Our= fall newsletter highlights two of many current Museum initiatives: the film preservation and collection conservation efforts. We have = also launched our 2007 annual appeal campaign. It's t= he major fundraising effort for the Museum and helps insure the preservation of this great sport. Look for your letter soon or follow the link in the article below to donate through o= ur secure online process. Happy Reading! =

Annual Appe= al Highlights Reasons for Giving

This year's Annual Appeal Campaign kicks off with a look at the many reasons our wonde= rful supporters give so generously to this very important fundraising effort. When asked why they support the Museum, we heard back from = many people including world-famous skating coach Tamara Moskvina, Doug Wilson of ABC/ESPN Sports, and Gary Sturm, chair of the Smithsonian's American Division of Music, Sports & Entertainmen= t.

It is clear that = figure skating means different things to different people, but there were = some common themes in our supporters' responses that seemed to capture t= he essence of skating and the Museum's work: the great passion for and pride in skating's legacy, its broader cultural contributions and the desire to keep that legacy alive.

We are proud and thankful to have so many wonderful supporters that make it possible= to preserve the special and the everyday moments of figure skating that mean so much to so many people. Robert Mock of Pittsburgh, Pennsylv= ania, said it succinctly, "The World Figure Skating Museum & Hal= l of Fame is the one special place that preserves the legacy of skating = for every person who ever laced up their skates to pursue the dream of excellence."

Preserving the me= mories of figure skating is expensive. It is a challenge to sustain the financial support necessary, but with your help we will continue to= be successful. And this year we have help.......for new or "stretched" gifts; the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado= will make a matching gift! Donors who contribute gifts of $100 or more w= ill receive a special gift - the third in our series of Museum collecti= on mugs.

Receive a Museum Mug for a $100 Donation

A prototype of the mug featuring the sketch "Nine Studies of Skaters" attributed to Hendrick Avercamp.

The third in a se= ries of Museum mugs, this year's design takes a look at skating's past in Amsterdam= , Netherlands. This watercolor and bistre sketch "Nine Studies of Skaters" (ca. 1620 - 1630) is attributed to Hendrick Avercamp (1585 - 1634).= =

Records of Avercamp reveal that he could not hear or speak. He was known as the Mute of Kampen= where he lived and worked. Avercamp was influenced by the Flemish tradition and devoted himself almost enti= rely to the painting of winter scenes. He was known as a gifted fi= gure painter who took great interest in the exact and detailed rendering of colorful costumes. This sketch illustrates = an example of artists from this period who would do numerous sketches outdoors and then incorporate them into their work.

Click here = to donate online>

= Board of Trustees

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Board of Trustee members listen to John Goettler, president of Goettler Associates Fundraising Counsel, during the September board meeting in <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Colorado Springs.

The Board of Trustee meeting in September in Colorado Springs. =

Scott Hamilton Keynote Speaker for Peak Vista Community Health Centers

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The ever-energetic Scott Hamilton will be the featured guest speaker at the second ann= ual Peak Vista Community Health Centers "Breakfast of Champions&qu= ot; on November 15, 2006, at The Broadmoor = in Colorado Springs. This event will recognize a Champion of Community Health with a key= note address by the 1984 Olympic Champion who is also a Museum Trustee.

The event is from= 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. with registration at 7:00 a.m. Corporate tables f= or Ten and individual seating is available.

= "Breakfast of Champions" is a registered trademark of General Mills, Inc.= and is used with permission.

The Historic Film Restoration Process

This specially designed machine incorporates= the "wet-gate" process that handl= es older, shrunken film.

Tucked away in a = small industrial park in Eng= lewood, Colorado, is a uniq= ue motion picture laboratory simply known as the CinemaLab. One of only four specialized laboratories in the coun= try primarily devoted to historic film restoration, the CinemaLab will play an integral role in the World Figure Skating Museum and H= all of Fame's Historic Film Archives Preservation Project (HFAPP). This initiative targets twenty-six of the Museum's most threatened = and important pieces of film footage from the collection totaling over 3,500 films and videos. This company has done work for an impressive list of clients that includes Universal Studios, Warner Brothers and Warren Miller Entertainment ski films.

Over the next several months Chief Executive Officer, Robert David, and the CinemaLab's staff of 14 talented employe= es will transform the only known copy of 16mm Olympic footage (Parts I & II) from the 1928 Olympics from deteriorating film into a wor= king print suitable for viewing by skating audiences around the world. This historic footage includes Sonja Henie's and Gillis Grafstrom's gold medal performan= ces from the Olympics in S= t. Moritz, Switzerland.

Click here = for full article>

Assess= ing the Museum's Collections

Schindel analyzes the condition of an Ice Fol= lies costume from the Museum's collection.

Have you ever won= dered how a museum determines the overall condition of its collections? In the museum world, it is called a "conservation assessment,&quo= t; which is a broad study of the policies, practices and conditions th= at affect the care and preservation of collections.

The Museum recently had an opportunity to update its original conservation assessment of ten years ago when it received a federal grant from the Conservation Assessment Program (ReCAP).The ReCAP is designed to help museums update their original assessment by funding a conservator to survey the current conservation and curatorial practices and then write a conservation report with recommendations for future work. The ReCAP grant totaled $3,200.

