September 2020 Rink Rat

Since 1972 NEISMA has disseminated technical infor- mation and conducted seminars on rink equipment, ener- gy, air quality, marketing, skating programs, mainte- nance and safety. NEISMA provides the professional rink manager with the technical information needed to operate a safe, efficient and profitable facility.

President’s Message by EJ Gottwald, CIT, CAO, CAP, CAM And just like that the season is underway and back in full force. Fall is here, and amid the restrictions that most of us are under, we are back full swing. As most of our jobs have taken a hard right to focus on a more detailed eye on cleaning regiments and in some states tight restriction on the amount of patrons in your facilities amongst long list of other items, we are somehow finding a way to make it all work to keep the ice sports alive! As we try to get through these new times, I like to remind everyone that we are all in this together and this a new territory for not just you but all of us. Reach out to your neighboring rink or reach out to anyone of the directors here and ask for opinions or different ways of doing things. Staying together as an industry and trying to move though will in the end help us all to succeed and keep us strong. Usually around this time of year we host some regional fall meetings so that we can get out and see everyone as well as bring some educational and networking sessions to you locally. This fall we decided it be best to do them virtually so that we can still be in- volved. Originally scheduled for early October we had to push them back to early No- vember and we will be getting the agenda and registration out shortly. These will be free events this year and will run about 90 minutes with an open forum at the end for group discussions. As of now, our spring conference is still on as scheduled, we are very excited to see eve- rybody and get back to our normal routine. We are planning on getting registration out like normal in early December. Invoices for 20/21 membership were mailed in August, if you did not receive it please let John Zullo know so that he can update your account information. When you renew your membership, your information is updated in our systems so that we can make sure you get all information that we send out to members. Scholarship applications are available so if you have employees or dependents of members that looking for opportu- nities make sure you get this information out to them! We hope you enjoy the articles in this issue of the Rink Rat! If you are interested in contributing an article, please feel free to send it along to us so that we can include it in future publications. Stay safe and healthy friends! Best, EJ Gottwald. President

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Meet Our Board Page 5 Fall Virtual Conference Program Page 6 Spring 2021 Conference Page 7 Rethink, Restructure, & Recover Page 8 What’s the “211” Page 12 On the Rink of Insanity Page 15 A “Vet” of all Trades Page 19 NEISMA Crossword Page 27 Scholarship Recipients Page 30 Current Members Page 30-31 Membership Renewal Information Page 32-33 THE RINK RAT Views expressed herein, including all articles and advertising regarding any product or service have not been approved or endorsed either by NEISMA or by the NEISMA Board of Directors or by the pub- lisher of the Rink Rat. Accordingly, they should not be construed by anyone for any purpose as repre- senting the policy of either NEISMA, its Board of Directors nor as an endorsement of any product or service. Articles may not be reproduced without permission. NEISMA NEISMA is a professional service organization, organized to provide the ice skating industry with edu- cation and training. Since 1972 NEISMA has disseminated technical information and conducted semi- nars on rink equipment, energy, air quality, marketing, skating programs, maintenance and safety. NEISMA provides the professional rink manager with the technical information needed to operate a safe, efficient and profitable facility. The NEISMA Board of Directors is not a testing lab for vendors or their products. We are not responsible for vendor representations or errors. We neither endorse or recommend any vendors products.



Meet Our Board of Directors PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT 2ND VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER EJ Gottwald Tom Ferguson Eric Dursin Michelle Stenberg CIT, CAO, CAP, CAM Safehold Special Risk Inc. Schneider Arena Quincy Youth Arena OPERATIONS MANAGER 230 Commerce Way, Suite 230 Providence College 60 Murphy Memorial Dr. FMC Ice Sports Portsmouth , NH 03801 1 Cunningham Square Quincy, MA 02169 100 Schoosett Street, BLG 3 Providence, RI 02918 Pembroke, MA 02359 [email protected] [email protected] P: 603-570-5216 [email protected] P: 617-479-8371 [email protected] F: 855-529-7684 P: 401-865-2331 C: 781-215-1260 P: 781-312-5024 SECRETARY BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER Thomas Walsh George Arnaoutis Rob Harkins Tom Morton Boston College Athletic Facili- Yale University University of Pennsylvania Morton & Morton ties |ngalls Rink 3130 Walnut Street 200 Jackson Street, 140 Commonwealth Avenue 73 Sachem Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Box 700 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 New Haven, CT 06511 [email protected] Zebulon, GA 30295 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] w: 215-898-1923 P: 770-567-8534 P: 617-552-0137 P: 203-430-0662 c: 302-249-6100 F: 770-567-3786 C: 617-594-1205 F: 203-239-9244 BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Ed Peduto William Vecchio John Zullo Marissa Trott, CIRM Burbank Ice Arena 11 Scotland Ave . NEISMA 51 Symonds Way Salem, NH 03079 Warrior Ice Arena P.O. Box 290595 Reading, MA 01867 [email protected] 90 Guest Street Wethersfield, CT 06109 P: 617-892-0200 Brighton, MA 02135 [email protected] [email protected] P: 781-942-2271 [email protected] P&F: 888-234-3968 F: 781-942-0423 P: 401-345-2334

