In case you have not received word yet:

Greetings Members of the MPDC:

By now I am sure that each of you received the announcement from US
Speedskating (see below) in regards to Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert
Report" stepping forward in support of helping to raise funds for US
Speedskating following the loss of the $300,000 we were supposed to
receive from Dutch bank DSB.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to forward the USS
announcement to the various Associations, Direct Clubs and Clubs within
your Region asking those contacts to further forward the press release
to their members, families and friends.

In these trying times, the support we have received thus far from such a
high-profile fan, such as Mr. Colbert, could possibly be a shot in the
arm for speedskating, not only financially, but perhaps in membership as
well.  We are beginning to get some national exposure prior to the
Olympics, not just around the time of the Games.   Lets keep the
momentum going.

Thanks for all your efforts!

Best regards-

Tom Frank
MPDC Chair


Dear US Speedskating Members,

      We at US Speedskating are very excited about our relationship with
Stephen Colbert and his Emmy award-winning TV show "The Colbert Report"
on Comedy Central. His willingness to help raise money for US
Speedskating is a very welcome gift during this Olympic year.

      For those USS members who use Twitter or Facebook, we ask that you
add The Colbert Report and @stephenathome to your lists and thank
Stephen for his support of USS.

      To view last night's show featuring Olympian Dan Jansen and USS
Executive Director Bob Crowley, visit
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/s\
port-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating.

      To make a donation through The Colbert Nation, click on
https://webpoint.usspeedskating.org/wp15/transactions/order/donation.asp.

      With only 100 days until the Olympic Games, we know it will only
get more exciting! We're in for a wild ride and USS is so glad you're a
part of our Olympic season.

This evening at 7PM (after long track) join us over by the mirrors for Club
Dryland! Guest coaches are Parker Vance and Nick Frank. It will go for about an
hour.

See ya there!
-Teri
teriwillingham@...

The next races in the Wasatch Speed Skating Association Long Track
series will be held this Wednesday, November 4th. Registration is 5:00 -
5:30 PM, warm-up 5:30 - 6:00 PM, with racing from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. In
addition there will be a dinner in the World Record Lounge after the
races (around 7:10 PM).

If you have not already registered and wish to race, please give me you
registration form this evening, or at least e-mail me with your
intention to race as soon as possible.

If you have not already responded to Magda about attending the WSSA
dinner, send her e-mail at Magda.Nielson@... as soon as possible.

Michael Drews
WSSA

Wasatch Speed Skating will be holding informal races at 7:30 PM on
Wednesday, October 28 during the public skating session. The objective
of these races is to introduce more people to the sport of speedskating,
and to show that ordinary people can give the sport a try.

We will need some assistance in the following areas:

Skating ambassadors: Wear your speedskates and some kind of club or
association apparel, talk to people about speedskating, answer any
questions that people might have.

Crowd control: Help the ice guards herd people off the competition lanes
onto the warm-up lane, keep people off the competition lane during the
races.

Information table: Staff an information table with sample short and long
track speed skates, club and association information, sign-up forms for
Learn to Speedskate classes.

Announcer: Use a cordless microphone to announce the beginning of the
event, possible commentary on the races, make it interesting for the
spectators and participants.

Race director: Divide up participants into smaller groups based on
age/gender, herd skaters to start line.

Finish judge: Pick out first/second/third place finishers.

Timer: Get approximate time of winner.

Starter: Send the skaters off the line.

Prizes: Hand out WSSA T-shirts (and other valuable prizes) to winners.

Demonstration Racers: Two skaters to race a single lap, nothing extreme
needed.

The people on the ice should preferably wear athletic clothes other than
skinsuits, so that the public sees that skaters are (fairly) normal
people. Warm-up (sweat) pants and a club/association jacket would be ideal.

If you would like to help out, send me e-mail (drewsxmi@...) or
talk to me during open speed skating on Monday.

Depending on how well this event works we would like to do similar
events once or twice per week during the most popular public sessions.

Michael Drews
WSSA

The WSSA Board will meet on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the
Utah Olympic Oval to discuss building up the skating program at the Utah
Olympic Oval and other locations. Some good ideas were brought up at the
board meeting on September 29th, and now it's time to flesh out the
details of these ideas and put them into practice.

Michael Drews
WSSA

Dear All,

Brian was kidding me at the rink today, that my emails are FAR too long. So this
one will be brief.

A few key people have conflicts, so our meeting date has changed to TUESDAY
SEPTEMBER 29th, at the oval, 7pm.

Marian is taking on the Entry Forms & Cheat Sheet, Brian is official registrar.

Magda/Garth have specific duties at the oval on race day.  Boris will help with
translations.

I am doing the website & co-ordination with the IMSSC.

