MONROE - The StateLine Ice and Community Expo has offered hockey players and ice skaters a home in Monroe for 16 years. Upgrading SLICE is one of the main goals of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association board of directors.
With nine new MYHA board members joining the 11-member board over the past two years, SLICE isn't the only area getting an overhaul. As hockey players develop and move up the ranks, the board has drawn on new faces to take on leadership roles for the not-for-profit hockey club.
"Our biggest goal is pushing and promoting youth hockey," said Joel Fonseca, the president of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association board of directors who is in his second year on the board and first year as president. "One of the big things I'm trying to do is push upgrading our facility. Over 16 years, we have needed to set up and start doing some preventative maintenance. A lot of the rinks are getting old and if you are not making money they can go downhill in a hurry."
The MYHA board still owes about $600,000 to pay off the rink.
Fonseca, who is from Warren and has two children playing hockey, said the MYHA board is considering developing a capital campaign that could be spearheaded by a local organization or business partner.
"If we are really looking at upgrading the facility and paving the parking lot we have to set our sights higher," Fonseca said. "We will look at grants, donations and a capital campaign. We are always looking for ways to pay off our facility. We are not afraid of working."
The MYHA board is having the inside of SLICE painted this summer and has plans to install new rubber mats just outside the ice. The board is working on developing some off-ice areas for youth hockey players to improve their skills.
Fonseca said the board will add an off-ice shooting area, similar to a batting cage, for players.
"That way they can work on their speed, agility, shooting and form," he said. "We want to get some cardio equipment and maybe an agility ladder in there."
The MYHA board's financial picture has a much clearer outlook now then six years ago when it faced the challenge of having to repay $28,700 in back property taxes with interest and penalties, according to the Green County treasurer's office. Because the SLICE property was first in Forum Inc.'s name, and Forum was registered as a partially tax-exempt, benevolent association, the group was required to pay the property tax bill from 2004 to 2009, which was more than $28,000.
Rooney Janecke of Orangeville, the vice president of the MYHA who has been on the board eight years and has served as president in the past, said the hockey association took out a loan and repaid the money they owed for the back property taxes.
"Once we get the facility paid off we may be able to offer hockey at an even cheaper rate," Janecke said.
Dr. Tom Ganshert helped spearhead a nonprofit group, Forum Inc., which was launched in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) organization. The purpose of Forum Inc. was to develop and manage a multipurpose facility to house artificial ice six months a year and provide dry floor space six months a year. In 1996, MYHA pledged $115,000 toward the facility. Through capital donations and loans, SLICE was constructed and hosted the first indoor hockey game Dec. 17, 1999.
Youth hockey associations are one of the organizations that receive property tax relief. The former Forum Inc. and the Monroe Youth Hockey Association took steps to combine and were registered as a fully tax-exempt entity Jan. 1, 2010.
"We are a self-sustaining program now," Fonseca said.
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., a board member of Monroe, who has served on the board of directors for 18 years, said the loan for the hockey rink is about 50 percent paid off.
"We are now able to put more money into the building," Brandli said. "The sad part is we should have been doing this 15 or 16 years ago."
Fonseca said the MYHA board budgets about $10,000 for facility upgrades and maintenance each year and that includes any repairs the Zamboni or rink may need, like glass or boards.
"Our biggest expense is our utilities," he said. "If something happens to the Zamboni it could be anywhere from $500 to $2,000 or $3,000."
Participation in Monroe Avalanche youth hockey teams has increased from 80 children in 2009 to 115 members last year.
"We are using social media as a big push to get more players," Fonseca said. "More kids are starting to realize there are more options in the winter than basketball."
The hockey association charges players a registration fee for leagues that begin in October. The MYHA board has several fundraisers throughout the year, including the Cheese Days Chase 5K run, a concession stand at Cheese Days, renting out the rink for the Swiss Valley Harley-Davidson open house, a golf outing July 30, a gun show, train show, use for Monroe Trucking, training for the fire department and a skeet shoot fundraiser at the Argyle Rod and Gun Club. The SLICE facility can also be rented to host wedding receptions and birthday parties and offers open ice skating for the public during certain days in the winter.
