GTHLA General Meeting June 2009 Agenda

Attendance: Tim Muirhead (Sgt. Rock, FPC), Julie Martin (Twisted Sister, Operations), Phil Gohier (CCCP, Communications), Ron Shirley (Referee), Cam Cook (Easy Company), Jeremy Harris (Sgt. Rock), Sal Knox (Black Hearts, Communications), Pete Gaffney (Boom, Operations), Mike Loveless (Bloody Knuckles), Colin Aussant (Bloody Knuckles), Karl McNelly (Meat), Paul Aucoin (Flying Burritos, Minute Taker), Sharron Harris (Screaming Unyons), Corinne Holubowich (Black Hearts), Tim Shaughnessy (Comets), Jay Peters (Comets), Chris Hazard (Individual Member), Joe McGinty (Hack), Adam Elliotson (FPC), Rich Green (Morningstars), Rob DeMarco (Boom)

1. Opening Remarks & Scheduling Future General Meetings Tom Chairs This Section

Tom opened meeting congratulating all on another successful GTHLA campaign and noted that he is pleased with an increase in Co-ed participation in Mingles and that all is well in the land of GTHLA hockey!

Attendance taken and members introduced.

Future Meetings for next years season were set as:

a. Saturday, Sept. 19th, 3:00PM

b. Saturday, Jan. 9th , 3:00PM

c. Saturday, May 15th, 3:00PM

2. Fair Play Adam Elliotson Chaired This Section

a. Fair Play Awards-

The 2008-09 awards were discussed and that they were awarded this season by going through the individual Fair Play Game Winner info (from season games) and were tabulated that way to name winner. Adam welcomed any and all input and discussion of how these awards could be selected as well as Tom suggesting a possible Year End Awards Ceremony/Party to give away and celebrate the hardware. It was mentioned that some may have not gotten (or missed) info on winner of award this year and Adam will perhaps send another email to everyone about it.

b. Development of committee bylaws-

Still a work in progress but there will be a draft copy posted soon which people can read for feedback and comment purposes. Warren Sheffer (a Lawyer type person in the words of Adam) has gone through the drafted document to ensure that it is succinct and professional. Tom adds that they are working on bylaws to involve a Fair Play Rep for each division to lubricate the process (more to be discussed below).

c. Referee Coordination- Ron Shirely is Introduced

Adam notes that there were perhaps some refereeing issues in past season and that the FPC must discuss reffing conduct as well as player conduct. Positive feedback to referees is one suggestion made as well as introducing Ron Shirely to the league to help that issue. Ron is introduced:

Ron: Regales us with his experience as an AHL, ECHL, IHL referee as well as being an AHL Referee Supervisor this past season. He will make recommendations of how to increase the quality of refereeing in the GTHLA. He will also bring some more new referee's into league from his past refereeing at various levels. Wants to see an improvement through these initiatives. Happy to talk to more of the players about refereeing issues as well as on a game to game basis of communicating with the referees at all times. There is a short discussion of Meat Vs GSI game where Goalie was ejected and how incidents such as these can be dealt with. Ron mentions that he would happy with providing his email for game discussion or any refereeing issues with teams during next season and will gladly work with FPC with to improve all matters pertaining to referees. A profile for Referees is suggested for website to allow players to get to know the referees. Jeremy Harris (Sergeant Rock) mentions that their biggest concern in past season was for the overall level of refereeing and wants to see a higher transparency for refereeing next season. Penalty shot rule for Playoffs is discussed (see League rules). Various GM's voice their concerns and experiences from the past season, and to generalize their comments, all wanted to see improvements made as discussed above. Ron mentions that there is a direct correlation between money and level of refereeing and will discuss and work Tom in that regard.

d. Standardized suspension chart, to be posted-

Chart will be posted for comments and feedback. Chart will reflect the past suspensions and way of codifying and streamlining the process.

e. Reporting form to be posted on website-

Similarly will be posted for comments and feedback. Tom and Adam both note that Reporting does not have to be exclusively related to negative incidents and that positive feedback is also needed and welcomed. It is asked whether this reporting will be mandatory and Tom states that given prior discussion it will not be.

Both 2d &2e will be posted (hopefully) by September for said discussion and feedback.

f. Expediting the Review process of game ejections-

Next season there will be a "Shit Slip" form along with game sheet so that Referees and Teams will report any incident immediately and therefore avoid any confusion to whether the said incident will go any farther along to the FPC committee for ruling. All other reporting will be still be needed but this form should expedite the process of incident reporting and rulings, and most importantly let everyone know whether the incident would be addressed further or not. 48 Hour deadline is clarified for incident reporting as discussed to improve the length of process and the appeal process as a result. Standardizing and streamlining process is desired by these actions. It is discussed that the bylaws do exist and are on website and that there is a possibility that the bylaws could be handed out by FPC when addressing teams on first game of season.

g. Getting involved with the FPC-

Adam stresses that everyone can get involved with the FPC and that it is welcome and needed.

Bloody Knuckles suggest the possibility of a point being award in stats along side goals and assists as a Fair Play initiative.

