News from the Edge - April 2003

Tax day is behind us, the new competitive year is beginning, and our fiscal year is drawing to a close. With only six weeks left in our year, there is still much to do!

Lisa Lufkin, membership chair, has sent out questionnaires regarding the awards portion of our annual banquet. This form is used to calculate points for our Competitor of the Year, Most Improved Skater, and Skater of the Year awards. Please take time to fill one out and get it back to Lisa ASAP. Note that no ballots will be accepted after May 1^st. Look for additional banquet info inside this newsletter.

Your DEFSC board will hold a 2002-2003 budget planning session on April 22. The budget guides our activities, dues, and fundraiser opportunities for the coming year. If there are items or projects you'd like to see included in the budget, give them (in writing) to a Board member or email to me by Monday, April 21.

Our current budget relied heavily on sponsorships and fundraisers. Our total membership decreased this year, which affected most of our fundraising projects. However, you as a club brought in new ideas and supported the fundraisers whole-heartedly. This helped us achieve most of our goals and stay in the black. You deserve a pat on the back!

We also rely heavily on volunteers, as you have read in each newsletter this year. We need chairpersons for many committees for next year. Please view the list and take on a challenge!

Governing Council will be held in Norfolk, VA from May 6-10. Steven Lilly and Jay Lilly are our delegates for this year. When you see them at the rink, thank them for their dedication and investment of time and money necessary to represent us at this event. Many important items are on the agenda this year, including the possible redrawing of our regional boundaries.

On The Inside

An invitation was extended to the Greater Oklahoma FSC, a provisional club in Tulsa. They were excited with the offer, and agreed to vote on acceptance at the first board meeting in June. The Wichita FSC has also received an invitation but no decision has been returned. Cameron Dobie, MAFSA president, submitted a bid for the 2005 Skate America event. The OKC Visitors and Convention Bureau and OKC Mayor's office have agreed to work with us to secure the bid if possible. More info will follow.

Annual Meeting / Awards Banquet

Our annual awards banquet will be held at TaMolly's in Bryant on Sunday, May 18, 2003. We'll dine at 4pm and hold the business meeting and present awards beginning at 5. Many skaters will be recognized for passing tests this year, and we'll present our Most Improved Skater, Competitor of the Year, and Skater of the Year awards. Please make plans to attend!

Morgan Nick Photo ID Day

DEFSC and the Arkansas Skatium will host a Morgan Nick Photo ID Day on Saturday, May 3^rd, from 10:30 till 2:30. The Skatium is offering half price admission for kids under 12 years old who have their picture taken. If they do not have time to skate, they'll get a pass to skate at a later date. Our club will provide the photography and handouts for parents. This is an important function that can really help parents in a time of desperate need. There is a sign up sheet in the pro shop for volunteers. Please sign up for a shift!

Skate-a-thon Update

Our 2003 Skate-a-thon, held last month at Alltel Arena, was again a successful campaign. This year 17 skaters brought in pledges of almost $1600. One of our patrons graciously pledged $25 per skater, bringing our total to just over $2000. We have submitted a request for matching funds from the Wal-Mart Foundation, but as of press time we have not received an answer. Here are a few scenes from the event. More are posted on our website (click here). Thanks to Steve Rea, our webmaster!

A Personal Glimpse of Nationals

My family and I watched the bizarre events unravel of the Men's Finals on TV. After seeing two men stop their programs and asking the referee for a re-skate and then Michael Weiss running into the flower girls, and pulling up to first place from forth, we were ready for anything to happen for the Ladies Finals.

We left the house planning to be at the Ladies Finals one hour early. To our surprise, the girls were already on the ice warming up when we arrived. The start time had been changed from 6:50 to 6:15pm. Thankfully we did not miss a program. Looking around, it was so exciting to find that Tom Collins and a group of Champions On Ice stars: Dorothy Hamill, Naomi Lang, Peter Tchernyshev, Suria Bonali, and Philip Candalero, sitting in the balcony behind us. To the left was Paul Wylie, who I caught getting up from his seat to get his autograph.

