mike machnik suggested I might share the letter I wrote to the decathalon club with the list.... here it is charlie shub University of Colorado at Colorado Springs [log in to unmask] -or- cdash@colospgs (BITNET) (719) 593 3492 (fax) 593-3369 =========================================== 14445 River Oaks Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80921 March 6, 1995 Mr. Steve Peters or Ms. Patti Riha Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation c/o The Decathlon Club 1700 East 79th Street Bloomington, MN 55425 Dear Mr. Peters or Ms. Riha: It is my understanding that the announcement of the winner of the Hobey Baker Award, heretofore freely available to the public, will have an admission fee this year. In the past, this event has been sparsely attended by the public, and I can certainly understand your wanting to have greater public involvement. However, enclosing this announcement in the "Fan Fair" setting where the "Fan Fair" charges admission is not, in my opinion, a prudent move. My 15 year old son will be attending his first ever collegiate ice hockey championships with me, and we have planned a heavy schedule including visiting his uncle and his aunt on the day of your award. As you can see from my return address, we do not live near Providence, and Jonathan has never been in that part of the country. We had been planning on doing some touring, spending some time with friends who live in the area, attending the Hobey Baker presentation, and then going out for a family dinner. So, as you can see, not everybody wants to attend the "Fan Fair" that you have included as a mandatory wrapper for your important ceremony. According to the Providence Journal the Fan Fair will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center (next door to the Civic Center) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. It will feature interactive games, autograph sessions with former NHL stars (none are named) and the first public presentation of the Hobey Baker Award. A Fan Fair organizer was quoted as saying the emphasis of the fair is on family, not just hockey. That is obvious from some of the other events(?) being scheduled. They include trading card and pin vendors, batting cages (huh?) basketball and football skills contests (double huh?) temporary tattoos and face painting, miniature golf courses, dunk tanks and continuous entertain- ment. Other than the Hobey Baker ceremony it sounds to me like the "Fan Fair" has little to do with college hockey at all. It also sounds to me like this event certainly does not involve the level of dignity associated with the Hobey Baker award ceremonies in the past and will certainly cheapen your ceremony. I urge you to either reconsider your decision or to make arrange- ments for free passage to the awards ceremonies for those who have no interest in the rest of the "Fan Fair". Sincerely, Charles M. Shub ===========================================