2016 USFS Governing Council news, photos, etc. + Combined Report of Action link

[Sylvia]

U.S. Figure Skating's annual Governing Council meeting (April 27-30, 2016) is underway in Columbus, Ohio - event website: http://www.2016governingcouncil.com
The 2016 meeting book and officers'/committee reports are available on USFS' Members Only site.

The 2015-16 Combined Report of Action PDF document will be published online about a week after the meeting concludes and will include all bylaw and rule changes made throughout the past year by the Board of Directors, as well as made and ratified by this year's Governing Council, and eventually everything will be incorporated into the 2016-17 USFS rulebook.

Twitter hashtag is supposed to be #GC2016 (but it's currently being used for other events as well).

Link to USFS' press release (April 26, 2016): http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=89599&type=media

With a membership of more than 178,000 delegates appointed by member clubs, individual members and athletes will meet to review, amend and ratify actions taken by U.S. Figure Skating's Board of Directors since the 2015 Governing Council, held May 1-4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In addition to casting important votes, attendees will have the opportunity to attend meetings and presentations.
...
The full Governing Council will be in session all day Saturday and will conclude Saturday night. The newly named U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors will meet Sunday.

2016 U.S. pairs champions Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea are the featured guests at the annual AAC (Athletes Advisory Committee) fundraiser dinner on Saturday night.

 

[HeatherC]

Figures this would be going on like two hours from me and I'm out of town this weekend, LOL

 

[Sylvia]

2016 GOVERNING COUNCIL CONCLUDES IN COLUMBUS: http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=89607&type=media
News & Notes (2-page PDF): http://www.usfsa.org/content/2016 GC Notes.pdf

Some photos:

Keynote speaker Scott Hamilton: https://www.instagram.com/p/BEyyhSYoY3o/

Athletes Advisory Committee in action (chaired by Pilar Bosley): https://www.instagram.com/p/BEyQS8KjHy2/

Athletes pictured at the link above (and/or tweets I saw from Governing Council) include:

Dance: Colin McManus (AAC vice chair), Bosley, Isabella Cannuscio, Anastasia Cannuscio, Nick Traxler, Jennifer Wester, Tim McKernan
Men: Douglas Razzano (AAC vice chair), Jon Cassar, Jordan Moeller, Jason Wong, Geoff Varner
Ladies: Molly Oberstar (AAC vice chair)
Pairs: John Coughlin, Mark Ladwig, Tiffany Vise, Bianca Butler, Taylor Wilson (not sure if AAC vice chair Evora was there this year)
Synchro: Jenna Longo (AAC vice chair)

 

[TanithandBenFan]

No word out of GC about the location of Skate America?

 

[Sylvia]

Pilar Bosley shared this group photo of the AAC at Governing Council: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE3qYg5DHwD/

Ashley Cain shared this photo of herself with Tarah Kayne & Danny O'Shea at the AAC dinner: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE4GoFAy4Qh/?taken-by=icegirlash

Photo of Kayne & O'Shea speaking at the AAC dinner: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE1-CaALPiV/

Mark Ladwig lifting Jason Wong: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE3X_xFsOLO

Taylor Wilson's photo with fellow pair guys O'Shea, Ladwig, Coughlin: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE3gRxRt6FH/

From haydenettesusa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BE4H2KNyWC6/

We would like to congratulate two Hayden skaters, Stephen Murray for being the overall recipient of the Athlete Advisory Award ("3A") and Katie Melsky, for the synchronized skating discipline this weekend at Governing Council. They earned these awards for their excellence in skating in addition to volunteering and contribution to their communities.

 

[overedge]

With a membership of more than 178,000 delegates appointed by member clubs, individual members and athletes will meet to review, amend and ratify actions taken by U.S. Figure Skating's Board of Directors

This sentence is seriously missing a comma after "178,000". Otherwise it rmight be read to mean that a very large number of people are attending the meeting

 

[kiss-n-cry]

No word out of GC about the location of Skate America?

The location of 2015 Skate America was announced on Monday, May 4, 2015, which I believe was right after the 2015 GC concluded. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get some news tomorrow, or at least sometime this coming week.

 

[Sylvia]

The location of 2015 Skate America was announced on Monday, May 4, 2015, which I believe was right after the 2015 GC concluded.

Announced on Thursday, May 5 - press release is linked here: Skate America 2016 Host City: Hoffman Estates, IL (official)

The 2015-16 Combined Report of Action detailing all rule changes between May 2015 and April 2016 is now available (38 pages): http://www.usfsa.org/content/2015-16 Combined Report of Action FINAL.pdf

 

[mgobluegirl]

The most interesting changes I spotted in the Combined Report of Action:

1. Every 2a in juvenile now gets a 1 point bonus (instead of just the first one).

2. Qualifying for final round at regionals is now the top 4 skaters in each group +the next 4 highest scores.

3. Step sequence in intermediate is now a leveled element, not a choreographic one, and the programs can be 10 seconds longer to accommodate.

 

[Deleted member 19433]

3. Step sequence in intermediate is now a leveled element, not a choreographic one, and the programs can be 10 seconds longer to accommodate.

This last one takes effect after nationals, so not for the 2016-17 qualifying season. Interesting that it takes effect February 1 since most rule changes like that take effect July 1.

 

[Debbie S]

This last one takes effect after nationals, so not for the 2016-17 qualifying season. Interesting that it takes effect February 1 since most rule changes like that take effect July 1.

That makes sense, b/c the new rule will cover all club comps in the build-up toward Regionals. Skaters will obviously put their programs together based on the rules for the coming season so it makes sense for their programs to be judged under the same rules at all spring and summer comps.

 

[ZilphaK]

I thought this was notable as well:

"IJS Basic Principles of Calculation – All Skating Disciplines
C.Deductions are applied for each violation.
1.In singles and pairs, deductions are applied for each violation as follows:
g.Falls in singles -0.5 for every fall in juvenile, intermed, novice, masters, and adult gold singles events.