Sunrise

The Newsletter of the Eastern Section of the U.S. Figure Skating Association

December 2002, Volume 2, No. 3

COMMUNICATIONS:

Any who have been on the Board during the five years I’ve served have heard me say too many times that improving communications is the surest way to make USFSA a stronger organization. These things take time, but seem to be headed in the right direction. As I complete my final year, I will keep plugging and I hope you will join the chorus.

Good communications connect people on all levels and allow them access to the things they need to know in order to make sensible decisions as leaders or to support initiatives that meet with their approval. Headquarters staff must talk to committee chairs, chairs need input and output with and to their members, Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Directors (BOD) should share information, and the membership and the skating public ought to be made aware of what we’re doing and what changes are taking place in figure skating.

Let’s extend the understanding of those items in this issue.

– Ted Clarke

… ESTABLISH JUSTICE, …

In the previous issue, under “To Form a More Perfect Union”, we discussed the mandate from the Executive Committee to the International Task Force to explore possibilities for improving the position of the U.S. within International Figure Skating in conjunction with other figure skating federations.

The matter was brought to the floor of the Board of Directors (BOD) meeting, November 2 in Colorado Springs. Many speakers expressed concern or dismay about the International Skating Union’s (ISU) introduction of a new scoring system rather than addressing the matter of ethics, which they perceive to be the real problem. BOD members asked for two things I think are central: that those involved with the ISU keep the question of ethics in the forefront, and that the task force report regularly on their progress.

President Phyllis Howard has appointed Bob Horen to chair the task force and he will select its members. Some of us have made suggestions for appointees. I had an opportunity to speak with Bob recently and to discuss the challenge presented to his group by the Executive Committee and the Board and to hear his ideas about what he would like his group to look into. We agreed that any actions the USFSA takes must be in keeping with the best interests of its athletes. We also need to explore initiatives with the International Olympic Committee, with television people, and with the leadership of other federations.

The rationale I presented from which the Executive Committee agreed to set in motion the International Task Force reads as follows: “Our skaters (and those of all nations) deserve fair competition and unbiased judging. Figure skating should be governed democratically with full exploration of new ideas. Figure skating may reach those goals more quickly with an IOC-recognized body that is separate from speed skating, and that possibility should be examined.”

Communication between the task force and the Board of Directors will be a key to its success.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING:

The November 1-2 meeting was the first under the new structure passed by the Governing Council in May 2001. With its fewer members, issues were discussed more informally, without the need for microphones, and the Board was able to discuss policy as it is meant to do.

At the outset of the first Board-only session, some members of the Executive Committee made the point that the Board (not they) is the group primarily responsible for management of the USFSA. With this having been said, some members asked for more information than they had customarily been given by the Executive Committee so that they could carry out these responsibilities. (Score a point for Communications.)

They asked for agendas and minutes of EC meetings. Some said that Reports of Action (which have

been the previous output from the EC) were not enough because they don’t give a background on

what has been decided. While some matters (salaries, contracts, etc.) that have to do with day-to-day management will need to remain confidential, a shroud of exclusivity has been lifted and the Board can and should expect to be included more fully in major decisions.

In keeping with the “need-to-know” notion of communications, I hope that the Board will be copied on e-mails and included in discussions which may arise. It only makes sense to follow up on the suggestion of Susan Ward that the vice-presidents hold conference calls with the at-large representatives to keep them informed of ongoing issues, but I also think that e-mail and teleconference focus groups could coalesce around particular issues and might involve those Board Members who evince an interest in them.

The actual business of the Board took a very short time to complete and this allowed good discussion about the function of the Board and later about international issues. During the dinner breaks and in the hotel lobby there were more discussions and more enthusiasm than I’ve seen before as members realized that their opinions and voices can have significant impact in the running of the organization. The new openness is an exciting happening and should certainly test the potential of the new system .

