Judging by the number of calls I've received this week, most of you are beginning to gear up for the 2014 season. I just wanted to drop you a quick note with a few updates and items of preparation for the 2014 season.
First, please mark your calendars now for the league meeting. It will be January 17th & 18th at the Shoshone Bannock Hotel in Fort Hall. This is the relatively new hotel & casino in Fort Hall just north of Pocatello on the west side of 1-15. It will be much newer and nicer than last year's hotel...although we're still checking on the availability of karaoke. I've attached the flyer with the contact information and room rate. Feel free to call and book your rooms at any time.
Second, we are beginning to receive formal interest from new teams. I am fairly certain we will have a new team from Billings present, a new version of the Stampede from Logan, and most likely (although not yet confirmed) a team from the Missoula area to replace the Phoenix. We've also had calls from Helena, Las Vegas, & Colorado, but I would place the probability of an official application from any of those locations at less than 50 percent.
Along with the new team application, we'd like to start the process of re-certification. Your regional managers will be calling you over the next 30 days or so to verify your team's status and your intentions for the 2014 season. If you are not planning on returning for 2014, please contact your regional manager or myself and let us know. As of right now, the only team that I know of not currently returning for 2014 is the Missoula Phoenix. Along those lines, I have sent the Glacier Knights a message outlining what that organization would need to do to be eligible to present to the board for 2014. Because of their two forfeits last year, if they want to field a team in 2014 they will have to apply to the Managing Board just as any new teams would.
Finally, I know everyone is wondering about the AA/AAA split for next year. While we have discussed it and looked at different options, we won't pursue anything in too much detail until we know what teams are re-certifying and what new teams are likely to join the league. As a reminder, we did pass a motion at last year's league meeting that we would have at least 8 AAA teams in 2014, so we are working towards that goal.
As always, we appreciate everything you do and are excited for another year of RMFL football. Don't hesitate to give me a call with any questions or concerns. You'll hear more from me over the next 60 days or so as we begin to ramp up to the league meeting. Thanks.
