Delta Hockey Association News
News from the Delta-Greely Skating Association
The 4th Annual Dinner/Auction Gala is set for Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at the Moose Lodge on Jack Warren Road. We have a lot of wonderful gift items already for the auction and the food includes pig. Even though the theme is Hawaiian, you won’t see the whole pig. Tickets at $25.00 per plate will be available at Granite View Sports on October 31st, 2007. Only 100 tickets will be available so if you are interested in a very entertaining and fun evening, be sure to get your seats. We promise you a large variety of unique gift items that would make for wonderful Christmas presents, games of chance, and just a lot of wholesome fun.
For all the new people in our community, the Delta-Greely Youth Skating Association is a non-profit organization designed to develop hockey and figure skating skills in our youth from ages 4 to 14. The Association provides more than just certified coaches. With funds from the past three Galas and revenue from DREDC and the City of Delta Junction, the Association has purchased 45 hockey and figure skating kits that are leased to a skater for the season. The kits are for introducing the game to the skater and make this winter activity more affordable to the family. As of October 30, 2007, 26 kits have been issued so there are more available if your skater is still interested in playing this season. To register, call the registrar, Dawn Grossmann at 895-1910.
What else do we do? The Association uses a City building and with the volunteer efforts of many, the Association maintains a facility with lights, heat and ice. For those who don’t know, the ice is available for classroom skating, private parties, community skating on Sunday (this year we hope to include some Saturday nights), youth, adult and High School practices and games and tournaments. Last year, the City of Delta helped with the increase in fuel and electric costs. The City also covers the liability expenses of the building.
How does the Association pay for operation costs for a skating season? Revenue from the youth programs comes from registration and with the volunteer efforts of the families, revenue is generated from recycling cans, concession stand sales, hosting Community skate, skate a thon, tournaments and the dinner/auction Gala. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the revenue that funds operation costs comes from our Community’s Businesses and Individuals through Sponsorships, donations, gift items for the auction and their presence at the Gala.
Where are we going with this program? The Association would like to increase youth program participation and Community use of the rink. Perhaps someday, there will be appropriate matting to accommodate indoor soccer, nets for basketball and a stage for performances. With the new improvements to the arena, there are lots of future possibilities. But for now, we are gearing up to skate.
The 4th Annual Dinner/Auction Gala is set for Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at the Moose Lodge on Jack Warren Road. We have a lot of wonderful gift items already for the auction and the food includes pig. Even though the theme is Hawaiian, you won’t see the whole pig. Tickets at $25.00 per plate will be available at Granite View Sports on October 31st, 2007. Only 100 tickets will be available so if you are interested in a very entertaining and fun evening, be sure to get your seats. We promise you a large variety of unique gift items that would make for wonderful Christmas presents, games of chance, and just a lot of wholesome fun.
For all the new people in our community, the Delta-Greely Youth Skating Association is a non-profit organization designed to develop hockey and figure skating skills in our youth from ages 4 to 14. The Association provides more than just certified coaches. With funds from the past three Galas and revenue from DREDC and the City of Delta Junction, the Association has purchased 45 hockey and figure skating kits that are leased to a skater for the season. The kits are for introducing the game to the skater and make this winter activity more affordable to the family. As of October 30, 2007, 26 kits have been issued so there are more available if your skater is still interested in playing this season. To register, call the registrar, Dawn Grossmann at 895-1910.
What else do we do? The Association uses a City building and with the volunteer efforts of many, the Association maintains a facility with lights, heat and ice. For those who don’t know, the ice is available for classroom skating, private parties, community skating on Sunday (this year we hope to include some Saturday nights), youth, adult and High School practices and games and tournaments. Last year, the City of Delta helped with the increase in fuel and electric costs. The City also covers the liability expenses of the building.
How does the Association pay for operation costs for a skating season? Revenue from the youth programs comes from registration and with the volunteer efforts of the families, revenue is generated from recycling cans, concession stand sales, hosting Community skate, skate a thon, tournaments and the dinner/auction Gala. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the revenue that funds operation costs comes from our Community’s Businesses and Individuals through Sponsorships, donations, gift items for the auction and their presence at the Gala.
Where are we going with this program? The Association would like to increase youth program participation and Community use of the rink. Perhaps someday, there will be appropriate matting to accommodate indoor soccer, nets for basketball and a stage for performances. With the new improvements to the arena, there are lots of future possibilities. But for now, we are gearing up to skate.
posted by Delta News Web at 10/31/2007 08:46:00 AM
4 Comments:
For years, the skating association operated on a minimal budget and very little solicitation. Suddenly, overnight, the budget and expenses mushroomed to tripe if not quadruple what it was. Everytime one turns around this group is holding out its hand, demanding more money. While the program itself it a good thing, someone needs to conduct a check and balance here. An audit into the expenditures over the past four years wouldn't be a bad idea.
Skaters used to raise money through a skate-a-thon. Free gear was NOT given out. Rather it was handed down or bought at skate swaps. It was a thriving, productive program. This current group not only demanded a lion's share of the federal funds alloted to Delta, but vigorously fought to ensure no other youth group received any. (Remember the paltry $12,000 the moto-cross group was originally promised this past spring???)
Additionally, the current building can NEVER be used for any other purposes without such major overalls to the design it was provento be cheaper to build a new one. THAT is why it is a skating rink - unheated - and NOT a Fairbanks Drama Association setup. So pie in the sky promises in order to solicit funds is a bit of a falsehood.
P.S. A new zamboni room when the high school already had one and was quite willing to continue housing it??? And since it was a new design the contracter awarded the bid has no experience with - well - let us say it is not only way behind schedule it is WAY behind schedule. Nope, no heated, indoor rink this year folks. Not for your 3.2 million dollars.
P.P.S. When are these little skaters going to do an adopt-a-highway program or something else to say THANKS to this community for all its help and greenbacks??
Well it seems like you may have some valid points but probably need to do a little more research before you make inaccurate accusations. If you really want to know where all the money goes you should address your issues with the Delta Hockey Association Board, I'm sure they can advise you on the operating costs to make the program a success.
Spell check and grammar check are a wonderful tool
Sorry readers, I don’t mean to turn this forum into a blog but some things just need to be addressed.
Delta has a great reputation as a "hockey town" and takes pride in all of its skaters. I've been proud to lend support to this organization and its cause. I agree that some facts should be checked before comments like this are made.
Delta has grown over the last few years - quite a bit - and the "minimal budget" that the hockey association worked with probably no longer covered what was needed to properly outfit and supply skaters with what they needed for the season, as there is a much greater demand due to the large increase in registered skaters. Free gear is not "given out" - it is rented, thank goodness, because kids grow so fast who can afford to completely outfit them every year?
And what organization fighting for federal funds doesn't try to get as much as they can for their cause? As far as I'm concerned, it's about time that there was a boom in hockey funding. For years and years kids skated in all kinds of weather on the outdoor rink and the parents and community supporters brought their cushions and blankets and sat on the frozen bleachers outside to cheer them on. It's about time that the Delta Hockey Association got a decent rink for the players and the community, and I don’t begrudge them a bit for attempting to upgrade the facilities that they were finally able to obtain.
And P.S. - since when do we support ANY organization and then sit and wait for a big thanks? When I donate, the only thanks I need is knowing that the kids are skating their hearts out and having a great time doing it.
As a parent, community member and supporter of the Hockey Association, a big thanks needs to go out to the parents and volunteers who donate their time to ensuring that our kids can all play hockey, no matter what. We all see you hitting the pavement, running fundraisers and generating community support. We appreciate it, and keep up the good work!
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