THE WEBSITE/THE MAGAZINE

One of the main conduits of communication between the USFSA and both its members and the general public is the USFSA website www.usfsa.com. Another is Skating Magazine. They serve different but overlapping purposes. The website can transmit almost instant information, but is available only with internet access. It needs constant updating and attention.

The magazine, though hoary with tradition, has improved its look, feel and contents in recent times. Article selections show thought and vision and the graphics are also superior. However, anything in print has both limitations and advantages. Once the “news” items are out there, they aren’t news to most people, and are often superceded by things that have developed since the printing. Therefore, the editor has to concentrate on things that have value without a news peg. That means interviews, photos, contests, “how-to” pieces, backgrounders and things like that. Nonetheless, people still like the portability of a magazine and the feel of it in their hands. They still like to collect them and to have the glossy photos provided by this medium. So there’s a need for both.

However, the website has become the front line of interface with membership and fans. Every now and then I run through everything that’s on there. As oversight officer for the Publications task force that seems a reasonable thing to do. There’s a lot available, and niches for different interests. But it doesn’t and can’t remain static. We have a new director in place even as you read this, and she will have a forward vision for our website. She wants it to serve each constituency as well as possible.

You can help. Take a tour. See what you think. How easily can you navigate from one section to the next and then get back? What about the look of it? The content? The immediacy? I’d be pleased to hear and to forward your assessments so that we can make this as good as possible. Bosnats@aol.com.

REDISTRICTING:

In the past ten days, I've attended two meetings led by Eastern at-large members, the first at the PSA meeting at Easterns, conducted by Debbie Weidman, and one Sunday in Boston, led by Wendy Enzmann, with Amy Webster and Tom Lescinski. I'd like to give you some impressions I've taken away and invite others who attended these (or other such) meetings to chime in.

At the PSA meeting, though the number of coaches present was not large, there seemed to be acceptance of the need to redistrict along the lines of 12 regions and four sections. The coaches seemed to favor either proposal #3 or #5 just as the Board did a month ago. Both of these are 12/4. The difference is that under plan #5, Juveniles and Intermediates would go to Sectionals before Junior Nationals. (This led to a request that Junior Nationals be moved to late January.

A significant and widely accepted change to plan 5 was made by Alexa Dunne-Bryant who thought four rather than three skaters could advance to Jr. Nationals without requiring a runoff.

There was also some concern about "region-jumping" (which already occurs) and whether this could be remedied by counting skaters by their home address rather than by club representation. Many thought this was too complicated to work.

A suggestion to advance skaters in proportion to the quality rather than the quantity of skaters within a region or section drew considerable interest at Easterns and so did a similar plan proposed by Mark Mitchell at the Boston meeting.

In Boston I sensed less enthusiasm for change, and concerns were voiced about the cost of the program, and its implications for governance. Many were not convinced that competition changes could be made without governance changes and wanted to see the whole package before they could support it. Similar concerns were voiced a year ago.

Mark had done a study to show the effects of a plan which would send skaters to the next event in numbers that depend upon the success of their regions at the previous year's Sectionals or Nationals. He likened this to the way each country qualifies a certain number of skaters for Worlds. Many people were clearly interested in this idea -- which would not require a by-law change and would address the question of geographic inequities without making any changes in governance. It's a variant of the Percentage System of Qualification.

At both meetings there was a clear message that delegates to the Governing Council wanted to see what will eventually be proposed well in advance of the meeting. I’ve promised to use Sunrise to get that message out, but it should also go on the website as soon as possible.

EASTERNS:

This year’s Easterns was held November 14-16 in Ashton, PA, hosted by the IceWorks SC under the able leadership of Michelle Prossack. This club took on the task of running the Sectionals when the originally-chosen site in the North Atlantic region was unable to do so. IceWorks is a club of only five years, but it has a group of energetic volunteers of the type that you and I know are the backbone of the USFSA. Ice Works is a four-rink facility located in a suburb a short distance from the Philadelphia airport. It is spacious, with adequate seating, good management and a very fine snack bar and dining area located between the two rinks that were used for figure skating. It’s the kind of facility that could well be used for other events like Junior or Adult Nationals. Chief Referee Sharon Wiggins kept everything moving on schedule, and the officials, parents, coaches and skaters I spoke with enjoyed the way it was run. There was a lot of good skating, too.

