METRO SKATERS HOCKEY LEAGUE
May 2002

Board's Meeting Minutes for May 30, 2002
Location:  Farmington Hills Arena
Date and Time: May 30, 2002, 7:00p.m.

Next Meeting - Annual Meeting of Members:  June 27, 2002

Attendees:
Ann Dobija			President			adobija@visteon.com
Jacqui Rogghe			Senior Advance		hockygirl28@hotmail.com
Terry Mathews		Vice President			tmathews@s4online.com
Carrie Sirola			MAHA Rep			olearyhawks@aol.com
Janine Martinez		Garden City Jets		gmartinez@ispwest.com
Shannon Walsh		Garden City Jets		
Maureen Hughes		Stingrays			maureenhug@msn.com
Julie Poissson			FH Nighthawks		jpoisson13@aol.com
Kristen Drabicki 		Stingrays			
Sarah Schoen			Ice Dogs			dschoen@peoplepc.com
Polly Pitford			Ice Dogs			pitfordp@imperialm.com
Cynthia Bowman		Ice Dogs			bowmanc07@aol.com
Lisa Waller			Storm				lawhockey16@aol.com
Kim Godfrey			Bulldogs			hockeyd04@aol.com
Renee Dobrzelewski						reneed30@yahoo.com
Sue McDowell 		USA/MAHA Director		gocoach@umich.edu
				
Absent:
Joanne Lukasik		Treasurer			jalukasik@aol.com
Patty Formosa			Secretary			goalie33pf@aol.com
Angela Reid			Motor City Blues		reinhoc@basf.com
Colleen Moran		Vice President			wmnshky@hotmail.com
Chris Reinhout		Senior Recreation B		chris-rein@msn.com
Kristin Krug			Black Ice			kjkrug@yahoo.com	Lisa Lisa Chiodo			Statistician			lmc1621@aol.com
Michelle Bensette		Senior Intermediate		horan@umich.edu

Meeting was called to order at 7:20pm

Meeting Overview:
* Sign-In Sheet was passed around to members. 

Treasurer's Report:
* Update on League Funds: Ann will forward the leagues financial position to the Division Directors to distribute to Team Managers.  League balance is currently $6,214.21.

New Business:
* Sue McDowell (USA/MAHA Rep): Sue McDowell is the interim director for Michigan until next year.  Feel free to reference the MAHA website for more information about MAHA (www.maha.org).  
Sue is seeking senior women players to give their viewpoint in representing senior women players in Michigan.   Feel free to contact Sue if you wish to participate further.   
Sue will be attending the USA hockey meeting this year.  Two items of interest will be discussed.  First, age limit of divisions may change.  Senior Women's hockey will be subject to change to 18 years and older.  Sue requested input from the attendees.  Some suggestions:  put a committee together to define how the MSHL will handle this if it should occur, place conditions on 18-19 old players that wish to join (evaluation skate to place player appropriately on a team), form a division for that age level.   Secondly, National Tournament may offer three divisions now (A, B, C) instead of two divisions (A, B).  Allowing a Division C will now provide a greater opportunity for teams within the MSHL to participate.  Many conversations are occurring across the United States as to what can be done to get the divisions closer in sync with regards to different division definitions.  Sue requested input from the attendees:  a popular resolution was to have some type of team or player evaluation based on criteria agreed upon across the USA.  Another suggestion was to separate the Senior Women teams from the rest of the current National Tournament.  In addition, other suggestions:  educate the MSHL about the Nationals and what it means to participate.   Carrie Sirola is the Senior Women's Committee representative working with Sue and would like to help inform and keep the MSHL updated.        
* Polly Pitford (Imperial Marketing):  Would like to help promote women's hockey through promotional merchandise for teams with items 30-40% below retail cost.  Items include T-Shirts, hats, jackets, etc.   Merchandise is from name brand retailers. Would like to consider providing service for the Ruicci Cup, team fundraisers, etc.  Ann will post the information from Polly on the site along with her contact information.  
* Elect 2002-3 Officers:  Members were asked to send nominations to Ann by June 20th.  Positions to be nominated for are President, 2 Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Statisticians.  Election will occur at the June 27th league meeting.  Ann Dobija and Terry Mathews were nominated to run again.  Colleen Moran has stepped down from one of the Vice President positions.  Ann will contact the remaining officers to see what their interests are.  Again, please send nominations to Ann by June 20th.  Nominations can be submitted for all positions.
* Update on By-Laws, Rules and Regulations:  The MSHL is incorporated.  The MSHL now has an EIN number.  The league is now waiting on a determination letter from the IRS to indicate that the league is tax exempt.  A one time filing fee of $500 was required instead of the initial $150 originally thought to be the cost due to the league collecting $10,000 a year on the average for the last five years. 
* Discuss Ruicci Cup Tournament:  Feedback from the tournament was held off until the next meeting when the tournament coordinator can attend.  Only comment made was regarding the game times being scattered and held late.
* Present New Rule:  A new rule will be discussed and voted on by the Board at their next meeting.  The new rule will include language such as "If a player wishes to move down more then two divisions within the league they must petition the Board and obtain approval."  
* Discuss Meeting Location:  Hazel Park Ice Arena has offered their meeting room for the league meetings.  They are asking for a meeting schedule from the league - to be determined at the next league meeting.  
* Terry Matthews handed out a flyer to form a Senior Advance team.  Please contact Terry at tmathews@s4online.com for more info.
* Teams are reminded that their "Letter of Intents" to participate in the league are due by July 31st.  Send all letters to Ann at adobija@visteon.com.  League fees are due in August ($150).
* Any team that did not participate in the Ruicci Cup is due a $100 refund.  Please contact Ann to let her know if you are one of these teams.  We would like to provide refunds instead of people deducting this from their upcoming league fee in order to properly keep the league books.

Items of Interest:
* Reference Web Site for any updates with regards to the New Business Items
	
Next Meeting:
* Schedule Next Board Meeting:  June 27th at Hazel Park Ice Arena at 7:30PM
* Next Meeting Items:
* Election of Officers
* Ruicci Cup Tournament feedback
* New Rules

Kristen Drabicki motioned to adjourn at 8:30 PM.  Kim Godfrey seconded and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Dobija, acting Recording Secretary