Fonseca said the MYHA board is in discussions with an arena football team from Janesville that could possibly use SLICE for four or five games.
With nine new MYHA board members joining the 11-member board over the past two years, SLICE isn't the only area getting an overhaul. As hockey players develop and move up the ranks, the board has drawn on new faces to take on leadership roles for the not-for-profit hockey club.
"Our biggest goal is pushing and promoting youth hockey," said Joel Fonseca, the president of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association board of directors who is in his second year on the board and first year as president. "One of the big things I'm trying to do is push upgrading our facility. Over 16 years, we have needed to set up and start doing some preventative maintenance. A lot of the rinks are getting old and if you are not making money they can go downhill in a hurry."
The MYHA board still owes about $600,000 to pay off the rink.
Fonseca, who is from Warren and has two children playing hockey, said the MYHA board is considering developing a capital campaign that could be spearheaded by a local organization or business partner.
"If we are really looking at upgrading the facility and paving the parking lot we have to set our sights higher," Fonseca said. "We will look at grants, donations and a capital campaign. We are always looking for ways to pay off our facility. We are not afraid of working."
The MYHA board is having the inside of SLICE painted this summer and has plans to install new rubber mats just outside the ice. The board is working on developing some off-ice areas for youth hockey players to improve their skills.
Fonseca said the board will add an off-ice shooting area, similar to a batting cage, for players.
"That way they can work on their speed, agility, shooting and form," he said. "We want to get some cardio equipment and maybe an agility ladder in there."
The MYHA board's financial picture has a much clearer outlook now then six years ago when it faced the challenge of having to repay $28,700 in back property taxes with interest and penalties, according to the Green County treasurer's office. Because the SLICE property was first in Forum Inc.'s name, and Forum was registered as a partially tax-exempt, benevolent association, the group was required to pay the property tax bill from 2004 to 2009, which was more than $28,000.
Rooney Janecke of Orangeville, the vice president of the MYHA who has been on the board eight years and has served as president in the past, said the hockey association took out a loan and repaid the money they owed for the back property taxes.
"Once we get the facility paid off we may be able to offer hockey at an even cheaper rate," Janecke said.
Dr. Tom Ganshert helped spearhead a nonprofit group, Forum Inc., which was launched in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) organization. The purpose of Forum Inc. was to develop and manage a multipurpose facility to house artificial ice six months a year and provide dry floor space six months a year. In 1996, MYHA pledged $115,000 toward the facility. Through capital donations and loans, SLICE was constructed and hosted the first indoor hockey game Dec. 17, 1999.
Youth hockey associations are one of the organizations that receive property tax relief. The former Forum Inc. and the Monroe Youth Hockey Association took steps to combine and were registered as a fully tax-exempt entity Jan. 1, 2010.
"We are a self-sustaining program now," Fonseca said.
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., a board member of Monroe, who has served on the board of directors for 18 years, said the loan for the hockey rink is about 50 percent paid off.
"We are now able to put more money into the building," Brandli said. "The sad part is we should have been doing this 15 or 16 years ago."
Fonseca said the MYHA board budgets about $10,000 for facility upgrades and maintenance each year and that includes any repairs the Zamboni or rink may need, like glass or boards.
"Our biggest expense is our utilities," he said. "If something happens to the Zamboni it could be anywhere from $500 to $2,000 or $3,000."
Participation in Monroe Avalanche youth hockey teams has increased from 80 children in 2009 to 115 members last year.
"We are using social media as a big push to get more players," Fonseca said. "More kids are starting to realize there are more options in the winter than basketball."
The hockey association charges players a registration fee for leagues that begin in October. The MYHA board has several fundraisers throughout the year, including the Cheese Days Chase 5K run, a concession stand at Cheese Days, renting out the rink for the Swiss Valley Harley-Davidson open house, a golf outing July 30, a gun show, train show, use for Monroe Trucking, training for the fire department and a skeet shoot fundraiser at the Argyle Rod and Gun Club. The SLICE facility can also be rented to host wedding receptions and birthday parties and offers open ice skating for the public during certain days in the winter.
Fonseca said the MYHA board is in discussions with an arena football team from Janesville that could possibly use SLICE for four or five games.