NEISMA 2020-2021 Program Our Fall Conference is going VIRTUAL! Join us for our VIRTUAL conference! New Date & Time Coming Soon Only active 2020-2021 NEISMA members will be permitted to register. This conference is FREE! Sponsorship Opportunities Available  Brand Recognition Inquire for more infor-  Social Media Promotion mation, email us  Email Blast Inclusion [email protected] or [email protected] Thank you to our current sponsors!

NEISMA 2020-2021 Program Spring 2021 Conference & Trade Show SAVE THE DATE! Gurney's Resort, Newport RI, Sunday April 25- Wed, April 28, 2021. The annual NEISMA Golf tournament at the Newport National Golf Course will be held on Monday, April 26, 2021 If you still haven’t received a refund or credit for the 2020 Spring Conference, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your patience during this time and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Rethink, Restructure & Recover By: Marissa Trott, CIRM Rinks all around are sponsibilities. Now add the additional doing everything they cleaning, sanitizing, traffic directing, can to make ends locker room monitoring, the list goes meet and keep our on…and it sometimes feels impossi- doors open. Opening ble. To think there are so many “one- as early as 5 am and man operations” out there! many not closing un- til midnight. Cutting Our facility relies heavily on large ice on the hour, cleaning team rooms events, specialty games, and the abil- and restrooms, being the face of the ity to offer open practices for the Bru- rink by interacting with the guests, ins. With all of that on hold at the mo- and much more- it’s a full day of re- ment, we’re back to square one, trying to figure out what we can do to gener- ate some steady revenue. There is a lot of creative thinking going on in our office! Time to rethink how we are used to doing things, restructure by adapting to the “new norm”, and work towards recovering financially. Right before COVID struck, we were transitioning from our old POS/ Scheduling system, Max Galaxy, to a new program called Dash. Other NHL practice facilities were using it and the capabilities it had for point of sale, scheduling, and financial reporting matched our needs! Timing couldn’t have been more perfect, working from home allowed our team time to work on the implementation and training (Continued on page 24)

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What’s the “211”? By: James Murphy My name is be on hold as the novel Coronavirus was James, I live in Na- spreading across the United States, and in tick Massachusetts, fact the entire world. Other major sports with my wife Simo- were soon to follow. ne and my sons On Friday March 13th I found that both Thomas, Aidan and my full-time job and part time job, were Daniel. I have changing. The state of Massachusetts worked for the last went into a state of emergency and I was twenty years at the told to stay home on Monday and Tues- Massachusetts De- day, giving the state time to come up with partment of Public Health, as a Life Safety a plan, though it would end up being Surveyor in the Bureau of Health Care weeks before a real plan was in place. Safety and Quality (BHCSQ), one might Let’s face it this was nothing we had ever ask “what is this all about?” So not to bore seen, even though the “emergency plans” you with details and to keep were written, ours didn’t it simple, I conduct fire safe- include how to manage a ty inspection for Nursing pandemic. Home and Hospitals across “I never thought in A new catch phrase was the Commonwealth of Mas- sweeping the nation, sachusetts for Medicare/ “Telework” and was fast Medicaid system. I have my wildest dreams becoming the latest been blessed with this job, trend. Schools were tell- its something I love doing ing students to stay and having a small part in home, which turned into making sure patients/ I would be working canceling the rest of the residents are living or stay- school year. Everything ing in a safe environment. was becoming tele- You’re probably wonder- at a call center something; telehealth, ing how this relates to ice tele, tele tele, you get the rinks. For the last almost 4 picture, stay home and do years I have a part time job zoom meetings. The working at the Warrior Ice answering calls streets were empty and Arena as the weekend there was no toilet paper morning Manager, you and we were wondering if know the guy that gets up about a crazy the end of the world was every Saturday and Sunday coming. mornings at 4AM. This Coronavirus was March 12, 2020, a day I taking us by storm, num- will soon not forget, not on- virus.” bers of infected people ly for the fact that it was my were climbing and so was birthday but, but it was the the number of deaths. We day that the pandemic of learned that the most vul- COVID-19 would change my nerable people were peo- life and many others as we knew it ple that were over the age of 60 and peo- throughout the world. I was sitting at ple with underlying health condition. This home in my living room and just heard definition is what we use to describe what the news that the NHL had announced a nursing home is, so to nobody’s sur- that the 2019-2020 season was going to (Continued on page 16)



