No subject

really advanced skaters. Because we hang with ourselves often it is hard =
to see the progression.=20

As this group development happens - the skate becomes advanced in nature, =
but intermediate in name. Keep in mind when we first thought of this 11 am =
BEGINNER/interm. Skate it was originally supposed to stay in the mall area =
of DC - do no major hills (aka - normanstone), - but not a fixed route =
like Friday. We never wanted this skate going to catholic U., Cathedral,  =
or further. (But - this is what has happened - Oh Well)

Second Option - the skate stays the same and people become aggravated =
because of long breaks and short routes. they are then left with two =
options - Move to the real advanced skate or to drop out. Both require =
leaving the friends they have known - tough to do - hence with the first =
option is what usually happens. The leaders feel pressured by people there =
to put together longer skates and the skate itself morphs.=20

Problem is that we leave the beginners in the dust- They don't have a good =
time and they don't come back. The growth of the group is stunted and =
hence why we have been struggling with membership for the last few years.

The real issue is we have four categories of skaters:
1) Beginners - We have the Friday night skate for them. And that goes =
pretty well. Especially considering most of you came up through that =
system.
2) Intermediate - We don't have an intermediate skate any more.=20
3) Advanced - Anybody who did the Wed night skate last Wed. without major =
incident - You are advanced. you may not think so - but I teach and If you =
can handle that you are advanced.
4) Distance/Extreme Junkies - this is our Sunday Advanced skate. Myself,Jub=
ran, Lou, Vince, Leah, Chuck, and the nuts in the lead pack last wed. - =
this is us. We like to hurt ourselves and hence why the "Intermediates" =
say they are intermediate because they see us and say "I'm not them"

It is a mistake to list the 4th group as advanced because it stretches the =
rungs of the learning ladder so much it prohibits the beginners from =
advancing.

Something the WAR board should consider through the summer and discuss =
next winter for the 2002 season.

My thoughts - Marshall =20
Ex-Pres.   =20