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Figure skating club returns with new board

The Grand Forks Figure Skating Club (FSC) had a successful AGM and a new board has been elected.
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New president Shaylene Campbell (standing-third from left) talks about her expectations for the club. Campbell was acclaimed as was vice-president Chris Sterlind (standing second from left) and treasurer Rachelle Sterlind (far left). Seated at front (from left) are the outgoing executive Rob Chornenki

After a season that saw the Grand Forks Figure Skating Club cease operations midway through the year, the club members elected a new executive at the club’s annual general meeting (AGM) Saturday at the library. The new board includes Shaylene Campbell, president; Chris Sterlind, vice-president; Rachelle Sterlind, treasurer; and Vendela Villanueva, secretary, although Villanueva has since stepped down. Directors on are Donna Semenoff and Tinaya Jorgenson. All positions were in by acclamation.

The meeting began with the reading of the previous AGM meetings followed by a written report from the outgoing president Cheryl Smuland, who chose not to run this year remains on the board as past-president, followed by a verbal report on the financial statements from outgoing bookkeeper Roxanne Shepherd.

Following the reports came some discussion about the candidates regarding whether they were experienced enough. Rachelle Sterlind said that her mom (Chris) had been on the board previously for eight years and that she herself had figure skated for 15 years. “I’m here to volunteer and do what I can for the kids,” she said. “It’s all about the kids.”

Campbell, the newly elected president, said she had been a coach in Ontario for 10 years and looked forward to getting the club rolling again. The club last year suspended operations in February after the coach (Diane Tubrett) resigned. Parents were refunded for skating sessions not provided.

One of the first orders of business for the club will be to find and hire a coach for the upcoming season. The board will also have look at a replacement for Villanueva.

At the meeting to observe and assist as necessary was Shelley Verhelst, regional liaison for Skate Canada B.C./Yukon.

“The Grand Forks Figure Skating Club (FSC) had a successful AGM and a new board has been elected by the members of the club that were present at the meeting,” she told the Gazette. “The newly elected Grand Forks FSC board will move forward with the business of the club to ensure a successful year for all its members in the 2016-17 season.”