The ice arena at the
Golden Romney Field House opened in the fall of 1964 and ushered in a
new recreational outlet for townspeople and students in the greater Oswego
area. During the 1964 - 1965 skating season a number of people talked
about the possibility of organizing a skating club, but it took the initiative
of Mrs. Barbara Wells to move the project forward. She opened her home
for organizational meetings in April of 1964 and by September the Oswego
Figure Skating Club was accepting memberships. Mr. Donald Bourlier was
appointed the club professional and served in that capacity for two years.
Probationary membership
was granted by the United States Figure Skating Association in 1965 and
full membership was achieved in 1966. Additionally, the club became an
incorporated body on January 28, 1969, under the Membership Corporation
Law of the State of New York.
Mrs. Mary Parnell was
appointed club professional in 1966 and the first informal club ice show
was staged under her direction in March 1967. Though several club members
had previously passed USFSA Preliminary Figure Skating Tests given out
of town, the club's first sponsored USFSA test session was on March 18,
1969. Members of the Syracuse FSC and the Ice Club of Syracuse also participated
in this initial test program.
During the 1968 - 1969
season the club adopted the Basic Ice Skating Skills program of the USFSA
as the foundation for its instructional program. During the season two
opportunities were presented for measuring accomplishments against the
standards of this program. Both of these sessions were well attended and
enthusiastically received. To implement this program Mr. and Mrs. John
Caneen were appointed as additional instructors at the annual meeting
of the club in May 1969. They were in charge of production of the Clubs
1970 and 1971 Ice Shows.
The 1974 - 1975 season
began with the opening of the 2 new city rinks. The Fort Ontario (now
Anthony J. Crisafulli) rink on the East side and the Kingsford Park
(now James P. Cullinan) rink on the west side.
In the fall of 1991,
the club reorganized. The current bylaws were adopted and a 13 member
Board of Directors was formed.
>During the 1997 - 1998
skating season, another milestone was made when the club hosted its first
competition, "The Port City Invitational" on February 7 - 9.
Over 150 skaters from surrounding clubs and Canada participated in this
event.
In 2004, the Oswego Figure Skating Club has purchased a Jump Harness
from Marc LeBel's Buffalo Company. LeBel has sold and installed Jump
Harnesses all across the United States and Canada and in Europe. This
apparatus will help train area skaters in proper technique for height,
quick rotation and clean landings of the difficult skating jumps such
as the axel, Sal chow, loop, flip and Lutz.
In the past three
and a half decades the Oswego Figure Skating Club has made its mark on
the Oswego community. It has fostered the sport of figure skating and
brought together people from all walks of life.
The goals of the club
are to provide members of all ages an opportunity to train, develop, test
and compete as figure skaters. This is accomplished through the guidance
and lessons provided by a professional staff.
The Oswego
Figure Skating Club currently has approximately 120 members. Of these,
approximately 70 are full club members taking private lessons and approximately
50 are taking Basic Skills or Learn-to-Skate or group lessons. The club
has been represented at National, Sectional, Regional and many local
competitions and is proud of the many successes our skaters have achieved.
The Oswego
Figure Skating Club, Inc. is a figure skating organization sanctioned
by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA). The rules
and format we follow in the Club are those outlined in the official
rule book of the USFSA. It must be understood that the rules we abide
by in this club are the rules which govern the sport of figure skating
on ice. By following this format we are benefiting from the informational
material gathered through the world since the birth of the sport.
