Minnesota Hockey Annual meeting April 25-27

[BNyrup24]

Just a reminder the meeting starts this Friday night, the agenda is posted, and the committee times are there.

Question for those who know: how long will the Sunday meeting to last? It starts at 8:00 a.m. Is it likely to be a 2, 3, 4 hour meeting? Any idea?

Thanks.

[elliott70]

Just a reminder the meeting starts this Friday night, the agenda is posted, and the committee times are there.

Question for those who know: how long will the Sunday meeting to last? It starts at 8:00 a.m. Is it likely to be a 2, 3, 4 hour meeting? Any idea?

Thanks.

Sunday meeting usually lasts to Noon (sometimes 11).
With some voting on key changes and the election of board members, I would guess we will spill over to 1pm.

Friday & Saturday's committee meetings will cover alot of what happens with just a recap on some things on Sunday.

[elliott70]

If you're in the area, stop in.
If for nothing else to say 'Hi' and have a copy of coffee.

[tomASS]

If you're in the area, stop in.
If for nothing else to say 'Hi' and have a copy of coffee.

What you guys don't drink the really thing??

[elliott70]

If you're in the area, stop in.
If for nothing else to say 'Hi' and have a copy of coffee.

What you guys don't drink the really thing??

Not the district directors, the VIPs won't share.
But for you, tommyboy, I will spring.
Heck I might buy PackerBoy a cup if he showed up.



At least one guy reads what I keyboard.

[tomASS]

I know I already stood you up at the state tourney (soccer conflicts)
Same again this weekend - I'm in Chicago for a series of Midwest Regional games again with the team I coach.

Another rain check??

[elliott70]

I know I already stood you up at the state tourney (soccer conflicts)
Same again this weekend - I'm in Chicago for a series of Midwest Regional games again with the team I coach.

Another rain check??

Another rain check.

Boy, soccer travels more than hockey.

[Can't Never Tried]

I know I already stood you up at the state tourney (soccer conflicts)
Same again this weekend - I'm in Chicago for a series of Midwest Regional games again with the team I coach.

Another rain check??

Another rain check.

Boy, soccer travels more than hockey.

Have to find people that want to play !

[DMom]

[greybeard58]

Did anyone besides Elliott 70 attend today? Tomorrow??

[fidelis]

This is an easy one. Open enrollment is a school discussion not a hockey one. All hockey players must register with the youth hockey association where they reside. Kids can attend schools outside of their communities but must play hockey, through their youth hockey years, in the community where they reside.

District 6, and Bloomington specifically, have played this a little loose and let some families apply the school open enrollment issue to hockey. ie, "my son plans to attend Jefferson High School even though we live in the Kennedy Youth Hockey area." The proper answer is, "fine, when he plays high school hockey he can play for Jefferson, until then, your family resides in the Kennedy Youth Hockey area and your children will play for Kennedy Youth Hockey.

There's no reason to confuse open enrollment for school with Youth Hockey Association boundaries. It's where you live.

MN Hockey is a "community-based" program. However, MN Hockey has adopted school boundaries rather than cities to form "communities".

School boundaries routinely dissect cities (i.e. Woodbury = Woodbury, Tartan, Stillwater). Should a child who lives in Woodbury, attends school in Woodbury, participates in all sports and activities in Woodbury, attends church in Woodbury, Woodbury Hockey Association is obviously in Woodbury, be required to play hockey in Stillwater?

Today the local government came to your house. They told you that from this day forward you can only purchase gas from the gas station closest to your house, aka your "residence". But what if you drive a great distance to work, family, recreation, or otherwise and need to buy gas in that location? Sorry that's voluntary. What if the gas there is substandard and I can by better gas down the road? Sorry. What if the prices there are too high and the service is terrible. Sorry.

Utilizing REGULATION instead of free trade to determine where our children participate in activities is disheartening. Affiliate's need to be held accountable for the quality of their programs, not the children.

[hockeydog64]

This is an easy one. Open enrollment is a school discussion not a hockey one. All hockey players must register with the youth hockey association where they reside. Kids can attend schools outside of their communities but must play hockey, through their youth hockey years, in the community where they reside.

