CLUB AND MEMBERSHIP

Short Track SEED

Short Track SEED Program

Speed Skating Canada 's SEED Program is the Club and Membership Development Committee's response to calls for an effective club start-up program. The SEED Program delivers "SEED packages" to select Branches for use with select clubs all across Canada . The Program provides enough funding ($16,000) to purchase a set of mats and several sets of skates. The goal of the program is to start safe and healthy speed skating clubs. Indeed, the SEED Program was one of the most popular ideas that arose from the April 2001 National Club & Membership Development Forum held in Winnipeg . The very title of the program stands for Support, Equipment, Education and Delivery, and the program will depend on the involvement of all levels of SSC to fulfill that mandate.

The SEED Program offers financial assistance to new clubs in terms of capital expenses such as mats and skates as well as some modest start-up funds. However, it also builds in service support from the Branches. Indeed, all of the SSC funds are granted to and managed through the Branches . In the event that a newly SEEDed club should not succeed, the equipment purchased with SEED funds will revert back to Branch ownership for the next club start-up in that Branch. Clubs that have been in existence for less than 4 years are eligible for SEED Program support. Interested parties are asked to fill out an application for a SEED package with their Branch. Applications are to be submitted by and through the Provincial/Territorial Branches. Branches will be expected, as part of the SEED Program agreement, to foster new clubs with information, resources and services (the Support, Education and Delivery of SEED). Branches that successfully garner SEED packages will have provided convincing plans showing how they will develop and support new coaches, skaters and potential officials. Nearby clubs can and should be recruited to assist too. Overall, the intent is to have more parties and more resources involved in a more committed support network, hopefully leading to more reliable successes in start-up clubs.

To ensure that SEED funds are used responsibly, certain constraints are applied to those parties seeking SEED Program funding. Clubs that are applying for SEED packages through their Branches must submit with their application a set of bylaws, a list of Executive members, a contract from the community to supply ice time in the coming season, and quotes for mats and skates. A brief business plan, showing how and where funding will be developed to support the club over the next 2 years is also required. Also, please note that at least 50% of the total SEED funds must be spent on crash mats i.e. at least $8,000. All of the $16,000 must be spent on capital equipment such as mats, skates, dollies, enclosures, etc.

SEED packages will be awarded in July 2010, for the 2010/2011 season. Each Branch can submit up to TWO applications, but no more than that. All complete applications will be evaluated on an equal basis i.e. there will be no regional/provincial quotas for these awards.

With the SEED Program, SSC's intent is to provide financial support to new clubs to assist them in the capital purchase of mats and/or skates, to ensure both the safety and the development of our sport. SSC and the Branches must work together to provide this support for growth, and the SEED program is a tool to help us achieve that goal. 

PLEASE NOTE
Only TWO applications per Branch will be accepted
Only complete applications will be evaluated, no exceptions
Deadline for receipt of complete applications at SSC: July 1, 2010
We encourage all applicants to send in their packages earlier

Download the 2010 SEED Program Application Form

2007 Recipients:
Eastman SSC
Norman Wells SSC 
Saint-Jérôme SSC

2008 Recipients:
La Mitis SSC
Durham SSC
Edgerton SSC

2009 Recipients:
River City Racers SSC
Mirabel SSC