Author: Tim Tender

Hi. My name is Tim. Pleasure to meet you! The paragraphs below give you some highlights about me. I hope you enjoy. Hockey first... I started playing hockey in 1999/2000 with my high school's JV team. I played some adult league hockey and worked at a rink from 1999 until I moved to Johnstown in 2005. I played sporadically from then until I moved to Madison in 2011. I took a year or so off just because I didn't know where to play here and I traveled a lot for work. Now, I'm finally able to join a league because I don't travel anymore. I've been with the MGHA since 2015 and have served on the Board for several of those years. I've also been a captain since 2016. More stuff... In addition to hockey, I enjoy TV, alternative music, and being outdoors. I play soccer, as well. I also used to host a music trivia / pop culture trivia / game show type-thing at a bar back home. Since moving to Madison, I now just host it for friends in my house every couple of months. My dream job is to be a game show host! Work... As far as work goes, I work for Advarra as a software tester. I've also freelanced on WMTV here in Madison. I used to work at a TV station in Johnstown, PA where I did weekend weather and produced weather graphics. It was fun, but it's nice to have a 9-5 job without having to work holidays. That's it for now.

Meeting Minutes – May 18, 2017

Agenda

  • Determine Roles
  • Merchandise and Apparel
  • Survey
  • Fruit Fest
  • Communication
  • Summer Touch-Base / Planning
  • Summer Scrimmages
  • 2017-2018 Season Planning

Determine Roles

  • K8 – President
  • Matthew – Vice President
  • Randi – Hockey Viking Princess
  • Tim – Hockey Ops Chair
  • Shelly – Treasurer
  • Amanda – Project Manager
  • Sara – Secretary

Merchandise and Apparel

  • Low on sweatshirts
    • Looking for quote on black sweatshirts with rainbow logo
    • Amanda will reach out
  • Order fewer individual player t-shirts
    • New color likely
    • Give away leftovers of existing to new recruits
  • Hankies inventory still good
    • Mirrored ones still available
      • Will give these to the social team to use as appropriate
  • Opportunities for new apparel
    • Speak to Leslie
    • Flag/Banners – probably do pre-orders, board will order 5 for $65
    • Jerseys – white and black MGHA jerseys with throwback logo
    • Season Jerseys – research 2-color jerseys
    • Amanda will work on these opportunities

Survey

  • Shelly will pass along questions, etc
  • Amanda and Matthew will help take this over
  • Questions will be sent to board for review

Fruit Fest

  • Kate Berry setting up
  • Typical slow response from organizer until closer to event
  • Need volunteers
    • Randi will set up a sign-up on the website
  • New leads
    • Use Google Forms and bitly/QR code
    • Email forwarded from FF2016

Communication

  • Sara and Amanda are both on GroupMe now
  • Board emails have been changed over
  • Trello invites have been sent
  • Facebook will be handled during planning session

Summer Planning Session

  • June 1, 2017 – 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM
  • Location: TBD

Summer Scrimmages

  • Filling up – currently 18 and 12 for sessions (these numbers are as of May 18)
  • Need to fill goalie slots
    • Matthew will work on this
  • Subbing and absences will go through website
  • Need volunteer for pucks and first aid kit

2017-2018 Season Planning

  • Number of games
  • Number of clinics
  • Number of practices
  • Number of challenge games
  • TBD

2017 Summer Scrimmages Announced

We’re now ready to announce our summer scrimmages for 2017!
We have two sessions this year.  The first one is going to be at Madison Ice Arena on the west side of town and will start on May 30th and run through July 12th.  The second one is going to be at Hartmeyer, MGHA’s home rink.  That session will start on July 19th and run through August 23rd.  Each session will run 6 weeks and will cost $65.  Each slot is a minimum of 70 minutes.
Just a heads-up… the schedule is a tad inconsistent due to limited ice availability in Madison this summer, so please take a moment to put the schedule in your calendar.  We did our best to keep a consistent day (Wednesday) when possible, but we couldn’t do that every week.
Here’s the summer schedule and links to sign up:
 