District 6, and Bloomington specifically, have played this a little loose and let some families apply the school open enrollment issue to hockey. ie, "my son plans to attend Jefferson High School even though we live in the Kennedy Youth Hockey area." The proper answer is, "fine, when he plays high school hockey he can play for Jefferson, until then, your family resides in the Kennedy Youth Hockey area and your children will play for Kennedy Youth Hockey.

There's no reason to confuse open enrollment for school with Youth Hockey Association boundaries. It's where you live.

MN Hockey is a "community-based" program. However, MN Hockey has adopted school boundaries rather than cities to form "communities".

School boundaries routinely dissect cities (i.e. Woodbury = Woodbury, Tartan, Stillwater). Should a child who lives in Woodbury, attends school in Woodbury, participates in all sports and activities in Woodbury, attends church in Woodbury, Woodbury Hockey Association is obviously in Woodbury, be required to play hockey in Stillwater?

Today the local government came to your house. They told you that from this day forward you can only purchase gas from the gas station closest to your house, aka your "residence". But what if you drive a great distance to work, family, recreation, or otherwise and need to buy gas in that location? Sorry that's voluntary. What if the gas there is substandard and I can by better gas down the road? Sorry. What if the prices there are too high and the service is terrible. Sorry.

Utilizing REGULATION instead of free trade to determine where our children participate in activities is disheartening. Affiliate's need to be held accountable for the quality of their programs, not the children.

"Free trade," meaning each and every group and organization (AAA, Fire, any one of a dozen or more private schools, neighborhood groups, friends and relatives) should be able to create their own team and participate in Minnesota Hockey? That's the logical extension of what you seem to be advocating.

[woodley]

Elliot,

I've never met you, but just wanted to say "Thank You!!!"

The time you give in working to improve our game for the kids is truly appreciated. Also, your efforts to educate the rest of us by keeping us up on what is happening in MH help us to share somewhat knowledgable information with the other parents standing around the boards.

I recognize that the time spent by volunteers of MH is often unappreciated and questioned, but the vast majority of us would not give the time.

Keep fighting the good fight!!!

[fidelis]

"Free trade," meaning each and every group and organization (AAA, Fire, any one of a dozen or more private schools, neighborhood groups, friends and relatives) should be able to create their own team and participate in Minnesota Hockey? That's the logical extension of what you seem to be advocating.[/quote]

Actually, I'd be happy with defining community in a fair manner. The current MN Hockey Residency Rules do not address every possible circumstance (as I illustrated in my previous post). That is why the current MN Hockey waiver provision exists - a realization that it is impossible to predict all circumstances which may arise. Sadly, every District has interpreted this clause in their own way - from complete open enrollment to refusal of any and all waivers. Districts are MN Hockey, they are not autonomous and must follow MN Hockey's governing documents or the organization will lose credibility. Defining the waiver clause, specifically where inequity already exists, will provide a better framework for the Districts.

As far as free trade. Hockey is unique in that there are a limited number or resources (e.g. arenas- which are generally public). There is a possible argument that MN Hockey has a monopoly on these resources and it's current bylaws prevent any MN Hockey team from playing an independent (this may be in conflict with their Articles which state they will "associate with other associations").

A monopoly exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it (sounds pretty accurate). Monopolies have been banned via the Sherman Act since 1890. Why? Without competition organizations have no incentives and become inefficient and stagnant. They utilize regulation to mandate a person's choice. Harm to innovation is a setback for everyone. I think a good example of this is how so many independent clinics, training videos, etc. have created better training guides than MN Hockey itself?

I am not trying to pick a fight but hopefully bring a new perspective. My question: Is their a viable argument against the statement that having two or more hockey associations competing would foster the game of hockey?

I believe products/services should compete on their own merits, and consumers everywhere should have the ability to easily choose the best products available. Fair and open competition dictates that the best product wins.

Thanks for listening and I appreciate any of your comments.

[greybeard58]

Did anyone take the time to go to the meeting?

Elliott can you give the people who did not attend a short report of the meeting this weekend?

I also want to thank Elliott for taking the time to represent the players, coaches, associations and even parents of his District.

I have only known him for a short while(about 4 1/2 years) I have not always agreed on his positions, but I respect him for having the courage to take a stand whether popular or unpopular on different matters. I do consider Elliott 70 a friend.

