Dear IYHA families, I'd like to start by congratulating all the teams this year on an excellent season, especially the Squirt travel team for being State champs! While the 2002-2003 season is now over, the IYHA Board is already in full swing getting prepared for next year. At our meeting this past Wednesday, we discussed a number of issues which we would like to get the membership's input on. These issues focus on trying to hold down registration costs while providing the best hockey experience for our children. The first issue has to do with ice time. For next season, the Board would like to provide all Snowbelt, UNY, and Travel teams with a full sheet of ice for practices. Snowbelt teams would get one 1¼ hr ice slot per week. UNY would get one 1hr slot and one 1¼ hr slot per week. Travel teams would get a 1 hr slot and a 1½ hr slot per week. The Board believes this proposal provides ample ice time for all teams and will reduce costs for travel teams. This proposal is contingent, however, on available ice and the number and size of Snowbelt teams. The next issue has to do with responsibility for fundraising. Overall, the Board believes that more responsibility should be put on individual teams and players for fundraising, rather than on the association as a whole, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to get volunteers. For next season we are proposing that the only tournament that is included in registration fees will be the year end Sectional/McKie Cup/Jams. The cost of all other tournaments that teams wish to play in will be their responsibility, and teams can decide whether they want to do a fundraiser on their own or just collect money from within. Each team will continue to have one home tournament which they are expected to host. As was the case in the past, families of hosting teams will be expected to run the tournament in lieu of a registration fee. Another issue that we have to grapple with as an association is deteriorating jerseys. Due to budget constraints over the past few years, we have not been able to replace jerseys on a rotating basis and we now face the need to replace a significant amount of jerseys at once. Basically, the only jerseys which are still in good shape are the travel jerseys, which probably only have a couple of years left in them. The Board proposes that all Snowbelt, UNY and Travel players next year would pay for the cost of new jerseys in their registration fee (estimated at $75 per player), and then teams can try to defray the cost by getting sponsors who would have their corporate logo/name displayed on the team's jerseys. This is a common practice among many associations as a way to help defray costs. The Board would also like to get feedback from house league parents on how they felt things went this year, including amount of travel, the expense, level of competition, etc. Was two house squirt teams enough or should the Board consider going back to squirt Snowbelt? Lastly, there is an increasing shortage of goalies in the association. We are proposing that goalies get a discount on their registration fee ( amt to be determined ) to help defray the cost of equipment, etc. The Board would really like to have your input on these matters as soon as possible. We need to decide these issues at our next meeting on April 23rd, so that we can begin budgeting for next year. There are several other issues I'd like to pass along. First, anyone interested in coaching a travel team (mites through midgets) next year should let Jessie Emerson, VP of Travel, and me know by Monday, April 21st. We will be selecting travel coaches at the April 23rd meeting. Second, we currently anticipate having 3 vacancies on the Board for next season. We need your support! If you are interested in being on the Board or know someone who you believe would be a good candidate, please let me know. We are particularly interested in getting increased representation from the initiation and Snowbelt programs. As a follow up my last letter, the Rink does not plan on replacing the boards this year, but they will be taking the ice down for repairs in August. The inline summer program will be starting up shortly and we need a volunteer to help co-head the program. Please let me know if you are interested. As you can see, there is a lot of work ahead of us to get ready for next year, and we need your help and input. The Board can only make informed decisions if we hear from you. Please contact a Board member and let us know your thoughts on these and any other issues or concerns you may have. For the Board of Directors, Bob Kump President