B A SIC S K ILLS Louisville Skating Academy
FSC of Southern California
introductory members at less than half the cost of our regular membership. Once a skater has joined our club, we have many ways to recognize each skater and keep him or her involved. Every June we host the Southern California Open, our club’s signature competition. Tis event gives the introductory skater an introduction to competi- tion and being evaluated by judges. We also host exhibitions and evaluations so skaters can be cri- tiqued by judges to improve their programs. Our board and volunteers work tirelessly to host test sessions, so our introductory skaters can move up the rankings. In October, we have a special regional/sectional send-off party for our skaters and give jackets to regional competitors and gift bags to the nonqualifying-level skaters. Our club also supports our synchronized skaters on Team Fusion. Synchronized skating is a great way for beginning skaters to learn the sport, surrounded by teammates from whom they can draw sup- port. We keep track of our skaters’ competitions, celebrating their achievements on Facebook and our website. We regularly send letters of congrat- ulations and encouragement to our skaters. We even send a birthday card to every member, a re- minder that we are thinking of them and their club supports them.
— Antoinette Aubert GATE CITY FSC
(“PLUS 10” AND “PLUS 10 ENCORE”) Gate City Figure Skating Club in Nashua,
New Hampshire, has featured the introductory membership since it began being offered by U.S. Figure Skating. Our skating director, Lisa Lang- ley, has an integral role, encouraging skaters who
are approaching the end of learn-to-skate classes to join the club and continue to develop their skills. We offer our members numerous off-ice skill-building classes, club-only events, a holiday show in which every member can perform a short solo, and an end-of-the-season awards banquet. Te club has been able to keep adding new mem- bers by increasing our efforts in three main ways. 1) Every year we host a skating party immediately after learn-to-skate classes, featuring open skating time with on-ice games and activities, a decorated party room and refreshments. 2) We set up a club information table and board members are avail- able to talk with families about the club. Te dec- orations and activities are managed by our Junior Activities Committee; skaters from ages 11–18, who help plan and conduct events and encourage new skaters to attend. 3) A new idea this year was to donate an introductory membership package to a local school fundraising auction. We have also established a representing relationship with a synchronized skating organization, Synchro Stars, and as they continue to grow, we continue to bring in new members.
— Karen Simms (“PLUS 10” AND “PLUS 10 ENCORE”) LOUISVILLE SA Gate City FSC
Since the inception of the introductory membership category, Louisville Skating Acade- my (LSA) in Louisville, Kentucky, has used the lower-cost option to bring in new skaters who want to participate in LSA training programs and shows. LSA offers a reduced membership rate for first-time members, as well as a special reduced 14-month membership for skaters who join just prior to the summer training season. Tis helps new skaters jump into the extensive summer pro- gramming and realize more rapid success. Most importantly, the goal for LSA is to retain these members and increase their participation in LSA activities. LSA underwrites all of its ice time and programming. Increasing participation of newer skaters is necessary to cover costs, to create op- portunities for the coaching group and to devel- op future competitors, show skaters and test-tak- ers so that these opportunities are sustained for all. In the last year, LSA increased retention and participation by reinventing the Junior Academy program to create a fun and inclusive learning
environment for the newer skater and by increas- ing parent education efforts with direct emails to a target group of parents. In addition, LSA attri- butes much of the enthusiasm among the newer skaters to the success of the beginner synchro- nized skating program, which helps many new families feel part of a cohesive group. — Becca Hatch-Purnell
PENN STATE FSC
(“PLUS 10 ENCORE”) Te Penn State Figure Skating Club in
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, saw a need for addi- tional practice time for the Basic Skills skat- ers at our rink, and developed a club-beginner program to meet the needs of these skaters and also grow our club membership. We provided a low-cost package deal that included an introduc- tory membership to U.S. Figure Skating and a half-hour of ice time once a week to any skater in Beginner 5 or above. During this beginner time, our other skaters welcomed the new club members and helped them feel comfortable. Te club provided a coach to help the new skaters learn the rules of the ice, and navigate the ses- sion with the more-experienced skaters. We also gave each skater a personalized notebook with our club ice rules, a checklist of skills that they could work on and several forms from the U.S. Figure Skating website to help educate the skaters and their parents about how to make the transi- tion from Basic Skills to a full membership. We’re thrilled to report that most of these skaters have rejoined our club this season as first family mem- bers and we plan to continue this program for a new group of beginner skaters this year. — Cathy Holsing
Penn State FSC
SKATING 45
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