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Where the Games come to play 800 361 3747 [email protected] www.mondousa.com Volume 10, Number 5 March/April 2008 ONTENTS Publisher C Ice Skating Institute OPERATIONS Editor MARC H/APR IL 2008 Lori Fairchild C Invisible Hazards and How to o S 2 P n 0 E fe 08 C r I e IS A n I L Protect Against Them ...... 6 c I IN e c S Editorial Advisors & e E A R T T r re Peter Martell ad n by Kathleen Norlien e a sh o Carrie Clarke w Randy Winship MANAGEMENT Print Production & Advertising Sales Manager The ABCs of AA Carol Jackson llll SSiig ADA Tax Savings ...... 8 gnnss Art Director PPooiin by Mark E. Battersby IISSII ntt ttoo Cindy Winn Livingston CCoonnf && TT feerreennccee Contributors Managing the rraaddees Mark E. Battersby shhooww John Mullaney Millennial Generation ...... 12 Kathleen Norlien by Robert W. Wendover Jim Thompson Robert W. Wendover PROGRAMMING
The ISI EDGE (USPS 017-078, ISSN 1522-4651) is published Skating in the SHADE: • • Skatiin bimonthly; January/February, ng iin th Good for Kids, • he Shad March/April, May/June, July/ IInviisiibl de August, September/October, le Haza Good for Business ...... 14 • A rds November/December; by the DA Tax x Saviin Ice Skating Institute, 6000 by John Mullaney All gs Signs P Custer Road, Building 9, C oint to over s 2008 Plano, TX 75023 . Annual tory, pa ISI Con ge 20 ference Subscription Rate is $24.00 & Trad per year. Periodicals New PCA Web Site eshow postage paid at Plano, TX, and at additional mailing to Start Conversations ...... 16 offices. by Jim Thompson POSTMASTER NOTE: Send address changes to ISI EDGE, c/o The Ice Skating Institute, All Signs Point to 2008 ISI Conference & Tradeshow ...... 20 6000 Custer Road, Building 9, by Lori Fairchild Plano, TX 75023. Printed in the U.S.A.
Subscriptions available The Community That Made Ice Skating Paramount ...... 22 through membership only. by Lori Fairchild ©2008 by the Ice Skating Institute. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibit - ed unless expressly autho - rized in writing by publish - DEPARTMENTS er. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed by con - tributors do not necessarily CrossCuts Announcements ...... 4 represent the views of the Ice Skating Institute, the iAIM Report: Building a Strong Foundation ...... 18 publisher or the advertisers. Submissions of manuscripts, Simple Solutions for Skating Directors ...... 24 materials, photographs, and artwork are made at mailer’s Coaches’ Corner ...... 26 risk and must include self- addressed envelope with suf - ISIA Education Foundation Report ...... 28 ficient postage for return. No responsibility will be Ice Arena Association News ...... 30 assumed for unsolicited materials. ISI reserves the ISI-Endorsed Competitions & Shows/Exhibitions right to edit material sub - Calendar ...... 36 mitted for content and space consideration. And Another Thing ...... 38 ROSS UTS CannounceCments
Dedicated to providing leadership, education and services to the Maximum Solutions and Pointstreak ice skating industry.
ICE SKATING INSTITUTE integrate systems 6000 Custer Road, Building 9 Plano, TX 75023 PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Maximum Solutions Inc., and Pointstreak.com Inc. have Phone: (972) 735-8800 Fax: (972) 735-8815 partnered to technically integrate their systems, eliminating manual entry of e-mail: [email protected] schedule data. Mutual customers of the two systems can now easily and quickly www.skateisi.org upload game schedules, and players can instantly view team schedules online. For ISI INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS more information, go to maxsolutions.com or pointstreak.com. Executive Director Peter Martell Director of Skating Programs & Services Carrie Clarke K&K reduces ice rink, camp/clinic rates Controller & Tradeshow Manager Karen Schaffer FORT WAYNE, Ind. — K&K Insurance Group Inc. has announced a new rating struc - National Skating Program & ture for its ice rink program as well as its camps and clinics program. Rates have been Events Coordinator Randy Winship reduced significantly, depending on individual facility exposures, in most states, and Membership Coordinators reductions are pending in other states. For information, go to kandkinsurance.com . Kathy Chase Angela Tooley Advertising Sales & Print Production Manager Carol Jackson Athletica announces management change Senior Accountant & Sponsorship Sales Manager MINNEAPOLIS — Premier Rinks Inc., dba Athletica, has announced the resignation Stuart Sedransky of Ed Van Pelt, CEO. Jim Mahoney will serve as the interim CEO while a search is con - Information Services Coordinator Jeff Anderson ducted for a permanent CEO. Administrative Assistant Mary Ann Mangaro ISI OFFICERS In Memory President Jim Hartnett 1st Vice President Mike Paikin 2nd Vice President Janice Forbes Janie Collins Treasurer Richard Arenella Former figure skater Janie (Rosalie Jane) Collins died Dec. 28 in Minneapolis Secretary Margy Bennett Immediate Past President Jim Lange following a long illness. The wife of Champions on Ice founder Tom Collins Past President Boyd Wietecter was 69. She toured in Holiday on Ice, and with her skating partner, Alfredo Men - DIRECTORS doza, created balletic routines performed on water skis at Cypress Gardens in District 1 Scott McCoy Florida. Collins was the 1956 Miss Georgia and a Miss America contestant. In District 2 Robyn Bentley addition to her husband, she is survived by three children — Michael, Mark and District 3 Lisa Fedick District 4 Christine Wilson Brinton Marty — and two grandchildren, Lauren and Dylan. District 5 Larry LaBorde District 6 Toni Cooper District 7 Jamie Baringer Don Demorest District 8 Alane Swiderski District 9 Brigid LaMear Don Demorest, 61, owner of White Ice Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta, died Jan. 3 in an District 10 Char Martin industrial accident involving carbon monoxide poisoning after operating a fork - District 11 Liz Mangelsdorf lift in an unventilated warehouse. White Ice Ltd. is a producer of ice paint and District 12 Debbie Lane District 13 Cindy Jensen a supplier of ice painting equipment and accessories. The company has an in- District 14 Paige Scott house laboratory and testing facilities and works directly with ice technicians to District 15 Bert Blanchette provide custom logos and colors. Demorest is survived by his wife and business District 16 Cindy Solberg District 18 Glyn Jones partner, Kathy, and three children: Tamra, Cole and Jillian. Hockey Sean Flynn Builders & Suppliers Doug Peters Instructors David Santee Christopher Bowman Commercial Facilities Kevin McCormack Public/Not-for-Profit Facilities Pete Carlson Former figure skating champion Christopher Bowman died on Jan. 10 in Los Schools, Colleges, Angeles at the age of 40. Nicknamed “Bowman the Showman,” the two-time Universities Glen Danischewski Olympian won two U.S. national titles and two world championship medals iAIM Chair Rob McBride PSA Representative Gerry Lane before retiring in 1992. A former child actor, Bowman had recently returned to USFSA Representative Homer Hagedorn acting, with a role as an assistant coach in an upcoming movie, Down and Dis - ISIAsia Representative Raul Gomes AMMA Representative Trudy Ivory tance, starring Gary Busey and directed by Brian DePalma. His survivors include MAMA Representative Rob Mueller a daughter, Bianca, and his parents, Nelson and Joyce Bowman. MIAMA Representative Jim Becker MIRMA Representative Judy Sniffen Education Foundation Don Bartelson Send announcements and photos to [email protected]. Watch your e-mail Updates for facility Lifetime Honorary Member Carol Zdziebko news, including construction and openings.
