METRO SKATERS HOCKEY LEAGUE

Monthly Meeting Minutes for May, 2000
Location:  Farmington Hills Arena
Date and Time: May 23, 2000, 6:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: Thursday, August 24th, 2000, 6:30 p.m., at Farmington Hills Arena.

Attendees:
Ann Dobija			President
Jan BenDor			Secretary
Patty Formosa			Ice Pack
Kate Pinhey			Dominos
Megan Torrance		Blitz
Laurie Birchler		Flames
Sue McDowell		MAHA
Jillian Wallace			Predators
Joanne Wiklund		Flash
Torri Crummel		Michigan Devils
Sally Thomas			Metro Blades
Steve Owczarek		Metro Blades
Darleen Darvill		Metro Blades
George Tilli			Ice Breakers/Team Xtreme
Stephanie Henkel		Nighthawks
Janine Martinez		Jets
Shannon Walsh		Jets

The meeting came to order at 6:47 p.m.

The March meeting minutes were accepted on a motion by Stephanie Henkel, seconded by Patty 
Formosa, and passed unanimously.

IMPORTANT LEAGUE ACTION DATES (see New Business below for more details):

Election of Officers (Nominations  April 30th, Vote  May Meeting)
Letters of Intent and preliminary Team Roster (Due by July 31st, Vote at August Meeting)
League Fee (Due by September 1st)
Form Divisions (Format decision at August Meeting, Team Placement  August or September 
Meeting)
By-Laws revisions (Vote at August or September Meeting):
Tax Exempt status (Vote at August Meeting)

Requests for Players/Teams:  E-Mail the type of player/team you are seeking to Ann Dobija, 
and indicate if you wish to have the request posted on the MSHL web site.

Please view the website throughout the summer for league updates.  If you have any 
questions please contact Ann Dobija at 313-390-9597 or adobija@visteon.com.
 
MAHA Senior  Registration Feedback:  
Sue McDowell invited feedback on options for next season:
1.  Single registrar
2.  New registrar
3.  Go back to the local district registrars

Reps present expressed satisfaction and preference for continuing to have Sue perform her 
excellent services in the single, central registrar system.
 
 Ruicci Cup Review Discussion:
Patty Formosa expressed her team's satisfaction with the overall tournament organization, but 
noted that the refs were not good.  Sue McDowell recommended Al Trick in that area as a better 
source to coordinate refs for next year, given that the refs at the Girls' Nationals were widely 
praised.

An earlier tournament registration cutoff date was recommended.  Most teams should know by 
January if they want to participate.  Another desire was expressed that the tournament game 
schedule for first games to be announced based on the standings as of March 1st, not late March.

An earlier cutoff date for tournament team rosters was also requestedDecember 31.  

Discussion ensued about whether to place these limits in the tournament rules for next year, or 
into the League By-laws.  Originally the decision on this issue left tournament rules out of the 
By-Laws in order to preserve flexibility since the tournament's purpose changes from year to 
year.

Another suggestion was to require a bond fee be filed with any protest of a tournament game, so 
as to prevent trivial protests.

Ruicci Cup Financial Summary:
(Provided by Michelle Monson, Treasurer)

Income:	
		League fees applied		$3,100
		Team Cup fees		  9,160
		Program ad purchases		  2,100
		Souvenirs & silent auction	  3,853

	Total Ruicci Cup income		18,213

Expenses: (incompletesee below)
		Tournament ice		 8,500
		Program printing		    600
		Scorekeepers			    564
		Referees			  2,068
		MAHA sanction		     100
		Souvenir purchases		  3,297
		Supplies & postage		       41
		Team refunds			     550

	Total Cup Expenses (incomplete)	15,720*

*The sweat shirts are still on order and will cost approximately $750.

Metro Blades team reps were recognized as volunteering to host the 2001 Ruicci Cup.  
Stephanie Henkel moved, and George Tilli seconded, to accept their bid, and all present 
voted to approve.  DSC has committed the ice time for the weekend in March 2001.
Ann urged that the tournament coordination be done off line, by a committee, to prevent league 
meeting time being taken up with details about trophies, prizes, etc.

Treasurers Report: (Michelle Monson)

November, 1999, balance:			$9,491.06
Expenses:
			Ruicci Cup transfer       3,100.00	(League fees applied)
			Fee returned		     150.00	(folded team)
			Donation to HHH	  1,670.40	(T-shirt purchase)
			Web site		     463.00
			Office supplies	     350.00
Income:
			Profit-Ruicci Cup sales 1,931.51

April, 2000, balance:				$5,689.17

New Business:
? Election of Officers (Nominations were to have taken place at the April 30 meeting, which 
was cancelled, so nominations and voting were combined)
o President  - Ann accepted a nomination by Patty Formosa.
o 2 Vice Presidents
o Secretary  
o Treasurer
o Statisticians

League reps voted for the entire slate of officers to remain the same.   This however, is pending 
feedback from the current Vice Presidents as to whether they are willing to except those 
positions for year 2000-1.  Jan BenDor (Secretary) and Michele Monson (Treasurer) were 
willing to continue in their role.

