STAR Board Of Director Nominations Today is the last chance to nominate members
Tuesday, July 1, 2014

TO: STAR Members
FROM: Larry Reid, Vice President and Chairman of Election Committee
RE: Nominations for STAR Board of Directors 

This summer, we will be holding elections for the following 3 positions on the Board of Directors:

1 – Individual Representative (3 year term)
Position currently held by Jim Hanlon. Eligible for re-election
*Only STAR Individual Members are eligible to vote and run for this position. The top vote recipient will be awarded this position
1 - At-Large Representative (3 year term)
Position currently held by Pete Carlson. Not eligible for re-election
*All STAR Members are eligible to cast their vote and run for this position. The top vote recipient will be awarded this position
1 - Vendor Representative (3 year term)
Position currently held by Jennifer Andre (Rink Management Services Corporation). Eligible for re-election
*Only STAR Vendor Members are eligible to vote and run for this position. The top vote recipient will be awarded this position 

If you, or someone from your facility or company, are interested in serving on the Board, please take this opportunity to complete the nomination form. All nominations must be received at the STAR office by Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Only STAR members as of July 15, 2014 are eligible to vote and run in this election.


All members of the STAR Board of Directors will assist the organization in fulfilling its mission of becoming “The premier national organization designed to foster the development, growth and success of ice skating rinks in the United States.â€â€¨ 
Towards this end, all STAR Board Members will be expected to meet the following minimum standards as a Board member:
 

• Attend annual Board meetings 

• Participate in monthly conference calls

• Promote STAR membership and programs 

• Serve on committees, as requested

• Represent STAR at regional events, as requested

• Maintain a STAR membership
 

STAR has made tremendous strides in our 14 years of history. We continue to advance our industry, and our membership plays a large role in our organization. The benefits of becoming a Board Member are both professionally and personally rewarding. I would strongly urge you to consider joining the STAR Board of Directors or encourage a colleague you feel would be a good candidate to become involved. The benefits will greatly exceed the time and energy you devote to STAR. You would be involved in a professional organization dedicated to the “development, growth and success†of the rink and arena industry. 
 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete and return the nomination form by Tuesday, July 15, 2014. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cory Portner at coryp@starrinks.com or (719) 538-1111.
Regional Training Programs
Click on a state for additional details and course offerings
We are getting ready to have our hockey goal frames sandblasted and repainted for the upcoming season. Can anyone tell me the "official" color or pantone scale used for the red on the goal posts and cross bar? Is this a safety red or something different?
U.S. Figure Skating Announces Recipients of 2014-15 U.S. Figure Skating
Community Development Grants
U.S. Figure Skating announced today the recipients of the 2014-15 U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grants. Six member clubs and Basic Skills programs have been awarded $2,000 each for the purpose of developing community-based programs and events designed to attract, involve and inspire new generations of figure skaters. A five-member selection committee reviewed 35 applications and awarded grants to those clubs and programs that were most effectively able to demonstrate how they would use the award to develop their initiatives. The recipients of the grants are Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club (Ann Arbor, Mich.); Bemidji Figure Skating Club (Bemidji, Minn.); Brenton Skating Plaza (Des Moines, Iowa); Cutting Edge Figure Skating Club (Pleasant Prairie, Wis.); Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (Washington); and the Winter Club Learn to Skate Program (Indianapolis).
The grants will be used in the following ways:
• The Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club will support their Learn to Skate initiative for students who fall under the classification of special needs.
• The Bemidji Figure Skating Club will launch a Rent to Give Back Program, which will rent skates to members of the community with all proceeds going to fund skating scholarships.
• Brenton Skating Plaza will fund a 12-week skating program designed for inner-city youth, ages 7-13, promoting healthy minds, bodies and spirits.
• The Cutting Edge Figure Skating Club will offer free public skating events and Basic Skills scholarships to improve exposure of the high quality skating programs in the community.
• Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena will expand the synchronized skating program within their KOI P.L.U.S. (Kids On Ice, Positive Learning Using Skating) program.
• The Winter Club Learn to Skate Program will expand its 90-minute, Saturday-only schedule into a multi-day, multi-faceted package in order to become a more inclusive, more affordable Basic Skills Program.
Grow Your Program with the 2 and 2 Challenge
Increase your participation numbers with USA Hockey's comprehensive growth program, the 2 and 2 Challenge. The 2 and 2 Challenge guides youth hockey leadership through national programs and tools to achieve their growth goals. To complete the 2 and 2 Challenge, participating rinks will utilize initiatives that emphasize the three main driving forces of growth: Retention, Acquisition and Conversion.
By participating, two things will be accomplished:
1) You will drive participation in the 8 & under age group and ensure that your beginner level or introductory program continues to grow as these players graduate to older age levels.
2) Your rink will establish itself not just as the best hockey program locally, but as the best youth sports option in your community!
As an added bonus you will be rewarded with free starter equipment sets and national recognition. With the upcoming post-Olympic season and a heightened awareness on youth hockey, the potential for growth is endless. During the previous post-Olympic season (2010-11), there was a 15% increase in new 8 & under players which was the largest increase in the last 15 years. This also included a 24% increase in new girls playing. Local rinks have a unique opportunity to make a big impact at their 8 & under age level.