4 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008
Invisible Hazards S
N and How to Protect Against Them O
I by Kathleen Norlien T
A ut of sight is out of mind — but spectators using indoor arenas even if a reduce sensory perception; and con - state does not require air monitoring. tribute to an increased risk of respirato - R it shouldn’t be! Even if an ice
E Oarena has not experienced Although much time has passed since ry infections. Asthmatics and people the publication of that landmark paper, with chronic obstructive pulmonary
P recent problems with air quality, safety must be a constant priority to arena the problem of poor indoor air quality disease (COPD) are considered particu - O managers. Without attention paid to remains in some enclosed arenas. larly susceptible to the respiratory maintenance of good air quality, arena CO and NO 2 are formed during the effects of NO 2 exposure. In addition to
managers place themselves in a situa - burning of fuels such as gasoline, adverse health effects, NO 2 reacts with tion where they could be held liable for kerosene, propane and liquefied petro - surfaces and furnishings, and can fade incidents that might occur. Air quality leum gas (LPG) used in powered and discolor fabric. incidents are preventable. engines, furnaces, water heaters and egularly testing the air in Today’s ice arenas are being built wood stoves. enclosed sports arenas can “tight” to conserve energy and allow The hazards of carbon monoxide Rprovide an indication that for a controlled climate. Tight build - are more widely documented than the air quality is deteriorating or is bad. ings, in conjunction with today’s high- those of nitrogen dioxide, perhaps Testing devices range from billows tech all-in-one ice resurfacers that because it is much easier to measure, pumps with colorimetric tubes, alarms scrape and resurface the ice with a sin - both in the air and in the body. that will sound when levels of danger - gle driver at the helm, have contributed Despite this fact, nitrogen dioxide is ous gas exceed safety standards and to the potential to cause poor air qual - another product of combustion that hand-held measurement devices that ity in indoor ice arenas. also needs to be taken seriously. To can have detection elements for both he first major technical paper protect yourself and others from these carbon monoxide and low levels of to document poor air quality contaminants, it is important to nitrogen dioxide. Tin ice arenas, “Problems Cre - understand their chemical properties To improve the air quality, the fol - ated for Minnesota Ice Arenas by Resur - and the health effects from exposure lowing measures may be employed: facer Engine Exhaust” (by Darrell to them. 1. Regular equipment checkups and Anderson, an engineer formerly with arbon monoxide is an odor - maintenance of all combustible the Minnesota Department of Health), less, colorless, tasteless gas. equipment (including heaters) to was published in January 1971 in the CIt is formed by incomplete ensure optimal operating condi - Journal of the American Industrial Hygiene combustion of carbon-containing fuels tion Association . As a result of this informa - (almost any fuel except battery- or elec - 2. Increased ventilation to provide tion regarding hazards within ice are - tric-powered machines), particularly fresh make-up air before, during nas and to protect their patrons, three when there is a condition of inade - and after any fuel-burning equip - states promulgated rules and regula - quate oxygen supply for combustion. ment is operated indoors tions to require air testing in arenas: CO resembles oxygen in its size, mole - 3. Changing fuel-burning equipment, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode cular weight and diffusion capacity. including ice resurfacers and Island. Both Massachusetts and Min - Because the density of CO is close to edgers, to battery-powered or elec - nesota require air monitoring for car - that of air, CO generally mixes well in tric equipment that does not pro -
bon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen diox - air. Exposure to CO most often pro - duce CO and NO 2 emissions ide (NO 2), while Rhode Island requires duces symptoms such as headaches, indoors air testing only for carbon monoxide. dizziness, nausea, weakness and short - It is important to recognize the Of these states, only Minnesota also ness of breath. symptoms of exposure to the “invisi - governs the broader category of sports Nitrogen dioxide is a brown, acidic ble hazards” in indoor sports arenas. arenas, which includes non-ice events and highly corrosive gas that can be a Take action now to protect yourself such as go-carting, monster trucks and byproduct of high-temperature fuel and others. other racing/demolition activities combustion. Exposure to NO 2 can where internal combustion engines are cause eye, nose and throat irritation; Kathleen Norlien is a research scientist used indoors. produce severe cough, chest pain and for the Minnesota Department of Health. But safety must remain a top prior - pulmonary edema (accumulation of She was a presenter at the 2007 ity to protect the health of skaters and fluids causing swelling in the lungs); ISI/MIAMA Conference.
6 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 7KH 2/<03,$ ,FH%HDU DQG %DWWHU\ (GJHU 7KH 3ROOXWLRQ )UHH 6ROXWLRQ 7KH 2/<03,$ OLQH RI ZRUOG OHDGLQJ LFH UHVXUIDFHUV DUH GHVLJQHG WR PHHW \RXU H[DFW QHHGV ZLWK WKH PRVW LQQRYDWLYH OHDGLQJ HGJH LFH UHVXUIDFLQJ WHFKQRORJ\ EDFNHG E\ EXLOWLQ TXDOLW\ SHUIRUPDQFH SURYHQ WHFKQRORJ\ DQG JOREDO VHUYLFH VHFRQG WR QRQH 7R PHHW WKH GHPDQG IRU SROOXWLRQ IUHH EDWWHU\ SRZHUHG LFH UHVXUIDFHUV WKH ,&(%($5 (OHFWULF /6. (QWHUSULVHV ,QF 7KH 2/<03,$ 0LOOHQQLXP DQG 0LOOHQQLXP KDV EHHQ DGGHG WR WKH 2/<03,$ OLQH 32%R[ 9LUJLQLD %HDFK 3OXV DUH SRZHUHG E\ WKH &KHY\ 9RUWH[ HQJLQH 9$ 86$ 7KH 2/<03,$ ,&(%($5 (OHFWULF LV SRZHUHG 7KH 2/<03,$ ,&(%($5 (OHFWULF KDV \HDUV RI 7HO E\ DQ YROW OHDG DFLG EDWWHU\ SDFN SURYHQ SHUIRUPDQFH DQG UHOLDELOLW\ LQ (XURSH )D[ 7KH 2/<03,$ %DWWHU\ (GJHU LV SRZHUHG E\ DQG LV QRZ DYDLODEOH LQ &DQDGD DQG WKH VDOHV#OVNHQWHUSULVHVFRP D YROW OHDG DFLG EDWWHU\ SDFN 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ZZZOVNHQWHUSULVHVFRP
5HJDUGOHVV RI WKH VL]H RI \RXU DUHQD RU LFH VXUIDFH WKHUH LV DQ 2/<03,$ LGHDOO\ VXLWHG WR \RXU QHHGV The ABCs of ADA Tax Savings
by Mark E. Battersby
t has been 17 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Although many ice skat - Iing facilities and businesses still fall short when it comes to making their businesses — and their business premises — ADA-compliant, others have used tax incentives created to help ease the cost of complying with the ADA to improve and grow their businesses. With the U.S. Department of Justice cracking optometrist’s purchase down on complian ce, now might be a good time to explore of an automatic refractor qualified as how those incentives can help your business profit. a “reasonable modification to a facility to provide The ADA is a federal law prohibiting discrimination services to disabled individuals.” Prior to the purchase, the against individuals with physical handicaps, including hiring optometrist was forced to turn away individuals who were
T practices and design of buildings intended to serve the pub - disabled. The U.S. Tax Court approved the equipment even lic. Every facility or business open to the general public, or though nondisabled patients could also use the refractor. N operating an office, shop or other facility where employees On the other hand, a dentist claiming that his practice was E work, is legally obligated to make the premises accessible to better able to serve disabled patients thanks to the purchase of
M disabled individuals. a new X-ray machine unfortunately failed to document that the
E Among countless examples of professionals and busi - purchase was specifically to make the practice ADA-compliant.
