Weekly Updates... week of 15 September 08

topics this week... a note from steve | website

a note from steve... I know I sent a relatively short and cryptic message to you on Friday about hockey being canceled this past weekend. To give some more information, in light of the rather imposing 'you must have a permit' and 'no trespassing' signs on the field recently, I emailed Tim (he had helped us get ready for Chicago Cup) at NU grounds and facilities to find out where we stood and had there been a change of policy. He said that technically all the times we had played there in recent years had been 'without permission' but they were not enforcing the permit policy. Now they are enforcing and we were offered the opportunity to rent the field for $175/hr. He acknowledged that this was very different to what we were used to over the past 5 years, but that if we wanted to continue to play there without hassle, renting the field was the only guarantee that we could play uninterrupted. In light of this we are currently pursuing another angle which is to obtain a permit through the NU Co-ed field hockey club that some of the CFHC crew set up in 2005. The club still exists but there is certain information (club acct # etc..) you have to have from NU to make a booking, which would no longer be current. We have requested to get this information and If this went to plan we would be able to apply for the field and so long as it is not in use by an NU sports team we would be able to use it (beware my tendency towards optimism here). Its still very much up in the air, but we'll do all we can to resolve it this week so we'll know where we stand. Another option being discussed if this is not successful is to try and negotiate a more manageable rate on the basis of making a long term booking. Pros and Cons to this, Cons obviously would be that it would change the costs associated with playing hockey, the big Pro we would never have to worry about the uncertainty of not having a pitch to play on. Also I'd assume (and I could be wrong) that if you are paying you get a prepared pitch (watered, goals etc..) At $175/hr it would be very difficult to make this work, but if a more favorable price could be negotiated it starts to look more realistic. A second update will be sent out later in the week when we know more. Shoot me a note (mens-captain@chicagofhc.com) if you have any thoughts/comments. Thanks, Steve

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