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T he implementation of the Basic Skills Program at Paramount Iceland in California during this incredible Olympic year has positively influenced ice skating in our wonderful, cohesive community. Since January, we have partnered with the city of Paramount's afterschool programs to successfully bring more than 1,000 local children skating for the first time. Thanks to Basic Skills, we have been able to provide these new skaters with adorable Snowplow Sam stickers from the Basic Skills Program. The child- friendly sticker designs bring big smiles to children's faces. The U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program provided packages of skating picture postcards. The stunning photos of our U.S. skaters made the postcards a must- have for children and parents. We printed personalized skating school coupons onto adhesive labels and then attached the coupons to each postcard. We circulated postcards at surrounding community events, schools and multiple afterschool centers. These postcard coupons are excellent tools for staff to hand out to hundreds of people in public sessions. U.S. Figure Skating T-shirts and pencils are incredibly popular with our skaters young and old. We have also implemented the use of Basic Skills record books. These books are easily marketed as study skills workbooks. The program comes with membership to Basic Skills. Skaters easily track their progress and organize their practice habits with workbooks. Parents enjoy using the books with their children, especially while clearly understanding what their child is learning. The zipper pulls that feature Snowplow Sam, U.S. Figure Skating's mascot, have been a huge hit for the kids. When new skaters sign up for skating school classes, we are certain to hand them out. New skaters often immediately purchase a new skating jacket for their new zipper pull and their new Basic Skills badge. The patriotic badges come with the Basic Skills booklet package. This leads to the pursuit of the badge program. Displaying a jacket with all badges near the registration area is inspiring. With great success, we have hosted "Bring a Buddy" events with more than 200 friends newly exposed to ice skating. The template provided by Basic Skills is user-friendly and results in an inviting coupon for kids to bring their friends to a fun-filled event. Excited about our future of skating for all, we thank the wonderful staff at head- quarters for the amazing inspiration and guidance to grow our skating program. J REAL PROGRAMS Successful programs to consider adopting HANG 10! Snowplow Sam Surfs into Southern California Skating Program 28 / MAY.JUNE.2014 RINKMAGAZINE.COM THESE POSTCARD COUPONS ARE EXCELLENT TOOLS FOR STAFF TO HAND OUT TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SESSIONS. by DARLENE SPARKS, Paramount Iceland Figure Skating Director PHOTOS: PARAMOUNT ICELAND