Feature Article April 24, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb Home Flyers get new lifeby Bill CuthillTwenty-six people attended the Flyers emergency meeting on April 15, and out of that group 14 are now confirmed directors. The remaining 12 have agreed to become members of the booster club and will help keep the Flyers at North Frontenac Arena.
In the past few years the Flyers have been struggling because of lack of support in all areas - directors, sponsors and fans. The first emergency meeting was very discouraging, and it was decided to have another meeting. If the turnout at that meeting had also been poor, we would have had to make a phone call to the Ontario Hockey Association and disband the club. This would have been a tough call to make. The Flyers were aware they would never have an opportunity for another franchise, as the OHA will not give franchises to small centers any more. In order to continue it was obvious the Flyers needed to know whether the community really wanted junior hockey at our Arena.
The answer, thankfully, was Yes! Now with the new directors who have come forward, a lot of experience from other organizations in the community has also come to us. It was exciting to hear the new ideas on how to raise funds to support the team.
The Flyers are an important source of interest, and revenue, for the North Frontenac Arena, as arena manager Jim Stinson pointed out at our earlier meeting. Having a Junior team has also brought more kids into hockey at the North Frontenac Arena over the past 13 years.
The new board for the Flyers will meet on May 20th, and then the new, happy problem, of finding jobs for everyone, and taking advantage of all the skills coming forward, will have to be addressed.
The next Flyer function is the Flea Market on Saturday April 26 at the Arena. With 18 confirmed vendors it looks like it will be successful. The Flyers will still be taking more vendors so if you have something you would like to display and sell, please call 374-2177 or 374-2496. The Flyers will also be having Bingos every Monday at the arena this summer starting May 5.
A lot of things are going to be going on with this new group and it will be an exciting time to be a Frontenac Flyer. I cant wait to see this new excitement transfer down to the ice this fall. See you at the arena!!!