G nesses acquiring special equipment to enable them to serve A number of tax breaks enable qualified skating facili - — or better serve — those ADA was designed to help, one ties and businesses to adapt their business premises or A Continued on page 10 N A M
8 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008
Continued from page 8 acquire equipment to help them become ADA-compliant. Under our federal tax laws, an eligible business is entitled to a unique tax credit for expenditures incurred to make a business accessible to disabled individuals. A “qualified small business” is an operation that had gross receipts of $1 million or less, or one that did not employ more than 30 full-time employees in the preceding tax year. The amount of that tax credit, the disabled-access credit, is 50 per - • Project Development and Design cent of the amount of eligible access expenditures for a year • Construction Management that exceed $250, but do not exceed $10,250. The maximum credit, the amount by which the annual tax bill will be reduced, is $5,000. What expenses qualify for the credit? As mentioned, the tax breaks are not limited to making a doorway wheelchair-accessi - ble. A business can claim the credit for the following costs: • Removing architectural, communication, physical or trans - TurnkeyFacilityManagement • portation barriers that prevent a business from being acces - Consulting and FeasibilityStudies • sible to, or usable by, disabled individuals • Providing qualified interpreters or other effective methods of making orally delivered materials available to hearing- impaired individuals • Providing qualified readers, taped texts and other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available • Seasonal and Special to visually impaired individuals Event Ice Rinks • Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices for disabled individuals www.rinkmanagement.com • Providing other similar services, modifications, materials or equipment 9400 Charter Crossing, Suite D • Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116 The ADA requires businesses open to the public to remove Telephone 804.550.7002 accessibility barriers regardless of when the facility was built. This is a proactive requirement that is not limited to capital improvements or remodeling.
The expense of making a rink or business accessible to the disabled generates tax savings .
A professionally conducted ADA survey can reveal existing accessibility barriers, thus helping rink owners and managers understand their exposure and take steps to remediate barriers. An ADA survey could also be required as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice if a claim is brought against the ice skating operation or business. On the plus side, being proactive in conducting an ADA survey may help avoid future lawsuits from customers — or employees — alleging ADA violations. In the past, the Depart - ment of Justice has ruled favorably on companies that can demonstrate a track record of trying to remove ADA barriers. In most cases, the cost of remediation is far less than the legal and settlement costs associated with a claim. Whether through building improvements or new equip - ment acquisitions, the expense of making a rink or business accessible to the disabled generates tax savings. There is that tax credit, a direct reduction of up to $5,000 in the operation’s tax bill, for a start. Recovering costs with this and other tax deductions is far easier on the pocketbook than losing a law - suit because the business is not ADA-compliant.
Mark E. Battersby regularly reports on tax and financial topics for business journals, newspapers and trade publications. 10 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008
MANAGEMENT S 12 t s e s e m 2 w e j r e d a r e n e g a m “ d eng a ar and rig m p e a s t x 0s es g n i r u a r a h p o c e u l edia, n ’ n e r ht , t g a n y e h t n crib a r , s e c i t c a e s age tak t c I’ Mi t di t e y He he . t pr and ve n a u o y a t Mi ve s h o y o i t d? g n i e ll e h W odu ’l e c n te p e t ariv l a en d m e s had rsi t me o d h t e m a c chnology, u he n h - f do Wh wro , s ni a w n e . a o s ct t s e n s e f y, t e n i t n i be n e h W n e l l i M r , u o a al s a u o h what p e r o ’y t e i c e s of e ng t i t u o y fe r a d s, re ’ h o at tas t o t u o y avior , w ’s . s e t a e li he f n f z a l t h g e e s r o y wor e k ke e s ame the s conmi pe u o a h ve s a par n h W “ for in l y. g u o y n m e other l d h t n i ople i e s k k r l e s r g fl .l a e r e w . s ental above d y. you a e t uen c de ev e elf-int u B e h t T s e o y, o e p fe s a e r p r f e h scr Yu o n in ” eni r t w generations y r i s e b t x e l p o ask l p x e , es s o t co . beliefs ibng t -n o m m o c n g t e m a t e b mornig, he h iat t s u m ve on n e e r p t u i t y e s a n a i … s a ditons n ir y a t i a a y r n o iv ed u l c o m t ng i s s early gn i n ht i w t t hem e?” or p sr e g h n e h a and day ,k s na e e eb fo er ir .t n Mangi - - , d w t a qu n t mi t i T I T t s i t a h s t c m n n as he ain he s i h h ur o n o i a v d n hi ev on ave he e h ” g m y e i p ma gh k.” m n e s ic e v oun a me s l o e e r C T t ’ t em l b a b top ct e v can e. t in h g u o r h to o h t al wal ny u p m o efc Th n e f e n by nt a i l t e e i fluencs On e t a d e u cre he e b e ey’ ve rgi w . mus l ed n k . c n we l , s f s i Rob w o H o n e se ti ay M e d l s i e ate i ng t os r n . e e t vel b tal any can s, e w in s r o ic y h t t r p t s l o t s r er co gene f he your u J “ e m o a t t while y. , f k d e e e m m a r g o l c t p o t adve u me , d evics ch e v a h d n n a h abo unde have “ wo W e t s Genration e v a e m nc rat t no lo g d n a “ n o i own . n i h of y ut i M i o p working rtisng W e o ion n ds. rst s o t ne a u s u tha n o c how endov er e l l g h ge t n d - and i choie c y u o y av ver d s ha e i n n e p o o h im m i r to x b i r t e n n a t n i s ofer n i m a e v to and o f r ps t o h enjoyd why gr l a c on d s ad n a t u o e mange e m r own s? th n e r the r i l c l a v t . f i ent d e s a r e v e h e yevr e l i d a O ed ev a h they ”, k c i task o y li st eh t eh t kn se u nly up ot in r u y y a - - . gr amm e s e l p r o m fr y m s i p a p o o i t r m l a y a d t u O p r p w dep n e t e r p have co e h s e d n u o r e a l o k r o m i m rsu e h t u m s n r e c a e r s o l e h T Fi T p - 9 nd t y r a i d a n v ’s . s ad s d u o e h h t i w h t n c o t u u l a - r a e y . d e h W i n a g r t f f n o v ’ y e a e al c n o i t cu o e e s d n a n n h t n ie r e r d n e g a r u o n l h T . e y l t y, p ga t b n h t t n e e man mb a e “ y e n o r e la y. t 0 3 1 $ o d l o e r i ’s n e i h z ’ e t m IS n s C l o s r e he l a l a e e .a d t e t e h t o ed l p m n r e s m o w o n i o r e s s o o s T EDG y s y o i t u o e m a l t i w h t f rgan g e od ay . n i r e t c o r a u p to g a n tha e I n are l n i b g m r i e b r e y o n g e r f o h n w o r u p l n packged r e k c a p in a M ized o t s i h c n e t a t e r e e e e w ’s r e g the e m o h w o c t a ARC nostp u m m o c g s t t ina c a m du al- ca ree r s o s d n e p s h t d l i n o i n h w nf i h d e , k l i a h t act prod p u k t H n o i r e r o r d io n k i p e e lu s / e c i m h t e , o n e r n t e A s ivtes e o t w a p s PR i w e h c ” a y e c a f f o n fun e uct t i n l l a d n se i r r h t i n s r ’s a c IL activ e h t i s c em e s g e v e i d n le v e d t d e v y o s . s. 208 yl p m me e s h e h t y e l u i t co u id n or p t i k of and o v a s sa h Bu h t ta h em o f yr gn u sd t ri .s o y a e e r r t - - - - - society whose values compass appears that