Take Action: Ask the USFSA to Reinstate Ted Clarke

As reported in the August/September 2003 issue of "Skating" magazine, the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) has declared Ted Clarke ineligible after finding him guilty of conduct "detrimental to the welfare of figure skating". Although the brief grievance report in "Skating" does not provide details, the conduct the USFSA found so objectionable was his public expression of support for the WSF. You can read more about the case here.

At the time the disciplinary action was taken against him, Ted Clarke was the senior Vice President of the USFSA. In his long and distinguished career of service to the sport of figure skating, he has also held appointments from the USFSA as a national judge and referee; served as the president of the Skating Club of Boston and chair of the 2001 U.S. Championships; was the founder of the New England Inter-Club Council; and for 25 years acted as co-editor of "Tracings" magazine.

The WSF is concerned about the bad precedent this case sets for freedom of speech and tolerance for dissenting opinions by the USFSA, since Ted Clarke seems to have been singled out for punishment only because he chose to express his opinions openly. We are also concerned that his fundamental rights to due process and a fair hearing may have been denied for political reasons because he was known to favor a change in the USFSA's administration as well as its policies.

Take action!

Please write to the members of the USFSA Executive Committee and Board of Directors, asking them to reinstate Ted Clarke immediately.

You can use the sample letter below as a starting point, or write your own letter following the suggestions in our letter writing guide. Go here to see some of the letters other people have written.


Dear USFSA Board Member,
   
I am writing to you because I am concerned and dismayed by the USFSA's
recent action in stripping Ted Clarke of his eligibility.  I know that
Mr. Clarke has devoted long years of volunteer service to the USFSA
and the sport of figure skating generally, and is greatly respected
within the skating community for his accomplishments and dedication.
It strikes me as an outrageous miscarriage of justice that the USFSA
has now branded him as a person whose conduct has been "detrimental to
the welfare of figure skating".
      
I do not know first-hand the full details of the grievance that was
filed against Mr. Clarke, but it is my understanding that the
ostensible reason cited was his failure to disclose his knowledge of
the existence of the World Skating Federation to the USFSA.  Why,
then, were not the several other members of the Executive Committee
who were aware of the WSF's existence not similarly disciplined?  It
appears that Mr. Clarke has been singled out simply because he has not
hesitated to speak his mind openly in urging the USFSA to take a
stronger position in the international skating community.  I am also
concerned that the hasty manner in which Mr. Clarke's hearing was held
may have been a politically-motivated attempt to remove him from his
elected position without due process, and I question the
appropriateness of using USFSA paid staff to support this attempt.
   
Freedom of speech, tolerance for dissenting opinions, and the right to
a fair hearing are a strong part of the heritage of the American
people -- and indeed, of enlightened peoples everywhere.  I am sure
you will agree that punishing Mr. Clarke in this way does not reflect
well on the principles or leadership of the USFSA.  I am therefore
asking you to use your position within the USFSA to help correct this
injustice by immediately reinstating Mr. Clarke to eligible status.
   
Sincerely,

Send your letters to the members of the USFSA Board of Directors. You can send mail to everyone on this list, or use the form below to choose the recipients. (Note: the form only works if you are using a JavaScript-enabled browser.)

Executive Committee	Chuck Foster, President
	Ron Hershberger, Pacific Coast Vice President
	Will Smith, Midwestern Vice President
	Joan Rozolis, Eastern Vice President
	Sharon Watson, Secretary
	Terrance Kollar, Treasurer
	Mark Mitchell, Athlete
	Doug Williams, Athlete
	Phyllis Howard, Past President
Group Coordinators	Nancy H. Bizzano
	Dr. Nancy M. Piro, Ph.D.
	Shawn Rettstatt
	Sharon D. Wiggins
At-Large Members, Eastern Section	Audrey Weisiger, Coach
	Wendy Weston Enzmann
	Deborah A. Weidman
	Ann Greenthal
At-Large Members, Midwestern Section	Tamie K. Campbell
	Lainie Demore
	Dr. David W. Hamula
	Beth Sweiding Sosofo, Coach
At-Large Members, Pacific Coast Section	Tammy Gambill, Coach
	Joyce Burden
	Bill F. Cloran
	Charles Z. Cyr
Athlete Representatives	Amy Webster, Eastern
	Danielle Hartsell, Midwestern
	Amber Corwin, Pacific Coast
	Derrick Delmore, At Large
Olympic Representative	Gale Tanger
ISU Representative	Robert Horen

We ask that you cc a copy of your e-mail to info@worldskating.org so that we can track the response to this letter-writing campaign.

If you wish to send hardcopy letters instead of e-mail, all of these individuals can be reached in care of the USFSA:

c/o USFSA
20 First Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

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