Dear Stonewall Minor Hockey (SMHA) Member:

This notice has been prepared to help inform parents and coaches registered in the Stonewall Minor Hockey Association program about the Annual General Meeting being held at the end of the 2022/2023 hockey season. This meeting is an important event for minor hockey as it is an opportunity for the SMHA membership to bring forward any concerns or suggestions to the board pertaining to how the program is operating.

When is the AGM?

This year’s AGM is Thursday April 20, 2023 starting at 7PM upstairs in the Stonewall Curling Club.

Who can attend the AGM?

Any member of the SMHA can attend. A member is any parent or guardian who has a child registered in the SMHA program.

What is the AGM?

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a meeting of the SMHA held at the end of each hockey season. The intent of the meeting is to have a forum at which the SMHA Board can present the Association’s pertinent yearly information such as expenditures, hockey related issues and results, new initiatives etc. The AGM is also the forum at which the membership can express their concerns and present or offer changes to the way the SMHA program operates.

The following information offers a brief explanation of the roles and responsibilities of the SMHA Executive, and also outlines your role as a parent or coach in helping shape the SMHA Program.

What is the role of the SMHA Board and Executive?

As your Board and Executive it is our job they represent SMHA to different organizations such as Hockey Winnipeg, Interlake Minor Hockey, EMFHL (Eastern Manitoba Female Hockey League)  and Hockey Manitoba. The Board and Executive meets throughout the year to discuss relevant issues as they relate to program operations. A list of Board Members and positions is available at https://www.smhra.ca/stonewall/Executive
Current Openings;
Director - Equipment
Director – Communications
Director – Fundraising and Grants *New Position
Registrar
Director – Food Services **Paid position – up for renewal on a yearly basis
Referee-in-Chief **Paid position – up for renewal on a yearly basis
Ice Convener **Paid position – up for renewal on a yearly basis

Does the SMHA Board and Executive decide or make the rules up that dictate what happens to the teams and players within the program?

No. It is important to note that the SMHA Board and Executive does not have the authority or mandate to institute changes to the program unilaterally. All changes or modifications to the SMHA Program have to first be brought forward and voted on by the SMHA membership.

How do SMHA Members bring forward our concerns or ideas for change?

Ideas or suggested changes to the SMHA program have to be submitted formally in writing to the SMHA Executive in the form of a Motion.  

What is a Motion?

A motion is an idea or suggested change to the existing SMHA Program that requires Membership approval to implement. A motion has to express specifically what idea or change is being added to the program. For example – “I, Joe Smith put forward a motion to the SMHA that the national anthem is played or sung before all Stonewall Blues home games.”

Who can submit a Motion?

As a parent of a child registered in the SMHA program you are eligible to submit a motion

How do I submit a Motion?

A Motion is to be submitted in writing via the Motion Requests form on SMHA’s website. All motions have to be submitted 1 week prior to the AGM – specifically before April 13th, 2023.

What Happens to the Motion?

Any Motion that is submitted properly is read out by SMHA Executive at the AGM. The motion is then debated among the members present. Once the debate has ended the motion is voted on by the membership present and either accepted or defeated.

Who can vote?

As a parent or guardian of a child registered in the SMHA program you are a voting member of our association. You have as many votes as you do children registered within the SMHA. Please note there is only one “set” of votes per family.

The information outlined above may not answer all the questions you may have about the SMHA Program and the Annual General Meeting. If you would like to have a member of the SMHA Executive speak with you or your team further please submit your request via the https://www.smhra.ca/stonewall/Executive page and we will make arrangements to meet with you.

Thank you for your interest in the SMHA Program.