Rink

54 / JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2014 RINKMAGAZINE.COM by JOHN MONTELEONE, CIRM H ere we are in 2014. It's not only a new year, it's an Olympic year! In just a few short weeks, our industry will be spot- lighted on all the major news and sports networks. We'll be on the front page of our hometown newspapers and will prob- ably make a magazine cover or two as well as our athletes showcase their unique skills. We'll celebrate their triumphs and experience their heartbreaks as they play out on the world stage. As you welcome new customers into your programs, keep a sharp eye out for the next Olympic champion. They all start somewhere. Why not in your pro- gram at your rink? The year 2014 isn't just special because it's an Olympic year. It's special because NARCE debuts in a new location, too. Columbus, Ohio, will be home to NARCE in May, and the staff of STAR couldn't be happier. We had a great run in Dearborn, Mich., but it was time to move on and see what a new venue might have to offer. As you'll see in an upcoming issue of RINK Magazine, NARCE's new Columbus digs have spectacular hotel and confer- ence facilities, a vibrant nightlife within easy walking distance and new course offerings — definitely something to be excited about! You can check out some of the buzz on our newly created Facebook page, North American Rink Conference & Expo. The STAR staff will be taking part in U.S. Figure Skating's National Championship in Boston and we'll be back in Eagle River, Wisc., for the Labatt Blue USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championships. These are two marquee events for our National Governing Bodies that STAR is honored to be a part of (you'll be able to read about our role in these events in the March/April issue of RINK). Plus, we'll be making the rounds at some of our NGB's regional events, too! In addition to all the events occurring above, STAR is looking forward to our Regional Training Programs and attending all the state association meetings that are on the 2014 calendar. It's always good to see familiar faces, and it's always rewarding to create new relationships with attendees who are just experiencing STAR. With that in mind, I challenge you to get your staff as excited as ours is for the New Year. I believe that every facil- ity has at least one event — state hockey tournament, regional skating competition or even a themed public skating night — that creates an opportunity for your staff to be enthusiastic and excited about what they do and the customers they serve. 2014 isn't just another year. It's our industry's year! We're excited about what 2014 holds for STAR and for NARCE. We're excited for our NGBs and their events and for our MIAMA, NEISMA and WIAMA friends, too. We're excited to see what we can do as an industry, especially if we all make the effort to not just do what we've been doing, but to try and do it with more pas- sion and more enthusiasm. Now let's get out there and show 2014 what we've got! ✪ This Is Our Time "2014 ISN'T JUST ANOTHER YEAR. Final cut Lessons learned around the rink The year 2014 presents golden opportunities for rinks across the country IT'S OUR INDUSTRY'S YEAR!"

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