The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by President Duane Hoffmeyer.

Present: Duane Hoffmeyer, Lynn Mills, Mark Jensen, Lisa Soole, Mike Moreland, Curtis McCline, Dave Gill, Mark Johnson, Harlan Halverson and Robert Sundlie

Absent: Laura Mahaney, Tim Marx, Dave LeGree

Guests: Roger Kelly, Marty Holmes and Lois Holmes

Minutes for the June 21, 2000 meeting of the Board of Directors were reviewed by the Board. Motion by Jensen and second by Moreland to approve the Minutes as set forth. By unanimous vote the Minutes were approved.

Soole then submitted to the Board income statements and balance sheets for the months ending June 30, 2000 and July 31, 2000. Very little activity was reported for these two months. Net income through July 31, 2000 was $4,953.47. The fund’s balance net of accrued assets for 7/31/00 was $114,264.06. Motion by Gill and second by Johnson to approve the Financial Reports for the two periods described in said statements. The motion was unanimously approved.

President Hoffmeyer then introduced Marty Holmes and Lois Holmes. The Holmes indicated that they had an eight year old son they wished to move from the Mite level to the Squirt level to participate at that age group. They have another ten year old son who is presently skating in Squirts. The Holmes explained that they will experience less hardship in arranging for attendance of their player at practices and games if they both participated in the same age level. Further, they felt individual skill development of the younger player would be enhanced by moving up.

Numerous advantages and disadvantages to younger players moving up to play at older age groups was discussed by various board members and the Holmes. Gill expressed concern that "moving up" players creates the risk of displacing an older player from participation in a travel team or house league opportunity at the older age level, while depleting the competitive level of the younger age group who has been deprived of a more skilled player. Other board members expressed the belief that retention of players in their age level fostered greater overall hockey development of all of the players participating at each age level. The discussion also included a discussion of the board’s previous policy of allowing second year Bantams to try out for the varsity on the high school team with the Bantam player being allowed to stay at that level if selected for the varsity. Further discussion was also held with respect to a past practice of allowing some Tykes with the appropriate skill levels to play with Mites. Other members discussed the inordinate amount of time that has historically been spent by the board each year in visiting and deciding issues related to individual requests that players "move up".

After discussion the board informed the Holmes that the decision as to their particular request would be moved on at a later part of the agenda when new business was being resolved.

Hoffmeyer reported that Joe Strako of Des Moines will replace Don Andrews as the registrar for the Tri-State Affiliate. Hoffmeyer reported that any overnight costs related to delivery of rosters to the Registrar for last minute approvals will be a cost to be paid by each particular travel team who may be delivering rosters by overnight services.

Hoffmeyer reported that the position of ice scheduler is still vacant. After discussion, Mark Jensen moved and Lisa Soole seconded a motion that Kirk Lukehart be offered the position of ice scheduler. The motion passed unanimously.

Hoffmeyer reported that Mahaney had reported to him earlier that she had sufficient personnel lined up for operation of the house leagues at various age levels this year. Hoffmeyer reported upon Mahaney’s plans for distribution of flyers notifying new skaters of the new skater registration date.

Discussion was then conducted with respect to the expected numbers of participants at the high school level. Concern was expressed about the possibility that extra sets of jerseys would be needed with respect to the Metros. Gill was authorized to contact Shelly Lessard for purposes of ordering five or more extra sets of Metros jerseys dependent upon the anticipated numbers of participants this year. McCline and Soole reported that the association still has $45,000.00 in debt with respect to its commitment on the cost of the construction of the Ice Center. McCline and Soole felt that this debt would be retired with the amount of pledges yet to be collected from membership and other donors.

A report was then given by Hoffmeyer with respect to the meeting of the Midwest League. Pee Wees will be playing more league games this year. Eighteen games will be played at the Pee Wee "B" level and there will be more in the "A" level. Each team will have travel partners. This is an experiment to be conducted this year by the Midwest League. Wichita, St. Joseph and Lincoln will skate just "A" teams. He further reported that there will be a seating system used in the finals rather than matching east vs. west teams.

Moreland then provided Minutes from the August 12 meeting of the Tri-State Association. Copies of his Minutes are attached hereto.

The recent SYHA golf outing was discussed. Hoffmeyer gave an update on the city’s attempts to construct an new arena and its quest for funding through the Vision Iowa fund. The price list for referees this year was also discussed.

Gill presented a spreadsheet analyzing the profit margin achieved by the association through the sale last year of holiday greens. Gill reported that Deb Logsdan had reported that Sherwood Forest Farms had increased the cost that will be charged to the association for greens purchased by the association in the upcoming year. The Board then discussed whether or not to raise the retail prices to be charged to SYHA customers for the purchase of greens this year. It was noted that the retail price of most items sold last year were increased. The consensus of the Board was that it was unwise to raise the price of items two years in a row. Motion by Jensen and second by Soole that the SYHA not increase the sale prices for the sale of holiday greens to SYHA customers. The motion passed unanimously.

Moreland then moved the Board to approve the request made by Marty and Lois Holmes during earlier discussion that their Mite age level player be allowed to move up and play in Squirt house league games. The motion died for lack of a second and the discussion was then closed. Moreland was appointed to advise Mr. and Mrs. Holmes of the Board’s decision.

Jensen then moved that the Board adopt a policy for implementation at all age levels in the SYHA prohibiting any skaters from moving up to a higher age level. The motion received a second from Halverson. Jensen further moved that all ice purchased by the SYHA for regular youth hockey through registration and fund raising revenues be used exclusively at all age levels for house league purposes, and that all travel team practices be funded directly from travel team participants or their families. This motion received a second from McCline. After lengthy discussion on both motions the Board unanimously agreed to table both motions until the September Board meeting.

Mills reported that Level II coaching certification will be conducted on October 21, 2000 at a cost of $35.00 per participant.

McCline moved to adjourn the meeting with a second by Gill. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 o’clock p.m.

Dave Gill, Secretary to the Board

Index of Past Board Meeting Minutes