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On the Rink of Insanity By: Jason Piche, CIRM Every month (or day) there’s a new ured it was possible someone was to tale of a moment when someone made blame. I tried to ask follow-up questions you stare into the distance hard and more but the mom wasn’t near her when she amazed than Jim Halpert from The Of- fell and the daughter looked at me as if I fice. was speaking a different language… This month: A Professional Falls The mom insisted… “Someone knocked her down.” A while back I had a mother and her two young daughters come in for our “We don’t know that for sure, is that busy Friday Night session. They were fre- what she said happened?” I said, trying to quent guests and the girls, approx ages 3- gather information. 6, are very talented figure skaters. Often they would partake in “She was pushed. She is a professional our Freestyle ses- figure skater; she doesn’t just fall on her sions. own,” She directed at me as if I was an I always had to idiot for not recognizing have staff keep an eye her daughter from the on them so they did- medal stand at the last n’t bust out spins Olympics. while we have 150 Then I did what I some- people out there. On times do and respond with this night the girls a barb because being in the skated with their Boston area makes you ad- mom. It’s important just your customer service at this time that I share that the girls game from time to time… don’t speak English and their mother’s “Ok your daughter isn’t a English is good but not great. Just professional she’s 5, but enough of a juicy variable to keep you I’ll go watch the tape and I’ll see who hit reading, eh? her and I’ll make sure the person is repri- manded.” At one point while dealing with anoth- Honestly busting the kids is a silent er guest who had fallen and cut open his thrill of mine. As a former borderline chin and was prepping to have his friends troublemaker sometimes I feel like I can take him for stitches… the mom and her see their dumb moves before they make daughters came into the lobby and the them sometimes. So watching a video of a mom was mad. The older daughter was kid cutting her off or knocking her down crying and she went to the bench. Her would be a sweet bust. mother started to take off her skate and I go to watch the tape. I try to find the look at her ankle. “She was pushed! She right time but end up watching her turn is hurt. Someone did this to her!” circles for about 20 mins real time speed- ing it up occasionally. I’d cringe as I I took this seriously as on a busy Fri- watched people fly past her thinking day night with the lights dim, the kids “here it comes” but it never did… Then in sometimes make dangerous moves. I fig- a moment where she was half a lap ahead of her mom and sister… all by herself… (Continued on page 20)

(Continued from page 12) to talk line. If you are having prise, the nursing home industry was tak- trouble coping ing on the chin. At one point during the with the virus or early stages of this pandemic over half of anything else the deaths related to covid-19 in Massachu- that’s brothering setts were from nursing homes. you, there is someone who Nursing home were in full lockdown, will listen to you. and since my primary job was to go into These are scary nursing homes to do a life safety survey, times and at least well we were left with no choice but to tele- there is someone work or get redeployed to another group. you can talk to. So, the decision was made for my group We had some redeployed to the “Coronavirus Hot Line”. very interesting people and regular callers, let’s just say they were a little off their The Coronavirus Virus Hotline was game. started in the second week of March, I not I had never worked at a call center be- sure if everyone realized that we have an fore. While it was entirely different than emergency hot line already set up before anything I have ever done, having worked the pandemic. The phone number “211” in the health care industry for the last 25 was set up years ago with the help of the years certainly help me. The call center was United Way. The United Way started In comprised of nurses, epidemiologist, peo- Denver, Colorado 1887, religious leaders ple like myself, and others who had experi- founded the Charity Organization Society, ence dealing with a diverse backgrounds. the first United Way organization that The group was led by an experienced call planned and coordinated local services and center supervisors named Tammy and Ei- conducted a single fundraising campaign leen. They worked directly for the United for 22 agencies. The first fundraising cam- Way and oversee the United Way call cen- paign raised $21,700. Today there are over ter. Tammy had many years of experience 1,300 local United Ways in communities in health call centers, working on the STD/ across the country. AIDS epidemic. Her experience and leader- ship help us immensely with dealing with Every state has a 211-number run by the this virus. Eileen has for many years been United Way and helps people who are less running the Mass 211 call center pre pan- fortunate, they can assist with anything demic. With the help of the State Epidemi- from finding shelter, food pantries, and ology Division, Department of Public even mental health issues. It’s a big organi- Health, and the Center for Disease Control zation and has caring individuals through- (CDC), we were armed with information out the country. Here in Massachusetts and facts to help the general public under- there is a Mass 211-call center set up by the stand about this dreaded virus. United Way facility and has a special room To this date the call center has answered for emergencies such as for the pandemic, over 120, 000 Covid specific calls, that’s an not a place I thought I’d be working for the average of 667 calls a day. We at first were last six months. answering calls about everything, from the virus itself to were can I get food for my The 211-call center helps people 24 family. We were answering calls about un- hours a day, 365 days a year, they never employment , childcare, rental assistance, close. Today there are three groups that child custody, where can I get food, how help people, when you call “211” you have long is this virus going to last, where can I three choice for help, extension 21- is for get tested, I woke up and I don’t feel good, health and human resources like rental as- is it the virus? I was exposed to someone sistant, unemployment, child care, food who tested positive, and the list goes on pantry’s and things of this nature related to covid-19, Extension 26- Coronavirus Hot (Continued on page 23) Line- Question about the virus like, where can I get tested, symptoms, close contact, travel regulation, and extension 25- the call

