GMHA Members,
The volunteers of the GMHA Executive understand that some people won’t like the new logo and some will.
The logo was changed because numerous members asked for a name, colour and/or logo change several times over the last few years. So the board felt that it was time for a change, but changing of the Blaze name or the base red/white and blue colors were too big of a change to make and would end up costing our membership money in having to purchase new colours of helmets, pants, gloves, wind suits, jackets, etc., and the cost of hockey is something the Board has been very diligent about as can be seen by the massive reduction in registration costs even though we've seen increases in the single biggest cost to us all, ice rental, year after year. However, it was felt that if there was just a change in the logo itself, there would be no cost to any member or the Association, but it might cause some excitement and ultimately help draw more of our young kids into hockey in the future, which would benefit everyone.
So a competition was offered to the members to submit their ideas for a logo change and was placed on the GMHA website and on Facebook. Unfortunately, like everything which is ever asked about, voted on or surveyed, there was very minimal response from the membership.
Organizing and doing surveys, polls, collecting the results, etc., all takes the time of the volunteers that are already working for you for free and very busy doing everything required to put close to 900 kids on the ice and keep them there for over 150 hours a week and for a significant amount of the year. Take for instance, the survey regarding getting rid of the GMHA all together and amalgamating with EG, only 10% of the membership even participated in the survey which only took clicking a button on the website. Something that big and massive that would affect everyone got that little of interest or response. We as an Executive did not feel the risk of potentially losing a volunteer was worth it and we believe the majority of the membership that we are there representing would feel the same way.
The contest logos submitted were presented to the Executive and they were discussed at length and selected a logo in which they believed would be representative of the majority of the association which they represent and meet the requirements of our governing bodies, OMHA, OHF and Hockey Canada.
After selection of the new logo and jersey combination it was shown to various teams and parents within the GMHA to gauge members acceptance before finalizing and sending out to the entire membership and an overwhelming majority of those shown liked the changes.
The logo change was done with the best of intentions as with all the decisions the Executive make on behalf of the members of the GMHA on a regular basis hope that in the upcoming 2015/2016 season it will result in benefits to the GMHA. We as an Executive have learned from this situation and moving forward will take into consideration what has happened here when making the difficult and important decisions that effect the GMHA and its membership.
So as far as the new jerseys and logo go for the up-coming 2015/2016 season we will proceed as planned and go with the new logo and new jersey combination.
At the end of the season, if the membership still feels strongly about changing logo and the jerseys then the issue can be re-addressed at the AGM, which is where we all as members are to go and find out what is happening in our Associations, make suggestions and help shape the future of the GMHA.
Any further questions or concerns regarding the jerseys and logos can be directed to me personally via e-mail.
Any further comments or surveys etc posted on Facebook about the new logo that are not supportive will be deleted as they will be deemed to be disruptive towards membership.
Change is not always easy but progress is impossible without change.
Thanks
Sean Whittaker