Contact:  John Johnson or Andy Frushour 
517.332.5046 or [email protected]
 

EAST LANSING, Mich.  – Oct. 5 –  One of the most popular services offered by the Michigan High School Athletic Association is its annual series of Update Meetings, and this year’s schedule will again offer in-service programming for athletic directors at six of the seven locations.

The Update series is in its 32nd year, is attended annually by over 1,100 school administrators.  During the meetings, information about current MHSAA activities is disseminated, issues affecting interscholastic athletics are discussed and attendees are surveyed on various topics.

Six luncheon meetings are scheduled in the Lower Peninsula and a morning meetings is scheduled for Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.  MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts will address high school superintendents, principals, athletic directors and school board members on a variety of topics at these meetings.

“Issues discussed at the Update series are timely, and the information we gather through the surveys we conduct at these meetings is valuable to the Representative Council as it approaches topics the membership has placed before it for the coming year,” says Roberts.   “These meetings are not only an excellent opportunity for the MHSAA staff to meet and discuss the issues with school administrators, but for those in attendance to meet with administrators from neighboring school districts with whom they normally are not able to have day-to-day contact.”

Roberts adds that the Update Meetings also provide school administrators an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any recent changes in the Association's rules and regulations.  A survey is also taken on a variety of topics. 

This will be the seventh year for Athletic Director In-Service programs to take place in a morning-long session prior to most of the Update Meetings.  These workshops are designed to help prepare those administrators for the rigors of their jobs, and placing them into the Update meeting schedule resulted in more than doubling the attendance over previous years.

The meeting in Warren on October 28 will also serve as the Annual Business Meeting for the MHSAA, and will be available for viewing on the MHSAA.tv Website beginning the following day.

Parties interested in attending the Update Meetings and Athletic Director In-Service Meetings may obtain more information by contacting the MHSAA office at 517/332-5046.

Here is a schedule of the 2009 Update Meetings:
• Oct. 7 – Pine West, Kalamazoo (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 12 – English Hills Country Club, Comstock Park (Noon  – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 14 – Zehnder's Restaurant, Frankenmuth (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 19 – Hidden Valley Otsego Club, Gaylord (Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 21 – Causeway Bay Hotel & Convention Center, Lansing (Formerly the Holiday Inn South)
(Noon – Preceded by AD In-Service at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oct. 28 – De Carlos Center, Warren (Noon)
• Oct. 30 – Northern Michigan University, Marquette (10 a.m. – Upper Peninsula Athletic Directors Meeting)

A meal will be served at all sites except Marquette. 

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,600 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition.  No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools.  Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.

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