MGSHPA GETS A

NEW PRESIDENT !!

Hibbing's Ray Pierce Jr takes the wheel January 1st

At the recent MGSHPA Board meeting held in Forest Lake on October 2nd, Rick Wright announced that he was approached by a qualified person who wanted to assume the duties of president. Rick will be resigning his position effective at the end of 2021, and Ray Pierce Jr from Hibbing will assume the office January 1st, 2022. The board unanimously voted to approve this action. The following are messages from our outgoing and incoming presidents.

Rick’s Last

 “President’s Message”

Hey Everyone.

           Now that the 2021 season is coming to an end, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the club tournaments that were available as well as our MN State tournament held in Hibbing this year. After coming back following the Covid year, we had a good turn out for our State tournament. The Hibbing Club and State officers did a wonderful job to make this a fun competition event. The banquet was held at the local Elks Club in town where we had a nice dinner, handed out all the well-deserved awards and ended the night with music and dancing. 

While everyone was enjoying the rest of the evening, something exciting happened for our organization. Ray Pierce Jr came to me and said that he would like to be president. After a long talk with Ray, I knew he was the guy for the job. He has a lot of new and fresh ideas and that is what we need in these changing times. He also told me that his mother, Sue, was interested in the currently vacant CB & L director. I presented all of this information to the board and I am proud and excited to say that both Ray and Sue were voted in as our new President and CB & L director. I am very excited for Ray to share his ideas and thoughts with our membership. He will officially take over Jan 1^st, 2022 and is looking forward to getting started. I am proud to say that he is starting out with a very hard working and dedicated board. Sue is also excited about her position and has already been working with Jerry LaBrosse, Jeff Washburn and Ray to update our Constitution & Bylaws.

As you all know, I have been president for 20 years and VP for 6 years. We have made a lot of changes during this time, some good and some not so good but we worked through it all together. It has been a privilege to have been your president and to have worked with all of you over the years. Like I told Ray, I love our organization and I will continue to support it in anyway that I can. I look forward to hearing the new ideas that our President has for our organization. 

Please welcome our new President, Ray Pierce Jr and our new CB &L Director, Sue Pierce and offer your continued support like you have supported me all these years. Thank you all!

See you on the courts!

Rick 

Regional Director / Stats Guy

By Josh Olson

Greetings

I hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the fall weather we are having. Fall/Winter Leagues are now underway, Tournaments are starting to happen and yup the snow won’t be to far behind either.

ANYWHO, I wanted to touch base again on the 2022 Tournament Schedule, you will see that I have the up-to-date list of the Tournaments from the Tournament Directors that have reached out to me. PLEASE, lets get this Schedule looking better than it does, if there are any clubs or anyone that is looking or wanting to run a Tournament at your club or different courts reach out to the Club/Court Contacts and get some details out there.

I will look to have a FINAL Schedule out at the Next Digest of the new year so please spread the word if you see tournaments that are normally on the schedule not on here. Have them contact me to get the details finalized.

Below is a list of tournament dates we have reserved into 2022

MGSHPA Fall Meeting

Sunday, Sept 5^th, 2021, Noon

Hibbing, MN

Attendance: 42

1.  Call to order
2.  Minutes of Spring meeting; reviewed, details discussed. Motioned, seconded, passed.
3. Bylaws change of council limit on spending without a membership vote. Proposed limit is $2000.
4.  Financial Report; reviewed, motioned, seconded, approved.
5.  Officer Reports
6. Josh RD, Stats, Web; newly elected NHPA IT director.

1.    WT report, 27 members attended; 11 placed in the money and received trophies. 2022 WT will be in Monroe, LA 7/11-7/23/22. The NHPA site has information if you are interested. 2023 WT will be in Lansing, MI; dates will be finalized at the next WT.

2.    e-shoe: is where you can check on active membership, tournament schedules, etc. Tournament Directors post directly to e-shoe, after obtaining a code from the RD (Josh).

3.    Webmaster position, Josh is interested in passing this onto another. Helen and Lori both spoke up about this.

1. Jeff VP, RBL

1.    Ran down the list of active leagues and tournaments. Rockford will continue with league, but unlikely to host tournaments. There is a rumor that WSP has some possible issues regarding their courts. Jeff has not had this confirmed.

1. Jerry Digest

1.    Special State tournament issue will be posted next, get anything you want included, in one week.

2.    Please send in league stories, junior write ups, profile reports.

3.    If anyone is interested in learning how to do the digest, I have been doing it a long, long time and am willing to train someone.

