What's my job?

One of the biggest headaches in a skating matrix (i.e. the whole panoply of relationships that go into making a skater), is when someone oversteps their role. This happens when club presidents try to alter established practice ice rules on the fly, or when monitors pick on individual coaches or kids; when skating directors don't know what's going on in classes, or when parents complain too far up the line (like to the mayor instead of to the coach. Not kidding.).

So, what does everyone do? Here's the whole heirarchy, from the politicians down to the skater's little brother:

City Council member
What they have to do with skating: Trying to get zoning changed or parking added? This is the person to talk to.
What they have to do with your skater: Nothing. City Council has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR SKATER. No one should ever call City Council EVER about an individual skater.

Head of the recreation division, or president of the private management company that runs your rink.
What they have to do with skating: See above, under City Council.
What they have to do with your skater: nothing, unless he is your brother in law. Then you can invite him to ice shows.

Facilities Manager
What they have to do with skating: If the facilities manager is the one who is directly in charge of scheduling or selling ice, or you are on a parks board and have macro issues to discuss, it is appropriate to directly approach the FM. Otherwise, keep moving down the line.
What they have to do with your skater: The only time you should be bringing the FM in on an issue is when children are physically at risk and the Skating Director is not dealing with it.

Skating Director
What they have to do with skating: If it doesn't actually stop, the buck (puck?) should really stall out here. A problem that can't be solved by the SD is either too big for just you, or you are not accepting reasonable compromises that have been proposed. Most problems that can't be solved by the time you get to the SD have been blown out of proportion by you.
What they have to do with your skater: This is as high as most personal skating issues need to go, and then only if the Club President, coaches, and/or ice monitors are not satisfactorily dealing with an issue. (And by "dealing with" I don't mean "doing it my way or else." I mean addressing it in the best interests of the children.) It is, however, appropriate and even necessary for the SD to be at least cursorily aware of every regular practice ice skater in the program, and their coaches. They should be actively knowledgeable about the top competitive skaters.

Club President
What they have to do with skating: club issues only. They have nothing to do with classes, parking, facilities, non-member coaches, non-member skaters, non-member parents, non-club ice.
What they have to do with your skater: nothing unless the skater is a member of that club. If you believe that your skater is being persecuted in violation of USFS rules, contact USFS (not City Council, for instance).

Ice Monitor
What they have to do with skating: They enforce practice ice rules. Period.
What they have to do with your skater: They get to make your skater and your coach follow the rules. Don't argue with them or make a scene in the middle of practice ice, please. They are volunteers, even when they are also petty dictators. And frankly, ice monitors need to be petty dictators, because the ego on an ice surface could sink the Nimitz.

Judges
What they have to do with skating: following USFS and ISU rules for judging.
What they have to do with your skater: Nothing. Period. Leave them alone. (Okay, I'll let you complain about them behind their backs, since I know I can't stop you.)

Coaches
Wow. Really? Just now got to coaches way down the line? Here's why--
What they have to do with skating: not that much really.
What they have to do with your skater: Everything on ice. They're in charge of the skating. The training schedule, the competition schedule, competition costume design, the music. They only thing they're really not in charge of is your budget, unless you cede this to them.

Parents
What they have to do with skating: even less than the coaches
What they have to do with your skater: Everything off ice. School, happiness, food, love, and keeping the lines of communications open with the coach, so he/she can keep the lines of communication open with everyone above him.

Skater
What they have to do with skating: nothing
What they have to do with your skater: do the job to the best of their ability, as long as it is fun, rewarding and affordable. Feel the wind in your hair, and learn to fly.

Skater's little brother
What they have to do with skating: Nothing, poor kid. Stock up on books for them to read at the rink.
What they have to do with your skater: Whining, vis: "We have to go to the rink AGAaaaaaaiiin? That's so boooooring. Why do we always do what SHE wants to do?