Travel Savings Add Up

posted on August 07, 2009 01:00

We all read news accounts of economic plight and watch the stock market on a daily basis with one hand over our eyes and the other with fingers crossed, many times feeling helpless against the current tide.

Yet, if we step back and ask ourselves, “What can one person, or one group of people, do to help turn things around just a little bit?” we can find some answers and begin to effect change.At the MHSAA, we believe we’ve found a way to help realize significant cost savings for the constituents in our little corner of the world.
For the first time during the 2009-10 school year, MHSAA rules meetings for coaches and officials will be available in an online format in all sports for which meetings are conducted by the MHSAA.

With only a partial list of sports served with the online format during the 2008-09 school year, approximately 6,000 more persons participated in the meetings (both face to face and online) than in 2007-08, when only track & field had the online format available.

It is estimated conservatively that the travel savings from the convenience of online meetings during 2008-09 was 966,000 miles – 39 times around the earth – reducing fuel consumption by approximately 39,000 gallons of gas, and saving about $100,000 for coaches and officials.

Was something lost during this process? Yes indeed: we miss seeing coaches and officials face to face, and they miss the camaraderie of being together. But overwhelmingly the response has been far more positive than negative from the participants who have been able to “attend” meetings when they find it convenient and can take as long as they would like to consider the meeting material.

The 2009-10 football and volleyball meetings launch today, swimming & diving and soccer on Aug. 12 and cross country, golf and tennis on Aug. 17. The online opportunity ends Sept. 9, 14 and 16, respectively.

Posted in: Finance

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Comments

# Adam

Friday, August 7, 2009 11:46 PM

I agree with the Association's efforts at reducing travel obligations--in these ways. I would rather the emphasis was on these sorts of reforms while preserving traditional tournament formats. Although the "non-traditional" format for conducting Districts in some sports is only used in a limited fashion now, my prediction is that it will inevitably spread. That'd be a shame; there is real value in knowing that one school or another is "where the action's at" when it comes time for Districts.

# Gary Meredithg

Saturday, August 8, 2009 9:55 AM

I agree it was fun gathering the whole crew together to come to the FB rules meetings, but sometimes I can remember everyone crammed into a hot room as the schools didn't want to fire up the A/C to save funds, and wantiing to be the first one to leave as it was so hot and stuffy. I didn't really concentrate on the new rules as much as now online when you can take your time and at your own convenience. I really enjoy the new format myself.

# Anonymous

Friday, August 28, 2009 3:18 AM

I was just thinking about Travel Savings Add Up and you've really helped out. Thanks!

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