or hockey, with the professional ap- proaches they demonstrate, however these sports have budgets in the tens of millions and participants numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Such resources provide the ability to have a team of experts advanc- ing their membership services, recruitment campaigns, and providing for development experts to assist their grassroots needs. The majority of USS’ funding comes directly


from the United States Olympic Committee, and these funds are targeted for high per- formance and have certain designations at- tached to them, so it’s not easy to parse these funds in such a way to grow our sport, as well as meet the high performance agenda. By being creative with what we do have, working together and better utilizing our human resources, and better showcasing the performances of our athletes through raising the level of our competitions, we can likely increase the visibility, marketability, and ultimately generate revenues that can be used to not only assist our top athletes goals, but to also grow the sport. While we’d certainly like to do more for both our elite athletes and the development side of our sport, the good news is our orga- nization is in a financially sound position at present, and in a good place to begin to take the next steps toward growth on all fronts. After a season of working somewhat un- der the watermark, and shoring things up, we are now ready to build above it.


Initia-


tives to which we’ll apply attention and re- source in the coming season will include the following: • The drafting of a long term strategic plan for USS, to include information gathered from our 2011 Spring Strategic Planning session, the USS Board of Directors, USS Committees & USS membership.


• A significant focus on elevating the profile of USS events (focus on creating events vs. running competitions and team selections). • Fundraising (to include more than


just sponsors, but a new USS Board of Trustees, increasing USS fan base, creation of an USS Alumni Committee and re-connecting with our former athletes and members, and exploring granting agencies and philanthropic giving).


• Redefining our relationships with our major high performance training centers (Utah Olympic Oval, Pettit National Ice Center, and Northern Michigan University) and better partnerships in utilizing them to the fullest potential.


• Continued work on refining and making the USS Governance structure more efficient, functional, transparent and inclusive (introduction of new USS working committees).


• Continued work on USS staff process, planning, communication and team building.


Some might point out, that speedskating


development does not appear on this list as a priority, and that comment would not be lost on me. Such development will come in part through better committee attention and support, as well as a full-time staff position we hope to hire in the near future. As such initiatives are predicated on budgetary con- straints, we need to create the resources in order to move forward, and that is why this item is slightly further down the list. There are things we can do in the meantime to keep our development agenda advancing, and we will. There continues to be much to do, and I


realize that attention to everyone’s priorities cannot be met immediately. By utilizing the function of USS Committees to a greater ex- tent, empowering more decision making to those who are committed and knowledge- able about this sport, and pulling together as an organization, we can reach our goals. One sign of progress is not an elimination of our challenges, but a realization that the ones we do encounter are changing. I sug- gest that is a positive sign of progress. I’d like to thank the athletes and member- ship of US Speedskating for your continued support to lead this organization, as well as your patience while we continue to do our work to move things forward. This will take time, but I have confidence in the momentum of change and willingness to try things in a different way, that we will be successful. Wishing you a great season of skating!


www.usspeedskating.org Fall 2011 RACING BLADE 5


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