From the Exchange tab on NEISMA.com; Place your rink items for sale or look for items to buy. Add your own listing by clicking the \"Add New Item\" button at the top of the page. This will bring up a simple form where you can enter information about your item and even an optional photo. After submitting the form, you will receive an e -mail with a key number you use to confirm your listing. Once confirmed, your item will be immediately added to the exchange. It's that simple and there's no waiting. Take advantage of Nuts & Bolts E-mail function on NEISMA.com. Let us search our entire network of rink professionals, for answers to your questions. Get responses to your questions directly back via your e-mail address. This vast resource of experience will provide easy access to the information you are looking for. Just E-mail Nuts and Bolts ([email protected]) a question on a problem or issue you have. All ques- tions will be moderated, meaning that all e-mails will be approved by NEISMA before being distributed. An active NEISMA membership is required.



A “Vet” of All Trades Submitted By: Michelle Stenberg Most of us in NEISMA have met once and he took part in the Alutian campaign or twice at a meeting or conference, or in the North Pacific. On 25 October more recently, had the pleasure of meet- 1944, as a unit of Task Group 77.3, his ing on our bi-weekly Zoom calls. It is in ship took part in the overwhelming vic- these meetings that the NEISMA Board tory of the Battle of Surigao Strait which of Directors work on a public scale, so was the last US battleship to battleship that most of the members are aware of engagement. Then, the USS Bache joined our presence. the 5th Fleet and provided gun support at lwo Jima. On 1 April 1945, the USS Unless you have attended a NEISMA Bache arrived off Okinawa for screening Conference Trade Show, you have no and picket duty. She suffered slight dam- idea that our Board is blessed with the age on 3 May, when an enemy kamikaze presence of one THOMAS H MORTON, suicide plane overshot the ship and Esq. I cannot confirm, but I believe Tom crashed into the sea. That same day, she to be one of longest tenure on our board, went to the aid of the stricken LSMR-195 along with the unflappable Ed Peduto. and rescued her crew of 7 4. On 13 May, Well, I have the pleasure of sharing with several enemy dive-bombers attacked all of you the introduction made by the the picket station and one completed a guest speaker at a November 11, 2017 successful kamikaze attack on the de- Veteran's Day celebration. stroyer. The wing of the plane struck near the number two stack, catapulting So, without further ado, may I present the plane down on the middle of the to you THOMAS H. MORTON, Board of main deck, with its bombs exploding Director, NEISMA. about seven feet above the main deck. Forty-one of the crew were killed, 16 are Thomas Henry Morton was born in currently missing in action, and 32 were Fall River, MA on 29 May 1922. The injured. All steam and electrical power family moved to the borough of Queens were lost. Fires were brought under con- in New York City. Tom attended Public trol within 20 minutes, and she was School Number 134, an elementary towed to Okinawa for temporary repairs. school in Hollis, New York and graduat- At the time the plane hit the deck, Torpe- ed from Jamaica High School in Jamai- do man Morton was incredibly only a ca, New York. After high school, Tom few feet from the crash, momentarily worked various part-time jobs. In 1942, knocked down, and then became a criti- he patriotically enlisted in the Navy, cal element of the initial response team, completed his basic training at Newport, putting out fires and tending to the RI, and was assigned as a Torpedo man wounded. This included Tom's climbing on the Destroyer USS Bache, DD- 470. on the flaming to the wounded. This in- While serving on the USS Bache which cluded Tom's climbing on the flaming for was operating as part of the 7th Fleet, which he received the Navy Ribbon of Torpedoman Second-class Morton took Commendation. For his service in WWII, part in the bombardment of the New Torpedo man Second Class Morton re- Britain Islands, Los Negros, Admiralty ceived the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Islands, Ndrillo and Karunia Islands in Medal with 8 campaign or battle stars. the Admiralties; bombardments of vari- He separated from the Navy on 25 Sep- ous assault beaches and targets of oppor- tember 1945. tunity on New Guinea and adjacent is- lands; and bombardment of Leyte Island (Continued on page 21)

