Cape Cod Figure Skating Club Reborn
by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online |
They are the many volunteers, club board members and parents who tirelessly worked to bring back the Cape Cod Skating Club, this time to a new home, the Hyannis Youth and Community Center in Hyannis, Mass.
The idea was spearheaded by the people who run the Barnstable Recreation Department.
"They have successfully operated the town's learn-to-skate program for many years, and since the move to the new Hyannis Youth Center, there was no place for skaters to progress after their learn-to-skate experience was complete," Cape Cod Skating Club President Heidi Parent said.
The Cape Cod FSC is one of the nation's oldest clubs. The club saw huge success in the late 1950s, when it was housed at the old Joseph P. Kennedy outdoor rink, but during the transition years from the old Kennedy rink to the new youth center, membership began to dwindle.
"I really give credit to the parents of the kids," Parent said. "They wrote letters to the rec center saying they felt let down. The rec center stepped up and brought in parents, coaches, rink management and myself to get things going."
Parent and her crew immediately sat down to work organizing meetings with volunteers and mentors.
"Without the help of people from other local skating clubs like the Bourne Skating Club, we never would have been able to do it," Parent said. "They have been an immense support system for us, helping us learn the day-to-day logistics and giving good advice from experience."
Jen Lawrence is the new club's secretary and a skating parent.
"As a parent, I felt it was important to become involved so that figure skaters of all ages and abilities--and especially those up and coming--will have the opportunity to skate and compete in a first class facility," Lawrence said.
As the previous version of the club offered more of a family environment, Parent hopes to bring the focus back to the figure skater and the individual disciplines.
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"We are definitely filling a void and a need," Parent said. "Cape Cod isn't very big, but with a brand new beautiful facility, there is no reason skaters have to travel too far to further their skating experiences."
Parent encourages others thinking about starting a club or program to make sure to have good connections with clubs that are already up and successfully running.
"They are a wealth of information and ultimately will provide you with some skaters to fill your ice time, as everyone can always use a little more ice time," Parent said.
A good working relationship with rink management is important, and getting the parents and skaters involved in the "off season," with events and appearances, helps turn part-time and seasonal skaters into full-timers.
She also encourages utilizing the "Clubs" area of U.S. Figure Skating's website.
"I found the people I spoke to at U.S. Figure Skating were super helpful," Parent said. "You felt confident that they wanted you to succeed and help to nurture more learn-to-skate kids into tomorrow's figure skaters."
The "new" Cape Cod Figure Skating Club is looking toward a bright future and a rink filled with skaters.
Lawrence said, "Who knows? Maybe one day we will have an Olympic skater from the Cape Cod Skating Club and the Hyannis Youth and Community Center."