Under the guidance of respected conservator Terri Schindel, who has a post-graduate Conservation Diploma in artifact conservati= on from the Courtauld Institute of Art in = London, England, the survey addressed all of the areas that affect the Museum's collections including storage, exhibitions, security and overall facility conditions. In addition, Schindel spent= time surveying the Museum's costume collection, specifically the Ice Follies collection, in preparation for application for future grants that will focus specifically on conservation priorities for the costume collection.=

"I am fascinated by the history of these costumes," expla= ined Schindel. The Broadmoor Skating Club of Colorado Spring= s purchased and adapted many of the Ice Follies costumes over the years for use= in their own skating shows and last year donated to the Museum 36 cost= umes from 1953-1976. "It's just an example of how these nationally-famous costumes have been given a regional flavor,"= Schindel said.

The Museum is currently pursuing a "Conservation Project Suppo= rt Grant" to help fund Ms. Schindel's recommendations for the collections.

Six of the Ice Follies costumes donated from the Broadmoor Ska= ting Club are currently on display in a special Museum exhibit.

Click here = to learn more about conservation assessment programs>

Test your Hall of Fame Knowledge

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The first correct response in "reply-to-sender" will receive this definitive work on = the history of figure skating.

As we are approac= hing our announcement on the new inductees for the Halls of Fame, we thought that it might be fun to test your knowledge about a current member in the World Hall of Fame. The first correct answer that we receive from the "Reply to Send= er" button will receive a cop= y of the book co-published last year by the Museum and the University of Illinois Press, Figure Skating: A History by James R. Hines (retails for $29.95 in the Museum Store).

This native of Switzerland actually started as a ski jumper as a youth and became interested in figure skating after a serious accident. The skater emigrated from Switzerland to the Unite= d States in 1919 as a 20 year old. This Hall of Fame member was known = as both a skater and teacher. After this person's first champion pupil Egbert S. Carey, Jr. became the U.S. junior champion = in 1924, this skater established a solid reputation as a coach. =

This Hall of Fame member later moved to = Toronto, Canada, and was the coach of one of the 1948 Olympic champions. = Current Museum Board members, Dick Button, Hayes Jenkins, and Hugh Graham, Jr., benefited from this person's coaching expertise. Finally, this person is the auth= or of a recognized text on figure skating written in 1951.=

Do you know = this member? =

Handcrafted Skating Pottery by Local Artisan and Skater

This three-dimensional raku pottery piece retails for $17.99.

Give a gift that = truly comes from the heart. Local pottery artist, Jennifer Hanson, = has been an adult skater since 1997. She's been able to comb= ine her two passions to craft some beautiful pieces that would make a wonderful gift for Christmas or a special occasion of any aspiring skater or fan.

Hanson creates th= ese three-dimensional pottery pieces using the raku firing process. They are heated to 1800 degrees outside in a special kiln. They are then taken out with tongs and put into= a reduction chamber with dried material. The material instantly ignites and the flames combined with the shape of the piece create = the individual patterns. This firing process creates one-of-a-kind pieces. Custom vases = are also available.

Click here to enter the Museum store>

Local= Museum Activities

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Twins Rosa and Theresa Cinciripini competed in CSI a= nd took advantage of the Museum tour during the open house.

The Museum hosted= an open house for competitors of the 18th annual Colorado Springs Invitational (CSI) hosted by Centennial Skating = Club of Colorado Springs. This year there were 470 competitors from five states (Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming). For the first time this year, the competition went international with skaters from Canada. =

Visitors had the opportunity = to meet 2005 junior national champion, Jeremy Abbott, who recently won international gold at the Finlandia Trophy. Museum tours were also available as well as a variety of special give-away items.

Dedicated Volunteer realizes dream of meeting Dick Button

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Kissinger has bee= n a regular volunteer with the Museum for over four years.

Former college librarian and avid skating fan and collector, Pat Kissinger, had a special opportunity to add to her extensive photo
collection on September 27, 2006. She had the good fortune to meet two-time Olympic gold medalist and award-winning TV= commentator, Dick Button, during his recent Museum visit. Button was = in Colorado Springs to participate in the Board of Trustees meeting and attended t= he Museum's wine and cheese reception.

"It was really special f= or me to have the opportunity to meet him," Kissinger said. Kissinger has volunteered regularly at the Museum= and for the Museum's special events for over four years. She= is currently working on an extensive project to catalog the Museum's library. Kissinger's specialized background was discovered during a tour of the Museum she took after moving t= o Colorado Springs over five years ago. A special "thanks" for all her efforts and enthusiasm!

Tha= nks for taking the time to view our fall newsletter. With some upco= ming national and international competitions in Colorado Springs next winter, the Museum can always use volunteers. Please contact Karen Cover, visitor services coordinator, at 635-5200, ext. 450 for more details.=

Also, don't for= get to hit "reply to sender" at the top of the newsletter or in the article to enter the Hall of Fame contest.