(Continued from page 15) she just collapsed. Maybe a spot in the ice… I don’t know. She wasn’t doing anything fancy she just fell. I’m guessing she told her mom she was pushed to not risk the embarrassment of an Olympic medalist falling all by herself while simply gliding forward. I raced back to the lobby. There was a new kid to bust and it was the last person I expected to. She must have fessed up while I was gone because they were no longer around and I haven’t seen them since. I like to imagine this was her way of tell- ing her mom she was done with skat- ing. The pro-circuit had worn her out and she yearned to just be free so she made up an injury so she could stop skating and start living. I hope she’s in a treehouse binging Paw Patrol on her tablet and slamming a Capri-Sun!

(Continued from page 19) years of 1960 and 1972. In 1984, he joined the law firm of Belcher, Henzie, Tom attended Mercer University in and Bigenzahn in Los Angeles, CA as a Macon, GA where he graduated in 1949 partner. In 1989 he bought property near with both a Bachelor of Arts and Doctor Molena in Pike County, Georgia and in of Juris Prudence Degree at Mercer Uni- 1991 partnered with Robert \"Mack\" versity. Tom was a member of Blue Key Crawford in Crawford and Morton, LLC National Honor Fraternity. In 1941 he in Zebulon. In 1994, Tom teamed up joined KAPPA SIGMA Fraternity. He was with his son, Robert Morton and estab- the head cheer leader when at Mercer lished the Law Firm which continues to- and is a member of the Mercer Universi- day as Morton, Morton, and Associates, ty Athlete Foundation. He did graduate LLC. Tom has been the City Attorney for work at George Washington University Zebulon and Meansville; and the County in Washington DC. He also received a Attorney for Spalding, Meriwether, and Graduate certificate from the Judge Ad- Pike. He has been involved in legal mat- vocate General's school in Military Law. ters in nearly all the 50 states. Tom is a He first practiced law in Douglasville, Master Mason for over 7 4 years. He is a GA. member of the Douglasville Lodge 289. Once again, he had the itch to serve his Tom has served on a Congressional country, and in 1949, Tom entered the Agricultural Committee, was the attorney US Army, this time taking advantage of for the Pike County Agribusiness Author- his Law degrees, he joined the Judge Ad- ity, Georgia Lions district Governor- vocate General Corps and became a Cap- Lions International, and founder and in- tain in the Judge Advocate General corporator of the Pike County Historical Corps. He served during the Korean War. Society. He was a member of the Pike While working for the Judge Advocate County Industrial Association; and General Corps, Captain Morton was the Chairman of the Pike County Transpor- sole US attorney sent to North Africa to tation Committee. He is also the attorney negotiate an agreement for land usage and executive secretary for the Nelson with France and Morocco. For this ac- Memorial Garden Club, Inc; member of complishment, he received a Letter of the Board of Directors of the First Bank Commendation from the Assistant Secre- of Pike; legal counsel and Vice President tary of the Army. Captain Morton was of the Pike Firefighter's Museum, Inc. asked to draft the legal opinion regarding President Truman's authority to enter He was twice recognized by the State the Korean War. He assisted in the es- Legislature of California by their adopt- tablishment of the Judge Advocate Grad- ing two separate House Bills honoring uate School at the University of Virginia Tom for his community service. He was and taught as one of its first instructors. so honored in 2017 by the Board of Pike For this achievement, he received a Let- County Commissioners for his longtime ter of Commendation from the Judge community service. Also, in 2017 Tom Advocate General. On 30 August 1955, was named as Citizen of the Year by the Captain Morton resigned his commission City of Zebulon, GA. from the Army after having served a total of 9 years in the military. He was also inducted into the \"Hall of Fame\" by the Northeast Ice Rink Manag- In 1955, he settled in Downey, CA and ers Association in recognition of his was retained as the West Coast attorney more than 25 years of handling legal by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Com- matters in the Ice Rink Industry and for pany. His area of coverage included 10 being a champion for safety I the Ice Western states. He did this for over 29 Rink Industry. Then he was further hon- years. In addition to this, he was three- ored by the International Ice Rink Indus- time Mayor of Downey, California with a population of around 100,000 during the (Continued on page 35)



