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NJCFSC programs by numbers

Competitive Skaters Assistance Scholarships

More than 100 skaters eligible 32 awarded (recipients included regional initial round skaters and national medalists 10 senior scholarships(novice to senior level) 22 junior scholarships(juvenile to intermediate level)

NJCFSC Synchronized Skating Grants

9 teams received grants 4 were club programs 1 was a university team

NJCFSC Club Grants

11 organizations, including a high school skating club, received grants

Source of 2003 Funding

50 percent of net profit from the New Jersey Council Championships for annual competition 2003 North Atlantic Regional Championships where 25 percent of the net profit went to general scholarship, and 50 percent went to the club grant programs

by Susan L. Ward

U.S. Figure Skating's 600 member clubs come in all shapes and sizes. There are traditional clubs, high school clubs, collegiate clubs, synchronized skating teams and independent Theater on Ice skating groups.

Each club is "home" to a skating world with a diverse club culture. So what makes these clubs so different besides location? Well, some clubs own their rinks (SC of Detroit), and some are comprised of members who skate at multiple rinks (SC of New York). Some are large (Los Angeles FSC), and some have a long history (Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society).

But while these member organizations are different, each one works daily to grow memberships, host competitions and hold test sessions.

Finding Common Ground

Clubs do matter, and each one needs assistance to accomplish the goals and mission of the organization. Interclub councils may be the answer to finding that assistance.

An interclub council is a way to find the common ground in our own neighborhood. It's up to the clubs that make up each interclub council to decide how much the council can do, or should do, to supplement the work of its clubs. Will the council collaborate to host competitions or test sessions? Or maybe the council can raise funds for scholarships to help athletes down the pipeline?

Interclubs can forge the mission of achievement and participation that U.S. Figure Skating strives to promote.

Currently there are 24 interclub councils nationwide that are working toward a shared mission. By focusing on that mission, these non-profit extensions of the club governance system can help U.S. Figure Skating in many ways.

Small State, Big Impact

New Jersey, a small yet densely populated state, is home to 22 skating organizations, including four high school clubs and one collegiate skating club. These organizations are eligible for membership in that state's interclub council, the New Jersey Council of Figure Skating Clubs.

With the in-state clubs being in fierce competition for members, the council delegates felt that the NJCFSC could be the place for the clubs to have a more global approach.

Seeing a growing skating population in the state, the NJCFSC decided to be proactive in skater recognition and development of programs that will help its member clubs. Two years ago, the NJCFSC adopted the U.S. Figure Skating mission statement in its bylaws, and began to look at how the council could expand its programs.

The council members are working to develop ideas by attending seminars at Governing Council and returning to promote U.S. Figure Skating programs.

While working to promote programs of the national association, the NJCFSC remains loyal to its existing programs such as its annual competition and scholarship programs.

NJCFSC Programs

In June, the 40th New Jersey Council Championships were hosted by the Skating Club of Morris. The annual competition, which is awarded by bid process to a different club each year, gives numerous trophies in competition events, including the prestigious Dr. E. Clarence Kern Memorial Trophy.

2003 Kern Trophy winner Chris Reed receives the award from Elaine Zayak, the 1977 winner.

The Kern Trophy, in existence since 1968, is awarded to the New Jersey skater who accumulates the most points through tests and competition placements during the calendar year.

Robert Christopher Reed of Warren, N.J., a member of the SC of Morris, was this year's recipient. Reed was presented the award by Elaine Zayak, a recent inductee in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Zayak, a resident of New Jersey, received the Kern Trophy in 1977 and was invited to present the award this year by Kristina Ramsland, the competition chair.

Also this year NJCFSC Competitive Skater's Assistance Scholarships were awarded to 32 skaters.

Last season, the NJCFSC gave grants to synchronized skating programs as well as clubs that provided volunteers for the 2003 North Atlantic Regional Figure Skating Championships. The council co-hosted the North Atlantic event with Upper Mountain Skating Association.

The council also promoted the formation of an interclub senior synchronized skating team, Ice Storm, which will compete in 2004 qualifying events. The Ice Storm team is New Jersey's only senior synchronized team and is the only interclub synchronized team in the United States.

This season the council plans to develop a NJCFSC Scholastic Honors Team and an Officials Development and Education Program, as well as an in-state grievance process to serve its member organizations.

Working Together

New Jersey may be small a state in geography, but its interclub council has a big heart for skaters. New Jersey is the perfect example to show that your state clubs can help the progress of skating by forming interclub councils.

And if your club is already a member of an interclub council, take a look at your bylaws and move to refresh your mission statement to be inline with the U.S. Figure Skating mission. You can make a difference.