is appropriate for skaters who have passed Advanced Basics and are at least 12 years old.  Practices will be from 5:30-6:30 pm on Wednesday evenings starting September 1 and 6-7 pm on Sunday evenings starting September 12. The team will compete in Ann Arbor , Fraser, and Tri-State Competitions.  Coach: Hedi Allis
The purpose of this division is to introduce skaters of varying ages to the fundamentals of synchronized team skating.  Skaters should be able to skate forward and backward with ease, perform turns and basic footwork and continue to improve their individual skills in moves in the field, dance, pairs or free skating.  Training will stress positive attitude and teamwork while continuing to increase skating speed and flow.

is appropriate for skaters who have passed Advanced Basics and are around 10-11 years old.  Skaters should be able to skate forward and backward with ease, perform turns and basic footwork.  
This is a great place to build synchronized skating experience and get an exposure to beginning competition.  Practice will be once a week, Fridays 5:30-6:20 pm, starting SEPTEMBER 17.  (We will be sharing the ice with Basics Skills practice in an effort to keep costs as low as possible.)  There will be occasional off-ice sessions to help skaters master the footwork and formations, while maximizing ice time.
We are excited to have Nicki Hayes as the coach for this team!  Not only is she an MFSC coach, but also she has experience both as a competitive synchronized skater and as a performer with Disney on Ice!  Her energy and enthusiasm will be infectious! 
At this time, we plan to skate this team in the "Youth Introductory" division.  The team will skate at the Club's exhibitions and one competition toward the end of the season.  The music and program for this division will be 2 minutes long and will be choreographed by Nicki.

is appropriate for those adults (including college students or older high school students) who are either currently in Advanced Basics or have passed advanced basics.  Practice will be from 6:00-7:00 pm on Sunday evenings starting September 12.  The team will compete at Tri-State.  Coach: Kris Hallett
The purpose of this division is to introduce adult skaters to synchronized team skating.  Skaters should be able to skate forward and backward with ease, should be confident about basic steps, and continue to improve their individual skills.  This team is also appropriate for adult skaters who feel they can no longer make the commitment to their Masters team.

is appropriate for those adults over 25 years old who have passed Advanced Basics and are very comfortable with backward skating and transitions from forward to backward.  Practices will be from 6:30-7:20 pm on Wednesday evenings starting September 1 and 6:40-7:50 pm on Sunday evenings starting September 12.  The team will compete in Ann Arbor, Fraser, Midwesterns and Nationals.  Coach: Hedi Allis.
The purpose of this division is to offer adult skaters an opportunity to compete at the National level while blending their competitive lives with work and family priorities.

SKATE MIDLAND 2004 BASIC SKILLS COMPETITION A HUGE SUCCESS!
A great huge thank you to all of you who made our Skate Midland competition run so smoothly and be so much fun for the kids.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and many out of town competitors and their families congratulated us on a well-run event!  The Club really pulled together to make it happen. 
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In addition to Ann Ward & June Turley  who were responsible for overall planning coordination and organization of Skate Midland 2004, special thanks to the following:

JENNIE WALSH SEMINAR SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 24, 2004
The Committee on Professional Instruction (CPI) has invited Jennie Walsh of Los Angeles, California, to Midland to interview for a position as a Midland FSC Coach.

JENNIE WALSH of Corona, California, is an International figure skating coach in singles and pairs.  She:

• Is P.S.A. Master in Freestyle, Master Group Instructor, and Master Program Director; P.S.A. Senior Pair Skating Instructor

• Is a U.S.F.S.A. triple Gold Medallist in Figures, Freestyle, and Pairs

• Has many years of experience working with skaters from ages 1 ½ to 80+

• Specializes in Freestyle, M.I.F., Pairs, Choreography, and Group Instruction for all ages and levels

Jennie and her husband are looking to relocate and are very familiar with this part of the country.

Jennie has agreed to present a seminar to give our skaters an opportunity to meet her and experience her teaching style.  We hope that all of you, no matter who your coach is, will sign up to participate in this activity, and enjoy the fun and learning that a seminar always provides.
 

MFSC USFSA Test Session Congratulations to all MFSC skaters who tested in the 2/15/04 USFSA Test Session. Skaters were cheered on by very cold parents!

FAST ICE SKATE-A-THON - FEBRUARY 28, 2004
It's time for MFSC to get ready for the SKATE-A-THON Fundraiser!!
PRIZES!! RAFFLES!! AND LOTS OF FUN!!  All for the NEW RINK!

Mark your calendars, sign-up and get your pledge forms! 

The Fast Ice Skate-A-Thon Fundraiser for the New 3-Rink Ice Arena is right around the corner:  February 28th at the Civic Arena from 9 am - 5 pm.  This is YOUR chance to help contribute financially to the new rink being built in Midland.  We want MFSC to make a big difference in this fund raiser for the new ice arena!  We need everyone's participation... skaters, family &  friends.  Everyone can participate by skating or supporting the many activities going on that day.  There is an individual and a family skate option also, so everyone who wants to get out on the ice can!

