It gives us great pleasure to bring to you this first newsletter of the 1998/99 ringette season. It contains valuable information about the coming season - please hang on to it.

As many of you already know, we concluded last season on a high note - with two of our teams winning the Canadian National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. Congratulations to the Junior AA and Intermediate AA on their well deserved successes.

Again this year a promotional campaign was conducted that saw roughly 15,000 GRA brochures distributed in schools in the area. The response to this has once again been good - perhaps not quite as great as last year’s. In addition, watch for joint Gloucester/Cumberland ads in the Weekly Journal, and GRA ads in some of the other Gloucester papers.

While we don’t yet know what results our efforts will produce, we are optimistic that we will once again have five Novice teams (the real optimists in the crowd are hoping for six) participating in the league.

As you will see mentioned elsewhere in this letter, we are looking for a volunteer who take on the role of promotion/publicity of GRA for one year. You can make a big difference in assuring the continued health of the association and sport in the area.

We have recently been informed that Casselman and Kanata will be starting up new associations in the Eastern Region Ringette Association. Clarence-Rockland will be operating as a single association.

We would like to offer our congratulations and continued support to Goulbourn Ringette who in two short years have grown to a registration base of nearly 100 girls!!!!!!

Our closest ringette neighbours, Cumberland Ringette, are also prospering. In the past 4 years, Cumberland has progressed from being able to field only one AA team to this season where they are planning on fielding a AA team at each level in the league. Kudos!

Did you know that last year, Gloucester Ringette had more members attend coaching clinics than in any year in recent memory. This is good news for the association as many of these people have children at young ages. Thank you to those who took part - hope we see some of that experience back on the ice this season.

GRA Executive has approved an increase in the annual registration fee. This increase is to cover increasing ice costs that result from the phase-out of municipal ice subsidies. Even with the increase, ringette continues to be favorably priced versus other winter sports. The increase in registration was agreed to only after a committee thoroughly examined each area of expenditure and recommended other cost savings and cuts as well.

While ice costs are largely outside of our control, GRA will continue to be vigilant in controlling costs in other areas.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many 1/2 ice practices? Wondered why you couldn’t have more full ice practices? Sure you have!

Among other things, the registration fee you pay covers the cost of 22 hours of ice for each team. Ten of these hours have to be turned in to the National Capital League for games and playoffs. Other teams in the league also turn in ten hours each - thus making for 8 home games, 8 away games, and the playoff ice.

That leaves 12 hours of ice per team. On that 12 hours of ice, it would be possible to have 12 full ice practices. That obviously is not enough practices for a season. So typically, teams have roughly 20 half ice practices (10 hours) and two full ice practices during the season.

Teams that choose to request full ice practices frequently use their allotment of ice earlier in the season. Once the basic allotment is used, teams are charged for any additional ice they use - which is frequently the case with AA teams.

Please return your completed registration and cheque to GRA by return mail at your earliest convenience.

For your added convenience there will be a walk-in registration at the Orleans Recreational Centre (upstairs between the two ice surfaces) on Thursday, August 27th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. There will be a second registration on September 12 at Potvin Arena from 9:00am to 1:00pm. For information on registration please contact the Registrar at 837-8591.

Since we last communicated with you, there has been an annual general meeting, and a change in the membership on the executive. Some members are new, some retained their position from last year, and some accepted new assignments on the executive.

We are in need of someone to take on the roles of Promotion/Publicity, and to co-ordinate the registrations for next year’s summer camps. It is important to mention that both of these positions can be performed mostly at home with the use of a computer. Both of these activities are extremely important to the association as they both contribute to the longer term growth and health of ringette in the city. If you can help out (you need only commit to one season) please contact Dave at 830-9124.

Coaches have been recommended and approved for some of our competitive level teams:

As you can see we still require coaches at the A level, and the Intermediate AA level as well. If you can assist in coaching at any of these levels please contact Robert Rhéaume, V.P. Competitive at 837-4858.

At the petite level, we are still unclear on what level competitive team we can field. This will be determined (in consultation with parents/players) as soon after the beginning of tryouts as possible

On July 8, 1998, following discussions with a number of parents of primary aged parents, and some committee work, GRA executive approved a recommendation that only children who will be 4, 5, or 6 years old during calendar year 1998 will be accepted for registration at the GRA Skating School. Further, ringette instruction will not be given to the 4 or 5 year old age group. The entire focus for this group will be learning to skate. Ringette instruction will be provided to 6 year olds after the Christmas break.