Raise The Roof Capital Campaign Announced!
Everyone needs a roof over their head, even FCRHL. We are pleased to announce the official kick-off of our capital campaign to put a roof over the FCRHL rink. With steel prices down, now is the time to act. Our goal is to have the roof installed within the next 18 months. Some folks ask “Why do we need a roof?” Here are a few reasons:
- Reduce game cancellations due to poor weather and wet rinks
- Significantly cool down the rink temperature in the spring and summer seasons
- Enable night time skating and hockey games
- Expand the available rink times to allow more games and adult leagues
- Expand available rink times to offer more skating and instructional programs
- Attract other travel teams to our rink for tournaments
- Reduce environmental damage to the rink tile from rain and pollutants
So what is that going to take?
- Money
- Volunteers
- Time
- Creativity
Initial cost estimates for a steel roof with open sides indicates the purchase price is between $90,000 and $100,000. Installation of the roof is estimated to add another $40,000. On-going operations costs to pay for lights and some maintenance are expected to add about $500 per month to our expenses. Now in these days of multi-billion dollar bail outs, these numbers are chump change!
So how do we get there? The Raise the Roof Campaign is all about first raising $35,000 by October of 2009 if not sooner. This money will serve as our down payment for the loan we intend to secure for the roof. We will get to this goal using several mechanisms which include:
- Donations: Donations of all sizes and types can be made to the FCRHL Capital Campaign program. Donations over $2500 can be spread out over a 2 or 3 year plan.
- Buy a Steel Beam for Life Program: The roof will have many steel beams traversing the rink. We will establish a price for sponsoring one of those beams for life. A plaque with your name or companies name will be installed on the beam for life.
- Brick and Block Program Donations: In the spring our Brick and Block boards will be up. These 2 boards filled with $100 and $200 bricks and blocks total $7800 of revenue.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Name sponsorships for rink are being considered as well as sponsorships for the face off dots and center circles.
In addition to these programs, we will be having many events over the upcoming seasons. These events such as our spring 2009 Season Cook-Out and Concert promise to provide great family fun and enable us to raise a little money.
The roof clearly allows more opportunities for the kids to play hockey. A critical success factor for us to secure financing is to show solid membership. Membership will help us pay the roof payments and more importantly offer many more teams and great opportunities for players. As mentioned in earlier e-mails, our goals for membership are as follows:
- Spring 2009: 150 players.
- Fall 2009: 180 players
- Spring 2010: 216 players
- Fall 2010: 280 players
- Spring 2011: 364 players
- Fall 2011: 475 players
This growth in membership is going to come from the elementary and middle school age groups. Your help in promoting FCRHL and getting kids to come out is encouraged, needed and appreciated. We also need the continued commitment and growth in the high school ages and leagues to grow our league.
More information will be posted to our FCRHL web site on the Raise the Roof Capital Campaign. We will be looking for volunteers to help in many positions. This is a great opportunity to help shape the future of the league and make a lasting contribution to our county.
I look forward to Raising the Roof with all of you
Jay Heroux
FCRHL Raise the Roof Campaign Chairman