they’re lazy; it just doesn’t occur if needed. But consistency is the key. to change direction daily. While much to them.” If Millennials don’t understand the of the population laments America’s Ensure understanding. When del - boundaries, they’ll run roughshod fraying moral fabric, this generation egating an assignment, ask them to over the rules. If they do understand continues to observe countless exam - outline the steps they plan to take. the boundaries, you have the recipe ples of right and wrong being inter - This way, you can be assured that for productivity. preted situationally by parents, schools, they’re on the right path. While those Veteran managers ask me whether courts and employers. Is it any wonder in Generation X may bristle at such this generation will eventually “grow that young workers doubt the judg - an approach, Millennials look for up and accept responsibility.” They’re ment of a manager when they watch so more coaching and direction. troubled by the thought of a workplace many others “working the system”? Keep them busy. For many young staffed by “menu-driven entertainment Mind you, I’m not pointing fingers people, work seems to be a distraction hounds.” My answer is always “Yes, but on any of these issues. I’m simply until the next form of entertainment remember that Millennials’ interpreta - explaining the impact. But with mil - comes along. While this kind of super - tion of accepting responsibility will be lions of these young people entering vision requires additional time, man - different than ours.” Then I start to feel the marketplace over the next decade, agers find that this is better than the old again. managers will have no choice but to alternative — workers who stand modify their methods of supervision. around chatting with friends or surfing Robert W. Wendover is the ’Net on the firm’s computer. the director of The The solutions Lighten up. Most Millennials are Center for Generational So what do you do? Here are some tac - fun-focused. But this can be in emo - Studies, which conducts tics that employers say work effectively tional opposition to the work-is-not- research, p roduces when supervising Millennials: fun philosophy possessed by many vet - semi nars and publish - Be specific with everything . “I eran managers. While some supervisors es resources on how never thought I would be instructing have a gift for being fun and firm, most the generations relate employees to empty trash bins, but I hav e to work at it. to one another in am,” said one retail manager with I’ve observed more than one American society. He will be the whom I spoke. “Our job description manager who can successfully laugh keynote speaker at the ISI Ice Arena now lists every little task, and that and play games with his or her young Industry Conference & Tradeshow in works much better.” Other managers staff, yet find the moral authority to May. For more information, go to have echoed that observation. “It’s not reprimand one of those same people www.gentrends.com.
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ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 13 Good for Kids, Good for Business
by John Mullaney
n July 2007, FMC Arenas stumbled upon an idea that offer parents a healthy alternative to other summer activi - many ice arenas across the country can easily implement ties between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the sun’s peak UV hours. It Ito increase the awareness of summer skating and their sounds somewhat silly to suggest keeping children out of the facility in general, while supporting a cause that deserves sun during summer vacation, but when you consider that attention. The idea became Skating in the SHADE . skin cancer accounts for more than half of all cancers in the It all started with the Boston Red Sox, really. As a Boston- United States, it’s not a bad idea to take precautions. The pro - based company, FMC is made up of Red Sox Nation die- gram keeps kids cool, shaded and fit, emphasizing SHADE’s hards, and heard about the SHADE Foundation by following motto of “limiting the sun, not the fun.” the team. Shonda Schilling, wife of Sox legend Curt, started FMC donated 45 hours of ice time over a five-week peri - the foundation in 2002 after her successful battle against od to SHADE, marketed and publicized it, and the program melanoma. SHADE’s purpose is to eradicate melanoma took off. In its first year of existence, Skating in the SHADE through the education of children and the community in had an attendance of more than 2,500 skaters at nine Mass - the prevention and detection of skin cancer and the promo - achusetts rinks. Many of the attendees had never put on a tion of sun safety. pair skates in their lives, and may never do so again — but on Skating in the SHADE, a free public skating hour with the other hand, many may have discovered a favorite new complimentary skate rentals once a week, was created to form of recreation. The rewarding part of Skating in the SHADE is raising awareness for an incred - ibly overlooked and dangerous disease. G The exciting thing about it is we’re gen -
N erating a new crop of recreational skaters I for our rinks, and ideally, lifelong ice sports participants. M Rinks looking to incorporate Skating
M in the SHADE into their summer pro -
A gramming should first look at their sum -
R mer schedule. Is there a consistent hour throughout that abuts an already sched - G uled hour (sometime between 10 a.m.
O and 2 p.m.)? If so, you’re in business.
R Next, printers and designers, though often expensive, are sometimes open to P the idea of helping a charity, especially if their names and Web sites are on the materials. Get them to create the market - ing materials gratis in exchange for asso - ciating them with the program. In Massachusetts, publicity and pro - motion was key to the success of Skating in the SHADE. Generate a clear, concise
14 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 press release and send it to every writer, editor and newsroom within 20 miles of the arena. For FMC, every local paper in the area of the rinks ran at least one story, noting the sched - uled hours, information on the facility and other summer programs, FMC’s and SHADE’s Web sites, and the facility’s generosity. Contacting user groups and asking for their help proved beneficial, as they posted the information on their Web site and e-mail blasted their member lists. Skating directors were in charge of distributing posters at retail locations within two miles of the rinks, as well as inviting recreation departments and YMCAs. The FMC office used its e-mail database to send constant updates about the program. The word got out. With hard work, new faces will show up at the rink. It is imperative that someone from the skating department be there to put flyers/coupons in the hands of the new skaters. Offering a free lesson will get them to come back, and even - tually to sign up for learn-to-skate classes. This summer, FMC plans to expand the program to more of its facilities, and will start in June, rather than July. This is just Massachusetts, though. Skating in the SHADE should be run across the country because it benefits your facility with exposure and renewed interest. It may also inspire people to have that funny-looking mole checked out, or put sunblock on their kids when they’re not in the rink. The SHADE Foundation is looking for more partners to make this a nationwide program. Please contact them by vis - iting www.shadefoundation.org.
John Mullaney is director of corporate marketing and public relations for FMC Arenas.