(Continued from page 16) The Arena doesn’t feel right yet, too many changes, we all miss seeing the stands full of and on. When we first started, we had a smiling faces, this place was so full of life, a backlog of return phone calls going back to great place to enjoy what life has to offer. 18 hours. Today for the most part we can an- Everyone looks forward to it going back to swer real time. At the beginning of this back somewhat the same, but for now I guess we in March I never thought in my wildest have take what we can get and enjoy the fact dreams I would be working at a call center we can at least have a “new normal” and answering calls about a crazy virus. We as a wait to see what the vaccine will bring. group at the beginning were working seven days a week. In fact, I worked 56 days I think this has taught us don’t take life straight before taking a day off. The calls are for granted and live each day to the fullest, still coming in, but we are now able to han- because you never know when your life will dle the high volume of calls. be redeployed to a new normal. I wrote this to really let people of Massa- For more information or to get help, visit chusetts, and the country know are people Mass211.org out there that are here to help you. Until I worked at this call center, I never knew about this resource. These people at the Mass 211 call center do not get much atten- tion but they do/are doing amazing job. As of today, I’m back to my original jobs inspecting nursing homes again. We are waiting for the second wave and hopefully it doesn’t come, but if it does, we will be ready to handle all that it brings.

(Continued from page 8) and do their distant learning assign- ments, with the help of a certified without the business of an open facility teacher from 8-3pm Monday-Friday. (don’t get me wrong, we all would have Students will have the opportunity to rather been open). get on the ice for up to 2.5 hours a day both instructed and free play as their Re-opening for us, like many others, and our schedules allow. This is a great has posed its challenges. We want to get way for us to generate some off-ice rev- it right, and if we must close our doors enue while providing a safe and fun en- again, it won’t be because of something vironment for all. we did/didn’t do! We decided to take the “phase” approach and start small Next on our list is exploring virtual and work our way up. By now we’ve re- events. We need to be willing to step sumed all youth programming, in- out of our comfort zone and try some- house and outside users, all adult pro- thing that can fill the void of all the gramming, learn to skate and freestyle. events we would typically host and Next up is public skating and public hopefully create a new stream of in- hockey. We’ve taken the current guide- come, even if it is a temporary ap- lines and adapted them to what works proach. We were able to host a small, in our facility and what we are comfort- wedding ceremony on ice last weekend! able managing. Thanks to Dash we are Even though it wasn’t quite what it was going to be able to manage all tickets originally planned to be, the beautiful sales online as well as waiver manage- couple still got to have the special mo- ment. This removes the need for wrist- ment they were hoping to have at center bands, creating some savings there! ice! The daytime “dead” hours used to be Participating in the various zoom meet- filled with B’s practices, public skating, ings made available by groups like public hockey, freestyle and special NEISMA, US Ice Rink Assoc., MIAMA events. With everything going on, our & USA Hockey have helped keep the days are looking a bit different. Our fo- wheels turning for us. We even hosted cus is shifting towards a new daytime internal zoom meetings with our user program, our Hybrid Hockey School. groups to hear from them. This program offers a socially distanced classroom setting for students to come (Continued on page 27)



Send your job opening to [email protected]. NEISMA will email blast it out to the our entire database of rink professionals (an active NEIS- MA membership is re- quired). An email blast will ensure you get a good num- ber of qualified candidates to chose from.

(Continued from page 24) everyone who hasn’t given up yet, keep up all the hard work! There’s still a lot to accomplish. Each facility is going to have to figure out what works best for them and be will- ing to take a new approach on how they operate on a day to day basis. All we can do is keep trying, cheers to

