Welcome to the 2009-10 Hockey Season
Welcome to hockey season 2009-2010. I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and are ready to play some hockey. Our season officially kicked-off Monday evening, August 31st, with the first practice at Hobomock Arena. It just so happened that I coach one of the teams on Mondays and it was exciting to be back on the ice.
I wanted to take a few minutes of your time and cover three quick topics. First, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to make everyone aware that you, as members of the SeaHawks, have access to myself or any other Board member at any time. All of us can be contacted via our web site or if you prefer a phone call, simply e-mail us a phone number where we may reach you. It is our responsibility to run the organization, but our coaches, players and parents are the heartbeat of the organization. Your voice can be heard and your ideas are welcome. Additionally, our monthly Board Meetings are open to the membership, as stated in our by-laws. Please contact us for details if you would like to attend.
Second, I do think it is important to know that the SeaHawks organization is financially sound. The Board has been very diligent in containing costs in light of the tremendous increase in ice expenses costs over the last 4 years. We recognize that hockey is an expensive youth sport and we work very hard to make it as affordable to all as possible. This is a continuous goal for the organization. Our financial statements are always available to members.
Last, everyone should have received a notice that all players must register with USA Hockey. I urge you to do this very soon. In the past, the SeaHawks handled this task and covered the associated fee. USA Hockey has mandated that all players sign up and pay directly. This was reinforced and directed by Mass Hockey as well. Therefore, all USA Hockey sanctioned teams require parents to register their child individually. The Board was made aware of this at the end of last season and this change was built into our 2009-10 Operating Plan. We reduced the fee to $940 from $975 per player as a preemptive move to address this additional expense families would incur. I know there will be questions on this since it is a significant change. Please contact us if you need any assistance or have further questions.
In closing, the Board and I look forward to seeing everyone at the rinks again this year. Enjoy the comraderie, the competition and the game itself. Nothing beats an exciting hockey game!
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