JULY/AUGUST 2009 Anniversary Celebration Highlights 50 Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line New! Synchro Skating Tests Air Quality: The Issue Lives On ISI EDGE JULY/AUGUST 2009 1 2 ISI EDGE JULY/AUGUST 2009 Volume 12, Number 1 In This Issue July/August 2009 PUBLISHER ISI Industry Ice Skating Institute Trends Survey EDITOR 10 Lori Fairchild EDITORIAL ADVISORS Peter Martell Sean Flynn Ice Arena Air Quality: Randy Winship The Issue Lives On PRINT PRODUCTION & 50 Ways to ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIP Improve Your MANAGER Carol Jackson Bottom Line GRAPHIC DESIGNER Logan McCoy 6 CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Fedick Conference & Trade Show Albert Tyldesley Kathy Winter Celebrates History! 24 The ISI EDGE (USPS 017-078, ISSN 1522-4651) is published bimonth- ly; January/February, March/ April, May/June, July/ August, September/October, November/ December; by the Ice Skating Institute, 6000 Custer Road, Build- ing 9, Plano, TX 75023. Annual Subscription Rate is $24.00 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Plano, TX, and at additional mail- Host an ISI Event, ing offices. Reap the Rewards POSTMASTER NOTE: Send ad- dress changes to ISI EDGE, c/o The Ice Skating Institute, 6000 16 Custer Road, Building 9, Plano, TX Announcements . 4 75023. Printed in the U.S.A. 50 Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line . 6 Subscriptions available through membership only. Ice Arena Air Quality: The Issue Lives On . 10 ©2009 by the Ice Skating Insti- iAIM Report . 14 tute. Reproduction in whole or in Conference & Trade Show Celebrates History, . 16 part is prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by publish- Charges Into the New Ice Age! er. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed by contributors do ISI Annual Awards . 18 not necessarily represent the views of the Ice Skating Institute, ISI Judge Certification Tests . 20 the publisher or the advertis- ISIA Education Foundation Report . 22 ers. Submissions of manuscripts, materials, photographs, and art- Host an ISI Event, Reap the Rewards . 24 work are made at mailer’s risk and must include self-addressed Coaches’ Corner . 26 envelope with sufficient postage for return. No responsibility will ISI Judge Certification Tests . 30 be assumed for unsolicited mate- rials. ISI reserves the right to edit Ice Arena Association News . 32 material submitted for content Calendar ISI-Endorsed Competitions & Shows/Exhibitions . 34 and space consideration. And Another Thing . 38 Announcements Dedicated to providing leadership, education and services to the ice skating industry. NEISMA and ISI Sign Joint Agreement ISI International Headquarters READING, Mass. and PLANO, Texas — NEISMA (Northeast Ice Skating Managers’ Asso- 6000 Custer Road, Building 9 Plano, TX 75023 ciation) and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) have signed an agreement to establish a working Phone: (972) 735-8800 Fax: (972) 735-8815 relationship and spirit of cooperation regarding matters of mutual interest pertaining to e-mail: [email protected] the ice rink industry. www.skateisi.org The agreement includes the formation of a joint committee made up of three members Executive Director from each organization’s board of directors. NEISMA’s representatives are Tom Morton, Ed Peter Martell Peduto and John Zullo. ISI is represented by Jim Hartnett, Rob McBride and Scott McCoy. Director of Management Programs & Services “We look forward to furthering our long-standing relationship with NEISMA through Sean Flynn this new joint committee,” said ISI President Jim Hartnett, who will serve as the commit- Director of Skating tee’s vice chair. “Together we will address such industry needs and issues as education Programs & Events and training, insurance, safety, communication and facility management, operations and Randy Winship maintenance.” Controller Karen Schaffer The committee’s first quarterly meeting was held in May in New Hampshire. Membership Coordinators “The timing was right for NEISMA and ISI to solidify our working relationship to ac- Kathy Chase complish mutual programs of action for the betterment of the ice rink industry,” said NEIS- Angela Tooley MA President Tom Morton, committee chair. Print Production & Advertising/Sponsorship Manager Carol Jackson Ice Rink Events Introduces Ice-Rink-In-A-Box Graphic Designer THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Ice Rink Events has introduced Ice-Rink-In-A-Box, with Logan McCoy packages available for the complete installation of rinks ranging from small seasonal to full Information Services Coordinator Jeff Anderson NHL-size facilities. The rinks will be sold or rented to local municipalities, hockey leagues, Administrative Assistant neighborhoods, resorts, shopping malls and private developers, and will include turnkey Mary Ann Mangano