1. Rick: Announced move-ups. Women; Sarah J Nelson, Tina Bussey, Anna Pierce, Patti Oakes and Michelle Foard. Men; Ray Pierce Jr, Jerry Werk, Russ Girtz and Joe Mueller. Elder; Jim Syverson, Peter Heltunen, John Pierce, Dick Dvorak and Richard Bussey.
2. Ann Sec/treas: 450 members, 436 adult, 14 junior/cadet (2019-551, 2020-290). League directors are welcome to email or snail mail in their renewals. Any member can renew on e-shoe, but you will have an additional fee. E-shoe, it would be nice to have more report functions.
3. Rocky VP

1.    Ran down the list of leagues. It took me awhile to get out and connect with my leagues. For September 11^th observance, this is our 14th year, we host a horseshoes and cornhole. $20 entry. Call Rocky if you are interested.

1. Michelle Media

1.    Posting on facebook, tik-tok, etc. I don’t play enough in tournaments, because of taking videos. I am happy to post fun tournaments as well as sanctioned events.

1. April Jr Director

1.    Little big league (with Helen and Michelle) we had 18 members and had a great time. We advertised in the community education for our area.

1. Joe Nominations

1.    I did receive some nominations this year. Reminder, if you want to nominate someone for hall of fame, please look through the qualifications. Edi Holland award; we want someone who is fun to play with and always up-beat.

1.  MN Doubles 2022
2. This used to be MN State doubles, this changed a couple of years ago, because the council is not, nor have we been involved in running this tournament.
3. Hibbing has voiced interest in hosting this tournament. They will host in 2022 in Hibbing. Past tournaments have been hosted at Genola, Bloomington, Forest Lake, etc. The date and location are at the discretion of the hosting club.
4. Coordinate with the RD (Josh) to add this to the tournament schedule.
5.  2022-2023 State Tournament
6. Last year, our tournament was cancelled, which was when we should have taken bids for the next year tournament. Everyone has the month of September to get in touch with Rick Wright if you have any interest.
7.  Old Business: nothing brought up
8.  New Business: nothing brought up
9.  President Election –2021
10. This is the year, we were supposed to vote on the new president. Nobody submitted for the position.
11. I have learned a lot in 20 years. I surround myself with people that are smarter than me. It is not a hard job.
12. As of right now, I will remain the president. If anyone, in the next 3 years, has any interest, please talk with me.
13. It is a 3 year term. A letter needs to be submitted, which will be posted in the digest, so members have time to learn about the person before attending the next membership meeting.
14. Open Forum
15. Lori, at 3:00 pm, at the space theatre, $5 per person, there will be some door-prizes, come one, come all and enjoy!
16. Wright; the area has very sparse club/pitcher support, but it is a nice place. Linda Froelich used to run that club. It would be nice if anyone has the ability or interest, in keeping those pits active.
17. Historically we have had a presentation at expo’s, past locations have been Canterbury park, State fair grounds (with horse expo in April), ect. Members spoke of having fond memories of past events.
18. We do need to find innovative ways to promote.

11. Adjournment; motioned, seconded, passed.

Thank you Ann Hagman, MGSHPA Sec/Treas , for preparing these minutes.

MGSHPA Officer Meeting

October 2, 2021 10:00 am

VFW Forest Lake

In attendance: Rick, Jerry, Ann, Jeff, Michelle, Joe, Rocky, Lori, April, Sue and Ray.

1. Call to Order
2. Minutes of Fall membership meeting
3. Print out was read in the meeting.
4. Discussion: Move-ups, Plan is to announce at beginning of shift on Saturday to remind folks to check and see if they made move-ups before taking off to avoid people missing out on playing in Championship round.
5. Motioned to accept, seconded, accepted.
6. Financial Report
7. Current balance: $5098.73
8. Membership total for 2021 is 451.
9. Motioned to accept, seconded, accepted.
10. Officer Reports
11. April: will continue to work on recruiting kids.
12. Rocky: trailer with courts is in storage.
13. Joe: we had a lot of nominations.
14. Michelle: Brooklyn Park, I am their new president. I am posting TikTok videos; one in particular has almost 500k views. A lot of interest came from that, asking where they can play. I am up to about 7,400 followers on TikTok.
15. I plan to do a video of all the different clubs that have sent me information.
16. Jeff: clubs are finishing up their end of year activities. Looking for a word version of the CBL, for editing purposes.
17. Jerry: Next digest is November. Changes will be announced. Get me articles before the end of October. The digest goes to about 1000, we get about 30-33% of people click on it and look. Sponsors? None for years. Jerry will add the advertising rates.
18. MN Doubles 2022 – Hibbing
19. This will be held 2 weeks after the state tournament. September 17, 2022.
20. 2022 – 2023 State Tournament
21. No bids received; any interest will be considered.
22. Rick, Jerry, Pat Stumpf and Caroline; met with Genola to discuss holding the MN State tournament there full time, and maybe 1-2 other tournaments. He asked for a letter to be sent.
23. Larry, the Mayor, seemed agreeable to this plan. A letter has been drafted to send, as requested. Proposal was to keep the $1200 fee for the state tournament, $150/day for a 1-day tournament and $100/day for a 2-day tournament (prefer end of July and into August). No tournaments will be held after Labor day, to accommodate their winter storage. Terms to be reviewed every 5 years.
24. Host club is not required, concessions could be a local club (lions, boy scout troop, etc.).
25. Discussion: at Genola, who does court maintenance? The council members will convene a committee that will complete court maintenance prior to the state tournament.
26. Old Business; none proposed
27. New Business
28. President Elect

