How can I give feedback to the board?

You can email the captains (mens-captain@chicagofhc.com and ladies-captain@chicagofhc.com) directly, or use the online Suggestion Box form.

Do I really have to become a USFHA member?

Yes - we get all of our insurance through USFHA, and it's a great way to continue the development of the sport we all love!

How are teams picked for tournaments?

The captains select the teams for a tournament in addition to picking the starting 11 and formation. A social tournament roster is filled on a first come first served basis even the “best” player in the club will not be given a spot on the roster if they have not signed up prior to the roster being filled. The idea of having social tournaments is to give all club members the opportunity to experience tournament play and camaraderie. Should 2 Chicago teams be entered we attempt to balance their strengths equally. For a competitive tournament/team the players are selected from a pool of members who have indicated interest in playing. The captains select the competitive roster on the basis of skill, teamwork, experience, positional requirements, team dynamic, club/practice participation and, in the case of co-ed, balancing gender. The purpose is to pick the best available team to win the tournament, this is also true if 2 teams are entered there will be a 1st/A and a 2nd/B team. Tactics, positions and player roles are also taken into consideration for a final decision on the team. In both cases non-members are only considered for selection after the membership deadline has expired and the roster has not been filled. This builds our relationship with players and clubs around the country and allows us to participate in more tournaments. When 2 competitive teams are entered a tournament e.g. Chicago Cup, the non-members will not displace CFHC members from the 1st/A team. Non members can be solicited from any of our members.

Why can't we use polls for more decisions?

Polls have not been widely responded to when used, however the point is taken that we should try and solicit feedback from a wider cross-section of the club to make the more important decisions. Also, the idea of electing a group of representatives is that there are a lot of issues that are time sensitive and/or very difficult to resolve through simple polls, so a lot of decisions are made on your behalf by people you felt would do a good job when you voted for them in November 2005. The board will go to polls on a case by case basis but it is obviously not possible to do so for every decision the board makes otherwise it nullifies the point of having a board. The board is elected with a mandate to make decisions on behalf of everyone at the club. Throughout the year, there are numerous opportunities for you to provide your feedback, some new (the suggestion box online, this survey, for example) and some have been in place from the beginning (talking with the board members at practice or elsewhere), and ultimately you have the say at the end of the season to elect someone different. A person is elected for a year and has a year to do their job, whatever it may be. You get the board you vote for and if you don't like it, you can vote differently the following year.

What is the Annual General Meeting all about?

The Annual General Meeting is to be held every year at the end of the season and serves three main purposes: the first is for the board to report to the club all the details of the past season (this is where the financial report is presented including revenue, expenses, etc, and where club opinions are polled on specific topics); the second is for new board elections; and the third is a community open forum, where everyone has the chance to speak their mind. Please refer to our Articles of Incorporation for more information on the board setup.

How do elections work?

All nominations are due to the Financial and Membership Chair by a predetermined date. Nominations can be made for one or all of the positions. The Financial and Membership Chair will notify nominees on that they have been nominated for one or more positions, with a list of the other people who were nominated for those roles. That person will then need to reply if they accept the nomination. They may only accept a nomination for one position on the board. As acceptances of nominations are received, they will be posted on a page in the "Locker Room" area of the website. Candidates will be set one week before elections. Voting will take place via ballot at the AGM. Proxy voting is available by request if you are unable to attend the meeting.