A New Beginning with West Ferris Minor Hockey?

A group of concerned citizens are running against the long-standing leadership to bring about positive change for the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association (WFMHA). A coalition consisting of Tammy Chasse, Jocelyn Shaver and John D’Agostino are pushing for transparency, modernization and consistency of decisions for the West Ferris Minor Hockey Association.

The WFMHA is meeting on Sunday, May 30th at 7:00PM at the West Ferris Arena Auditorium to hold elections for the Executive Members.

All voting members of the WFMHA are encouraged to attend and cast their ballot. A voting member is anyone with a child registered in the WFMHA.

The new coalition believes this event is typically poorly publicized, and poorly attended. As a result, the effective control of WFMHA has been cycling back and forth between the same people for almost 20 years with very few exceptions. They believe this small group of individuals has allowed the WFMHA to stagnate, and has not met the basic requirements for running a not-for-profit corporation. Current irregularities include:

- The lack of adequate financial disclosure/financial statements to the directors.

- The lack of filing annual Notices of Change re: Operational Control of the WFMHA Board.

- Inconsistencies or failure to maintain adequate documents, books, registers and records as required by the Corporations Act.

- The existence of sections of the by-laws and constitution that violate the Corporations Act.

Tammy Chasse is running for President, Jocelyn Shaver is running for Secretary, and John D’Agostino is running for Director. They ask that you please vote for them, and support their effort to focus the WFMHA on the needs of the children playing hockey.

“As a parent, I feel that it is my responsibility to invest in the interests and talents of my children. It is for this reason that I have decided to run for president of the WFMHA. As president of your association, I vow to be accessible, transparent, and have our children’s interest at the forefront of every decision I make,” said Tammy Chasse in a press release.

Jocelyn Shaver believes members aren't content with the current focus or direction of the WFMHA.

“I have spent a lot of time at the rinks listening to the membership of the WFMHA and their concerns," said Shaver in the press release.

"I have also found it both difficult and unpopular to bring this to the attention of the 'leadership' of the WFMH executive. In order to influence change, we must work together with mutual respect and acceptance for the contributions and insights of our members.”

As a lawyer and hockey parent D'Agostino sees a lack of leadership at the top.

"Their inability to meet the basic requirements for running a not-for-profit organization are mirrored by their disconnection from the needs of the children," stated D'Agostino in the release.

Submitted to BayToday.ca