CLU B MATTERS DEAL A PACKAGE
WINNETKA FSC HELPS GROW PARTICIPATION, BRAND RECOGNITION
By Florence Erie Krieger and Tom Gullen Te idea for a social club at the Win-
netka Ice Arena had been discussed around the arena for a number of years, and when the figure skating director position was of- fered to me in 2011, the opportunity present- ed itself to offer this type of programming. Te Winnetka Figure Skating Club (WFSC)
started its inaugural year in 2011, with the hope of offering a communal skating group under the Winnetka Park District. We were able to bridge all ages and skill lev-
els to provide a place where skating was the basis of new friendships, responsibilities and a com- monality.
I believed we needed to do something to bring the skaters together, not necessarily in a competitive environment, but something to grow a community atmosphere within the figure skat- ing program in which they would want to spend more time engaged with skating. A parallel goal of the WFSC was to increase
overall participation within our figure skating program, and our success can be seen by the large numbers of skaters who now want to spend more time at the rink because their rink friends are there and because they want to skate. Skaters are now bundling classes by adding an enhance- ment class such as Moves in the Field or Jump and Spin or just showing up consistently on the early morning practice sessions. We also wanted to introduce the kids to other Winnetka Park Dis- trict programs on our unique recreational activity
campus surrounding the ice arena. In the first season, 70 members of the figure skating school joined, and that number has in- creased to more than 120 skaters this season. Each year the WFSC hosts three to four Friday night skate events with dinner, where we spend three hours both skating and participating in another activity with WFSC members. Typically at least 50 skaters come to these events. Each Friday night skate has a different theme
and activity. After an hour on the ice, the skaters do another activity either within the complex or close by. Some of the other activities that have been in- corporated are platform/indoor tennis, broomball on our new outdoor refrigerated rink and snow sledding. Special nights have included a movie night sleep-under pajama party, DJ dance at the junior high school across the street and most re- cently, a Halloween costume party with pumpkin decorating. Te ability to skate indoors, move to our outdoor rink, do some sledding and end the evening with some hot chocolate all within 50 yards of our front door is a great night out for the WFSC members. Future plans for these events in- clude partnering with a neighboring ice arena and sharing as a host rink with a guest program. One of our goals with WFSC was also to have
our high school skaters serve as mentors to the younger skaters. Te older skaters make the young- er skaters feel welcome as a part of the group. Te younger skaters, in turn, want to emulate the older skaters. Tey see how they skate and see the level that it is attainable. Mixing the serious competitors and the recreational skaters has worked out as we had hoped and we are proud of the older skaters, as they have been wonderful mentors. Tere are also two WFSC-sponsored exhi- bitions, one held before the winter holidays and the other before spring vacation. Tese draw nice
crowds of more than 300 spectators, and the chil- dren like to perform in front of friends and fam- ilies. WFSC also performs a specialty number in the annual ice show. One of the other attractive benefits of the WFSC is that members receive discounts on all the programs at the ice arena. Te Winnetka Park District has encouraged bundling of its activities, and the WFSC is a great example of the benefits to both the Park District and the customer. Te annual membership fee recognizes new members and has a discount for renewals. Te annual fee includes a WFSC fleece jacket with the skater’s name on it. In addition to participation in the Friday night skate events and exhibitions, mem- bers receive 10 percent off all skating classes and 20 percent off all freestyle ice sessions offered at the ice arena. For the frequent skater, the mem- bership fee in the WFSC is more than offset by the discounts offered. We are seeing skaters take more group lessons and skate more often on free- style sessions since the WFSC was formed. Our overall skating program numbers are increasing, and I believe the WFSC is a big reason why. More than anything, the Winnetka Figure
Skating Club has helped establish the brand and encouraged children to participate. Te skat- ers want to be at the rink all the time with their friends. Skating, as an individual sport, can be sometimes lonely. We want children to be en- gaged as part of a skating group and to develop friendships through skating. We love seeing the WFSC jackets either here, at other competitions or in the community. Tey have helped our skat- ers to develop a sense of community, and the Winnetka Park District is proud of the results. Florence Erie Krieger is the figure skating direc-
tor and Tom Gullen is the superintendent of facilities at the Winnetka Ice Arena.
36 JANUARY 2015
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