William Chase Memorial Scholarships For those who remember William “Bill” Chase, he loved ice skating and the ice skating busi-ness. Bill’s career included stints as a coach, youth hockey president, fundraiser, ice rink man-ager of the West Suburban Arena in Natick, MA (now called the William Chase Arena), founder and President of NEISMA and most memorably as a road salesman for Murray Sandler Skate &Sport Supply. Bill’s travels to rinks took him from northern- most Maine through Virginia. Congratulations to our 2020 William Chase Scholarship recipients! Katherine Page is a graduate of Marshwood High School in Eliot, ME and a resident of South Berwick, ME. She is going into her sophomore year an Bowdoin College and is an undeclared major. Her father, Bill Page, is the manager of Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing in Durham, NH where Katherine has worked for the past two years. She is a member of the Bowdoin Women’s Soccer and Track & Field teams. Her scholarship is co-sponsored by G&A Insurance of Dover, NH. Petra Bajuk is a freshman this year at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, VT majoring in Biol- ogy on a pre-med track. She is a resident of Colchester, VT and a graduate of Colchester High School where she was President of the National Honor Society. Petra is a junior mem- ber of the Colchester Rescue Squad and plans to become an emergency medical physi- cian. Her father is an eight year employee at the Gordon Paquette Arena in Burlington, VT. Her scholarship is co-sponsored by Energie Innovation of St Laurent, Quebec. Matthew McMullen of the Canandaigua Civic Center is entering Purdue University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is a two year employee and a three year volunteer at the civic center. A graduate of Canandaigua Academy, he was a member of the cross country, hock- ey and track & field teams. As a member of the latter he holds several class and school rec- ords. The co-sponsor of this award is Safehold Special Risks, Inc of Portsmouth, NH. Carestin Stewart resides in Wakefield, MA and works for Ed Peduto at the Burbank Ice Are- na. She is entering Stonehill College as Criminology/Sociology major. Carestin played field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse at Wakefield Memorial High School. She worked all jobs at Burbank and volunteered with Reading Special Skates teaching kids with disabilities to skate in a one on one format. American Insurance of Hingham, MA co-sponsors this award. Thank you for the continued support from our sponsors!



Current NEISMA Membership (as of 9/26/20) PUBLIC / PRIVATE FACILITIES Pilgrim Skating Arena American Dream Pop Whalen Arena B.O.R. Ice Arena Bidderford Ice Arena - NEW Quincy Youth Arena Bridgewater Ice Arena Skate 3 Arena Burbank Ice Arena Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink Cambridge Skating Club Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks Champions Ice Management Stamford Twin Rinks Charles Moore Arena Stoneham Arena Clinton Arena The Edge Sports Center Collins Perley Sports Center The Ice Center Dorothy Hamill Rink Ulin Rink – NEW Douglas N. Everett Arena Union Arena Community Center Dover Ice Arena Valley Sports Arena Essex County South Mountain Arena Village Sports - NEW Essex Skating Facility Warrior Ice Arena Gordon Paquette Arena Watertown Municipal Arena Hatfield Ice World Wendell A. Barwood Arena Holland Arena Ice Vault Arena UNIVERSITIES / James W. Campion III Rink COLLEGES John A Ryan Skating Arena John Gallo Arena Bowdoin College Kirk Nevin Ice Arena Holy Cross College Maine Ice Vault Northeastern University MassMutual Center Saint Anselm College McVann-O'Keefe Memorial Rink SUNY Broome CC Merrill Fay Arena Suny Brockport Nashoba Valley Yale University Nelson Withington Skating Facility New England Sports Management PREP SCHOOLS NorthStar Ice Sports Berkshire School Oaks Center Ice Brunswick School Olympia Ice Center Dexter Southfield School Optimist Ice Arena Middlesex School

Rye Country Day School NorthStar Refrigeration South Kent School Paris-Kirwan Associates The Fessenden School Purple Tractor / Dasherboard Cleaning The Roxbury Latin School Resurfix The Winchendon School Riedell Shoes The Harvey School Rink Services Group VENDORS Rink Systems Accent Refrigeration Safehold Special Risk American Insurance Agency Scoreboard Enterprises American Refrigeration Sharper Edge Skating School Arena Warehouse Stellar ArenaServ Superior Mechanical Athletetrax –NEW Valley Machine Knife Athletica Sports Systems Viking Ice Painting Bjorkman Industrial Power Corp Way Cool Products Carnot Refrigeration WETech Chemours Zamboni Company Climate by Design International Comstar International FRIENDS AND INDIVIDUALS Cypress LTD, RealIce Ice Sports Industry, ISI Emerald Environmental Tech ORFA Energie Innovations MIAMA Everything Ice MIRMA Facility Management Corp., FMC Philip Siena Friar Architecture US Ice Rink Association, USIRA G&A Insurance WIAMA HCG Associates Independent Mechanical Contractors PLEASE NOTE: IRESCO If you don’t see your name listed, J&C Ice Technologies Jet Ice please contact John Zullo. Miller Refrigeration 888 - 234 - 3968 Mollenberg Betz New England Sports Sales / Blade Mas- [email protected] ter Thank you for being a NorthStar Mechanical part of NEISMA!!