[DMom]

fidelis, I think it is easy in this day and age to believe that we can have anything we want. One instructor at a dance academy says the daughter doesn't have what it takes, this is America, go to another one. Maybe that one will be more diplomatic. Whether it's gymnastics, or swimming, or dancing there are more and more for profit venues to take your child to. And now, there are hockey, baseball and soccer venues and more.

The different between taking your kids to xyz dance studio and abc hockey association is that xyz is a for profit organization and the instructors are paid, at abc no one gets paid. Associations affiliated with Minnesota Hockey are volunteer organizations. There are stipends and re-imbursements for very few in hockey.

If I am paying for my daughter to be instructed at xyz and I call them than I want someone to answer the phone. At abc you might not get a call because the person you are calling may be Ely for a hockey tournament and might now get the message till late monday night. That is frustrating but it is the reality of a volunteer based system.

Minnesota Hockey (generally) is representative of the views of it's membership. If you were part of a group of 50 people who banded together and came up with the resources to build an ice arena. You recruited quality youth coaches and established a representative board, would you than want to have open tryouts throughout the area?

No. You would be perfectly willing to step up and walk other associations through what you have achieved. You would let them contact you for future reference. You would not keep any secrets on how to fundraise, or what methods you use to introduce skating. You would co-operate at levels where you can't achieve competitive teams on your own. You would want to have good competition and healthy neighboring associations and to do so you would, AGAIN, volunteer to help out. BUT you would not open your borders and say--come on over to our tryouts. Mainly because you will never have another volunteer again. Why would people volunteer in an organization that doesn't serve everyone within it's "borders"? I know, you are thinking that I am saying that people volunteer only for their own self-interest? I'm not really, but even if I were, it's better than not volunteering for your own self-interest.

thanks to Elliott and all of the Minnesota Hockey volunteers.

[edge]

I'm all for free trade, can a kid petition to play in a district that he doesn't live in?
What's the process to get on the minnesota hockey board?

[elliott70]

I'm all for free trade, can a kid petition to play in a district that he doesn't live in?
What's the process to get on the minnesota hockey board?

Either represetning a certain group that elects the person or by being elected to thte board as president or VP or controller or sec-treas.

District Directors by the district associations - should be involved in the district so people know you.

VP - need to be at a state meeting someeting and know the board members.

High school boys & girls - president of coaches assn - need to be a HS coach.

Adult women & men - need to be part of one organization or the other.

Ref in chief - need to be a ref.

I have in the past and am again asking that President & VP's be elected by participating associations.

There is currently an opening for VP of Gold. Go to minnesotahockey.org and it lists the requirements and some qualificatins that would be good to have.
To qualify you need only be a MN resident, an adult, and interested in supporting amateur hockey.
A change was made yesterday to the site clarifying this.

[nhl'er]

Sorry, If I missed the answer here. But what was the final decisions on redistricting? Also, were the survey results ever released?

[elliott70]

Sorry, If I missed the answer here. But what was the final decisions on redistricting? Also, were the survey results ever released?

Redistricting is 'in process'.
Hopefully, the discernment committee will get off 'the process' and start looking at solutions.
The meeting is in the Cities (south side) during the week at 5:30. What we will get done (if I can even get there) we will see.

A synopsis of the survey was gone through in about 30 minutes. The results werre to be released to us (board members), but I have not seen them. When it will show up on the web page is anyone's guess.

[Can't Never Tried]

Sorry, If I missed the answer here. But what was the final decisions on redistricting? Also, were the survey results ever released?

Redistricting is 'in process'.
Hopefully, the discernment committee will get off 'the process' and start looking at solutions.
The meeting is in the Cities (south side) during the week at 5:30. What we will get done (if I can even get there) we will see.

A synopsis of the survey was gone through in about 30 minutes. The results werre to be released to us (board members), but I have not seen them. When it will show up on the web page is anyone's guess.

Good morning elliott!

[elliott70]

Sorry, If I missed the answer here. But what was the final decisions on redistricting? Also, were the survey results ever released?

Redistricting is 'in process'.
Hopefully, the discernment committee will get off 'the process' and start looking at solutions.
The meeting is in the Cities (south side) during the week at 5:30. What we will get done (if I can even get there) we will see.

A synopsis of the survey was gone through in about 30 minutes. The results werre to be released to us (board members), but I have not seen them. When it will show up on the web page is anyone's guess.

Good morning elliott!

Yes, it was, thank you.