About Us

CLUB MATTER

January 2010

by Rose Snyder

Running a figure skating club is not unlike running a small business. Most of the principles necessary to make a business successful also apply to making a club successful. There are some basic characteristics common to all strong clubs; mission, effective board, collaborative partnerships, member support, risk management, solid financial plan, and, most importantly, teamwork. We will look at each one of these characteristics in more detail and give you an idea of what you can do to maximize your club's potential.

Mission:
The mission defines the fundamental purpose of an organization. A mission statement should be a sentence or two that describes the essence of the organization. This simple statement tells the world what you are about and it provides direction for the club. It should guide decision-making and how a club should spend its resources. For example: U.S. Figure Skating's mission statement is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in the sport of figure skating.

Effective board:
Running a successful club requires strong leadership. In today's busy world, many people have less and less time to volunteer, so it becomes even more critical to recruit and maintain the highest quality board possible. Does your board follow these best practices?

• Recruit and orient new board members
• Job descriptions for board positions for role clarity, assess board performance
• Strategic plan and yearly events calendar
• Review and update bylaws annually
• Transparency - ensure legal and ethical integrity
• Invigorating meetings
• Adequate representation of your membership
• Determine, monitor and strengthen all programs and services

*adapted from the Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, Boardsource

Collaborative partnerships
As in any business, success can often be measured by the strength of the business relationships that an organization has cultivated and built. The critical partnerships that need to be developed and nurtured include relationships with rink personnel, coaching staff, officials, parents, members as well as other user groups within the facility. Trouble lies ahead for clubs that do not cultivate positive relationships with these constituents. Communication is a key ingredient to building successful relationships. It will benefit the club greatly by being a strong asset to the facility, a contributing tenant and by being ambassadors of the sport within the community.

Member support
Members are the backbone of any organization. After all, they are your paying customers. It is incumbent on the club to keep your customers satisfied. How do you do this? By providing a safe, well-structured environment where you offer exciting programs and events for members to participate. First, you must create those strong partnerships mentioned above with rink personnel and coaches. Next, spend time communicating and educating parents and adult members about your programs, schedules, events and other happenings which affect the organization. Solicit constant feedback from your members and keep your pulse on what is important to them. By understanding the make up of your membership and their needs, you can provide more satisfying opportunities to them.

Risk management
This is often a neglected area in many organizations, but one that can put a quick end to any good club. What does risk management mean? It means, if you say you are incorporated as a non-profit 501( c ) 3, that you actually are. It also means establishing, maintaining and updating club bylaws and policies. You must make sure that you have adequate insurance, check backgrounds of volunteers and verify credentials of coaches. Does your club have directors and officers liability insurance? Managing risk also means that your club finances and records are in order. Does your club undergo an independent audit each year? Does your club have prepared and easy-to-understand financial statements? It is the board's responsibility to make sure that sound risk management policies are established and in place at all times.

Solid financial plan
Does your club have a financial plan? Not simply a budget, but does your club have a plan that will not only pay your bills today but provide solid footing for the future? Does the club have adequate reserves to cover emergencies or other contingencies, such as having to pay for ice time? Does the club organize and run effective fundraising events that gross at least 10 percent of its income? Obviously it is better to have money left in the accounts at the end of each month and to have a plan. A club must be in charge of its financial future or be willing live in crisis mode. Crisis mode is not the way to build a successful program. Having a strong financial plan in place will ensure a club's longevity.

Teamwork
Finally, the most important element of a successful club is teamwork Why? Because all of the above aspects require teamwork. Every member must know the mission and his or her role in helping the organization realize that mission. This involves putting personal agendas aside and doing what's best for the club.

Rose Snyder is a leading governance consultant for national and regional organizations across the country. Her unique experience in the Olympic sports world and her management knowledge allows her to "coach" and prepare boards and staff for high level performance and achievement. Check out Rose at www.rosesnyder.com.