WSF Supporter is Sanctioned

By Ron Pfenning, Acting President WSF

This month's issue of USFSA's "Skating" magazine has a report concerning the grievance filed against Ted Clarke. It would be easy to read it and still not understand what went on. There is no mention of the World Skating Federation. And that's what this was all about. Ted was expected to disclose his knowledge of the existence of the WSF to fellow members of the USFSA Executive Committee because its existence was deemed to be harmful to skating. Clearly, we believe it is helpful, not harmful.

For years, and particularly this past year, Ted has spoken out against the dictatorial policies of the ISU, its unwillingness to clean its own house, and the desirability to separate from speed skating and form a figure skating organization. In fact these views were stated in two Eastern USFSA newsletters and were part of the rationale for creating the International Strategy Task Force voted by the USFSA Executive Committee. These were all written by Ted, who was permitted freedom of speech at the time. It was only after the WSF appeared as a threat to the ISU that his freedoms (and yours) as a U.S. citizen were diminished. In fact, the entire USFSA has approved the principles of the WSF (by name).

The USFSA decided to hold an expedited hearing prior to the Governing Council. The USFSA Grievance Committee appointed all the members of the hearing panel and set the date and place of the hearing. The USFSA attorney also acted as attorney for the hearing panel. Importantly, there can be no appeal (other than in a court of law) from the decision of an expedited hearing, no matter how wrong its decision may be, but no reason was given as to why the matter had to be rushed or expedited.

The grievant(s) wanted to remove Ted from his office before he completed his term as Vice-President at this May's Governing Council, and also to remove him from all committees including the Nominating Committee. (The grievance charged harm to the Nominating Committee. In fact, the first attempt to have a grievance filed came from the Chair of the Nominating Committee.) It was well known that Ted favored a change in administration in the USFSA, so the urgency of getting him out may be viewed in that light. However, as Ted's attorney pointed out, Colorado law will not permit removing an elected official without the approval of the electing body (Governing Council), so they removed him from eligible status instead. He was allowed to apply for reinstatement of eligibility privileges the day after the Governing Council in May.

The hearing panel concluded that a conflict of interest existed because Ted knew of the World Skating Federation and did not tell the USFSA about it. He had signed a non-disclosure agreement. Five members of the Executive Committee had signed such agreements and no others disclosed their knowledge when WSF announced its existence. One of these members is an attorney, who saw no conflict in not disclosing knowledge of WSF. However, Ted, who openly expressed himself, was singled out for this action.

As you have read or will read in "Skating", Ted's actions or lack of them were termed "detrimental to the welfare of figure skating". After 32 years of devoting much time and energy to promoting skating as a volunteer on every level of the sport, this is how the hearing panel appointed by the USFSA has summed up the work of one of skating's hardest workers.

It is hard to understand how a single person speaking the truth about the ISU is considered "unethical", while an organization silencing critics of the ISU can do so in the name of "Ethics".

Ted Clarke (USA) was formerly 1st Vice President of the USFSA. He was President of the Skating Club of Boston and Chairman of the 2001 U.S. National Championships. A former competitor, he ran one of the earliest and most innovative Basic Skills programs at Silver Blades SC, where he is now an Honorary Member. He was founder and first President of the New England Inter-Club Council (65 clubs). With his wife Mary, he edited the skating publication Tracings magazine for 25 years. Both were major factors in organizing the USFSA World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Museum. He is a member of the Board of the Professional Skaters Association and is an advocate of a strong voice for coaches and athletes in figure skating. He is a national Judge and Referee in singles, pairs, and ice dance, and a judge of synchronized skating. As USFSA Vice President, he oversaw the technical committees of the USFSA. He holds master's degrees in education, information science, and administration.

The WSF is sponsoring a letter-writing campaign to ask the USFSA Board of Directors to reinstate Ted Clarke immediately. You can find more information here.