The adult program hasn’t seen any measurable increase in participation in the last several years.  There are also other issues within the adult program that the Board is addressing, most importantly, the small number of teams registering in the AA and B divisions.  In this issue of the DIGS is a survey we would like for you to complete.  This is your chance to voice your opinion, so please take five minutes to complete it and mail it back.

Another issue within the adult program is the increase of conglomerate teams.  We will be looking into the definition and purpose of conglomerate teams as more and more teams are registering in this category.  The conglomerate category was originally created to allow adult age-defined teams (30, 35, 40, 45, and up) to form and provide a chance for them to play together before competing at Nationals.  Somewhere along the line, that purpose was lost.  We now have conglomerate teams forming at the A, BB, and B levels—some of whom have no intention of ever playing at Nationals.  The Board will be addressing this issue in the coming months.  If you’d like to comment, please send me an email at president@chrva.org.

We also have the start of a very successful “senior” program, and we need to look at the playing opportunities we provide for this growing segment of our membership.

This February, Team Representatives will have received the updated version of the CHRVA Handbook.  The Board of Directors and Staff spent considerable time this past year reviewing several sections of the Handbook to clarify language and clear up inconsistencies.  The CHRVA Handbook is the most important document about volleyball for members of our Region (aside from the USAV Rule Book), and every player, coach, parent, and volunteer is responsible for knowing what is in it.  If you are a Team Representative, and you haven’t received the Handbook, please contact JoBeth Killough, the Registrar, at registrar@chrva.org.  You can also view the Handbook on the website at http://www.chrva.org/hbookindx.html.  My sincerest thanks go out to JoBeth Killough, Diane Abood, Dixie Collins, Wanda Hsiung, Eugene Yee, and Steve Burinsky.  It was a very time consuming process, but something that needed to be tackled.  Steve Burinsky spent considerable extra hours reading through everything six or seven times.  He’s our Handbook “expert”—good thing since he’s also the Eligibility Chair!

Aside from the issues addressed above, we will also be looking into an online registration process for next year.  The procedures for individual and team registration are so complicated and time consuming, (not only for you but for Staff), that we need to streamline the process and make it easier (and less frustrating) for everyone involved.  We will also look into online payment of fees for registration and tournament entry.

Finally, on the back of this issue is the ballot for the Board of Directors election.  Take the time to read about each of the candidates and vote.  My term as President is up at the end of April, and I will not be seeking re-election.  I have spent the last four years as President (and the two years prior to that as Vice President), and it’s time for me to move on.  With two small children, I’ll probably get involved in Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, soccer, basketball, baseball, the PTA, etc.  I’ll still be playing some, so I hope to see many of you on the court.  I have enjoyed the past six years and have learned a lot about people and have gained a different perspective about the sport.  While I’m sure that not everyone has agreed with me on all issues over the years, and I’ve had to make some unpopular decisions, I can honestly say that I have always kept the best interest of our programs foremost in my actions.  I have met some very interesting people that have produced friendships I’m sure will continue through the years.  I encourage all of you to become involved not only as a player but as a coach, a staff member, or as a member of the Board of Directors—it’s worth the time commitment.