In previous discussions with Ann, Lisa Chiodo had agreed to serve as statistician for all 
divisions.  Darlene is willing continue to do the Red Line stats.  Ann will consult with Lisa on a 
role allocation.

? Letters of Intent and preliminary Team Roster (Due by July 31st, Voting  August Meeting)
o Rosters must include: 
? names of returning players 
? names of new players along with previous team they played on and number of 
years experience
? name of team representative and alternate
o Send both the Letter of Intent and Roster to Ann Dobija by July 31st           
Ann Dobija, 3187 21st  Street, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192
o Suggest turning in League fee as early as possible 

New individuals and teams will need to check the web site or call the officers to gain information 
about entry into the League.

Policing of the team compositionspotting ringers on continuing teamsshould be everyone's 
responsibility.  It is the intention of the plan that the August meeting should be the first and last 
time to hash out issues of who goes where.  One suggestion was to put in writing some rules of 
composition, such as that a player can only drop down one tier when moving from one team to 
another.

According to Sue McDowell, senior women's rules for MAHA/USA Hockey allow players to 
register who have US residences but not necessarily US citizenship.  MAHA rules are different 
for recreational teams from the rules for membership on MAHA official tournament teams.  
Canadian citizens could play in Michigan games but could not play at Women's Nationals.  The 
men's program prohibits foreign citizens from play at any level.

? League Fee (Due by September 1st)
o Vote to Raise Fee to $200 to cover Ruicci Cup Costs, Sponsorships, Fundraisers

League reps requested more information as to what funds are currently available in the league 
account as well as the breakdown of what the $200 may be used for.

? By-Laws (Voting - August or September Meeting):
o Canadian Fee for Ruicci Cup
o Number of Penalty Minutes
o Zero tolerance of ice rage (threats or actions to do bodily harm to others)have all 
league players sign commitment statement at the start of the season
o Score sheets:
? Enforce penalties for improper score sheets or lateness in submitting
? Make home team responsible to send in score sheets

Jan BenDor will formalize these potential changes, as discussed above for the By-Laws, to be 
voted on during the August meeting.

? Corporate and Tax Exempt Status (Voting - August Meeting)
o Officers will meet prior to August to prepare information and costs

? Web Site: 
o Ann Dobija and Jan BenDor will set up meeting with Steve for turnover of web 
master duties 
o Ann and Jan will clean up site eliminating old information

? Score sheets:
o Vote on reformatting
o Order new score sheets  volunteers  

Various ideas for improving the score sheets were offered, so that the new supply will be more 
user-friendly and used correctly: a clear box for game score totals, an 8  X11 size (shorter) 
form, a blank for division and tier, spacing similar to the Girls' Nationals form; the game I.D. 
number in the master schedule sequence (helpful esp. to track rescheduled games and for 
determining if a team has played all the games on its schedule).

? Fundraisers for charity:
o Vote on whether league wants to participate or donate to charity

Patty Formosa asked for feedback on holding charitable events, and for preferences as to target 
charities, in the next year.  Stephanie Henkel urged that the teams simply collect a donation, 
rather than trying to fit another event into busy schedules.  Another suggestion was that we offer 
clinics for young girls and donate the fees charged to a target charity.

Darlene Darvill moved to support a fundraiser event having to do with hockey.  There were 
12 votes in favor, none opposed.  Patty Formosa will take the ideas discussed and develop 
them for next year, possibly for an event to be held after the end of the season.  Contact her 
at 734/542-1137; goalie33pf@aol.com

? Sue McDowell Trophy (nominate/vote recipient) 

Sue McDowell was nominated for her outstanding work as Michigan representative to USA 
Hockey, and for her hosting of the National Tournament.  The vote was unanimous to elect Sue 
for the award.

? Illinois Storm  an upper Red Line level teamis interested in setting up weekend games 
and they are definitely coming to the Ann Arbor area.  Sally Thomas and Kate Pinhey will 
schedule their teams to play the Storm.

Newer Business:

Steve Owczarek suggested an All-Star game to take place in the middle of the next season.  
Megan volunteered to organize the game.  By combining players from different teams, it would 
serve to build League morale and unity, and reduce tension among teams.

Items of Interest:
? Reference Web Site for Spring/Summer Drop-Ins, Leagues and Tournaments
? Reference Web Site for any updates with regards to the New Business Items
? Illinois Storm requesting to set up games.  Looks like Red Line Level.  If interested,
Contact  Brijetta Hall at BrijettaH@aol.com or www.illinoisstorm.com
	
 Next  Meeting:
? Schedule Next Meeting  August 24, 6:30 p.m., 2000
? Next meeting items:
? League fee status
? Vote teams into League
? Finalize team placement within Divisions
? Vote in new By-Laws or changes to By-Laws
? Vote on tax exempt status proposal

Motion to adjourn by Patty and George and seconded by Darlene, approved and 
adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jan BenDor, Recording Secretary.
Metro Skaters Hockey League Meeting Minutes, May 23, 2000	Page 6