2020-2021 NEISMA Member Registration Form RINK, VENDOR or Friend: _________________________________________________________ (Account name) RINK or VENDOR Primary Contact: ___________________________________________________ Last First ADDRESS: _________________________________________________ CITY: _______________________ STATE: _____ZIP: _______________ TELEPHONE: (____) ____ - _____ EXT: _____ CELL: (______) _____ - _______ Website: _________________________________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________ Is there anyone else in your organization that you would like to receive NEISMA email notices? NAME (s)_________________________________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________ What category best describes your organization/business: PUBLIC / NON-PROFIT COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY VENDOR RINK RINK OTHER: PRIVATE / FOR-PROFIT PREP SCHOOL RINK RINK Yearly Membership fee, Facility ($ 175) / Vendor ($ 200) p Payment options: Mail Registration & check or credit card info to: NEISMA, PO Box 290595, Wethersfield, CT 06129 Email Registration form (PDF) & credit card info to [email protected] Phone Registrations may be taken, call 1-888-234-3968. REGISTER ON LINE at neisma.com. Go to the Membership Registration tab. Credit Card (MC / Visa / AMX ) ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ Expires ___ / 20 __ Digit V-Code ___ ___ ___ ____ CC Zip Code ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Billing address: _________________________________________________________ Name on card: _________________Signature: _________________________________ *Need an invoice? Please call 1-888-234-3968 or email request to [email protected]

Register to become a member or renew your membership today! Click the link for the fillable form and email it to [email protected] 2020-2021 Membership Registration Form Stay In The KNOW!



try for his championing the cause of Managers Association with members Safety in the Ice Rink Industry. from Maine to California. He is also their legal counsel and served for six He was recently honored by the State years as President of NEISMA. Bar of Georgia for his long-term profes- sional services. Tom was admitted to Tom joined the Pike County American practice law in Georgia in 1949. Legion Post 197 soon after it reestab- lished its charter in 2008, has been a In addition to being an attorney, Tom member for 9 years, and was the first is also an Ordained Deacon and Or- Post Judge Adjutant for 4 years. dained Baptist Minister. Just recently in June of 2017, Tom was the recipient of Tom is married to his second wife the \"Saints in Light Award\" from the Sonya, and he has four children from his Prayer Power of Georgia, Inc. in recogni- first wife, Mary. They are Thomas, Jr., tion of his spiritual contributions to his Cherry Lynn, Janice Gail, and Robert community. Lamar. Also, at age 96, Tom was co-founder In 2020, Tom was honored by being of the Pike Firefighter's Museum, Inc., a asked by American Legion Post 197 to Georgia Non-Profit Corporation and an lay the wreath at the Veterans Memorial. IRS approved 501 (c)(3) nonprofit enti- At age 98 Tom is still active as an attor- ty. The Museum has been established in ney and in community affairs. Pike County to honor firefighters espe- cially those 343 firefighters who lost As was previously stated, there were their lives in the 911 tragedy. The muse- several million United States citizens um has already collected 12 fire engines who were a part of the Greatest Genera- and approximately 35,000 items of fire- tion. Each of them has an amazing story. fighter memorabilia. Tom is also the We are honored today to have a living Museum's attorney and Vice President. member of The Greatest Generation, a combat veteran, and a national treasure In 2018 Tom was honored by the serving on our Board of Directors! American Society for Testing and Mate- rials (ASTM) and presented with an As an aside, Tom is the author of \"Award for Appreciation\" for his out- many published articles on Safety in the standing leadership and for over 24 Ice Rink Industry. He has written poetry years of service in developing safety and one of his poems was published in standards for the Ice Rink Industry. the International Book of Poetry. He is ASTM is an international nonprofit or- also the author of a three act play that ganization with a membership of ap- was registered with the Library of Con- proximately 35,000. gress. Also, at one time Tom had his own newspaper column with a by line of In addition, Tom serves on the Board \"Tom Morton Writes\". of Directors of the Northeast Ice Rink

Do you have team members that would like to receive the digital Rink Rat? Add them to your account now! Click Here Thank you to all of our 2020-2021 members! NEISMA appreciates your continued support! NEISMA ~ 1-888-234-3968 ~ PO Box 290595, Wethersfield, CT 06129 ~ NEISMA.com