Hi everyone!

I hope your summer is going well! I thought as we hear about “fall league’s” starting and other hockey related things it might be a good time to update you on the Vikings Blue Line Clubs activities.

To date the club has completed 3 fundraisers, bagging groceries at Cub, working the concessions at the Women’s PGA, and Basket Bingo. These fundraisers have raised over $6,000 and we are on our way to reaching our $20,000 goal. Remember these funds will be used to directly help our hockey programs. Right now without additional funds we will not be able to reinstate transportation or buy better ice times whichever is available when we come to that decision. What we need now are volunteers for our next fundraisers so we can ensure they are successful.

Our next fundraiser is Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23, at the original North Branch Holiday Stationstore from 10am to 7pm each day. We have the opportunity to be involved in their 30^th anniversary by operating a concession stand outside and all proceeds will go to the club. They are even donating the food so it will be 100% profit! To do this we would need a couple of adults and 3-5 kids for each shift. Please e-mail me back or contact a board member with the times you have available on those 2 days and we will put a schedule together. I am hoping to break it down to 4 hour shifts.

We are also approaching local organizations that offer charitable gambling to ask for a donation. We have an opportunity for someone to attend the Rush City JC’s meeting for this purpose on August 17^th at 7pm. Again please e-mail me if you are available.

Watch the website for updates as we’ll be having other fundraising opportunities as well as schedule and other communications posted. Examples include a possible knee hockey tournament and/or Texas Hold’em father-son tournament. In addition, the club will be helping organize this years Captain’s practices. We will be sending out a letter in a few weeks with the schedule and cost of the ice. So please look to the website and your snail mail boxes in the coming weeks to hear more.

Last I would like to invite you to e-mail or call me with suggestions and any questions you may have about the club. Everyone is invited to participate in meetings so let me know if you are interested in attending and we will get you on that e-mail distribution.

Thanks to all of you for all you have done so far and in advance for your continued support.

Lisa Henderson, President

There will be a two-hour ice session this Saturday, July 19^th at the Super Rink (Rink 1) from 7:10-9:20 PM. Coach Schulte will quickly run through aspects of Vikings hockey for the upcoming season. Some of this will be new information and some of it will be review. Come get an idea about what to expect this season.

Returning players, new high school players and any bantam age kid from North Branch that wants to grab a little ice are welcome to attend.

You are expected to wear full gear and anticipate some “light” contact. Please bring a light and a dark jersey. We will play 4-on-4 or 5-on-5 for the entire second hour of ice. To help defer the cost of the ice time, there will a $16 per player charge.

Hope to see you there!
Darrell

Girls’ Hockey
Sign-up Meeting: October 6, 2008 @ 7:00pm, HS B102
Start Date: November 3, 2008

Boys’ Hockey
Sign-up Meeting: November 3, 2008 @ 7:00pm, HS Auditorium
Start Date: November 17, 2008

Sign-up meetings are opportunities to review rules and policies, meet with coaches, get practice schedules, lettering guidelines, and expectations for participants.