Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the STHA September 21, 2020
1. Call to Order– Meeting called to order at 7:07 PM via Zoom virtual meeting/call.
Board Members in attendance: Greg Laubisch, Stacy Silsbee, Joe Roberto, Bob Chicuoka, Vinnie Polacek, Mike King, Rob Mulskey, Ben DeBlock, Al Cataldi, Kevin Ferry, Molly Morgan, Sue Carmen, and Matt Curry. Absent: None.
Members in attendance: Rick Blinkovitch, Brett Gates, Rob Wilbur, Stephanie Lisio, Melissa Simonds, Denny Simonds, Nadine Bradley, Tami Behonick.
Late: Lisa Schappert, Bill Cook, Elaine Patterson, CJ (?last name not provided) 2. Approval of Minutes –
The last regular meeting of the board was in February and the minutes were approved by an email vote on 3.18.20 – motion was put forward by Molly Morgan, Second was given by Joe Roberto. Approved by email vote by all board members on March 18, 20 with a vote of 7 – 0 – 0.
3. Action Items – - None
4. Open Floor Discussion –.
Rick Blinkovitch – no questions/concerns
Brett Gates – just listening in/no questions/concerns Rob Wilbur – just listening in/no questions
Stephanie Lisio – just listening in/no questions Melissa Simonds – just listening in/no questions Denny Simonds – just listening in/no questions
Nadine Bradley – Wondering the updates on the 14U team? Overview was provided. Tami Behonick – Anything to do to help and support the board
Lisa Schappert – Just joining the call
Bill Cook – Just seeing where things stand and with NY State stance. Elaine Patterson – Just listening in.
CJ – No response given.
Administration Report – Report: Greg Laubisch Travel Tryouts and House evaluations are complete.
8U – 67 players registered 12U – 48 players, 4 strong teams
14U – Snowbelt, 19 players (including 1 – 2 goalies)
16U – Only 4 players registered at this time, this may be a challenge to field a team. Next step with rosters is getting assistant coaches and team managers assigned to teams. 9 – 12 U House rosters – evaluations complete and teams are set.
8U House – evaluations are complete and splitting up into 4 teams next week.
Reminder: All board members need to sign-up via USA Hockey and STHA as volunteer. This includes background check and safe sport training.
Travel Ops – Report: Joe Roberto Appreciate all the help with tryouts.
Next steps:
Need to get coaches to get jersey sizes, sock sizes, and numbers, over to Vinny – due tomorrow by 11 AM.
Commitment forms are typically needed from players due to tryouts in screens, as a board we could go through with the commitment forms if a coach or team wanted, although it isn’t required.
All assistant coaches are listed on the rosters to make sure all the coaches screening is complete – Joe will be sending an email out to head coaches to collect that information.
House Ops – Report: Bob Chicuorka/Sue Carmen
8U: Set into red/white divisions, will be splitting up each division into 4 teams after Saturday’s practice, for a total of 8 teams.
12U: Head coaches and assistants are set, now divided into four teams and rosters complete.
14U Snowbelt: Just waiting to meet with head coach, planned to happen this week and first practice is 9/26.
Snowbelt – Report: Rob Mulskey
Targeting January start for games with season with about half as many games as typically – believe date is for declaring for Snowbelt is still October 15.
Dual rosters for travel and Snowbelt team – only allowed if travel is player is playing on Snowbelt red team.
Snowbelt JAMs are up in the air.
The thruway series is looking like it may not happen – concern is related to a condensed season and how they will fit these games in.
There is a consideration/discussion among the Snowbelt board to possibly take checking out of the Snowbelt league all together – the league is looking for feedback. Comment from Tami Behonick – this may help keep some girls in the league instead of leaving to go to a girls team.
ACE Director – Report: Kevin Ferry
Waiting on coaches list and will start going through to ensure everyone has training required. Need to tell all coaches to get the names of assistants and team managers to Keving ASAP.
Tournament Director – Report: Rob Mulskey
Rob will get with Ben DeBlock to start planning process, in case we can have a tournament.
Adult Education – Report: Molly Morgan
Would like to hold these sessions virtually – all board members are in agreement. Will plan to proceed to have these virtually. Molly will work with Matt Curry as well to incorporate return to the rink guidelines.
Scheduler – Report: Al Cataldi
Working on schedule now through the end of November. Now that the number of house teams are set, will work on getting their practices into the schedule.
Treasurer -
Visions account is now established. Next step is to close the Key Bank account and move it to Visions. Visions: $2380.08
Key Bank: $85,509.37
Between the Pipes: $8285.76 PayPal: $1342.20
Payments –The plan is to break payments via installments – broken into 3 payments – first payment due
by 1st weekend in October.
Sponsors- Report: Stacy Silsbee 10 sponsors confirmed to date: GHS - 12 U
Jack Sherman – 12U Cook Bros – 12U Matthews Auto – 12U Serve Pro – 8U Ice House – 8U Williams Auto – 8U Little Venice – 8U The Relief Pitcher – 8U Logowise – 8U
Looking into sponsorship potential – for travel jerseys with Summit Chase and Legacy Bay.
Dicks will do a Day of Shopping for the organization – need to pick a date and coordinate with them. Fundraising Director – Report: Stacy Silsbee
Nothing yet.
Web Director – Report: Al Cataldi and Stacy Silsbee
Al is busy rostering players to set them up in sports engine. Equipment Director Report – Report: Vinny Polacek
Waiting on two travel teams for jersey sizes and numbers – need to get order in tomorrow by 11 a.m. Planning to order pucks.
Devils Liason – Report: Greg Laubisch
The Board agreed it was time to move to our own logo for STHA branding.
Will continue to engage with the Devils for intermission skates, chuck a puck, etc. once the AHL season is underway.
Old Business None
None
Presidents Report- Greg Laubisch
NYSAHA Annual Meeting was held at the end of August – Bob C. and Greg attended the meeting.
Highlights from the meeting: Kirk Avery is new Central Section President, Gary Lebrun has stopped down and Rob Rioux, new Assistant President for Central Section.
There were 44 voting members at the meeting, announced sponsorship and award winners.
State tournament dates are set for this season – all the tournament dates are in Buffalo: 14U, 16U, 18U are scheduled for March 12 – 14, 2021 and 12U March 19 – 21, 2021.
NY teams are allowed to play games out of state currently. Waiting on further guidance from NY State for approval of in-state games.
Attempted to align with Blizzards but it wasn’t able to happen for this season but will continue the discussions for the future.
Working with the high school hockey league to figure out if they can have a season how to make travel and high school schedules work together.
Next Meeting: October 19, 2020 – Location: The Relief Pitcher (in person, if possible)
Motion to Adjourn: Rob Mulesky, Seconded by: Ben DeBlock. Approved with a vote of: 12 – 0 – 0
