|
For Prospective Members: We are glad that you are interested in joining Hawaii Figure Skating Club (HFSC). Here is a little bit of information about HFSC and the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) to supplement what your coach has already told you. USFSA is the national governing body for figure skating leading to U.S. national, international and Olympic competition. HFSC was incorporated in Hawaii in January, 1984, and in April, 1986, the IRS granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)3. HFSC is a member organization of the USFSA and abides by the rules and By-Laws of the USFSA. A seven-member Board of Directors, elected from the membership, governs HFSC while the President and other officers manage the day-to-day affairs of the club. Individual membership in HFSC includes individual membership in USFSA. HFSC follows the USFSA membership year which starts on October 1 and runs 13 months, expiring on October 31 the following year. USFSA and HFSC do not prorate membership fees if you initially join part way through the membership year. The purposes of the club include promoting the sport of figure skating; encouraging the instruction, practice and advancement of its members in all types of figure skating; encouraging and cultivating a spirit of fraternal skating among ice skaters, sponsoring figure skating competitions and exhibitions; and carrying out the general policies of the USFSA. Activities of HFSC include running a USFSA sanctioned, non-qualifying competition each year in March; conducting USFSA-certified test sessions several times each year; creating opportunities for fundraising (for those who wish to participate) to help offset the high costs of going to competitions on the Mainland; sponsoring a Skaters Rummage Sale several times each year; conducting Bake Sales and Flower Sales during selected events at Ice Palace; sponsoring a Halloween Party at Ice Palace and holding membership meetings. A club can meet its purposes and conduct the activities only as well as its members volunteer to make those things happen. Members are expected to assist where they can to make the club function. Benefits of membership include receiving the Skating Magazine published 10 times per year by the USFSA, taking USFSA-certified tests to advance in skating skills, entering USFSA-sanctioned qualifying and non-qualifying competitions and participating in HFSC-sponsored fundraising activities. Only Senior Members (18 years of age or older) may vote in club elections and on matters brought before the membership. Because skating families have not been adequately represented in club decisions during recent years, the Board of Directors established a policy that each skating family must have at least one Senior Member, effective with the new USFSA membership year October 1, 1999. You need not be a skater to be a member of HFSC or USFSA. HFSC highly recommends that each skater (or skating family) own a USFSA Rule book. In addition to the By-Laws, rules and regulations, the Rule Book contains the detailed definition of test requirements for each test level. Coaches are busy people and you shouldn't expect that they will always pass on every little detail that you need to know. That responsibility rests with the skater. HFSC will order Rulebooks/Directories for those members who request them. If this is your first Rulebook, you also will need a binder. Alternatively, members may order Rulebooks / Directories / Binders directly from USFSA; an order form is available online at http://www.usfsa.org/forms/index.html. HFSC maintains a web site to publish information of interest to club members as well as to promote the annual Skate Aloha competition (see http://www.pixi.com/~hifsc). The HFSC Hall of Fame acknowledges accomplishments of HFSC skaters. In addition, the Ice Palace sessions schedule is posted as well as the sessions application form. Members are notified by email when the schedule is posted each month and when changes occur to the schedule during the month. Members are also advised of some club information by email which provides information in a more timely manner than seeing it posted in the rink. Please ensure that the club has your email address. Because Hawaii FSC is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation, a portion of your membership fees are tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Ten dollars of the membership fees for the first family member and seven dollars of the fees for each additional family member are deductible. New member application packets may be obtained from any one of the members of the Board of Directors when you see them in the rink. The Skate School Director also has new member packets. The packets include two copies of the two-part USFSA application form and a HFSC application form. Please review the notes provided when filling in the USFSA application form. Return both parts of the USFSA form. Fill in the HFSC application form indicating the total membership fees and Rulebook orders and attach payment. Verify that we have your email address. Your application package will be submitted to the HFSC Board of Directors for approval. A copy of the HFSC By-Laws will be provided to you upon successful completion of the application approval process. If you have any questions, please contact the Membership Chair, Eunice Chong, at sk8mom@hawaii.rr.com.
|
|