CLUB MA TTERS
RULES IN PLACE TO PROMOTE A STRONG CLUB-HOME RINK RELATIONSHIP
by SUSI WEHRLI-MCLAUGHLIN O
ne of the most important aspects of any successful figure skating club is the ability to develop a
strong working relationship with its home facility. Te critical partner- ships that need to be developed and nurtured include relationships with rink personnel, coaching staff and other user groups within the facility. Trouble lies ahead for clubs that do not cultivate positive relationships with these constituents. Two-way communication is a key ingredient to building these successful relation- ships. It is U.S. Figure Skating’s goal that all member clubs are considered a strong asset to the facility, a con- tributing tenant and ambassadors of the sport within the community. Member clubs have to abide by
certain membership rules set forth by U.S. Figure Skating; one of these includes submitting a facility usage form to declare principal skating headquarters on an annual basis. Te specific rule reads: MR 2.04: Te “principal skating head- quarters” of a club shall be the ad-
dress of the rink in which the club conducts the majority of its skating sessions. Tis address shall be record- ed in the U.S. Figure Skating data- base under the club’s name. A club may name only one principal skating headquarters. B. To maintain a club’s princi- pal skating headquarters, a facility usage form must be completed each year by the club president, certifying the facility is the principal skating headquarters of said club and said club uses ice at the facility certified as the principal skating headquarters in compliance with MR 2.04 (A). Tis rule is meant to be mu- tually beneficial to both the club and its home facility. Te listing of member clubs and principal skating headquarters can be found in the U.S. Figure Skating Directory and also available at
www.usfigureskat-
ing.org. Facility usage forms must be renewed annually and due to headquarters by the middle of June each year. All member clubs should ask permission of the facility before declaring it “home.” In addition, U.S. Figure Skat-
ing’s membership committee recent- ly drafted a document called “Expec- tations of Member Clubs” to further strengthen and outline the roles and responsibilities of all member clubs. Below is a brief summary of these six expectations.
1. Follow the mission as set forth by rules of U.S. Figure Skating
• “The mission of U.S. Figure Skating is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in the sport of fig- ure skating on ice.”
2. Operate like a small business • Comply with all state and fed- eral regulations
• Establish marketing/promotion- al campaign for the club
• Have governance procedures and policies in place
• Provide financial oversight
3. Maintain a safe environment for all members
• Enforce annual coaching re- quirements
• Implement codes of conduct for skaters, coaches, parents, volun- teers and board members
• Establish and enforce ice usage and etiquette rules
4. Offer programs and events for the development of figure skat- ing
• Create a strong connection with the local feeder program(s)
• Offer programs/opportunities for skater development — i.e. performances, competitions, camps, seminars
• Administer testing sessions for skater advancement
• Make programs enjoyable and fun
5. Foster healthy relationships • Display professionalism and courteous behavior toward other club members, user groups, facility staff and surrounding clubs — display positive atti- tude, emotional maturity and exemplary conduct
• Be transparent in all business transactions
• Be a good tenant in your prin- cipal skating headquarters and surrounding facilities
• Have a presence within the com- munity — positive reputation
6. Membership development, re- tention and education
• Recruit, retain, recognize all membership categories and dis- ciplines of figure skating
• Have a multi-faceted commu- nication strategy both internally and externally
• Recognize of members’ accom- plishments
• Utilize all U.S. Figure Skating membership categories — var- ied fee structures and benefits of membership To review the full list of “Expec-
tations” and to find more informa- tion regarding figure skating clubs, please go to
www.usfigureskating.org and click the “Clubs” tab.
The Bourne Skating Club enjoys a great relationship with its home club Gallo Ice Arena in Bourne, Mass. 48 APRIL 2012
Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin is the senior director of membership at U.S. Figure Skating
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