WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back to the 2006/07 Under A Ton Winter Season!  This year we have big plans for big changes to improve our league and we hope you will all be very happy with the results!

First, I would like to point out some specific changes, effective immediately, that were discussed at our Captain’s Meeting on August 29^th.  If you have any questions, please see your team captain for clarification, or you can email Tim or me, and we will help you out!

2006 UTMDC Captain’s Meeting -- August 29, 2006 -- Meeting Minutes

1. It was proposed that, due to the number of registered teams for the 2006-07 season, we use only one division instead of the regular two “A” &”B” Divisions.  This motion was passed with 11 captains voting yes and 0 captains voting no.

2. As you may know, the Under A Ton Dart Club hosts a “Darts Ontario Qualifier” tournament at the start of each winter season.  Clarification of participation eligibility was requested and the following was stated:  Only those members of the UTMDC who played for either the 2006/07 Winter Season or the 2006 Summer season are eligible to play in this tournament.  This condition is outlined by the Darts Ontario Board Of Directors and must be adhered to.

3. Change to rule 1.4 in regard to start time:  1.4 Games are to be drawn at 7:50pm and Play is to commence at 8:00 p.m. SHARP!  with an allowance until 8:30 only in the case of inclement weather. For any games cancelled do to inclement weather, the captain and the establishment must be contacted no later than 6:00 p.m. Cancelled games must be made up A.S.A.P. at a time and place convenient to both teams. All games must be played at least one week prior to playoffs. Failure to make up a game will result in a forfeit of points for both teams. Games cannot be rescheduled more than once. Second time no show will result in forfeit.

1.5 Play is to commence at 8:00 p.m. SHARP!  with a leeway till 8:15 if a captain knows someone is on his or her way. After 8:15, games will not back track. If a player is on their way and captain draws their name on the list to play, when their turn comes up pass it and play the next game. If the player is still not present by the second time they are scheduled to play, they must forfeit the 1st game and all remaining games can be re-drawn only if the team has six or more players present.  If the team is short a player(s), then the remaining games are forfeited as well.

4. Clarification of Rule 7.7.  In past years, this rule has stated that a player must have “10 weeks or 1/3^rd of the season in attendance in order to qualify for play in the playoffs.  This has caused some confusion so the rule has been changed to read as follows:  Each team to consist of a maximum of Eleven [11] players with a minimum of Six [6]. Each player must play at least 1/3 of the season, PLUS 1 to account for byes, to play in the playoffs. E.G.  A player has played 9 weeks of the season; to this number we add 1 for a BYE week to total 10 weeks of attendance.

5. Due to the recent decline in membership and the rise in costs related to running the league it was proposed that the Pre-Paid Fee be increased to $55.00 per person and the weekly fee remain at $3.00.  After some discussion, we put to a vote the following three options and received the stated results:

1. Fees to remain the same as those of the 2005/06 Season

                    0 Votes

2. Fees to revert to the leagues original format of no pre payment option and a flat $3.00 per week fee           

                    1 Vote

3. Pre Paid Fee to increase to $55.00 per person, and weekly fee to remain at $3.00 per person

                    6 Votes

Majority vote has decided that the Pre Paid fee for the 2006/07 Season will increase to $55.00 per person and the weekly fee remains at $3.00 per person.

It is the sincere hope of the Executive Committee that this increase be temporary and only for the current season.  We are working on several fundraising ideas (outlined below) that will help to raise income for the league and in turn, allow fees to be largely reduced for future seasons.  Our ultimate goal is to have enough programs in place and raise enough funds to reduce member fees to ZERO.  This will take some time and it is our hope that you will have patience and support our efforts.  Please see below for a more detailed outline of the plans and goals of your committee.

Fundraising Ideas Currently Under Consideration

1.      UTMD to host Dart Tournaments for the purpose of increasing club membership.  This idea was put to a vote at the Captain’s Meeting, which resulted in a unanimous decision to move forward.  More information will follow and we welcome any suggestions and volunteers to help with these events.  We have two league members, Dave Lapierre and Steve Lewis, who have generously offered their time to help run these events and the UTMDC Executive would like to thank them for volunteering their time and commitment to the league!  Please keep in mind that they may require some help and anyone interested in volunteering should forward his/her name and contact information to Kate or Tim.

2.      Another fundraising opportunity for the league is advertising for local business on the website.  It is our intention to offer one full calendar year of a web advertisement for a league sponsorship of $100.00.  More information will follow very soon.  Kudo’s go out to Al, the captain of the Fat Cats team for his generous offer to advertise on our site!  As a small business owner, Al agrees that this is a great deal!  Please check back to the website in a few weeks to look for his ad!

If you or anyone you know is a business owner interested in advertising, please contact Kate for more information!

3.      The list below shows just a couple of the great ideas we have for the fundraising.  We are very interested in hearing your ideas as well so if you have one not listed, please contact any member of the executive with some info!

Ø      50/50  Draws

Ø      Season Specific Ballot Draws – Ie: Turkey for thanksgiving.  Diner For Two – Valentines Day, etc.

Some of you might ask why all the fuss about fundraising?  Well as I mentioned above, the cost of running the league has increased considerably over the past few years, while our membership has declined.  It is our hope to drive up the membership while offsetting the cost to our members by funds received through fundraising.  We eventually hope to be in a financial place where Member Fees can be reduced to ZERO, Banquets will be bigger, better and FREE!  We’ll have better Prizes, Trophies, Music and Meals!

We hope you will all agree that the 2006/07 Winter Season along with our New Executive Committee will mark a new and prosperous era for our league.  Lets get back to basics and make this league what we all know it can be!

Please join us in celebrating this, our 15^th Anniversary,

by all pitching in to make our league what it should be!

A great big thanks to those members who have already stepped forward and offered to volunteer this year!  We need as many hands as we can get, so if you are interested in helping out please contact any one of your executive members!

Kudo’s To Our Current Volunteers!

Dave Lapierre

Steve Lewis

Tammie Lawrence

Corey Whitelaw

Thank you to all our members for your continued membership and support!  Here’s to a great 2006/07 Season!

Yours truly,

The Under A Ton Mixed Darts Club Executive Committee.

Tim Young – League President – 905-628-3278 -- tjyouutmdart@cogeco.ca

Kate Leger – Vice President & Webmaster – 519-498-0475 – mleger0546@rogers.com