Don’t miss important ISI e-mail! Have you been missing important ISI and industry news and announcements? Our recent e-mail mes - sages have included information about an exciting new group health insurance program, discounts with major retailers and upcoming educational and net - working events, to name just a few. If you have not been receiving electronic commu - nications from ISI, either your spam filter is blocking the messages or your e-mail address is not in our database. In order to stay informed about ISI, your member benefits and your industry, please make sure that: • ISI addresses and domain names are not blocked by your spam filter • Your address is in our database (send it to [email protected]) • E-mail address changes are promptly report - ed to us
ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 15 New Web Site Strives to Start Conversations by Jim Thompson
o better highlight Positive McHugh, a member of the Brain Trust: Coaching Alliance and provide “Later that afternoon, my son was Tgreater service to the Ice Skating starting pitcher for our final playoff Institute and all of our wonderful part - game. I remembered your story of your ners, PCA has relaunched its Web site own basketball game where you felt at www.PositiveCoach.org . ISI mem - the weight of huge expectations after bers now can take advantage of the your previous game. I realized that my many improved features, including : other coaches and I were putting the same pressure on my son by saying • Free tips and tools to help coaches, how we were counting on him to do parents and administrators get the his usual great job. We turned it around most out of their skaters while giv - and emphasized that he should relax, ing them the most in return have fun and just throw like he always does. We didn’t win the game, but he • Inspiring messages in the video for them. The result was riveting! felt much less pressure to carry the screen on our home page People shared stories that enthralled team. Another reason to get these con - the rest of us as we experienced the versations going!” • Video enhancements to our online pain or glory of the storyteller’s Now, imagine the thousands of Double-Goal Coach workshop , sports moment. skating stories out there, waiting to providing a more interactive, If you will bear with the following change minds and lives. Imagine the impactful coaching-education two stories that occurred away from power each story has to move listeners, experience the rink, you will soon understand the not only to change their minds about power of conversation, which you can the importance of learning life lessons • Recorded webinars that provide bring back to the rink. through sports, but also to share their the basics of Positive Coaching My story was of two high school stories so that more minds change. and explain the benefits of part - basketball games against Jamestown We hope the new PCA Web site nering your local organization (N.D.) High. The first game was (and serves as a locus for a virtual “National with PCA remains) a peak experience for me. We Conversation on Good Coaching.” were down two points at home against More important, though, we hope to • A blog that lets you sound off on the Blue Jays when I drove to the free inspire live, face-to-face conversation the latest issues in youth sports throw lane and pulled up for a jumper among ISI member coaches, leaders and that went in! We pressed, and I circled parents. And most important, we hope Many of these improvements stem around the ball handler, reached the conversations extend one more from PCA calling together a “Brain behind him to snag the ball and drove level — from the adults who run the Trust” last summer to help us shape a in for a lay-up that won the game. skating programs to the youth athletes new initiative, a “National Conversa - A few months later, before our trip who are at the center of all of our lives. tion on Good Coaching.” to Jamestown, my coach innocently Jim Thompson is the The usual way people change their told me that he had talked with the minds is through conversations with Jamestown coach who said, “The last founder and executive people they respect. If we can get peo - three games we played against you, director of Positive ple all over the country talking about Thompson was the difference.” I’m Coaching Alliance. To what constitutes good (and bad!) sure my very positive coach meant to learn more about how coaching, we can move the needle build me up, but the impact was that I the ISI-PCA national toward our goal of making the Double- went into the game feeling the weight partnership benefits Goal Coach (who prepares the team to of the world on my shoulders. I played your organization, con - win while using sports to teach life the worst game of my career — consis - tact PCA at (866) 725- lessons) the standard for youth sports. tently dribbled the ball off my foot, 0024 or [email protected]. To To start the Brain Trust meeting, fouled out — and we lost badly. request information on partnering your I asked everyone to share a story Two days after the Brain Trust organization with PCA, please visit about sports that held some emotion meeting I received this e-mail from Rob www.positivecoach.org/inforequest.aspx.
16 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008
Building a Strong Foundation for Ice Arena Facilities
by Rob McBride, CAE
uccess in the ice arena industry does not depend solely enable the design team to produce a first-rate facility that is on our ability to expand participation in recreational efficient to operate. Sand competitive ice sports. To prosper in the coming Our industry’s shortcomings in planning and design years, it is crucial that we also improve the design and oper - are not limited to new construction. Many times, renova - ation of our facilities to reduce expenses and enhance the tion projects fail to address the critical efficiency and patron experience. patron needs of a facility because the arena professional is Energy and labor costs are placing enormous burdens on left out of the process. our operating budgets, with every indication that they will This is an important period in the evolution of our continue to rapidly escalate into the future. The same stress - industry, with a majority of community ice arenas now es we feel in our businesses are also putting pressure on fam - exceeding 30 years of age. Major renovation of these existing ily budgets, which eventually impact our revenues in every facilities is increasing rapidly across the nation. The quality area, from public skating and program participation to con - of the projects will have a considerable effect on the future cession and pro shop sales. The option of simply raising fees of our industry. More than ever, we need educated arena pro - to pay the higher expenses is disappearing as we risk pricing fessionals to lead the drive toward more efficient and func - our customers out of ice sports. tional ice sport facilities. One of the most effective options available to overcome Success does not end with quality design and con - these challenges is to change our approach to planning and struction. The approach we take to organizing and imple - construction of new facilities as well as renovation of exist - menting the operation of our facilities has a measurable ing arenas. Proper planning and design can dramatically effect on both expenses and customer service. A strategic reduce the cost of operating, staffing and maintaining an ice and systematic plan will ensure the facility and equipment arena. These efficiencies need not be at the expense of the is operating at peak efficiency with the economical use of customer experience; in fact, an informed design will almost personnel and resources. always produce a high-quality and appealing environment iAIM’s Certificate of Arena Operations School provides a that your patrons will enjoy visiting. comprehensive educational program that takes students through To produce facilities that are as functional as they are every aspect of organizing and managing the operation of an ice aesthetically appealing will require that arena profession - arena to achieve consis - als become better educated on the best practices of plan - tently high-quality stan - ning and design to be prepared to play a pivotal role in the dards and reduce costs. process. The iAIM Certificate of Arena Design, Construc - Growing partici - The CAD School is tion and Renovation School will provide arena profes - pation and revenue essential for: sionals and industry stakeholders with an in-depth under - requires a positive Arena owners standing of the planning, design and construction process patron experience as well as the latest technology and practices that will that is dependant on Public recreation officials ensure a successful project. high-quality ice and General managers Too often, ice arenas have been planned and designed well-maintained, Operations managers by people with very little practical understanding of the clean and safe facili - operational needs and financial realities we face every day in ties. Controlling oper - Operations staff the industry. This has resulted in a tremendous number of ating costs and mini - Developers facilities that have been built in a poorly chosen location, mizing equipment Athletic facility designers cost too much to construct, use too much energy, require failure and down time excessive staff to operate and maintain, and fail to take into requires an in-depth Industry consultants account the needs and priorities of our users. understanding of Industry stakeholders With fewer than 1,800 enclosed artificial ice arenas proper operating spread out across the United States, ours is unquestionably a practices as well as niche industry. You can almost count on one hand the num - the maintenance of ber of design firms that have worked on multiple ice arena mechanical systems. iAIM’s comprehensive operations pro - projects. This means that architects and engineers designing gram will help you achieve both objectives of higher qual - an arena often are doing it for the first and only time. As ity and lower costs simultaneously. industry professionals, we need to be capable of providing We have a unique opportunity in 2008 to positively the practical guidance and institutional history that will help affect the future of our industry, and to use the challenges 18 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 we currently face as moti - vation to get better edu - The CAO School is cated and take an active essential for: role in making our facili - ties less costly to build and General managers operate as well as nicer Operations managers places for our patrons to Operations staff visit. By making a small commitment of time and Maintenance technicians resources to education and Vendors and related certification, you can play industry professionals a leading role in shaping a future that is full of promise and professional fulfillment. The CAD and CAO schools will be offered Aug. 10-15 at Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. Watch for information in the mail or log on to www.skateisi.org for more information and registration forms. Save $100! Register by April 15 for Early Bird Discount