Still looking for a volunteer to price out different options / get bids for
catered food to be brought to the Oval, for Sunday, January 31st, between 70 and
150 meals.  (maybe you can ask them to bring samples to our meeting.. hint
hint..)

Other tasks will be defined at the meeting. Like opening draw/reception, etc.

-Andrew

The following dates and times have been set for the Wasatch Speed
Skating Association Long Track (pack style) race series. Entry forms
will be available this week in the bins by the mirrors at the Utah
Olympic Oval.

Long Track:
Wednesday September 30, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday November 4, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday December 2, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday January 6, 5:30 - 7:00 PM (Utah Winter Games)
Wednesday February 3, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday March 3, 5:30 - 7:00 PM (Fun races)

Age is determined as of July 1, 2009
Pony: 10 and under
Junior: 11 - 15
Senior: 16 - 25
Master I: 26 - 39
Master II: 40 - 49
Master III: 50 and up

Michael Drews
WSSA

Dear Training Sites:

The U.S. Sports Academy is offering a scholarship program for U.S.
Olympians and Paralympians.  Please share this information with the
athletes at your training sites.

Any inquiries should be addressed to:
Betsy R. Smith, MS
Associate Dean of Continuing Education and Instructional Design

United States Sports Academy
One Academy Drive
Daphne, AL  36526
251-626-3303 x 7127
251-447-0366 (fax)
bsmith2@...


Thank you,
Bobbi

Bobbi Ullman
Manager, Athlete Services & Programs
U.S. Olympic Committee
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO  80909
Office:  719-866-4607
Cell:  719-352-6515

June 20: South Jordan Parade
Parade: Our number will be 25; LeeAnn will be there at 7:45 but you do not need
to be there until about 9am when the parade actually starts. Staging will take
place at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park parking lot, located on 2200 West
and about 11000 South. You must enter the staging area coming from 11400 South
and 2200 West. We will not be allowed to throw candy, but we do have permission
to hand the children candy off the side of the road. The parade will end in
South Jordan Plaza parking lot between the County library and South Jordan City
Hall. We cannot unload until we are told to, so please be patient and wait until
we have the ok to do so. Once we have been given the ok at any of the 3
unloading bays, you are free to go! It may be easier to have a car with someone
waiting for you at the end of the parade, which is City Hall at about 1600 West
Towne center drive; your other option can be to ride with one of the Oval
vehicles but Lee Ann's check in time is 7:45 so she will be leaving the oval at
approximately 7 to get there on time.

Contact: LeeAnn ( LeeAnn.Lio@... ) if you are able to help out.


**As a member of the Oval Speed Skating Club, your participation will be
documented and you may be eligible to receive support funds at the end of the
year.

Dear Speedskaters & Speedskating Supporters,

As you all know the new skating season is beginning. Each year we try to be
better. This year the Oval Speed Skating Club is looking to unify its members
and become a great body of people who not only skate on the fastest ice on
earth,  but have fun taking part in the awesome opportunities that are available
to us. Our club skates at the Utah Olympic Oval just outside Salt Lake City in
Kearns, Utah. It is an Olympic Training Center site.

In order to make our club stronger we are looking to you for that help. If you
would like to become part of a team in volunteering your time, that leads and
supports our Club and athletes, please review the following and apply if
interested. Remember, these positions are open to anyone and everyone over the
age of 18 (parents, siblings, family, skaters, coaches, supporters).

Events & Activities Coordinator: As the E&A Coordinator, you will plan, schedule
and carry out club activities, such as: parties/dinners, bowling night, bike
rides, meetings, etc.... along with working with companies and organizations in
attending their functions and gathering people to attend them (parades, fairs,
etc...).

Treasurer: Money is your focus. You will track incoming & outgoing money with
the finest detail. You will also play a major role in fund raising.

Membership & Recruit: You will keep track of the members records and get more
people to sign up, by attending public skating sessions and distributing flyers
and info. You will need to attend most speedskating practices. Must be outgoing
and friendly.

+ All of these jobs also include: You must have a positive attitude, be open to
comments and suggestions, have great communication skills, help and support
anyone who needs it and be a leader. You will receive help from the President
and Vice President, along with other club members. It is also requested that you
attend most events.

If you would like to fill one of these positions, please email
(teriwillingham@...) and tell us why you would be good at it. The deadline
is: July 1, 2009

I understand that being a leader in any organization takes up a lot of personal
time. If we can delegate and share the responsibilities of becoming a great club
and supporting each other, I believe we can have a very fun and successful
season.


On Saturday, July 11, 2009 the voting of the new board will take place at the
Club's Welcome Back Party. We will have member sign ups, food, games & prizes.
More details to follow.


Sincerely,
Teri Willingham [teriwillingham@...]
OSSC President