Adam adds that in the past the Incidents Reported on the website are being made private so that it isn't public information for the sake of Privacy. These past incidents and suspensions will be available to all teams via a Google Documents.

It is mentioned that there will be FPC representative at the first game of season briefing all these points in dressing room for Week 1 of new season for each team.

3. Operations & Membership Ray Henderson Chairs This Section

a. Timekeeping-

Julie has been doing great job organizing Timekeepers and thanked by committee. Next season will continue as this last season ended and she presently has 4 or 5 Timekeepers ready for next season. It is mentioned that Bill Bolton doesn't have sound system which is why there is no announcing or music. As well McCormick arena's microphone input is broken but will be looked at and possibly repaired. Cellphones in Timekeepers booth is suggested for emergency situations. It should be standard to have each team bring a cellphone onto the bench with them to improve safety. There are AED's available at both rinks and there are maps of where they are posted in arenas. Julie will look into Timekeepers and whether they have cells that they could use as well. It is mentioned that it is a good idea for teams and/or the league to be aware of any medical conditions that exist so in case of emergency it is well known if that information is needed. A preseason email may be sent making everyone aware of First Aid at rinks, cellphones, pre-existing medical conditions etc.

b. Player Agreements-

It is mentioned that everyone should sign these player agreements and take them seriously. Priscilla would really like to see these signed. These can be used for incidents and it may be required that any player involved in an incident must resign agreement (or an additional form). It is mentioned that it is important for GM's to take this seriously and league depends on GM's to complete this task. It also suggested by Tom that perhaps this form could be an online form with an "I Accept" button as opposed to hard copies with signatures.

c. Extra Curricular Activities-

Tom points out Heather Cunninham's and Heather Scannlon's Food Drives etc this past season as a good example of great league initiatives of Extra Curricular activity. Tom also suggests possible event at rink or Rhino to be a fundraising tool and one that possibly adds sponsors to match funds raised for league operations in addition to the money raised for charity. It is also mentioned that there could be a Social Coordinator Position that could handle these concerns. This will not be a mandatory thing but it always counts towards the league volunteering policies and potential fee saving initiatives.

d. Scheduling-

Season starts the week after Labour Day and both McCorrmick and Bolton are available for opening weekend. Regular season will potentially end by late February and the league is aiming to finish before May 24 Weekend or even earlier. Ted Reeve is the reason this past season was longer and now that has been addressed with Bolton and McCorrmick booked for 6hrs on Saturday and 2 hrs on Sunday. There is more desire for additional Mingling during the winter on the Sunday afternoons (not every Sunday). There are 24 available weekends between Sept start and end of February. Weekday games are raised and not really a possibility. Ray must see the packages teams take before having a clear idea of exact scheduling. Divisions will be drafted as soon as possible after July 9th deadline of intent to participate. Ray adds that he is always open to any suggestions or feedback on scheduling to suit every ones needs.

e. Rule Modification – co-incidental penalties in the playoffs

Unanimously decided that co-incidental penalties will not count toward Penalty Shot Rule.

f. Merchandising-

Discussed that (barring merchandise with copyright conflicts) merch should be sold on the Website and thus promoted and increased.

4. Communications Sal Knox Chairs This Section on Behalf of The HAA Communications Group

a. Newsletter & Website-

They have been working on consolidating the brand of HAA via the various leagues which make up the HAA (the GTHLA being one). They hope that the leagues can all benefit from this through the shared membership and promotion of HAA supported hockey. The HAA Committee also hopes that the news, events, player info etc can be shared between the leagues promoting the brand further as it is now. They are ready to re-consolidate all League websites to the HAA url and brand thus simplifying confusion of where the websites are. It will have a similar look will but still represent the specific leagues but also hope to share certain hockey resources at their disposal such as RSS feeds etc for the benefit of all the HAA community. The newsletter and Website has strong support from across the HAA community but currently the Edmonton and Montreal league has been leading the charge with content. Content is needed and she welcomed all medias from print to photo to video. She asked comments and feedback for how to promote more content and material. It was discussed that an example of Grant Lawrence's Cross Check is a good idea of possible content, other ideas are simple league updates and stories from our league. Deadlines have been sent out in past and will continue to be sent for the Newsletter content. She will also need some help with volunteers with the N&W as she is leaving to travel for a year on September 15th and to get in touch with her or Tom about volunteering.

c. Program Guide-

The conversation segued to Program Guide and Tom suggests that there be communication with Newsletter&Website and the Program Guide bodies. Sal points out that there are some differences in content or style between N&W and the Guide.

The Editor, Phil gohier, of Program Guide will need help with layout and design as well as advertising. Content will be more feature content than N&W. It is suggested that teams perhaps try to document team through seasons to help provide content of Guide. It also suggested teams get going earlier to create that type of content.

5. League Fees and Finances

Email was sent out addressing League fees for next year. A concern was raised that Events were mandatory. These are strongly urged but not mandatory however there are league fees to be saved by doing that work. $300 by July 9th for comprehensive team membership. Teams should put in deposit and then calculate their volunteer hours for submission and league discount. Tom would like to see this continue to be more organized in future years to allow as little complication with discounts as possible.

End of Meeting