Becker Big Lake Youth Hockey and Ice Association Meeting
Thursday, November 6, 2003
7 pm Becker High School Study Hall, Becker, Minnesota

PRESENT: Lisa Ramerth, Brenda Graber, Chris Nelson, Mark Muench, Kim Muench, John Gilbertson, Chelle Nelson, Brad Heppner, Myron Carlson, Brenda Gust, Doug Heinen, Gary Lindsey, Jason Lewis, Kevin Buntrock, Brian Smithling, Jamie Lewis, Gary Lindberg, Angela Ewald, Teresa Tonneslan , Chris Nopeonen, Deb Levens, Don Parson, Tim Houghton, Richard Reed, Nancy Loren, Troy Loren, Mike Gonrowski, Kathy Johnson, Tammy Ellingson, Teresa Steiner.

Call to Order - 7:10 pm by Chris Nelson, President.

Routine Matters
" Minutes of the October meeting were approved as presented.
" Agenda was changed to include V.1.B. Open Board Position Nominations. Approved as changed.
" BBLYHA Treasurer Chelle Nelson reported a checkbook balance of $1,406.38. Recently paid USA Hockey, MN Hockey, Evaluation fee, ice bills received to date, Stop patches, and $3,700 in Tournament fees. Report approved as presented.
" BBLIA Account was reported on by Chelle Nelson. Checkbook balance to be $3,476.55. She paid 1/2 of the amount due for the coupon books from this account. The Youth Association account owes this account $900 for the coupon books. Also paid the fee to the accountant for the Form 990 Year End Report and Pancake Breakfast expenses. Report approved as presented.

District 10
John Gilbertson reported on the information he received from District 10.
" Congratulations to Lisa Ramerth on the great job she did with Registration.
" Dave Schouvellor also did a great job as the ACE Coordinator, especially bringing coaches to the game scheduling meetings.
" House Team for Mites Sign Up is November 22.
" If there are any complaints, they need to go to our President first for resolution--not District 10.
" All coach information is in.
" At games the home team is responsible to run the clock and scoreboard (this counts towards a familys volunteer hours). The winning team calls in the scores (usually the Team Manager does this).
" There are 1,700 games in District 10 this year.
" Coaches need to be aware that if they change a game causing a single game there is a $50 fine.
" District is strongly pushing/promoting the Dodge Drives MN Hockey again this year. Test drive a new Dodge, fill out a certificate and $20 is earned for the Association and 1/2 hr goes towards your volunteer hours.

Gambling License Update
Lois Pegg does not have the initial papers so will need to start the entire application process over.

Coupon Books
Deb Levens reported that to date 417 of the original 1,000 books have been sold. There are 6 people who owe for the books they have taken. There are 537 out and 80 out that are over the minimum required by a family. The $5,000 balance is past due--must be in by December 31. Discussion was held regarding returning the remaining books. Decision was made to bill those 20 families who did not get their mandatory amount yet. Lois will attempt to sell some at the Big Lake Parent/Teacher Conferences but needs help. Comment was made that Heros will not allow us to solicit their patrons at the door to purchase a book. Question was raised on other possible locations--one suggestion was the bowling alley on league nights. The remaining books will be kept and some how sold.

MN Wild Tickets
The Mini Mites will skate between periods at the game on Saturday, December 20. Their families had first opportunity to purchase tickets leaving 73 left for anyone else interested to purchase. Deadline following Sunday.

Dodge Drives Minnesota Promotion
Tammy Ellingson is our association Volunteer Coordinator. Contact her to receive credit for your test drive. Get the completed certificate to John Gilbertson. Test drives must be completed prior to December 31. Team Managers need to push the promotion. Its easy money and easy to do.

Snow Cruisers
Kevin Buntrock will approach the Snow Cruisers for possible donation to the Association this year.