installation and optional operational management. “Ice-Rink-In-A-Box will offer communities a way to add an ice sheet with economy and ISI OFFICERS President Jim Hartnett speed,” said IRE owner Mike Clayton. “This will allow for the fastest possible growth of ice 1st Vice President Mike Paikin facilities in the short term.” 2nd Vice President Janice Forbes Treasurer Rob McBride Secretary Margy Bennett Immediate Past President Jim Lange Accent Refrigeration Systems Wins Environmental Award VICTORIA, B.C. — Accent Refrigeration Systems has been named the 2009 recipient of the DIRECTORS District 1 Tiesha Potvin Coale VIATEC Advanced Technology Award for Environmental Excellence. The company was rec- District 2 Robyn Bentley ognized for its dedication to environmental stewardship and energy-efficient innovations. District 3 Lisa Fedick District 4 Christine Wilson Brinton District 5 Larry LaBorde District 6 Toni Cooper Rink Management Services Recognized for Business Excellence District 7 Jamie Baringer District 8 Susan D’Aquila RICHMOND, Va. — Rink Management Services Corp. has received the Alfred P. Sloan District 9 Brigid LaMear Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for the second consecutive year. District 10 Char Martin District 11 John Kanicka The award recognizes employers that are successfully using flexibility to meet business and District 12 Debbie Lane District 13 Allison Petsch employee goals. District 14 Paige Scott District 15 Bert Blanchette District 16 Cindy Solberg Miami University Announces Korn Retirement District 18 Glyn Jones Hockey Dan Smith MIAMI, Ohio — Miami University has announced the retirement of synchronized skating Builders & Suppliers Doug Peters Instructors David Santee coach Vicki Korn, three-time PSA Synchronized Skating Coach of the Year and originator Commercial Facilities Liz Mangelsdorf Public/Not-for-Profit Facilities Sara Bolan of the nation’s first collegiate senior-level synchronized skating program. Korn served on Schools, Colleges, the ISI board of directors for many years as the schools and colleges representative and on Universities Glen Danischewski iAIM Chair Kevin McCormack ISI’s synchronized skating committee. PSA Representative Gerry Lane USFSA Representative Homer Hagedorn ISIAsia Representative Raul Gomes Please send announcements to [email protected]. AMMA Representative Trudy Ivory MIAMA Representative Dean Mulso MIRMA Representative Judy Sniffen Education4 Foundation Don Bartelson ISI EDGE JULY/AUGUST 2009 Lifetime Honorary Member Carol Zdziebko ISI EDGE JULY/AUGUST 2009 5 50Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line If you’ve been in ice arena management for many years, this list of ways to help you make and save money . You’ll you likely are familiar with most of the items on this list . find revenue as well as expense tips — from marketing and But how many of them are you actually practicing? For programming ideas to more energy-efficient operations — those who could use the occasional reminder as well as with both immediate and long-term results . Adding even those who have not been exposed to all of these ideas, ISI a few of these to your best practices can help you make a staff members pooled their experience to come up with positive, noticeable difference in your bottom line . 1 Conduct a program audit to determine potential areas send skaters to your pro shop to buy gloves; pro shop per- where you can reduce expenses. sonnel can promote your birthday parties. 4 2 Sign up all of your skaters as ISI Individual members. Utilize the waste heat off compressors for reheating Membership includes both liability and excess accident dehumidified air, hot water heating, snow melt, etc. insurance (which reduces your premium), Recreational Ice Skating magazine (which encourages them to continue 5 Host ISI-endorsed competitions or shows at least four skating) and eligibility to test and compete in events (also times a year to stimulate continued interest and excite- stimulates ongoing participation). ment of local skaters. Competitions generate revenue from private lessons, ice time sales, entry fees, conces- 3 Train your staff to cross- sions, pro shop sales and vendor commissions. promote all aspects of your business, and give them in- 6 Be sure to close all dasher gates at night to reduce centive rewards for generat- refrigeration costs, and install a programmable control ing business. Front desk per- device to put your ice to sleep at night. sonnel and skate guards can suggest that skaters sign up for classes (provide them with 7 Conduct your own in-house programs rather than personalized cards that they leasing ice to independent organizations. can give skaters to take to the front desk to enroll in classes); 8 Require ISI professional liability insurance from all instructors can suggest that independent contractors to reduce your facility’s expo-