Session 1 (MIA):
  • Tue, May 30 – 7:45 PM
  • Wed, June 7 – 7:00 PM
  • Thu, June 22 – 8:40 PM
  • Wed, June 28 – 7:30 PM
  • Wed, July 5 – 7:30 PM
  • Wed, July 12 – 7:30 PM
Session 2 (Hart):
  • Wed, July 19 – 7:30 PM
  • Wed, July 26 – 7:10 PM
  • Thu, August 3 – 8:40 PM
  • Thu, August 10 – 8:40 PM
  • Wed, August 16 – 7:10 PM
  • Wed, August 23 – 7:30 PM
Each of the above pages will have a link at the bottom to get you to the schedule AND to a link to add it to your calendar!  Remember to log in, just like you do for the usual league activity.
Keep in mind that these do have a cap, similar to our MGHA challenge games.  Please take a minute to sign up if you want to play as sign-ups are on a first come, first served basis.
The processes for logging absences and signing up to sub will be coming in a separate email a little closer to the start of the summer season.  Watch for it!
Look forward to seeing everyone on the ice this summer!
Sign-up is now live!  Get at it!

MGHA Supports Women’s Hockey

The MGHA supports Women’s Hockey, and we ask that USA Hockey uses our dues justly and continues the negotiation with the US Women’s National Hockey Team.

So we sent this to Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey.

Please send comments or questions to the Board at board@madisongayhockey.org.

Letter To Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey,
From the Madison Gay Hockey Association

We, the Madison Gay Hockey Association (MGHA), pay for 150 skater registrations at $40 per person to USA Hockey. This equals $6,000 – the amount paid to one U.S. Women’s National Hockey player. While we know from reading recent reports that our money doesn’t go directly to these elite female athletes, we believe that USA Hockey should pay fair wages to these players that makes important contributions to the visibility of the sport of ice hockey and serve as role models for younger players.

All of the talented women hailing from our community (Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, Megan Duggan, Alex Rigsby) and other hockey towns deserve better. In Madison, the MGHA is a part of the University of Wisconsin community. We’re students, faculty, health care practitioners, and engaged citizens with a mission to provide opportunities for those who have historically felt uncomfortable in traditional sports settings. That makes us speak up.

Our requests are:

  • As members of USA Hockey, the MGHA ask our membership dues be used to equitably support women’s and men’s hockey programs, which includes equitable support for the Women’s National Development team.
  • We ask that you continue the negotiations put forth by the representatives of the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team.

We support the demands of the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team, and we urge USA Hockey to move quickly in finding a just resolution to this unacceptable situation.

Respectfully,
The Madison Gay Hockey Association

The Madison Gay Hockey Association (MGHA) is an adult developmental ice hockey league for people of all sexualities and gender identifications. We are especially committed to providing opportunities for those who have historically felt uncomfortable in traditional sports settings to learn and teach ice hockey in a safe, supportive, and fun environment. We aspire to the highest standards of sportsmanship and promote integration of the wider Madison community into the gay community.

Meeting Minutes – March 8, 2017

Agenda

  • Championship Night
  • Social Update
  • Blades Update
  • Classic Update
  • Idea – Meeting to Document ‘Standard’ Plan
  • Idea – Add-On Advanced Scrimmages and Skills Clinics
  • Summer Scrimmage and Skills Clinics
  • Advanced Player Experience
  • MII Ice Conditions
  • End-of-Year Survey
  • Member Meeting
  • Scoresheet Questions
  • Schedule Next Board Meeting

Championship Night

  • Championship Night
    • March 26, 2017 – Starting at 3:30 PM
    • Anna Cates running it this year
      • Getting photographer
      • Getting announcer
      • Will be looking for responses from captains for All The Way Awards
    • Some thank you shout-outs from the board
    • Potluck tables
    • Merch table

Social Update

  • On track for end-of-year recap with social team
  • Documentary screening went really well, great discussion / engagement
    • Follow-up being planned by Eric
  • Sponsorship meetings to document benefits for both parties in the works

Blades Update

  • David Hafner working on Blades
  • Encouraging teams to sell tickets
  • Email going out to entire league tonight (it’s already out!)