PSA TO MEET IN STAMFORD, CT

The Professional Skaters Association International Conference and Trade Show will be held May 21-24 in Stamford, CT. PSA expects that placing this event in the rink-rich Northeast and within a brief train ride of Times Square should bring large numbers of attendees.

There’s likely to be something for everyone. The seminars and discussions are the heart of these conferences and they offer superb opportunities for coaches and non-coaches to enhance their understanding of both skating and teaching. The Westin is an excellent hotel, a short distance off Route 95 and it’s offering a special $115 single/double rate.

As usual, there are special events: Richard Dwyer will speak on the topic “Down Memory Lane” at the Wednesday afternoon luncheon. And if you’re into nostalgia, there’s a Lake Placid Reunion that same evening. Attendees are asked to bring pictures and other memorabilia to reminisce about the “good old days”. Organizers are also planning an ice show Friday night with some fine show skaters and a special appearance by Sonja Henie (Go Figure.). There will also be a New England Clam Bake on Friday night and presentation of the Edi Awards Special events can be attended separately. Contact PSA at office@skatepsa.com.

NATIONAL SKATING WEEK

Club officials and coaches should plan to be involved in National Skating Week, January 18-25. It begins the final Saturday of Nationals. This year clubs or rinks must request the free supplies. Contact the membership person in your region (see USFSA directory) or the Membership Department of USFSA at 719-635-5200. Meanwhile, find out what your club or rink plans to do. Last year there were several successful programs which helped to build club and basic skills membership and produced a new pool of skaters needing group or individual lessons.

CLUB LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Seminars on these subjects have already begun, have been well-attended and have drawn favorable reviews. In the East there will be at least two more, one this spring in Boston and another in Delaware in the summer. Dates and locations will be published here and on the USFSA website as soon as they are available.

“THE JOY OF JUDGING” in the previous issue drew more comments than anything since our reporting on ice dancing earlier. Non-judges felt it gave a closeup look at how judges react to skating, and judges were glad to reveal that they care very much about good skating, like to see it and reward it, and work very hard to give a fair result.

VP FUND:

The Vice Presidents’ Emergency Fund is currently budgeted at $10,000 annually per section. The three vice-presidents have set out guidelines for dispensing the funds. It is meant for singles, pairs and dance competitors who have qualified for Sectionals or Junior Nationals and who are not receiving funds from one of the envelopes. Emergency financial need must be demonstrated. Those who find themselves in these straits and who qualify may request a form from the Vice-President of their section.

Task Force on U.S. Championships:

This group met in Colorado Springs on November 3 and came up with a list of recommendations for the running of nationals. Much of their work so far has been in gathering information and discussing ways to improve the profitability of Nationals while running a good event. Under discussion and likely to be changed for the 2007 bidding is the rotation of Nationals. Currently it rotates from section to section, and this has meant that some years (like 2006) there have been many excellent bids, while in other years only one real contender has emerged. The task force may recommend that plans be accepted from the two sections of the country who did not earn the previous bid except in Olympic years when a strict sectional rotation would be in force. This would require Board (and ultimately Governing Council) approval.

OTHER NEWS

Charles Carruthers, father of Peter and Kitty Carruthers, passed away in November.

John LeFevre, Executive Director of the USFSA, has been appointed a member of an ISU commission on reorganization of the ISU governance.

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USFSA – EASTERN SECTION

Eastern Vice-President

Ted Clarke

(T) 781-335-9135

(F) 781-340-5648

E-Mail:Bosnats@aol.com