Dawn,

 

 

Thanks for your research.  Just a thought.  It looks like we have two hours to run a test session.  Perhaps a variety of levels...We should still charge the usual testing fees and that will certainly help cover some of the ice time costs.  Just a thought. 

 

Back in 1998-99, there was a judge's clinic in Sugarland/Houston by USFSA.  My kids were pre-alphas at the time and I remember that the $70 fee for parents seemed a little high so I did not attend.  I wanted to learn more about the judging at the time, but not willing to spend that much while my kids were still learning to count cross-overs.  Perhaps we could sell some observer/coach/parent passes for a reasonable fee to help offset this workshop expense.

 

Could we find out what tests and how many tests and then estimate the income from that.  $1300 is a lot of money and if we could reduce the costs by $400 for tests, then we could go to the clubs for about $200.  I really hate to deplete the TFSA bank account below $1000.  We need to do this estimate of club expense so that the local club boards can do a vote for spenditures.  For example, this item may not appear on a club's budget for 2006-7 and would need to have their local board approval. 

 

I would like to see a bid from all rinks in the area.  Houston FSC got surprised with a $300 per hour bill from Sharpstown Ice, after we have been paying about $275.  This price increase did not come with notification and the bill was presented to us after we used one hour and just  days before our regional exhibition.  We know that we could have secured ice for at least for $275 at most other area rinks if we were aware of this price hike.  Clearlake is very accomodating and has lots of meeting space on the second floor and the building seems to be warmer during the cold months. Sugarland has a nice upstairs area and their rink management is trying to work with the skaters.

 

I am wondering about the three hours for pairs as we really don't have much pairs in this area and the need is not great.  Perhaps this is something that judges need to get their certificate for the next appointment.  But we would have to fly in some pair skaters.  There is an adult/coach/married team from North Carolina named Johnson that could demonstrate.  And of course Kristi and Glenn Norman.  There is a juvenile team of Emily Chan and Daniel Terzakis. I really can't think of any others in the city that are competing. Perhaps the workshop could train on freeskate judging as well.

 

Calender wise, quite a few skating families will be in Denver for the 2007 Southwesterns soon.  Some will be traveling as early as Oct. 7-15.  So planning a meeting may be challenging this month.

 

Kim B.