Classic Update

  • 45 signed up so far
  • Total last year was 93
  • Majority signed up for recreational division currently

Idea – Meeting to Document ‘Standard’ Plan

  • Working meeting to capture workflow for the season
  • Would be great to document the procedures
  • Use as a future template
  • Less agenda-focused and more bang-it-out focused
  • Aiming for early June

Idea – Add-On Scrimmages and Clinics

  • These would be in addition to the season
  • Use summer to gauge interest in additional advanced scrimmages and how often we could / should have them
  • Potentially set up a clinic or two during the summer leveraging coaches from Thunder

Summer Scrimmages

  • Working to secure slots for the summer
  • More details to come
  • Tim will be point of contact
  • Randi will work on website
    • Release spot like subbing system on website
    • Players can log on to fill empty slots
  • Pay up front, price TBD

Next Season

  • Based on feedback, consider adding an extra hour for advanced scrimmage during clinic weeks to begin season

Advanced Player Experience

  • What are the feelings of advanced players and how do we create a good experience for them?

MII Ice Conditions

  • Several injuries this season, partially due to bad ice
  • Corner near Zamboni doors are the worst
  • Bring up problems with Stu

End-of-Year Survey

  • Board will work to determine best questions
  • Agenda item to keep this on the radar

Special Meeting of Members

  • April 18, 2017 – 6:30 PM – Location TBD
  • Bylaws review / discussion
  • Voting on remote voting
  • Vote in new members

Annual Meeting of Members

  • May 7, 2017 – 5:00 PM – Glass Nickel (likely)
  • Elect directors and transact other items that may come before the members
  • Vote on bylaw changes proposed at special meeting

Scoresheet Questions

  • Look for new, easier-to-understand scoresheet for next season
  • Do we need referees to sign?
    • According to USA Hockey, yes is what we’re told

Schedule Next Board Meeting

  • No official meeting on the books as of now
  • After championship night, we’ll circle back

Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2016

Agenda

  • Long Term Schedule – Town Hall, Member Meetings, Etc
  • Sponsors Updates
  • Social Updates
  • 5Nines
  • Recruiting a Stats Magician / Gear Guru
  • New Box at Hartmeyer
  • Season Attendance
  • Blades – Timing and Program, Sponsors Soon, Alumni Game
  • 150 Skaters – Maintain or Grow?
  • Filming for WisEye
  • Financial Update – Budget and Actuals to-Date
  • Money for Captains
  • Players Behind on Fees
  • Extra T-Shirts
  • Mesh Bags for Jerseys / Socks in Orange Box
  • Raffles / Donation to Other Organizations
  • MGHA Classic
  • Hockey Ops – MGHA Way
  • Schedule Next Board Meeting

Long Term Schedule

  • Town Hall – Thursday, January 12, 2017 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Glass Nickel
    • Special meeting of the members – 6:30 PM
      • Voting in new members
  • Member Meeting – Tuesday, February 7, 2017 – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Location TBD – Possibly Outreach
    • Special meeting for members
      • Bylaw review / change possibilities
      • Advanced call for agenda items – Online form / email K8
        • Will use the feedback form on the website
      • Voting in new members
      • Open forum
    • K8 will lead meetings and Brian will facilitate

Sponsors Updates

  • $1400 acquired – Glass Nickel, Dexter’s, Shamrock
  • Fully budgeted
  • Kudos to Sarah Bottjen
  • Thanks Mama Libs for a nice donation – Platinum Sponsor!

Social Updates

  • Tagging someone to help with newsletter
  • Chuck-a-Duck paid off
  • Next year: strategically pick special nights, fewer and easier to organize
  • February event likely, maybe March
  • David Hafner in charge of Blades
  • Plan to ask for feedback from Members
    • Potentially also in year-end survey

5Nines

  • Discussion of relationship with 5Nines
    • Clarifying for new Board members
  • Server maintenance not included with current sponsorship
  • Sales rep being activated to discuss changes

Recruiting a Stats Magician / Gear Guru

  • Could benefit from a volunteer to put stats into website
    • Consistency from week to week would help
    • Name is negotiable
  • Looking for someone to take care of gear
    • keep an inventory
    • check status of items received / distributed
  • Randi is adding an ‘Openings’ page to the website

New Box at Hartmeyer

  • New box to be created / moved into the rink
  • Brian will go to Restore
    • May have a kegerator, maybe not

Season Attendance

  • Some players haven’t shown up
  • Will handle attandance issues on a case-by-case basis
    • Will be addressed by K8 when necessary
  • Will look to create an attendance policy for next year

Blades

  • David Hafner is taking charge
  • Sunday, March 19, 2017 – 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
    • Potentially engage with skaters between 4:00 PM and gametime
  • Cost: $312.50
    • Money collected pays for ice time
    • Net proceeds donated to ARCW
  • Early January meeting scheduled for planning

150 Skaters – Maintain or Grow?

  • Maintain!

Filming for WisEye

  • Sunday, December 18, 2016
  • 4:40 PM game

Financial Update

  • We’re in good shape
  • Paid up on ice, refs, bills

Money for Captains

  • Will look at providing a captain fund for 2017-2018 season barring any unforeseen circumstances
  • Funds would be allotted for each captain to purchase supplies for the team

Players Behind on Fees

  • Discussed plan for skaters behind on fees
  • Create page on website for Board to review
  • Skates who haven’t addressed this by January 1, 2017 will be benched from all MGHA on-ice activity
    • Captain will be notified

Extra T-Shirts

  • 53 extras
  • Should only have 22
  • Will put them online for sale for $5
  • Email if you haven’t received yours
    • We’ll put a note on Facebook

Mesh Bags for Jerseys / Socks in Orange Box

  • Acquiring some for the box to help organize

Raffles / Donation to Other Organizations

  • We cannot raffle for another organization
  • We will offer up our means to run the raffle, but they must run it
    • Must have a license
      • Shelly can help them get one
      • Takes 3-6 weeks

MGHA Classic

  • Fundraise for MGHA Scholarship Fund during weekend of tournament
  • Collect gear during tournament
  • GSAFE will receive the donation for 2017

Hockey Ops – MGHA Way

  • Discuss making sure players are playing the MGHA way
  • Ops will reach out specifically to players in question and their captains

Schedule Next Board Meeting

  • Tuesday, January 24, 2017 – 6:15 PM – Tim’s House

Meeting Minutes – October 19, 2016

Agenda

  • Long Term Schedule – Town Hall, Member Meetings, Etc
  • Social and Sponsorship – Review Budget
  • Team Roster Review
  • Apparel Update
  • Schedule Next Board Meeting

Long Term Schedule

  • Town Hall – January 10, 2017 – 7-9 PM – Place TBD
    • Open to all MGHA participants
      • State of the league
      • Financial update
      • Upcoming affairs
      • Membership
      • Bylaw updates
      • Open forum
    • Special meeting of the members
      • Immediately before Town Hall (6:45 PM)
      • Voting in new members
  • Member Meeting – January/February, 2017
    • Special meeting of the members
      • Bylaw review / change possibilities
      • Advanced call for agenda items – method TBD
      • Voting in new members
      • Open forum
  • Both will be led by K8

Social and Sponsorship – Review Budget

  • Review of items on social team list
  • Sponsorships should cover requested amount
  • Agreed on social team’s allocated spending plan

Team Roster Review

  • Hockey Ops provided draft of teams on Monday
  • Hockey Ops explained process used to draft teams
  • Board reviewed and approved

Apparel Update

  • We have apparel
  • More sweatshirts are coming
  • Bandannas are here
  • T-shirts are being printed and will be available for pickup likely by Sunday
  • Jerseys are being printed
  • Anticipating jerseys and socks for captains by Sunday
  • Bandannas, hoodies, winter hats, and scarves will be available for purchase
    • Currently: Pay by cash, check, or credit card at the rink
    • Future: Website will be updated to handle orders

Schedule Next Board Meeting

  • Wednesday, November 16 – 6:30 PM – Tim’s House

Meeting Minutes – September 28, 2016

Agenda

  • Review Previous Board Meetings for Missed Things
  • Social Update
  • Sponsor Update
  • Review / Approve Team Reveal Night
  • Review Newsletter
  • Review Bylaws for Membership Rules
  • Long Term Schedule

Review Previous Board Meetings for Missed Things

  • Outstanding: Talk to Sebastian about Pucks – Shelly

Review / Approve Team Reveal Night

  • Night Schedule:
    • 4:40 PM: Beginner
    • 5:50 PM: Intermediate
    • 7:00 PM: Team Reveal
      • Captains Introduced
      • Players and Teams Announced (30 minutes)
      • Team Bonding (30 minutes)
    • 8:10 PM: Advanced
  • Libs will Send Email to HOps to Follow Up

Review Newsletter / Social and Sponsor Update

  • Libs Showed Upcoming Newsletter
  • HOps Will Provide Libs More Details
  • Sarah Bottjen Sponsor Account Manager

Review Bylaws for Membership Rules

  • K8 Took Notes and Will Write Up Proposed Changes / Questions
  • Discussed Required Annual Meetings

Long Term Schedule

  • Meeting (December)
    • Could Be Both Town Hall and Member Meeting Same Night
    • Voting In New Members
    • Electronic Voting Resolution
  • Annual Meeting (May)
    • Board and Members
  • Board Meeting (May/June)
    • Board Only
    • Selection of Roles

Schedule Next Board Meeting by Resolution

  • Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30 PM

Meeting Minutes – August 30, 2016

Hello again, MGHAers!  We’re full steam ahead into the hockey season with clinics starting in less than two weeks!  We had another board meeting on Tuesday of this week and while it wasn’t as long as last time, it was a productive meeting.  We learned one very important thing from that meeting… Randi is magic!

Agenda and meeting minutes are below.

-Tim

Agenda

  • Recruiting and Mentoring Update
  • Review Membership Page and Application
  • Review Sponsors Page and Application
  • Review Sponsor Packages
  • Hockey Ops Update
  • Jerseys and Socks
  • Orientation
  • Financial Update
  • Financial / Gear Aid
  • Play With Requests
  • Outreach Annual Awards Banquet

Recruiting and Mentoring Update

  • We’re Full, Including Goaltenders
  • Wait List – One Open Invitation Left
  • Almost All New Players Matched with Mentor
  • Mentor Meetings Have Taken Place

Membership Page and Meeting

  • Website Application Looks Good
  • Working to Schedule a Member Meeting for Fall
    • Tentatively Looking at Mid November
  • Email to ‘Announce’ Asking for Member Applications Should Be Sent

Sponsors Page and Application

  • Sponsor Page Preview Given to Board
  • Recommended Changes
    • Move Map Under Announcements
    • Sponsor Logos Move Up
    • Could Add Sponsor Logos to Side of All Pages in Smaller Form

Sponsor Packages

  • Spreadsheet of Packages Preview Given to Board
  • Recommendations
    • Do Not Promise a Certain Number of Fans
    • Be Careful With Promises
    • Create Package Page for Website
    • Create a Footer Graphic to Attach to Emails with Sponsors
      • This should be updated with all current sponsor logos when they change.
    • Who Manages This?

Hockey Ops Update

  • 19 of 20 Captains Signed Up (Update – 20 Now!)
  • Plan Out Talking Points for Captain’s Meeting
    • Will Work with Board and Recruitment
    • Planned for 9/18
    • Mark Nessel is the Captain Wrangler
  • Working with Hartmeyer – Ice Time is Confirmed – Awaiting Contract
    • New Leadership
  • Team Forming
    • HOps Meets to Draft
    • Presents to Board
    • Board Tweaks (if Necessary)
    • Final Approval Given by Board
  • Formalized Clinic and Evaluation Processes

Jerseys and Socks

  • Sebastian Will Be Helping
  • Plan is Similar Colors to 2015-2016 Season
  • Tim Would Like Royal Blue and K8 Would Like Socks With Stripes
  • Due Dates Assigned
    • October 23rd – Acquire Jerseys
    • October 30th – Assign Sizes / Numbers at Team Practice
    • October 31st – Deliver Jerseys to Shop

Orientation

  • Orientation Meeting – Tentative Plan
    • Recruitment: September 11, 2016 at 5 PM
    • Hockey Ops: September 11, 2016 at 6 PM
    • Snacks! (Shelly Will Take Care of This)
    • Conference Room at Hartmeyer? (Tim Will Take Care of This Once Confirmed)
    • Topics
      • League Culture
      • Pronouns / Identity / Interpersonal Communication
      • Race
      • Hockey

Financial Update

  • Filed Annual Report (WI Government Obligation)
  • Dana Working on Taxes
  • Justin and David Ryan-Sukup Got Married and Registered MGHA Contributions for Gifts
    • Making a Donation to the League
    • CONGRATULATIONS!!
  • Declaration of Non-Profit Supposedly Expired
    • Instructions Followed on IRS Website to Get Updated Documentation
    • Have Tried Calls
    • Needed for a Grant

Financial / Gear Aid

  • Most Players Have Paid Deposits Except for Financial Aid Recipients
  • Gear Aid Available on Case-by-Case Basis

Play With Requests

  • Deadline: Friday, October 7, 2016
  • Honored as Best as Possible
  • Need to Create Form on Website
  • “Randi is magic.”

OutReach Annual Awards Banquet

  • Friday, September 23, 2016 – 5 to 9 PM
  • Monona Terrace
  • Table Captain Needed (Libs Will Find This)
  • Cost: $70/ticket, $120/pair, $60/each additional
  • Deadline: Wednesday, September 14, 2016
  • Limited Income and Sliding Scale Available

Next Meeting

  • Tentatively Scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM (Contingent Upon Schedules of Other Board Members)
    • Meeting Will Focus on Bylaws and Scheduling Necessary Meetings Through Season (Long-Term Planning)

“We do not have any fortune cookies tonight.”
Fortune Cookie Generator says: “Open my cookie.”

2016-2017 Season Update from Hockey Ops

The MGHA season calendar is updated with dates of clinics, evaluations, and practices. The season schedule will be released the week prior to the first games. Before the games begin, however, there are a series of important events to help us all prepare to take the ice. Please read carefully and reply to this email if you have questions or concerns.

Clinics
Clinics are open to all new and returning players. New players who are new to hockey are strongly encouraged to/should plan to attend all clinics.

Week 1
  • When: Sept. 11, 7:00 pm & 8:10 pm
  • What: Skating Drills I & II
    • Skating Drills I: Focus on essential skating skills for the beginner
    • Skating Drills II: Additional skating focus building on Skating Drills I
  • Who: New skaters only during the first hour followed by a second hour open to all players who would like to work on skating fundamentals
  • Where: All of the following events will take place at Hartmeyer Ice Arena

Please arrive an hour before the first clinic to ensure that you will have enough time to get you gear on.

Continue reading “2016-2017 Season Update from Hockey Ops” →