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April 10, 2009 - Update - New Cumberland Minor Hockey Leage Parents, players, team officials, and friends of the CMHA,
I am writing to you today on behalf of the CMHA executive and myself to provide you with an update regarding the events and discussions which have taken place since my last letter to you April 2, 2009. This letter outlined the formation of a new league operating under the CMHA and the subsequent withdrawal from the Gloucester Hockey Association (GHA) which would result from such a decision.
I will begin by first of all thanking the members of the CMHA Executive board for their dedication, commitment and time spent on behalf of the players and parents of our community.
I would also like to thank all of the parents, coaches and players who were able to attend Monday's information session and for those who could not for phoning or emailing your comments. Your passion and commitment to your children and the league is also to be acknowledged.
For those of you who were able to attend the information session earlier this week you were provided with a presentation by the CMHA. The presentation overviewed a new direction for minor hockey in our community aimed at providing our hockey youth with a greater opportunity for development, balance and autonomy. You were also witness to a very spirited and lively debate with very passionate opinions, which can only be expected when we discuss our great game of hockey. There was an overwhelming and common message brought forward at the meeting and through subsequent emails to members of the board. In fact the same message was heard from both supporters and opponents of the proposed new direction.
This message was that the CMHA executive had failed to sufficiently communicate with the parents and players during its efforts to improve minor hockey for our children in Cumberland with the creation of a new CMHA League outside of the GHA. While there is strong belief within the executive that this is the path of the future we acknowledge that a decision of this magnitude required more informed consultation from those whom the board represents. Consequently, at our Executive meeting of April 8 th the board amended its previous motion in favour of a one year moratorium on the creation of a new CMHA league allowing the CMHA board the opportunity to provide further support to its planning effort to date with the inclusion of further consultation from its membership and volunteers.
In the interim we will advise both the District, it's Chair and the GHA of our decision and will begin work with your involvement throughout the upcoming 2009-2010 season.
In closing I would like to once again thank all of you for your support and commitment to the CMHA.
Dan Guérin President, CMHA
April 2, 2009 - Open Letter - New Cumberland Minor Hockey League Parents, players, team officials, and friends of the CMHA,
I would like to inform you of some important and exciting developments at the Cumberland Minor Hockey Association (CMHA).
After considerable analysis and planning, the CMHA has decided to withdraw from the GHA and form its own league effective next season. More specifically, our teams will no longer play as part of the Gloucester Hockey Association in the 2009/10 hockey season. We will now play against Cumberland teams, in Cumberland arenas.
We have begun the administrative processes required to move forward such as CMHA and District XII Board approvals and will be seeking approval from the ODMHA in the coming weeks. We have notified the GHA executive of our plans and indicated that we took our decision with mixed feelings. Our relationship with the GHA has been a long and successful partnership and our decision to go in a different direction is not as a result of dissatisfaction with the GHA. In fact, we hope we can continue to be good friends and meet each other in tournaments and exhibition games in the future. Our decision is based on the recognition that the CMHA is large enough to forge its own direction.
We believe that there are many benefits to running our own league including the ability to better manage our ice and create a more focused approach to player development.
I am sure that you have many questions and certainly our new direction is not without risk but we are committed to ensuring the CMHA's continued success.
Join us at our upcoming Annual General Meeting where we will share more details and can answer your questions.
Are You Ready For The New Cumberland Minor Hockey League? Dan Guérin President, CMHA
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President's Message For the latest news on the new league, please read the CMHA chronicle newsletter HERE. |