RMFL 2007 KICK-OFF MEETING: ANOTHER FORMAT CHANGE, BUT BOARD WILL STILL COVER "IT ALL"

DATE: Friday, January 26, 2006

TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2006

TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

PLACE: Best Western Cottontree (1415 Bench Rd); Pocatello, Idaho (east off Pocatello Creek Road Exit, exit I-15 to Bench Road./turn left)

RSVP: Space is limited. Each team is limited to NO MORE than 2 representatives each.

POCATELLO – 2006 saw a new concept for the annual RMFL kick-off meeting; two meetings in one.

2007 continues the mode of adjusting to the changing times as the two meetings in one will take place over two sessions on consecutive days; a Friday evening session on January 26^th and a Saturday morning session on Saturday, January 27th.

According to RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, “that was only one option of several that I proposed to the Managing Board about a month ago.”

Neumeier noted that last seasons full day session really wore at members of the managing board and it seemed to him that decisions became hastily made later in the day as representatives became agitated and anxious to “get it over with”.

“Actually,” Neumeier explained, “even when we had the two separate meetings of 4 hours each, the board got pretty anxious at the end of the 4 hours. Cramming so much business in the same day was probably not the best idea. This format allows for a couple of things. First, it solves the patience problem a little bit. The second session is always a little less exciting and we will get the board off a full nights rest (hopefully!), but the biggest goal is that the representatives will do most of their commuting to the meeting during daylight hours which, considering how treacherous road conditions can be that time of year adds a safety factor to the proceedings not previously considered.”

Besides the format change, however, the agenda items for the meeting will run pretty much ‘according to Hoyle’.

The meeting will begin, after introductions, with the presentation of new teams. Currently the new team lineup stands at only 3 teams: the Salt Lake Seminoles, the Northern Utah Vikings and the Sandy City Bengals. Neumeier believes there could still be more, stressing more are welcome, “especially in the untapped areas of Idaho and Montana.”

Currently, there has not been a “pre-schedule” exercise as took place last season, however, since this meeting will occur 3 weeks earlier than last season and the teams will leave with a complete and comprehensive schedule, the need for talking about format and schedules before the meeting is not as important.

Neumeier did divulge, however, that he is preparing several options, one of which would include only 9 teams in the AAA division with each team playing the other teams once during the season. With 3 AA Western Idaho teams, he is also leaning towards divisional scheduling in the AA with 3 team divisions being established.

A lot will be determined, however, by the vote following the new team admission process and how many AAA teams will move forward. Nine teams are set for certain: Ogden, Utah Wolverines, Utah Heat, Cache Valley Bears, Muddogs, Madison, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Boise. The Vipers would likely be the 10^th team as the AA runner-up if the AAA continues to field 10 teams.

That may depend upon how many of the newly applying teams are admitted. Historically, however, admission is more likely than not; especially with the RMFL requiring video of a practice session for new teams demonstrating at least 30 committed team members… AND a confirmed field… and an extra $500 deposit.

Only three times in RMFL history has a team been turned down for admission into the league. The first case, the old Utah Sharks, who’s presence in the league kept the RMFL alive in 2001, however, only to forfeit out near the end of the 2001 season. The Sharks had to re-apply as a new team at the 2002 January meeting and after missing the meeting, were not accepted back.

Two teams were dis-approved in 2004. The Utah Bearcats and the Mountain Home Marauders were both not approved into the league. The Bearcats suffered from trying to raise a team in the saturated market of Salt Lake/Ogden . Also, no one on the board had heard of the Bearcats and the team’s presentation was disorganized and uninformative. The Marauders were voted down as suspicion was cast upon the team founder, Kenon Coates, who presented the team. After nearby Boise spoke out against some of the claims by the team, they too, were disapproved. Later, under new management, the Mountain Home “Bengals” were resurrected for 2004, taking the place of the Price Outlawz, who were approved, but folded later in March.

Neumeier also expressed some concerns regarding the budget, particularly the league liability insurance policy, which at press time, remains an unknown as the bid is still out for a final quote. “Hopefully it will not go up, or not by much,” the commissioner said, “ I’m already anticipating a bit of a budget jump if the board decides to go to two all-star games as was the buzz at the final meeting of 2006; which is just as well as I think it works well for the management changes I am preparing as we transition to the future of how the league will be managed.”

Neumeier said he is closing in on the details of that management change and will release more information in January regarding league management and he anticipates it being a hot topic to begin session two… or possibly the end of session one.

In another first, Neumeier will be using some carry-over funding to fund a pizza dinner for the Managing Board at the meeting.

“I really think this sets up to be one of the best kick-off meetings ever,” Neumeier speculated, “I like the direction this league is going and, after we get into this meeting and I unveil some of the changes and enhancements that I would like to implement in 2007, I am pretty sure the rest of the Board will be just as excited as I am!”

MEETING AGENDA

NOTE: Whenever possible, every effort will be made to close issues sooner than allotted times to keep meeting ahead of schedule. Discussions will be kept topical and "to the point".

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26^TH (SESSION ONE)

I. 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Social Gathering Time – Pizza Dinner

II. 6:30 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. – Introductions

III. 6:40 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. New team Presentations (5 – 10 minutes each)

IV. 7:10 p.m. – 7:35 p.m.- Closed discussion/approval of new teams

V. Break – 7:35 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

VI. 7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. 2007 League Structure

VII. 8:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Schedule Discussion/Validation

VIII. 8:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – Playoffs, All-Star Game, Final Date Validation

IX. 9:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. - Budget Review/Approval

X. 9:45 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – New Commissioner; Management Change Proposal/Discussion/Validation

XI. 10:30 (or earlier) – Close Session

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27^TH (SESSION TWO)

XII. 9:00 a.m. - Session II Begins: ( League fees must be paid after session one and prior to Session Two; distribute League Handbooks including season schedule)

XIII. 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. - Roster Rules, Procedures, Restrictions, Dates and Deadlines (team preview input)

XIV. 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Home Team Requirements: Field Set up Lockers/changing room Officials Programs Chain crew, scoreboard operator, statistician Flags, National Anthem Other (Salt Lake/Ogden officials payment deadlines/penalties)

XV. 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Statistics Gathering & Reporting

a. Deadlines and Penalties Cross-check validation

b. Pre-season Preview information Gathering

XVI. 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - Break

XVII. 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - All-Star/MVP Selection Process (30 min.)

a. Coaches nomination Process

b. Composition Guidelines

c. MVP balloting (by division)

d. Coach of the Year

e. GM of the Year

XVIII. 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Revisit Game Rules (D.Sire)

XIX. 12:00 p.m.. – 12:30 p.m. - Player Movement Rule – Changes, proposals, clarifications

XX. 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. - Open Agenda (Message Board Changes?)

XXI. 1:00 p.m. Close