Northern Kentucky Skating Club
Dear Members of the Northern Kentucky Skating Family,
The Board has received several questions and comments concerning our change in fundraising. Even though we have attempted to explain it in different venues, we thought it was important that we give our members another detailed explanation of why our fee structure is set up the way it is and why we changed it. Our motivation was and is to make NKSC better and stronger.
Soon after the start of the Northern Kentucky Skating Club in 1996, it became clear that in order to strengthen and grow the club and support the skaters' needs, we would need to rely on more than just membership fees. Absent the ability to hold a skating event, the fairest method of spreading the additional need was to institute a fundraising requirement so that members had various opportunities to raise the extra funds throughout the year.
More recently, we noted that there was a pattern among non-returning members. Every year approximately 8-10 families would not pay the fundraising portion of the obligation even though many of these same skaters participated in club-sponsored functions or received club support during the year. This has amounted to as much as $1,200 of lost revenue to the club per year, a substantial amount.
Unfortunately, this situation is unfair to the other members and makes it very difficult to plan club expenditures, and as a result, the Board decided two years ago to migrate the timing of the fundraising to the beginning of the year. The revised timing would still allow members to participate in fundraising events to pre-fund the requirement for the beginning of the next club year. The Board has also voted to allow members to use fundraising to pay for all of their membership fees, not just the fundraising portion, for next year, 2007-2008. If it works well, they will vote to make that permanent.
Even though it was only this year, when the change would affect the dollar amount members paid at the beginning of the club year, the Board realized that the change in timing would be an adjustment for members. Consequently, we instituted a two year phase-in plan. This started with the announcement at the 2004 summer picnic (and reminders at the semi-annual meetings since) an explanation added to 2005-2006 membership form and newsletter reminders. All along, over-fundraising in 2005-2006 was encouraged, as it would be applied to the amount due at the beginning of the current year (2006-2007).
Some members have asked why we do not allow people to perform volunteer jobs to "work off" their fundraising obligation. This has not been instituted for several reasons. It would be difficult and time consuming to come up with a fair dollar amount for each job performed. For example, should the person who volunteers to take out the plexiglass at the shows earn the same as the person who sells programs? Secondly, even though the club needs volunteers, it also needs the money. However, in a sense, members have the opportunity to "work off" that obligation through fundraising. It is also possible, that if we are able to host a competition in the future, the club could accept volunteer hours in lieu of fundraising.
The NKSC board takes its role of club funds guardian very seriously. Every major expenditure is discussed and voted on at board meetings. The membership dues go toward various responsibilities of the club, such as USFS fees, club ice rentals, insurance and other operating expenses. The fundraising fees also enable the club to provide the services in keeping with the organization such as the purchase of major items that support our skaters (i.e., jump harness, carpeted off-ice area, improvements to bathrooms and heat), food for club ice and other club events and skater support for qualifying competitions. Actual results are reported at each semi-annual club meeting. Some of these expenditures contribute to our long-term goal of being able to host skating events that can financially support the club and thereby diminish or altogether suspend the fundraising requirement.
Hopefully this letter will answer any remaining questions. As always the board welcomes your input or questions, either at a meeting or to one of us directly. Please join us at Donato's Pizza on Dixie Highway in Crestview Hills.
Hope to see you at Club Ice,
Clare Richart
President
mainelycwr@aol.com
The NKSC board meeting in September has been changed to Wednesday, September 6. Meetings begin at 6:30 pm in the Group Room at Donato's Pizza on Dixie Highway in Crestview Hills. All NKSC members are invited to come. October's Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11. Be sure to watch the NKSC bulletin board for updates and/or changes.
The first fundraising opportunity for the 2007-2008 club year is being offered with the SCRIPs sale. Forms can be downloaded from the web site and are due Friday, September 15, 2006. Forms may be turned in to the rink's office or given to Sharon Sanford, fundraising chair. Please attach a check made payable to "NKSC" for the amount purchased.
The deadline date for the room block for the 2007 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships is upon us. The accommodations and respective deadline date for wishing to participate in this room block are as follows:
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott
Price: $95.00/night plus tax (this includes a free daily continental breakfast)
Deadline Date: September 9, 2006
If you have any questions and/or wish to participate in the room block, please contact Denise Simoni.
GOOD LUCK to all our skaters competing at the Tony Todd Memorial Carmel Invitational Competition, September 15-17, in Carmel, Indiana, and the 2007 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships, October 11-14, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The NKIC Fall Learn to Skate sessions will begin Monday, September 18. Classes are $75.00 for a six-week session. Register by Monday, September 11, and receive $10 off. For more information, call 859 344-1981 x.0
CONGRATULATIONS to the following skaters who past their tests on July 26 at NKIC: Natasha R. and Jessica S. - Senior MIF; Briana U. - Junior MIF; Christina G. - Novice FS; Erin B. - Juvenile MIF; Jessica V. and Mykaela W. - Pre-Preliminary MIF
CONGRATULATIONS also to Briana U. for passing her Senior FS on August 10 at Troy SC and Maria S. for passing her Senior FS on August 12 at IWSA.
A Round of Applause!!! Way to go skaters!!!
Leila T. is a Pre-Preliminary level skater and is coached by Beth Melson, Ted Masdea and Stephanie Miller. She enjoys the axel jump and the mushroom spin and is working on her double salchow jump and her flying camel spin. Leila likes to skate because it's fun! Her favorite competition is Skate Chautauqua. Leila has a poodle named Buddy. Her favorite movie is Mean Girls and her favorite TV show is Laguna Beach. She likes to play volleyball and likes the color pink.
Anni P. is 8 years old and going into the 3rd grade. She has a black Lab named Katie, two goats named Nannie and Jake, and two cats named Rascal and Rover. Anni is coached by Beth Melson, and she skates at the Beginner freestyle level. She enjoys the half-flip jump and the sit spin. Anni likes to skate because the jumps are really fun and she likes learning new things. Her favorite competition is Skate Cincinnati. When she is not skating, Anni likes to swim and paint. Her favorite TV show is Spongebob Squarepants, and she likes to listen to Rascal Flatts. When she grows up, Anni wants to be a veterinarian and a skater.
Be sure to read more about our skaters on the NKSC bulletin board.
| September | October | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria K. | 1 | Rheanna W. | 6 |
| Sara I. | 2 | Taylor W. | 8 |
| Christy L. | 10 | Leila T. | 12 |
| Serra T. | 11 | Amy R. | 15 |
| Carolena M. | 12 | ||
| Rebecca H. | 15 | ||
| Cody R. | 19 | ||
| Katelyn W. | 21 | ||
| Jessica S. | 25 | ||
| Corey S. | 27 | ||
Club Ice is scheduled for 5-7 pm on the following dates:
