Dear SAHA members,

The SAHA board and our committee members are getting ready for the 2010-2011 season!  Please contact admin@stillwaterhockey.net if you would like to volunteer!

I write to update you on important upcoming activities. You don't need to read this entire message if you want to await upcoming emails, fees, and instructions for registration in June. Just scan the "contents" below and read any "details" that interest you. The details provide information describing and driving various efforts.

Below is a hit-list of topics covered in more detail below. Scan the list and read on as desired! Please understand that many final details wait board discussion and approval as we prepare to open registration in June. However, the information below should help you appreciate what we are working on for next season.

Contents (see details below):

• INTRODUCTION
• CONGRATULATIONS on a great season at many levels last year!
• THANK YOU to our many coaches, managers, coordinators, board members and others who put in a lot of time!
• THANK YOU DARRELL SALMI for 3 years as President!
• REGISTRATION begins early June and CLOSES (for MOST levels) July 15th!
• NEW ASSESSMENT FEE item this year:  $30 assessment for the outdoor skating facility SAHA built last year.
• GOALIE AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PROGRAM (ITP) to continue with some modifications.
• TRYOUTS to begin last week of September. There will likely be tryouts over MEA weekend.

DETAILS...

INTRODUCTION:   My name is Mike Timmons. I have served on the board for over 4 years. I am now the Association President. I've served as Mite's Director, Vice President, and Treasurer. I have 4 children in the program (a Squirt and 3 Mites). I've had the pleasure of coaching and participating in many activities with many of you.  I look forward to serving as SAHA President. The SAHA Board, committees, coaches, and volunteers in many capacities provide hockey experiences for a great group of kids. We have a great base of parents, volunteers, and supporters in the community. We enjoy a partnership with the St. Mary's Point program and the support of accomplished High School coaches on the girls and boys side in Stillwater: Tony Scheid and Phil Housley, respectively (and many who assist them at the High School level). We enjoy considerable depth of hockey experience within our coaching and administrative ranks. It is my pleasure to interact with a wide range of super-positive inputs to local hockey!

CONGRATULATIONS!  SAHA enjoyed success at many levels last year, by whatever definition defines success at various levels! Our Girl's program continues to thrive, grow, compete well, and to enjoy State Tournament representation! Our boy's levels have been growing and last year enjoyed a number of State Tournament appearances! The A Pee Wee team enjoyed their first State Tournament appearance since the 1970's! Our Mite/U8 Program got a boost from the new outdoor rink last season. These younger levels continue to thrive under a framework of practice planning and collaboration that has been evolving for some years now. GREAT JOB to all of our players, and THANK YOU coaches and managers!

THANK YOU to the many coaches, team managers, and coordinators/administrators that put in considerable time to create experiences for 5 long winter months! Some of our volunteers have no children playing at the youth level, or at least on their teams. These folks convey admirable interest and commitment to our kids, the community, and the game. Most of our coaches have players on teams they coach or assist in coaching. Their commitment is equally great. Most of these will tell you that in addition to "coaching" they spend the winter parenting 15 "kids" instead of just the one most of us drive to the rink. Juggling family and coaching responsibilities for 5 months each winter is a commitment equal to the wonderful commitment our non-parent coaches bring each year. We are blessed with a great combination of parent and non-parent volunteers within SAHA. Thanks to all for another fine season!

THANK YOU DARRELL SALMI!  Darrell served as SAHA President for 3 years. He navigated SAHA through a restructuring under new by-laws. The resultant committee structure is making it easier for SAHA to keep up with our growing numbers. We can all thank Darrell for the inclusive, active environment that is generating a lot of positive energy! I look forward to Darrell's continued involvement and support, while he looks forward to fewer phone calls and emails! Thanks again Darrell!

• REGISTRATION starts EARLY this year!  HIGHLIGHTS...
  
  • On-line registration will begin in JUNE and close JULY 15th
  • Two Payment Options
    
    • 6-equal credit/debit card payment installments (June through November)
      
      • SAHA will NOT offer payment plans via multiple check payments.
        
        • The 6-installment credit/debit card route is the only payment plan.
    • Pay-in-Full
      
      • Via credit/debit card or check/cash
      • A Check/Cash payment will be discounted relative to credit card payment, but your check MUST be for the FULL amount and received within 10 days from completion of online registration.  Late check payments will be assessed a processing fee that will be greater than the credit card fee, so use a credit card unless you plan to mail the FULL amount IMMEDIATELY upon registration.
  • Please Note:  JULY Registrations will have 5-installments with the 1st installment to include both June and July payments.

***A LATE FEE will be applied to registrations processed after July 15th***

• NO late fees for entry level Mites/U8's
• Girls U14, Boys U16 and Boys Jr. Gold:
  
  • MUST register by July 15 to get into the system, but there will be no payment processed for these levels until AFTER High school tryouts.

• OUTDOOR RINK ASSESSMENT
  • $30 assessment for new outdoor skating facility (assumes 800 players)
    • $15 for debt service on five-year, $50,000 loan
      • This will be in-place for 5 years unless fundraising retires the debt early.
    • $15 one-time assessment to cover extra expenses incurred
      • Excavation, construction, and preparing the facility as a city park stretched the project budget.  This was due to some unplanned expenses and accelerating the project. We will assess each player $15 this year, in effect covering this past season during which we enjoyed great outdoor ice for two months!

• GOALIE AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINING PROGRAM (ITP) to continue for the 2010-2011 season.
  • Pro Hybrid Goalie training again this year
    • Working on clinic schedule
    • Goalies pay the same ITP fee as skaters at their level, but this fee component is directed to goalie training.
  • "Individual Training Program" (ITP):  Treadmill, off-ice, and dry-land training to continue
    • Boys Committee is working on adjustments to ITP program after experience last year:
    • ITP "Opt Out" will be a simple "check box" when you register to remove this program from your "shopping cart".
    • Girls Committee is considering ITP options for girl's levels/teams.
      • This will be clear in the coming weeks.

• TRYOUTS tentatively to start the weekend of Sept 25th-26th.
  • As usual, older groups go first and younger levels follow.
  • MEA Weekend NOT guaranteed to be blacked-out as tryout schedules come together.
  • Detailed schedule will be complete in June.

As you can see, there is a lot going on! In addition to the above items we have the new Twins concessions fundraiser activity. Thanks to everyone who is bringing a lot of energy to SAHA. You will see a number of emails in the coming weeks directing you to details on the website and to registration beginning in early June.

Regards,
Mike Timmons
President