The programs began and it was so exciting to see speed and hear edges something that video cannot capture. The crowd was in unison on every jump it was an "aah" for falling, or clapping for landing. Girls were nailing triple-jumps left and right. My eight year old cousin whispered to me, "I wish they'd do cartwheels or something". I was determined to show my appreciation and respect for each skater giving every one a standing ovation. I was the odd one until Michelle Kwan took the ice. The crowd could not have been more quiet standing on edge wanting so bad for her to shine. With each jump she landed there was a nervous clap. Nearing the end of her program, during her straight-line footwork, the crowd went WILD. People were outtheir seats before the music ended, clapping and cheering.She ended and the ice was flooded with flowers and stuffies, including a Garfield cat stuffed animal. Not all twenty skaters had skated yet, but it was all over after Michelle skated. Later there was a academic award ceremony where Sarah Hughes and about six others received $1000 checks for their academic excellence. Sarah keeps a 3.9 GPA.

Next was the Men's medal ceremony. I was in shock how small the men were especially Michael Weiss. TV is really deceiving. Men took their victory lap and then it was the Ladies ceremony. I went down to the boards along with hundreds of little girls hoping for an autograph. Facing out, I placed a picture of Michelle Kwan printed from our computer. Girls were screaming "Michelle, Michelle". My photo of her, caught her eye and she came over and signed it. I said to her, "I just couldn't stop smiling". She giggled and went on to the next person. She chose to sign only significant things like posters and "6.0's" and t-shirts. One girl had a sign saying "Go Kwan". As Michelle signed it, the girl said to her, "I just love you, I really love you". I thought to myself, "What would it be like to be Michelle Kwan"?

Top Sales in Fundraisers are Rewarded

Fred Rickert presented a $25 check to the top sellers in the "Gold Card' fundraiser and the "Christmas Catalog" Sale. Receiving checks were Madeleine Rickert, Lauren Floyd, and Jay Lilly. Thanks to each of them for helping our our club.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Orion Lilly on passing the Pre-Preliminary Field Moves test in Dallas on April 13^th.

DEFSC Test Session Results

Chairpersons 2002-2003

We need your help. If there is a committee you'd like to chair for next year, please contact Rick Nation before the annual meeting.

Apparel:
Membership: Lisa Lufkin
Test: Gabrielle Lilly
Newsletter:
Education:

Hospitality:
Club Ice:
Basic Skills: Amanda Griffin
Sanctions:
Website: Steve Rea

Fundraising:
Publicity:
Seminar: Steven Lilly
Parents Liaison:
Annual Meeting: Steven Lilly

DEFSC Goals 2002-2003

Maintain two hours of ice per week
Increase number adult skaters to a total of 10
Increase number of parent members; Goal of at least one parent per family
Establish skater recognition program
Hold annual test session
Host skating seminar
Initiate annual ice show
Pursue hosting a USFSA function in Little Rock

Upcoming Ice Events

April 25-27: Skate Dallas sponsored by the Dallas Figure Skating Club in Dallas, Texas
May 2-4: Sixth Annual Wichita Ice Dance Weekend sponsored by the Wichita FSC at the Wichita Ice Sports Center, 505 West Maple St., Wichita, KS. For more information contact Bob Boroughs at 316-721-3558 or email at Rboroughs@aol.com or the club web site at www.iceskater.net.
May 8-10: USFSA Governing Council meeting in Norfolk, VA
May 18: DEFSC Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet at TaMolly's in Bryant
June 13-15: USFSA Regional Training Camp in Wichita, KS. Postmark required by April 25
July 11-13: Cannon Texas Open Figure Skating Competition sponsored by the Lone Star FSC at the Dr. Pepper Star Center, 4020 West Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75023. For more information contact Melissa Bowman, 3304 Eisenhower Lane, Plano, TX 75023, 469-752-3727.
July 25-27 Silver Anniversary of the Skate Tulsa Championships and the Basic Skills Competition sponsored by the Tulsa FSC at the Tulsa Ice Rink, 6910 South 101st East Ave, Tulsa, OK. For more information contact De'Ette Doerr at 918-299-0973 or ddoerr@gablelaw.com or Sheila LaPlante at 918-307-8220 or laplars@kellyservices.com.
October 21-25 Southwestern Regionals sponsored by the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, CO

Diamond Edge Figure Skating Club
Little Rock, Arkansas