The idea is for you to raise money from family, friends, neighbors, etc., basically everyone you know.  They will pledge so many cents or dollars per lap you skate or they can make a lump sum donation.  Then all you have to do is skate as many laps as possible.  It's amazing how much money can be raised this way.

Each user group is striving to skate the most laps and make the most money.  We want to make a great showing for MFSC!!

PRIZES!!
There are prizes for the top three money-makers from any of the skating groups:
* 1st place - a personal 7" DVD player 
* 2nd place - a Game Boy Advance SP 
* 3rd place - a CD player with headphones 

In addition, the figure skater who raises the most donations will receive 4 complementary tickets to the new Disney On Ice show at the Palace the first weekend of March to see the Monsters, Inc. show.  

RAFFLES!!
If you are not skating, there are still ways you can contribute.  There will be great raffles going on during the day, so brings folks down to watch and support the days events!!

SIGN-UP TODAY!
Coaches, skaters, families, friends ... we need everyone's help in making this event an enormous success.  So please go to the Fast Ice website today and register!

Thank you in advance for your participation and support.  I know MFSC will do a great job in helping to reach a goal that will benefit all of us...the New 3 Rink Arena!

See you there!
Jon Evans for the MFSC Board of Directors

MFSC Coaching Changes - UPDATE from the Committee on Professional Instruction

As recently announced, MFSC has some coaching changes underway.  Planning for future Club growth with the new rink, the MFSC Committee on Professional Instruction (CPI) had already been working on bringing new coaches in for evaluation. 

Here is a brief update on our plans:

*	We have a Seminar and new coach evaluation planned for later this month with a highly qualified skating coach.  (You will hear more about the seminar program and the coach candidate in a separate communication.)
*	We will be scheduling new instructors for off-ice classes for the Spring and Summer Ice schedules.
*	We also want remind you of our remaining qualified and experienced MFSC coaching staff and encourage you to talk to the coaches directly about their qualifications and their Spring and Summer availability when looking to meet your skater's needs.
*	Explore all options we encourage a "team teaching" concept with coaches - to allow greatest opportunity for meeting your skater's needs through the appropriate coach offering and expertise.

MFSC Coaches approved to teach on Club Ice*: Michelle Everett Jessica Gullan Teri Haag Nicki Hayes Kris Hallett

Visiting Coaches approved to teach on Club Ice*: Sergey Magerovskiy Rebecca Magerovskiy MFSC Coaches approved to teach on SWU Ice*: Ashley Partlo

*Not all coaches are available on a 12-month basis.  Be sure to ask them directly about their availability.

We understand change can bring short-term challenges for each of us, but change can also bring great opportunity.  Experienced coaches and skaters will tell you that they have had the opportunity to work with many different coaches over their training career.  This for us brings with it the opportunity for new perspectives, expertise and experiences. 

The CPI will continue to evaluate the needs of our skaters and add highly qualified coaches to our current outstanding staff as appropriate.  We are committed to provide the professional coaching expertise and offering that will allow our skaters succeed in their goals and also allow the Club to grow.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the CPI.

June Turley, on behalf of the MFSC CPI

Margaret Allen Becky Evans

Paul Morabito Ann Ward

DEREK & LIZA ARE LEAVING

Derek Schmidt and Liza Stekolnikova have announced their resignation from the MFSC Coaching Staff to take new positions with the Nepean SC in Ottawa, Canada.  The continuing decrease in ice time available for private lessons, and the drop in number of skaters in Midland has led to a decrease in their income, and they feel that their family responsibilities make a move necessary.

Derek will continue to teach through the remainder of the Winter Session (March 25), but must be in Ottawa to take up his new position on April 1st.

Liza will stay in Midland until the sale of their house is complete, and would like to continue teaching until the start of summer school if she needs to stay that long.  An earlier sale of the house would change her departure to the end of the Winter Session (March 25).

MFSC has benefited greatly from Derek's & Liza's time with our Club, and we regret that they feel the need to leave at this time.  We wish them well in their future careers.

To the parents of Jr. skaters and Adult skaters who will lose their coach:

The MFSC Committee on Professional Instruction has begun a search for one or two replacement coaches, and is in contact with one possibility at this time.  We will bring this potential MFSC coach to Midland on February 24th for a seminar and interview, and she will be available for lessons Wednesday Feb 25th through Friday Feb 27th.  She has also offered to be available for lessons during the week of March 8th.  You will have a chance to become acquainted when that happens.  We will broadcast upcoming events for this interview and any others as they develop, and feel sure that our skaters will be able to make a successful transition to a new coach.

All of us are committed to assisting you in any way we can.

Committee on Professional Instruction
June Turley, Chair
Margaret Allen
Becky Evans
Paul Morabito
Ann Ward


MFSC Skaters Compete in Port Huron
Congratulations to all MFSC skaters who competed in the 2004 Edith Schoenrock International Competition in Port Huron, February 6-8, 2004.  Way to Sk8Gr8!!
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