About Us

CLUB MATTER

April 2002

May is just around the corner, and I am anxiously awaiting my first Governing Council. Now don't laugh. I know what I'm in for ... I think. I have been to 16 USA Swimming national conventions — six as a delegate from Arizona and 10 as a staff member. From experience, I know it will be a long and tough week, but it will also be fun.

I'm excited about the educational programs we are planning for you on Thurs., May 9, 2002. We promise a day filled with education, thought-provoking discussion and a sneak preview of what will be the club education program for 2003.

Here are the seminar topics and a brief idea of what will be covered:

Club Leadership and Business Management

This two-hour session will be focused on the tools that clubs need to lead, manage and administer their clubs effectively to promote growth and positive involvement from their members and the community. Topics include:

• Effecting positive change
• Styles of leadership
• Recruiting and working with volunteers
• Board building
• Financial management
• Risk management
• Membership registration
• Strategic thinking (long-range planning)
  

Improving Clubs by Improving Club Relations

The focus of this two-hour session will be to listen and discuss ways that you can improve your club's relations. We have put together a panel of experts. The panel members, you will notice, include some very familiar and integral people in the running of your club. The panel will be made up of the following positions: skating director, rink manager, test chair, judge, parent, athlete, coach, membership registrar, Basic Skills director and others.

Each panel member will answer the question, "What do you expect from the club?" They will each give a brief answer from their perspective on what they expect from the club in order to do their job effectively. The remaining hour will then be open discussion on what we can do to better facilitate these jobs at the club level.

USFSA Membership Programs & Services: Where Reality and Dreams Meet

This session will provide existing membership programs (Theatre on Ice, synchronized skating, adult, high school, training camps, etc.) the opportunity to update us on their programs and activities. This forum will also give us a chance to report on newly formed programs, such as National Skating Week and the "It's Great to Skate" clinics. We will also provide the summary report from the Club Needs Assessment survey that was sent to clubs in December.

We also plan to hold discussions about the implementation of new membership programs for 2003 and beyond. We will conclude by holding a brainstorming session on what works in your area.

Those of you fortunate enough to attend these sessions will have the opportunity to complete an exit survey. Your thoughts and feedback will help design the day-and-a-half-long club education seminars planned for 2003. The plan is to host one club education seminar in each section. The tentative sites and dates will be announced at Governing Council.

So yes, I'm looking forward to Governing Council. I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you that I have met on the phone or through e-mail. And yes, I know, it will indeed be a tough week, but I can't wait!

A Sneak Peek at the Survey Results

A quick review of the Club Needs Assessment surveys reveals a compelling top 10 list. So in David Letterman style ...

"The top 10 areas clubs tell us they need the most help in are ..."

10. Coach education and improving coach relations
9. Marketing
8. Retention
7. Connecting Basic Skills to club
6. Board management
5. Long-range planning
4. Volunteerism
3. Parent education
2. Fundraising

And the number one thing clubs tell us they need the most help in IS ...

1. Recruiting

The survey results are being compiled by the Sports Marketing Research Institute from the University of Northern Colorado. Look for a detailed summary in a future issue of SKATING magazine.

A special thanks to the 170 clubs (and still counting) that have taken the time to respond to this important survey. We hit nearly a 30 percent response rate.

And special congratulations to the Lone Star Figure Skating Club of Dallas, Texas. Lone Star was the lucky winner of our drawing for the U.S. Team warm-up. Congratulations!