Midwest Caucus Meeting

NatalieDee.com

Being part of the Midwest, I was only able to attend my own caucus. (Although I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at Eastern)

The meeting started with the Pat & David show since it’s natural to have Pat come talk to her people first (she’s one of us!) David shared great news that we have many of our national sponsors have resigned for next year include the news that Prudential has signed on to be the title sponsor through 2018!!

Thanks to our athletes for being so great that it helps our brand succeed. 

Ann Barr took some time to talk about the changes to the MIF – She explained why the changes were being proposed. She said the group felt that we had made the moves too difficult (such as the forward inside loop).  Ann says she believes that coaches have to teach beyond the requirements if they want their skaters to be competitive.  A lot of the delegates in the room are saying that the coaches at their clubs have told them to vote against these changes.

(NOTE: one hour later Ann and Heidi Thibert announced that the RFA was being referred back to committee)

Next up: Strategic Plan with Lainie and her traveling show (Gretchen Bonnie, Pilar Bosley, Winston Burbank, Terri Levine and Heather Nemier)

Information for the plan was gathered from the strategic planning committee, survey results from 239 clubs (lots from the Midwest), the athletes, the board and an outside sports marketing company. 

Here's a brief summary of what was presented: 

The goals of the new Strategic Plan include expanding grassroots, increase awareness/interest/participation, increase member retention and further athlete development

Goal: Increase Awareness, Interest and Participation Through Marketing Efforts and “Branding”

Tactics include:

• retain outside marketing and media relations firm in 2014 to advise
• create a strategy to better present events to increase attendance and revenue
• develop better presentation of officials’ scores – in arena and for TV and internet broadcast

Expand grassroots and increase members

Tactics: 

• Learn to Skate USA 
• Working group with the STAR board to develop business model for rink managers 
• Communicate bridge program to wider audience 

Assist club in increasing membership and retention

Tactics:

• Work with PSA, STAR and USFS Committees to identify ways to lower overall costs of participation
• Identify and implement expanded communications network and education initiatives
• Identify and implement initiative to attract/retain more male skaters
• ID and implement initiatives to expand high school and college skater 

Review and Update Strategy for Athlete Development

• Work with successful high level coaches to define AD program and resources necessary to implement it
• Address issues identified in research done by US Figure Skating’s Sports Science and Medicine Committee and equipment manufacturers on why injuries are occurring and ways to minimize them
• Review other NGB’s athlete development programs and international selection procedures. 

Next steps

• A survey will be sent to all GC delegates
• Board review in late May/early June
• Finalize Plan and Implementation Timeline

Break time!

Big news coming out today is that both the parents membership and the MIF are being referred back to committee.

John Coughlin got up to endorse Sam Auxier as President of US Figure Skating. 

Election of nominating committee members: 

Southwest: Peggy Graham

Upper Great Lakes: Kris Arneson Cutler