Minutes of the Board of Governors Meeting
August 16, 2000

Year-to-date income totals $108,044.15 and expenses total $106,026.02 through July 31, 2000. Income from the Judges School includes a $500 grant from USFSA which must be returned since the $680 collected in registration fees will cover expenses. The board approved transfer of an additional $2000 from the Merrill Lynch Ready Asset Trust to cover August ice rental costs and costs of copying and mailing the membership brochure. Income from 2000-2001 memberships will not be deposited until September.

Club Membership totals 731 which is comparable to the August 1999 total of 728, although the number of home club members is higher (671 versus 654 in 1999).

Subscription figures for August show a need to evaluate the profitability of summer sessions as only the Plié Power class on Monday night had a good base of subscribers (22 plus monitor), followed by Monday dance at Cabin John (13 plus monitor), Saturday dance at Reston (11 plus monitor), and Thursday dance at Mt. Vernon (8 plus monitor). For the fall and winter, the club has contracts for sessions at Cabin John (Sunday moves and family sessions and Monday night dance), Reston (Saturday dance and Sunday freestyle), Mt. Vernon (Sunday dance), and a new Plié Power class at Wheaton on Thursday evenings (7:15-8:15 p.m.). A change in management at Mt. Vernon led to difficulties in securing ice time. Although the club requested an earlier time on Thursday nights, the rink offered only an even later time which was not acceptable. Special events have been scheduled at Mt. Vernon including the South Atlantics Send-off (Sun., Oct. 1, 12:30-3:30), test sessions (Oct. 8, Jan. 14 and April 7), and the Club Freestyle Competition (Feb. 25, 2001).

The Rink and Program committee is working with the pro liaison to get commitments from coaches to use the club,s sessions. In light of changes made to sessions after publication of the subscription brochure, it was suggested that the web site include a monthly calendar to provide current information about sessions and special events.

Four professionals (Greg Bell, Donna Reed, Scott and Michelle Myers) attended a meeting with the pro liaison at Reston. They made the following suggestions:
» Program the Sunday morning session at Reston to include one hour of freestyle followed by a 20-minute stroking class.
» Back-to-back sessions are more attractive for professionals.
» Use official judges at the Club Competition to provide feedback for skaters.
» Plan social events for adult members
» Ask a professional to attend board meetings when planning a special event

The Board has formed a committee to work on designing a new warm-up suit and will consider their recommendations at the September meeting.

Preparations are being made for the Open House, Sunday, Sept. 10 at Cabin John (10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.), which will feature refreshments plus fun and games on the ice organized by Barbara Brown, John Blendell and Roy Wu.

The Board authorized transfer of $800 into the Dance Test Chair's account to pay ice costs for a recent test session. In addition, the board authorized purchase of a half-page ad in the South Atlantic Regional Qualifying Competition program which will highlight the club's sponsorship of the 2003 World Championships.

The next meeting will be held September 20, 2000 at Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Rockville, MD.