-----Original Message-----
From: Miller, Dawn
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 10:34 AM
To: 'texasfigureskating@...'
Subject: Judges School Proposal
Importance: High

Dear TFSA Board,

Please see below, in bullet format, initial details I obtained from the USFS representative Sam Singer, as well as my thoughts on organization. I believe this would be an invaluable service to the local skating community and to our regional judges if TFSA were to facilitate this event in the early Spring 2007.

• One day event - Saturday

• Facility needs to have ice and additional rooms for demonstration purposes.  Seems that either Sugarland, Texas Ice or Sharpstown would be the candidates.

• Focus: MIF and Pairs - for Test Judges

• Ice time needed:

• Two hours of ice time for  MIF
• Two hours on ice for pairs 

• Sample agenda:

• 7:30 - 8:00 -  Registration - continental breakfast
• 8:00 -10:00 - Welcoming remarks, general overview of rules, new changes, overall skating standards
• 10:00 -10:15 - Break
• 10:15 -12:15 -  MIF - On-ice demonstrations and discussions AND conduct actual tests and have judges trial and discuss
• 12:15 - 1:00 pm - Lunch - Buffet
• 1:00 - 1:30 - Q&A for MIF
• 1:30 - 2:30 - PAIRS Off ice demonstrations w/ different level pairs can be side by side doing various lifts and different features
• 2:30 -2:45 - Break
• 2:45 -4:30 - PAIRS - On-ice demonstrations/ discussions and - if possible, have pairs go through programs w/ actual or practice tests, i.e. pairs can skate a program and be judged as a test - trial judges can get credit;
• 4:30- 5pm - wrap up discussion, including Q&A for PAIRS

• In terms of ice time, its four hours of actual time.  We would obviously need to shift the agenda around to accommodate the most cost effective use of the rink.  Perhaps the lunch, Q&A and Pairs off ice section can be taking place concurrent with a public session, so that we can avoid paying for that ice as well, as I believe most rinks in town have public sessions on Saturday afternoons.

• USFS will allow that we charge a nominal ($15-$25) fee for hospitality (breakfast/ lunch)

• School participation ranges from 20-50 persons. 

• Assuming ice costs of $275/hr and that we schedule efficiently to only need the four hours, plus food conservatively at $150 (I know this is high).  We should probably provide paper pads etc. Thus initial costs look to be approximately $1300, which almost empties the TFSA coffers.  Remember though that TFSA will receive annual $50 dues in January from each of four clubs and some costs will be offset by the hospitality fee. 

• Perhaps we could consider asking each member club to subsidize the TFSA expenses by $150 each or so, as this benefits everyone equally.  Considering Houston/ regional judges are utilized by IceSkate USA, I am happy to approach them to help with costs as well.

• Next steps w/ tentative deadlines:

• Board agreement to pursue - by Friday 9/30
• Agreement of potential early Spring date ranges - by 10/6
• Agreement of facility (more specifically ice costs confirmation) - by 10/13
• DMM to reach out to Sam Singer then Robert Rosenbluth to start the set up faculty/ agenda - 10/15
• Determine organizing committees/ volunteers - next TFSA meeting (Nov)
• Identify hotel/ other accommodation needs for out of town attendees (Nov)
• Publicize etc. - by 12/1

Catherine and others, please come back to me with your thoughts.

Thank you

Dawn

Dawn Miller
Vice President
American International Companies®

AIG Mergers & Acquisitions/ Strategic Relationship Group
2929 Allen Parkway
Suite 1300
Houston, TX  77019-2128
T: 713 342 7380
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