I guess I am somehow uninformed.  I did not ever feel that the FMH took a
beating during the NCAA investigation.  Nowhere in the report was the FMH
proven to be non compliant.  We underwent as stringent an investigation as
any, but always were found to be under the control of the University, and to
have quickly changed any policies or plans which were troublesome.  I felt
the only place where it was confused was in the Deadly.  The one time FMH was
specificly mentioned, Jack sent a letter clarifying the fine points, which
(wonder of wonders!) they published unchanged.  Deron's assertion that we
"took a beating" I believe comes from two "boosters" being disassociated (one
for life) by the University, who were not members of the FMH.  That did not
include any FMH business at all.  Where was the connection?  Was it simply
the word "booster"?  Being a "booster" has never equaled being a member of
FMH!!  If it were, the whole State of Maine could have been counted in '93!!
 
I have done some research back into old records to find Wayne's number of
2,000-3,000 members, and found the top figure as 1256, using the "old" method
I described before of three to four members per household.  So actually we
aren't off by as much as I thought when using Wayne's figures.  Normal
average is 400-500, remaining at a fairly constant level, with non renewals
and new fans signing up holding about even.  Last season slightly lower
membership was hopefully an anomaly, although membership still is not a great
percentage of the rink capacity.  In fact, it probably has a close
correlation to the (sometimes) lower attendance at games this past season.
 
In the past, under the "independent from the University" management, the
membership has hosted rallies, receptions and parades at the playoffs, paid
for all or a portion of the expenses for Bananas and the band to travel with
the team, purchased a new skate sharpening machine, weight training
equipment, travel sweats, championship rings, a great portion of the trophy
cases in the lobby of the Alfond, donated $10,000 yearly toward a
scholarship, funded the purchase of satellite & tv, video and computer
equipment.  Maybe this issue is too complex for this post.  I could go on and
on, drawing from past records, but I'm sure you get the idea!  Under the
current system, all net proceeds go directly for only scholarship, travel and
equipment.  We no longer have the freedom to choose on our own to fund
individual projects as they arise, like Bananas & the band, etc, just the
stuff we budget for at this time.  That is not a complaint, simply a fact.
 
Bad PR, huh?  I am curious.  What could we do any better?  We yearly send a
mailing to the Season ticket list, (and the season ticket wannabe's!), of
join FMH info, touting all the great benefits, not the least is simply
supporting the team!  Anyone making the decision of what the benefits of
membership are definitely should include continuing to watch the fine program
we currently enjoy, because membership money goes directly to pay for
scholarship, travel and equipment costs.  The FMH is one huge reason why we
are capable of competing with our better funded competition, with our team's
much larger costs for things like travel.  Besides the newsletter and the
original design pin, we give members free admission to the post game
receptions, and discounts on things like the barbecue before the Alumni game.
 We give preference to FMH members if space is a premium, like the 1993
Banquet.  We try to adapt to the changing needs of the fans, as evidenced by
the planning of bus trips to the Boston area during the second half of the
season when so many of the (tentatively scheduled!) games are away, and the
development of the Web page.  All of the events we host allow the fans to
meet the players that work very hard on and off the ice to represent UMaine
so well.
 
We host post game receptions, Skate with the Bears, an auction, Alumni
Weekend and Golf Tournament, and the Annual Awards Banquet, sending out PSA's
across the state.  We should have a terrific web page if it gets approval
from the University administration, thereby giving us world wide visiblity.
 We publicize as much as possible with interviews, these Internet Lists, and
fax lists (currently over a hundred and rising yearly!).
 
Maybe we are just like the woodwork, Deron.  Always there so you really don't
notice us! ;-}  Jack has friends and folks he keeps in contact with at many
other colleges who are amazed at what this Friends group offers and
accomplishes regularly using only volunteers, and taking very little staff
time proportionately.  He is often found on the phone giving advice and
encouragement to leaders of other groups across the country!  I would
appreciate a few posts from other schools, telling what their Friends groups
provide that is not available through FMH.  I personally feel FMH does a
great job for a small bunch of volunteers with regular jobs which can get in
the way of Maine Hockey!! :-}
 
One of the primary responsibilities of the FMH is to keep our operating
expenses as low as possible in order to give as much as we can to the team,
therefore we can't advertise, even if the University Administration allowed
us to. (Since coming under the umbrella, we are now subject to their
contracts with radio, tv and print media.  They use those for other things!)
 Mr. Doucette recently sent me an Email stating his observation that we do
not do enough to promote UMaine Hockey to fans from away.  I will take that
complaint to the Board, however I would welcome specific suggestions WHICH DO
NOT COST THE PROGRAM!!
 
No, I have come to believe that the folks who don't join fall into three
categories:
cannot afford $35, don't think it's "worth" $35, and don't want to give
anything back to the program.  (Some people fall into two or more of these
categories!)  While I sympathize with the folks in the first, I find it
amazing that either of the second two categories feel they can call
themselves "fans" of Maine Hockey.  I had a few discussions ;-} on this issue
during the phone calls to over 200 people ordering tables or seats at the '93
Banquet, when they would angrily tell me they have been long time fans of the
team, and I would ask them why they weren't members, and we had membership
lists from three years back we were going by!!  Jack & I have been discussing
this and could count on two hands the people who, in all the years he has
been involved, complained to him about FMH!
 
Simply stated, without the Friends of Maine Hockey, there would be a much
different program, one not as enjoyable to watch, and certainly not expected
to make the HE & NCAA playoffs year after year after year (barring
extraordinary circumstances!).  Maybe the people of Maine don't think they
are worth the consistent excellence of this program.  Or perhaps a fourth
category: ennui.  People are just too used to success to realize how vital
that $35 is.  Maybe that is where our failing truly lies.
 
IMHO!
 
Cathy Hart
GO MAINE HOCKEY!!