ACE Coordinator Report
" Dave Schouveller has resigned. He did a great job for us. District 10 thought he did an outstanding job. They were impressed that he brought coaches down.
" Bantams can skate with high school.
" Evaluations went relatively well. Chris spoke to other associations as well as District 10. They commented that if we only had two issues we are ahead of the game. Need to commend the players and parents that things had gone so smoothly. The Board will discuss some things and will tweak process for next year. Chris also asks that if anyone has a suggestion for improvement, that they contact the Board so that a formal process and policy can be followed (possibly similar to Blaine and Centennial assosiations as described on their web sites.)

Coaching Coordinator Report
" Mike Gonrowski spoke to the high school coach who has tentatively set some Skills Clinics as well as Kids Nights at two games (Tuesday, January 13 & February 21).
" Mike has set up an incentive for the Dodge Promotion on his own C Mite Team. He will award a $25 Heros or Hockey Zone gift certificate if there is full participation on his team.
" Mike encourages all teams to establish a Volunteer Coordinator Rep for each team to help with association items separate from the duties and responsibilities of the Team Manager.

Registration Coordinator
" Lisa will go in on November 22 for the Mite sign off.
" Stated again that a government issued certificate is needed before a child can skate.
" Coaches must have card with signature, Consent to Treat form, Waiver to Release form, Background Check completed before December 1 to be certified and allowed on the ice.

Equipment Manager
" Tim Houghton reported that all the necessary pucks are in and have gone out to the teams.
" Need 1 set of goalie pads for Mites. Lois Pegg brought her sons set to the meeting. Reviewed by Tim and motion made and approved to purchase the pads, blocker, catcher, chest protector from her for $1,000.
" The jerseys for the Mites will be done and shipped to screen printer and then should be received in 2 weeks. He made suggestion that jerseys should be ordered in June to beat the rush.
" Question was raised if sponsors can pay towards jerseys. Discussion held. Tabled.
" Suggestion was made that we sell the old, current jerseys at the end of the season for $10.

Volunteer Coordinator Report
" Tammy Ellingson has taken on this responsibility. Contact her to find out what opportunities remain.
" She has made rosters to keep track of the required 4 volunteering hours. She will give these to Coaches to give to their Team Volunteer Coordinator.

Ice Scheduler Report
" Theresa Tonneslan reported that most of the ice she was able to get was on weekends--not much available during the week.
" Reminded coaches, etc. that must notify arenas 10 days beforehand in order to give back any ice.
" In order to be insync with other area associations, we will classify the younger teams as Mini Mites (Jr. Mites) and Mites (Sr. Mites)
" Comment was made that the association needs a Referee Coordinator to run the referee program and to get older kids to be refs. There was disagreement on this need--some others believed that this is already taken care of and is not needed.
" Suggestion made that an apprentice Ice Scheduler is needed to work with Theresa.

Coach Warmup Uniforms
There has been grumbling among parents regarding the purchase of the Head and Assistant Coach suits. There is no hidden costs included in individual ice bills. The Board had made the decision to thank the coaches for their commitment by using Association fees/monies to purchase their suits.

Volunteer Hour Fees
Discussion was held regarding the $40 volunteer checks collected at Registration. Decision was made that the checks would be cashed in March if the 4 minimum hours had not been fulfilled by then. Summer volunteer hours will be reimbursed or deducted from Ice Bills.

Complaint Form
" Richard Reed will complete the form and they will be available on the associations web site.
" Only those forms received with signatures will be recognized and discussed.

Last Minutes Schedule Changes, Etc.
It is the responsibility of the team coaches to contact their skaters if there is any last minute schedule changes, etc.

Open Board Positions
Nominations received for Johna Nelson to fill the Vice President seat on the Ice Association; Kim Muench to fill an Executive seat vacated by Matt Bischoff. Motion: to accept nominations received, accepted by nominees, and voted on as received. s/p Secretary seat on Ice Association, Treasurer on Ice Association, Executive seat and ACE position still vacant.

Adjournment at 8:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Graber