                                                   i.    Ray Pierce Jr was nominated, seconded, passed.

1. CBL (Constitution and By-Laws) Elect

                                                   i.    Sue Pierce was nominated, seconded, passed.

1. Web Master Elect

                                                   i.    Lori was nominated, seconded, passed

1. Rick proposed selling the portable courts are currently housed in Hibbing. Ray Pierce is interested in some of the courts/rubber ($100/set), a proposed price for the trailer is $4,500.

                                                   i.    Discussion: how many sets? There are 34 courts (17 sets). 12 are on deck to sell, the state wants to hold 2 sets for promotional purposes, this leaves 3 sets left.

                                                 ii.    Rick will discuss trailer storage with Tim, We will hold off on a payment to store until May, until the proposal to Genola is settled.

                                               iii.    Proposal to sell court sets (if Genola agrees to State tournament proposal), seconded, all agreed.

1. State tournament financial report was given to Rick
2. Jerry has a CBL proposal. To pattern after NHPA a bit more, add 2 VP to make a total of 7 on the council. The additional VP would not need to be from a certain district. I am in the process of writing this up for the Digest.
3. Lori; web master report. Lori and Josh had a conference call for quick training. Officers page, phone numbers and email remain posted, but addresses have been removed.

                                                   i.    Discussion: input requested for home page, structure, etc. Please if you see something wrong or you do not like, let me know. I can

1. Open Forum
2. FOH list was not in the state booklet. The list will be sent to Jerry to post in the Digest.
3. Adjournment: 11:48 motioned, seconded, approved.



Thank you Ann Hagman, MGSHPA Sec/Treas , for preparing these minutes.

Hibbing Horseshoe Club Hall of Fame

By Rory Pierce

Two new members were inducted into the Hibbing Horseshoe Hall of fame Tuesday September 14th at a ceremony held at the Hibbing Algonquin Club. Virgil Anderson and Lenny Sandberg became the newest members to be entered into the prestigious hall. Rory Pierce, a member of the HOF committee, who inducted Lenny Sandberg said “It’s great to see all of their families come. They take pictures and applaud, you can tell they are very proud. It’s really an honor for me to be a part of it.” The two new members brings the total HOF members to 12. The Hibbing Horseshoe Hall of Fame was created to recognize those who have Hibbing roots that have gone above and beyond in our sport, whether it be success on the courts or promoting our sport. “We have a 10 person committee of horseshoe enthusiasts from the Hibbing area, who receive nominations and cast a ballot. It takes seven yes votes to be selected” said Ray Pierce Jr. “If someone you know deserves to be recognized, let me know and I will give you what you need to begin the process.” 

50^th Donnelly Threshing Bee a Memorable Event !!

By Jerry Werk

    We want to thank everyone who supported our 50th Annual Donnelly

Threshing Bee Tournament in August. We had 28 pitchers. In spite of

60 mph winds and 2.8 inches of rain Saturday morning (just as we were

getting started), we scooped out a little water, tossed in some dry clay,

wrung out some wet clothes, and got all our tournament games in.

Special thanks to Josh, Cody, and Randy for anchoring our canopy during

the storm – they did get a little more than wet!! We are also

grateful for the “weather monitoring via cell phone from home” by Mark Smith

in the midst of the storm. It was a memorable 50th Anniversary for our Donnelly Threshing Bee tournament, and we appreciate everyone’s “we can still do this” attitude on Saturday morning. After a rough start, the remainder of the weekend was beautiful.           

   Attached is a picture of Richard Giese of Holloway, MN, with Jerry Werk. Richard was the lucky

winner of the Bean Bag boards – our raffle prize for all the pitchers who entered the tournament.

     All pitchers also received a commemorative “50th Anniversary” Donnelly Threshing Bee patch for entering.  

Hope to see you next year for number 51.

Thanks, Jerry!

Jerry Werk