Gloucester Ringette Association

1998/99 Newsletter # 2

We are pleased to bring you this second edition of the Gloucester Ringette Association Newsletter for the 1998/99 season. We hope you will find it useful and informative.

By now each team has received an application. The deadline for applying to enter the tournament is December 3, 1998 – for Gloucester teams as well as others. Managers/coaches should submit their paperwork immediately if they have not already done so.

If you know of a business that would be interested in purchasing advertising space in the program, sponsoring a division, or sponsoring our tournament in some other way – please contact one of the promotional/advertising volunteers listed below.

Speaking of the program – we are in urgent need of a volunteer who can

use a computer to co-ordinate the GRA tournament program for printing.

Many of the necessary tables and formats are available in electronic format.

It just requires you to pull it together and enter data. We are also in need of

someone to co-ordinate media and communications.

We are always in need of volunteers during the tournament – if you can help contact the tournament Chair, or either of the Vice-Chairs shown below.

Can you lend us your cell phone during the tournament weekend? We will of course reimburse any costs that are incurred. Contact Dave Bennett at 830-9124.

As in past years, your team will be assigned minor official responsibilities during the GRA tournament (clock, scoresheet, and penalty box). There are a large number of teams participating and it is not always possible to assign game times that are adjacent to your own child’s game. It is each team’s responsibility to ensure their assigned games are worked. Delays caused by the absence or late arrival of minor officials cause disruption and expensive delays in each game that follows.

Visit the joint National Capital Region Ringette League/Eastern Region Ringette Association Website at www.erra.ncrrl.on.ca . In addition to the league standings, you will find information concerning special events, Team Ontario, promotional activities, etc. This site also links with numerous local association websites.

Dec. 11-13 Arnprior Tournament

Jan. 8 Final qualification date for coaches, final date for TRF changes, First Aid

Jan. 15-17 Ottawa Tournament

Feb. 5-7 Preliminary Playdowns – Cumberland

Feb. 12-14 Kingston Tournament

Feb. 18-21 Gloucester Tournament

Feb.21-Mar.6 Canada Winter Games

Mar 6-7 Regionals (House League) – Upper Ottawa Valley**

Mar. 13 League season play ends

Mar. 15-16 West Carleton Tournament

Mar. 14-21 Ontario Ringette Provincials – Whitby

Mar. 22 League Playoffs start

April 5-11 Nationals – Halifax

April 10,11 League Finals – Cumberland

April 9-11 Adult Provincials - Stratford

April 23 Volunteer Appreciation Dance (mark this on your calendar now!)

While everyone else is worried about the Y2K bugs and systems crashing…..us folks at GRA have our sights set on the year 2000 Ontario Ringette Association Provincial Championships. We were pleased to learn that Gloucester’s bid for the championships was successful. GRA will be hosting the provincials in March 2000.

This is an excellent opportunity for ringette associations and businesses in the region to take advantage of the momentum and publicity that will be in place commemorating the arrival of the new millenium. If you have ideas on how we might harness the energy of year 2000 to make these provincials a fun, profitable, and promotional event – contact Denise Miller.

Denise has kindly agreed to sit as Tournament Chair for this event. If you would like to be part of the action – contact her at 830-9706.

Speaking of Denise Miller - who is also Vice President of Administration for GRA

and our ice scheduler – she has just announced her well deserved retirement from

the ice scheduling business at the end of this season. We are of course, looking for

a volunteer to take on the task. Denise is offering to tutor a willing volunteer for the

remainder of this season – so that they would not have to start next year cold.

As you can imagine, this is a critical position in the organization – your contribution

would be greatly appreciated. If you volunteer now you can beat the rush!!

This year, as a pilot, we will be distributing competitive coach evaluation forms twice during the season. This should provide an important and timely source of information for both the coach and the association. The first distribution will be in December. By completing and returning this form promptly you will be providing valuable feedback at a point in time that allows the coach or the association to respond to parental or player comments and concerns – during the season.

Do you still need your first aid certification. The association will be hosting a session on January 3, 1999 from 9:00am to 4:30pm Place to be announced. Please contact Rick Sawyer at 744-3951 to register. This is your last opportunity to take this course with the association prior to the January 8 certification deadline.

• Ringette was invented in North Bay; Ontario in 1963 by a man named Sam Jacks. His wife Agnes is still very much involved in Ringette throughout Canada.

• That in Ringette (unlike hockey) a player is permitted to pass the ring to another player by batting it with her gloved hand, including across the blue line. However, if she closes her hand on the ring – it will attract a delay of game penalty.

Do you have a little spare time in the spring? We are looking for someone to co-ordinate the annual pamphlet distribution in Gloucester area schools. Files, distribution lists, pamphlets, and volunteer names provided. It only takes a few hours of organization – and it works! Our Bunny and Novice program is larger than it has been in years.

Did you know that the terms of GRA executive are staggered so that in any given year only about half of the executive is up for election. This ensures that at any given point, there are experienced members. This ensures continuity of the program, and provides a source of advice for the newcomers.

Think about it! Why not give it a shot this coming May at the annual general meeting. We need representation from both house league and competitive teams to provide a balanced perspective at the table. There will be several positions coming open – we sure could use you!!!!