Membership Rules and Regulations

1. Membership
All members must hold USFSA membership, either through the Essex Club, another club or as individual members directly with the USFSA. ISI membership will be extended to any Essex Home Club Skater who wishes to have ISI privileges.

2. Club Etiquette
The Essex Club is a full member USFSA Club. All disciplines of figure skating: Moves-in-the-Field, Freestyle, Dance and Synchronized Team Skating would be encouraged and supported by all members. No discipline of our sport would be discouraged by members or Club Coaches.

3. Session Etiquette and Attire

• Only figure skates are allowed on Club sessions. No hockey skates are permitted at any time, with the exception of our open house programs, held in October.
• Session monitors may not monitor from the ice, unless they are a paying session members.
• Only regular session members, paying guests, and approved Club Pros may be on contracted Club ice.
• Music will be played by the session monitors in a manner appropriate to the session designation.
• On free style sessions the order of music play is as follows: Pro, Pro, Skater, Pro, Pro, Skater, etc.
• A skater who is having their music played ALWAYS has the right of way.
• Skaters may have their music played once during their lesson, unless the session is not filled and there are no other skaters waiting in line for their music to be played.
• Skaters are expected to wear appropriate skating attire at all times while on Club ice.
• Skaters and Pros are expected to show courtesy to other skaters and Pros, by actions and words while on contracted Club ice.

4. Fees

1. Membership dues will be set on an annual basis by the Essex Board of Trustees and will include USFSA/ISI membership and administrative costs.
2. Session Fees
   1. General membership session fees will reflect the cost of the ice based on a projected number of skaters, the number of weeks in the session. The use of session ice for a test session or Club function may be included. A 5% discount will be offered to those members who pay their ice bills in full by a date designated in the Club application.
   2. Home-Club Pros and Essex Club approved Pros, can purchase sessions for their children at a 25% discount, as approved annually by the Board of Trustees,
   3. Session monitors will be refunded 50% of their session fee in July following the skating season in which they monitored. This refund is based on the session monitors' attendance and obtaining a substitute when required for their assigned session. Substitute monitors will be given one guest pass for a future session.
3. Guesting will be allowed on any Club session for which a skater is qualified to skate. A session monitor may ask a skater to leave a session if they feel the skater's presence poses a safety risk for the skaters present on the session. If a skater is asked to leave for safety reasons their guest fee will be returned. If a skater is asked to leave the ice due to inappropriate behavior the guest fee will be forfeited.
   1. Fees for guesting will be established annually to reflect an hourly rate higher than those who purchase the session for the entire year.
   2. Coupons will be issued for sessions cancelled for inclement weather, or for other unforeseen circumstances.
   3. Session substitution is not allowed
   4. Basic Skills invitational coupons/certificates cannot be used by regular club members

5. Scholarships/Awards

1. The Duffy Scholarship will be awarded once each skating season. Scholarships awarded will be distributed from the Duffy Scholarship fund interest only. This scholarship is for individual skaters who have competed in that years qualifying competitions. The recipient is selected by the scholarship committee.
2. The Essex Club Scholarship will be awarded once each skating season from the money designated on the annual membership application for scholarships. This scholarship is for individual skaters who compete in non-qualifying competitions. The recipient is selected by the scholarship committee.
3. The Club will present encouragement awards in the form of certificates or medals to skaters who are Home Club members at the year end function. These awards will be determined by the Board of Trustees.
4. The Club will purchase Gold Medals, from the USFSA for Home Club Members who pass the appropriate USFSA tests.
5. The Club may host an annual skating show, carnival, exhibition or competition. Skaters who choose to participate are expected to donate at least 2 hours of their time to help organize the event. Club Pros, who wish to remain Club Pros, are expected to work with the Club to help make the show a success.
6. Test Session dates will be determined by the Test Committee. Members may obtain a test application from the arena office after the start of the skating season. All rules regarding test sessions will be posted on the application and on the Club website. Summer test dates are assigned by the South Mountain Arena administration.
7. Open Board of Trustees meetings will be posed on the Club calendar in the arena office. Members are encouraged to attend these Board meetings and to get involved in club activities.

The Essex Club prides itself on being a skater friendly organization. We continually strive to encourage our skaters and Pros to improve their skills. Please adhere to our rules, and continue the spirit of the Essex Club as established in May 1954