Ice Arena Conference & Tradeshow
ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 19 All Signs 2008 ISI Ice Arena Co
by Lori F
o you feel that you’ve had all the winter you can advantage of the long holi - possibly endure this year? Desperately looking for day weekend and wrap some Dthe proverbial light at the end of the tunnel? That’s fun time into their business a sign — that you need something stimulating to look for - travel. ward to! Need a reminder of why the often-challenging ice arena industry is a great career choice? There’s another sign — that you’re craving the kind of morale boost found only at the annual ISI Conference & Tradeshow! Follow the signs to Orange County for a healthy dose of Southern California sunshine, sand and palm trees along with the professional enrichment that comes from net - working opportunities, top-notch presentations and the industry’s leading tradeshow. No matter what your sign is,
Huntington Beach CVB T M he Hyatt R i The cen - ege c meeti ncy Or k Southern California beaches ng faci ange c y tral location of litie oun ties, in s as we ty offe J and Disney theme parks are clud ll a rs p o ing fam s ideal remier n the conference v just minutes away from the ily suit acatio e es. n amen s i- conference hotel. venue, Hyatt Regency Orange County, is a tourist Mecca, offering luxury Anaheim and ISI in May make for amenities and surrounded by restaurants and popular an enjoyable and enlightening combination you attractions, including Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry won’t want to miss. Farm. It’s just a half-hour from the glitz and glamour of Los With the May 27-30 event beginning immediately after Angeles, 20 minutes from gorgeous beaches and an hour Memorial Day, many participants have already scheduled a and a half from the Mexican border. personal vacation the week before, allowing them to take Pre-conference tours on Tuesday morning, just prior to the
20 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 s Point to onference & Tradeshow
Fairchild
conference opening, will take participants to nearby held Thursday at the Frank Gehry-designed Anaheim ICE, Paramount, where they will visit the Zamboni factory and his - practice home of the NHL Anaheim Ducks. Coaching leg - toric Paramount Iceland (see sidebar, page 22). ends John Nicks and Ron Ludington will lead presentations Three conference sessions during an entire after - on teaching jumps, spins, turns, patterns and transitions, while industry experts will provide valuable ice arena operations tips. Record-holding former LA Kings left-winger “Lucky” Luc Robitaille will deliver the hockey keynote address on Friday, while Nicks and Ludington will join Wanda Guntert in a fig - ure skating coaching panel discussion titled “Lessons from the Legends.” For the first time, the iAIM Schools of Arena Management and Arena Programming will be offered in con - junction with the annu - “Lucky” Luc Robitaille al conference and will deliver the hockey tradeshow. iAIM stu - keynote address. dents will enjoy the con venience of earning certification while participating in select networking and Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Zamboni headquarters, where the world-famous social events with conference attendees. resurfacers are manufactured, from frame to paint. This arrangement also broadens the options and maximizes the value for facilities that noon will be devoted to an ener - wish to send multiple attendees to the vari - gy symposium, where partici - ous ISI programs and events. pants will address some of the Multiple attendee most urgent ice arena opera - discounts are available tions concerns and issues. for organizations with This year’s social activities any combination of make the most of the popular three or more confer - setting. The Ice Rink Owners of ence and/or 2008 iAIM California (IROC) will host a School registrants (see mid-week bowling social at registration form for Lucky Strike Lanes, the details). upscale hot spot known as For more conference “America’s first true bowling and tradeshow details lounge,” featuring a and a registration form, renowned menu, retro see the prospectus insert - décor and an off-the-charts ed in this issue, or go to cool factor. www.skateisi.org. Register An array of on- and Lucky S before April 15 to get the trike La this ye nes wil off-ice sessions will be ar’s mi l be the Early Bird discount. d-week way-c social ool ve . nue for ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 21 ISI Pioneer Series The ComPmaunritay TmhatoMaudenIcte Skating
by Lori Fairchild
ven before there was a Southern California community subsequent Zamboni machine customers. The Zamboni Co. named Paramount, there was an ice rink named Ice - has sold more than 8,500 resurfacing machines worldwide. Eland, which would inspire a groundbreaking invention In the meantime, Paramount Iceland has remained a by a man named Zamboni. Zamboni family-owned facility and one of the longest con - Both would make history in tinuously operating ice rinks in the country, home to noted the ice skating world and put hockey, figure skating and speed skating programs and clubs. their town on the map. With the Zamboni factory located just blocks away, the land - The area that would one mark arena’s superb ice surface still serves as the test track day become Paramount began for new resurfacer models. Its beautifully restored and main - as two neighboring farming tained “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ, originally installed in communities, Hynes and 1941, is perhaps the only one of its kind still played regular - Clearwater, in the harbor ly in any ice arena nationwide. district of Los Angeles. It Iceland has been a practice facility for many skating was the adopted home of stars, including Henie, Richard Dwyer, Peggy Fleming and the Francesco Zamboni Robbie Robertson. family, whose son Frank The Zamboni family and its businesses have remained had a knack for mechan - actively involved in the Paramount community. The Para - ical experimentation. mount Unified School District paid tribute to Frank Zamboni Frank, his brother posthumously in 2006 with an elementary school named in Lawrence and their his honor. cousin Pete Zamboni As part of a community revitalization effort, the city creat - opened Iceland — a ed Paramount Pond, a quarter-acre corner near Iceland featur - spin-off of their nearby ing faux ice, bronze sculptures of skaters and hockey players, a ice plant business — to replica of a Zamboni machine, park benches, trees and flowers . great fanfare in 1940. “Paramount Pond celebrates our history with Iceland In addition to provid - and the Zamboni family,” says Paramount Mayor Peggy ing one of the largest Lemons, who skated at Iceland as a child. “Ice - rinks in the country, s 1940 a with 20,000 square fare in reat fan untry, feet of ice surface, ed to g the co d open inks in ace. Icelan st ice r ng surf th e facility became e large t skati Inc. e of th re-foo i & Co. on 0-squa ambon a laboratory for ice- 20,00 ank J. Z ith a sy of Fr related experi- w Courte mentation and innovation. It was here that Frank discovered a way to make a flatter, smoother sheet of ice by circulating salt brine in steel pipes enclosed in a series of interconnected aluminum panels. Frank became active in the local community, serving as a member of the chamber of commerce and as president of the Kiwanis Club. He led the effort in 1946 to unify the towns of Hynes and Clearwater to establish the city of Paramount. Although Frank was granted a total of 15 patents in his The city of Paramount created the Paramount Pond sculp - lifetime, the world’s first self-propelled ice-resurfacing ture park near Iceland to celebrate the shared history of the commu - machine bearing his family name would be his greatest claim nity, the arena and the local Zamboni headquarters. to fame and become part of the worldwide lexicon. Courtesy of City of Paramount After years of experimentation to reduce the time and labor involved in manual ice resurfacing at Iceland, he put land is a monument in Paramount and the Zambonis are a the finishing touches on the Zamboni Model A in 1949. Not staple in the community.” long after, Norwegian Olympic medalist Sonja Henie con - The first 150 ISI Conference participants to register for this vinced him to build a machine for her traveling ice show. year’s pre-conference tours will have the opportunity to visit The Ice Capades, the Winter Olympics and the NHL were Iceland, the Zamboni factory and the scenic Paramount Pond.
