Michigan Senior Women’s Hockey League Meeting Minutes ~ November 28, 2007 Attendees: Board Members: Joanne Lukasik, Lisa Mello, Carrie Sirola, Ann Dobija, and Johnna Rhone. Carol Schwanger (The Other Team), Sue McDowell (Iron Maidens), Kathy Ostrowski (Spitfires) President Joanne Lukasik called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Treasurer’s Report Johnna reported that we have a balance of $8494.64. Old Business * Ruicci Cup planning is going well. Carol Schwanger walked through the work plan and things are on target so far. The Ruicci Cup will be April 3-6, 2008, at Eddie Edgar Arena in Livonia. The host teams are Puck n Chicks, The Other Team, and Spitfires. * We are still missing official rosters from the Mag-a-ritas and Team McDonald’s. Joanne will contact the team manager’s for each team. New Business * The process for a team/individual to file a complaint was discussed again as we have begun to get more complaints specifically with players in the Intermediate II division. As we communicated last month, the process will now include a form that must be filled out identifying the issue, details, etc. This form MUST be sent to the entire board not just one board member for action. The Board will then contact the team that made the complaint and take appropriate action. Both the team that filed the complaint and the team with the player in question will be communicated with. The form is currently posted on the website and has been added to the handbook. Division Directors will be responsible for assisting the board with issues and/or investigation on complaints when needed. * The specific player issues regarding the Intermediate II division was discussed and because there has been many player additions to teams in this division the past two seasons the parity between levels of players within most of the teams has changed. To resolve this, the Board will meet with all the team managers from this division in January to discuss moving forward and how to handle the one or two players per team that possess higher hockey skills. Sue McDowell, the Division Director will work with the Board to get the meeting scheduled and facilitated. * There was an issue at two advanced games with only one referee showing up. The Board was asked to come up with a policy to address this if it happens in the future. Adrianna Sable our Referee-In-Chief is responsible for scheduling the refs in this division. Adrianna did send an email to all teams in Advanced on Sept. 16, 2007 addressing issues with refs. * Email to teams: If there are any cancelled or rescheduled games, you must notify me (last year, there was a few teams confused and did not let me know) via email mshlric@hotmail.com or cell 248-506-0957. I must have AT LEAST 48 hours notice. If you do not give me that courtesy, your team will be charged both officials' game fees to be paid to them for your scheduling mistake. The only exception to this is for weather and team emergencies. Official's game fees have not change from last season. $60/game ($30/official). As well as canceled or changed games, I must be notified via CELL if there are one or no officials at your game. Please have my number with you at the rink. The sooner you call, the sooner I can try to get your game covered. I do not want a phone call 5 minutes after your game has started to let me know no one is there. Check and pay your officials before the Zamboni goes out. This avoids a lot of problems and headaches for everyone involved. We will again be using the USA Hockey's Standard of Play guidelines that were implemented last season. I have included a link to the new video on the USAH website. Please pass this along to your teammates so everyone is informed about what is expected of everyone this season. http://wwa.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=AU&id=28274&USAHockeyType=ICEhttp://wwa.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=AU&id=28274&USAHockeyType=ICE Lastly, please don't hesitate to give feedback, good, bad or indifferent about the crews working your games. We are all here for a better game, but myself or the board members cannot be at every game, at every rink all of the time. You have resources to use, so I encourage you to use them. o For the Advanced Division if one ref shows the policy will be to pay the one ref one fee for their officiating. o It has been recommended by the Board that all teams from all Divisions should find out from their District what their policy is regarding one ref showing for officiating a game. * Division Director Updates: NONE * Website Updates: Division stats need to be updated. Specifically the Rec I division is not up at all. The Board needs to look at the standings/stats to evaluate any possible movement of players/teams for next half season. MAHA/USA Hockey Report * Carrie Sirola reported that two teams (O’Leary Hawks, Black Beauty) will be representing Senior B in Nationals and three teams (RBK Snipers, Mission, McDonald’s) will play in States to determine which two teams will represent Senior C at the Nationals.   * Carol mentioned that MAHA girls/women’s director is appointed but does not have a vote so we are not represented. There will be a rule change proposal brought forward at the winter meeting to make the Girls’/Women’s Director a VP position to coincide with the other positions. Carol will draft and email that will be sent out for all teams to send to their District Reps for support for this rule change. MSWHL Development Clinics We are waiting until next Spring (April / May) to run some beginner clinics. Dates/times/details to come. Other Issues * Carol Schwanger asked what the process was for filing a complaint about a referee’s conduct that her team experienced. There is a form on the website that can be used to alert our Referee-In-Chief. To keep Adrianna and the Board in the loop it was discussed to include Adrianna and the Board in the communication to the Ref Scheduler for that District so we can stay apprised of the situation. * FYI- ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS: This past Sunday night (Nov. 25th) at the Hazel Park (Viking arena) 2 players had their vehicles stolen (both Dodge Ram trucks) from the arena at the same time.   One played on the O'Leary Hawks, and one guy played on a Men's team at the rink. Next meeting is Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 7PM, Eddie Edgar Arena. Meeting adjourned at 8:27pm. Lisa Mello MSWHL Secretary ltmello@umich.edu