22
one complete comprehensive report per year, free of charge. For $50 a year, you can receive one every month, giving you a complete status report on every skater who SIMPLE SOLUTIONS has an individual membership and has declared your facil - ity as their home rink. FOR SKATING DIRECTORS It will look something like the sample below. As skating director, one of your job responsibilities is by Carrie Clarke , ISI Director of Skating Programs & Services to ensure that all skaters representing your arena at any local or national competition have current membership as of the event date, and have their test(s) registered with the national office at least 30 days prior to the start date. A sig - Have You Seen Your nature on the entry form is supposed to mean that the coach or skating director has verified this information. Comprehensive Lately? Your comprehensive report is a tool that makes this easy for all of your professionals, helping to guarantee a fair eing a successful skating director with profitable pro - event for all competitors. grams requires an enormous amount of organization The report also indicates the exact name the skater has Band recordkeeping. The larger your programs grow, the requested that her membership records reflect. For exam - more documentation is needed and the more difficult it is ple, often “Katie” isn’t easily found in our system because to keep pace with the workload. the membership was purchased in the name “Kaitlyn” or But the good news is, the records you should be keep - “Katherine.” The name on the membership is the one you ing on each and every one of your skaters — ISI individual need to use when submitting her tests. membership number, expiration, testing levels completed The final pages of the report will even show skaters for and registered — is the same information that the ISI office whom you have sent in test results, but, keeps in its database, and it is readily available to you, just perhaps unbeknownst to you, have never for the asking. applied for ISI membership and are inel - Every Administrative mem - igible to compete until doing so . ber is entitled to Skating directors who use this report regularly have given it rave reviews. “The customer service to our skaters Axel ted has increased since we started receiv - manda Reques A Lane . Patch 71 4 Lutz cepted ing the updated ISI membership 7372 123 12345 Ac ille TX reports each month,” said Liz Man - Expired Skatev 5/07 gelsdorf of Dr Pepper Star - 10/1 lpha iral Pre-A anie Sp uested Centers. “It ’s so great to have an Steph oad tch Req cker R ted. Pa sted alphabetical list of membership 40014 678 Ro 45 Accep Reque 6 5 TX 123 . Patch d rent to teville cepted equeste numbers and skaters ’ tests regis - Cur Ska Ac atch R ted 8 pted. P eques tered at our fingertips . I wish we 7/28/0 ha Acce Patch R Pre-Alp ed. No sted would have acted on the offer Accept Reque ha . Patch d Alp cepted queste sooner! ” Ac atch Re Beta pted. P uested Lisa Fedick of Wonderland a Acce ch Req Gamm ed. Pat of Ice added, “The monthly Accept Delta comprehensive that arrives via le 1 Freesty e-mail is yet another tool avail - s 1 Couple able to all ISI member arenas oop that makes it easy to stay on sa Toel Tes r Circle 4 ossove top of your skating school. 75072 12 Cr 2345 lle TX 1 It’s priceless!” xpired Skatevi E tz If this sounds like some - 10/06 zy Spli 12/ Su Way sted 00 Walley Reque thing that would help you, 7989 910 12345 o Patch ed ember ille TX pted. N equest please contact Angela Too - Non-M Skatev Acce Patch R ed. No ley in the ISI office at Accept [email protected] or (972) Tot 1 735-8800. She will send your Tot 2 comprehensive report to you by mail, e-mail or fax. You have enough to do. Why spend your time dupli - cating what’s already done for you? report hensive compre Sample 24 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 One Size Fits All??
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Rink Insurance Program underwritten by an A+ Insurance Company able, that can add more credibility and importance to the skater’s achievement. Testing should be profitable for the instruc - COACHES ’ tor and the arena . ISI Administrative members can charge a nominal test fee and purchase ISI patches to sell to the skaters as part of their testing program. Team jackets can also be sold in the pro shop. Instructors need to give private CORNER lessons to teach the required dance step patterns on full ice, by Randy Winship choreograph programs and ensure the skater passes a test by ISI National Skating Program & Events Coordinator a competition deadline date. Test registration is FREE! Administrative member facilities can register tests by using the easy Excel spread - Testing Improves sheet that can be e-mailed or faxed directly to Angela at the ISI office. Performance — and Profits! High-level testing: This is for any Level 8-10 test in Freestyle, Couples, Pairs, Figures, Dance and Free Dance. ne of the best ways to keep current skaters involved These tests cannot be taken or passed by your own skaters in our sport, keep them motivated to achieve higher in your own facility. In some ISI districts, Level 7 tests are skating goals and keep them taking lessons is by O also included in the high-level district testing program. including testing as part of your regular skating instruction Some districts have a high-level test chair (see list below). regimen. Testing is a good barometer of the skater’s progress, Contact your district test chair to arrange a high-level test. and passing a test recognizes the accomplishment of many If your district does not have a test chair, you can submit months of practice to finally achieve and master a skating a video test to the ISI office for review. The high-level test skill level. application form and video testing guidelines are on the At lower levels, tests can be more fun and frequent since ISI Web site. Please review these forms before submitting the skating skills can be mastered more quickly. As a skater any video test. progresses to higher levels, we all know it can take several Each required maneuver must meet the minimum pass - months, or even years, to reach the next test level. ing test standards as described in the 2008 Skaters and Coach - Testing is an important part of teaching. Even es Handbook . Also remember that high-level testing can take though some skaters don’t usually perform well in a “test” extra time, preparation and organization, so plan ahead to setting, teaching them how to be prepared and perform in a meet upcoming competition entry deadlines and allow time test situation can also dramatically improve future competi - for retesting, if necessary. Allow several weeks to get video tion performance. It is a safe setting (and a great training test results from the ISI office. tool) for the students to know they are expected to perform Keep your skaters’ tests up to date. Not only certain maneuvers at a certain time and to a certain quality will this allow them to enjoy the fruits of their labor as they level without having unlimited attempts to get it correct. Stu - climb the ladder of skating success, it will make it much eas - dents should always know before they are going to be tested, ier at competition time so you don’t have to play “catch-up” so they will have time to get “nervous”! and do many tests at the last minute. Tests should not be difficult for skaters. If the Reward your skaters. Have a test session and pre - skaters are prepared and have received good training, they sent the patches at an award ceremony following the tests. should easily be able to meet the minimum passing standard, Post the names and levels of current test skaters in your rink. even on a “bad” skating day. Find a way to acknowledge their accomplishment. This spe - Testing should encourage, not discourage cial recognition will help keep them on the road to the next skaters . Do not test students who are not prepared to pass. If the test level. skaters are not capable of performing the maneuvers and still pass the test, how will they ever expect to have a good per - 2008 District Test Chairs formance in an upcoming competition event? Remember, District 1 – Katy Hayden skaters never “fail” an ISI test. If they still can’t perform the District 5 – Larry LaBorde maneuver to the minimum passing standard after two District 6 – Lindsay Armos attempts, the test is simply marked “incomplete” and the District 7 – Vicki Korn/Margy Bennett skater should be invited back to try again at a later date. District 8 – Vicki Tassone Passing a test with weak maneuvers doesn’t District 9 – Lynn Kezar District 10 – Jean Albrightson When will you have time to reteach or help anyone. District 11 – Randy Winship/Carrie Clarke improve the quality of those maneuvers if you are busy work - District 12 – Gerry & Debbie Lane ing on choreography for a new competition program? Also, District 13 – Janice Forbes if you pass a test with the minimum passing standard, the District 14 – Candy Goodson chance of winning any competition event is very low. After District 15 – Dianne DeLeeuw skaters pass a test, they usually expect to begin working on District 16 – Cindy Solberg the maneuvers at the next level. District 17 – Raul Gomes/Linda Dean Testing is easy — since it can be done by the District 18 – Julia Smith skater’s own coach. Of course, if other coaches are avail -
26 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 Test Registration Made Simple
ired of filling out those test registration postcards every time one of your Tskaters takes a test? We have elimi - nated the need for them, and strongly encourage all facilities to use the Excel spreadsheet ISI has created for quicker, easier and more secure registration. One file handles all of your membership and/or test registrations, and is currently being sent via e-mail to all skating directors and program administrators. The file allows a facility to process 27 skaters per page, with address and birth date information no longer necessary for those skaters with a current ISI membership number. Pages can then be submitted to the national office any time by e-mailing the file to [email protected] or faxing to (972) 735-8815. While the spreadsheet format is preferred, the forms are also available in pads and can be completed by hand and faxed or mailed to the office. These pads, as well as examiner forms to score the skater, are available upon request, free of charge. Test registration is still free and can now be received by the office instantly — with less paper for everyone to handle!
ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008 27 Fundraising Fun Moves to Worlds for 2008 by Lisa Fedick
n an attempt to gain greater visibility with the ISI recre - ational skaters, the ISIA Education Foundation will be Irevamping our fundraising events for 2008. The golf tour - nament and auctions will be absent from conference this year, but both will be offered, along with even more Foun - dation activities, at the World Team Recreational Champi - onships in Denver this summer. The fifth annual ISIA Education Foundation Golf Tour - nament will be held on Friday, Aug. 1 in Denver. The morn - ing tee-off will be a great opportunity for dads and siblings of Worlds competitors to have an activity of their own — a full day of fun! — and still be back in time for the Founda - tion Benefit on Ice Show. For those not inclined to make the commitment to a full 18 holes, we will also be hosting a family miniature golf night, right at the South Suburban Sports Center competition venue. The mini-golf tournament will take place on Thursday, July 31, at the completion of the day’s competitive events. The evening will include an old-fashioned barbecue dinner, a real tourna - ment with sponsored prizes, music and FUN! The Foundation’s capital fund drive is now in full swing. What a great opportunity to create a lasting memory or tribute to a special person in your life. It’s so simple — you select a long- term (five-year) donation amount with which you are comfort - able, we will invoice you on any schedule you select and all donations are tax-deductible. Just imagine what as little as one dollar per day will amount to in five years, and how much of a difference a college education can make in the life of a child.
ISIA Education Foundation Donations Sponsor SJR Charitable Foundation JRV Consulting Harry J. MacDonald Supporter Memorial Center (compe - Ice Skating Institute (in tition donation) memory of Robert Unger) Keith & DonnaMarie MIRMA (in memory of Schonrock Jr. (in memory Robert Unger) of Robert Unger) Tommy & Ann Stanley (in Donor memory of Joel Bishop) Scott McCoy (in memory of John Fedick) Friend Oakton Figure Skating Club Karen Acosta (in memory of Nefretiri Blue Mound Figure Skaters Nelson) (in memory of Robert Janice Vaughn Unger) Boyd & Barbara Wietecter Peter & Lisa Bukeavich Jr. (in memory of Robert Unger) Contributor Lawrence & Lorraine Fies (in Huntsville Figure Skating (in memory of Robert Unger) memory of Robert Unger) Northbrook Competitive FST
28 ISI EDGE MARCH /APRIL 2008
North East Ice Skating The NEISMA board is active in addressing topics of inter - est to our membership, such as rink operations, public rela - Managers Association tions, safety, instruction, utility costs and employee matters. (NEISMA) by Tom Morton, President
Deane Pomeroy, Wisconsin Ice Arena Management Association chairperson for the NEISMA 2008 Annu - (WIAMA) al Conference, has by Tom Hammill, 2nd Vice President reported to the NEISMA board of directors that all plans for the conference, are being The WIAMA team is busy preparing for finalized. It will be held May 5-6 in Mys - our 17th annual spring conference, to be tic, Conn. held April 23-25 at the Wilderness Hotel Tom Morton We expect the agenda and the loca - and Golf Resort at the Wisconsin Dells. tion to help make this a well-attended event as well as one of Wednesday will feature our annual the outstanding conferences in the ice rink industry this year. networking session and golf scramble at Early registration is encouraged. Trappers Turn Golf Course, a four-star Golf Attendees and their families will be able to visit the Mys - Digest rated course. Some teams will com - tic Seaport Village, a replica of the area with shops, a bank, a pete for prizes and fame, while most will schoolhouse, a bakery, a boat building, museums, vintage enjoy looking for lost balls and repairing Tom Hammill boats and people dressed in period clothes as they were in divots, enjoying the atmosphere that Wis - the whaling days of the early 1800s. One of the main attrac - consin golf courses offer. tions will be the opportunity to tour the last whaling vessel, Thursday kicks off the educational portion of the con - the Morgan, which is still seaworthy. Other local attractions ference with sessions on ice business trends, ice program - include two casinos within a short distance of the confer - ming, management, safety trends, marketing/advertising ence center hotel. and figure skating instruction training. The evening agen - Among the conference agenda highlights are the NEIS - da features the third annual WIAMA all-star hockey game MA annual golf tournament and an ice hockey game. Last followed by a walking dinner and tradeshow and an idea- year’s hockey game proved so popular that the activity was exchange social. brought back for this year’s conference. The conference concludes on Friday with a session on
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Continued from page 30 project management for new construction and upgrades by Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association two distinguished speakers who recently completed major projects at their facilities as well as roundtable sessions on (MIAMA) the six hot topics designed to answer all of your questions by Joseph M. Balzer, President before you leave. This conference is one that you don’t want to miss. Go Due to the high energy costs that have to www.wiama.com for more information. hamstrung all facilities, many in the upper Midwest are taking advantage of energy audits. Even though there is a cost to the energy audits themselves, the Arena Managers of the Mid Atlantic audits find many areas in a facility that are energy wasters and recommend solu - (AMMA) tions to the problems. Some of the sug - by Trudy Ivory gestions are relatively inexpensive, such Joseph M. Balzer as adjusting light levels, reducing build - Our spring meeting is scheduled for April ing temperatures, raising ice temperatures or using timers. 23 in Indiana, Pa. at the White Township Others do have significant costs involved, but the audits S&T Bank Arena. Milt Lady will be our often include replacement costs and the corresponding pay - host. The White Township Recreation back times for new and updated equipment. Department has done an excellent job LED lighting is starting to make an appearance, typical - with its facilities, which include an ice ly in accent, parking or security lighting. The fixtures often arena, indoor and outdoor soccer and ten - consume only 25 to 30 percent of a standard HID fixture. nis, indoor batting cage, indoor golf prac - The fixtures contain hundreds of light diodes that burn for tice facility, baseball fields, playground, 20,000 or more hours. Even when one diode burns out, the basketball courts and pavilion rentals. Trudy Ivory difference in lumens is not noticeable. AMMA members are looking forward A number of arenas have bought or leased all-in-one to visiting Indiana and seeing firsthand the activities offered. cleaning systems, which contain all the equipment neces - We are also hoping to offer a skate-sharpening class for arena sary to clean and disinfect most areas of a facility, including personnel. I have felt for a long time the skating industry restrooms, concessions and seating and office areas. The unit needs to address this need. contains a pressure washer, a wet/dry vacuum and a high- Mark your calendars now for April 23 and join other powered air gun for removing dust and dirt, allowing the AMMA members for a great day! user to completely rinse, disinfect and remove dirty water in
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