Our technology partner, Tex Solutions, has rolled out an excellent new tool to save members time and effort when completing their mileage expense claims for SCHUA appointments! Here's what's new...
When you enter your expense claim after an appointment, the SCHUA web system will suggest the return mileage for the most likely route - not necessarily the shortest, but almost always the quickest - from your home address to the match venue. If you're happy with this mileage, just enter it into your mileage claim and you're done!
If, on the other hand, you need to claim higher mileage for a valid reason, please do so and then give a short written explanation in the free text box at the end of the expenses claim form.
The system will enable the Treasurer to send a standard email to your registered email address if, for any reason, the claim appears to have been completed incorrectly. You will then have 14 days to drop the Treasurer a note to either correct the claim or to explain the additional mileage, after which time the claim will automatically be amended to show the expected mileage.
If you have any questions as to how the system works after trying it for the first time, do feel free to drop the Treasurer a quick email.
Now you have one less thing to worry about on Saturdays, the SCHUA Management Committee hopes you'll have more time to enjoy what promises to be a cracking 2017/18 season!

The process if an umpire's radio develops a fault is as follows

Go to http://www.umpiretalk.com/returns.html (see link below) and follow the instructions. There may be an amount of £25 payable by the umpire, but if the issue is found to be a fault with the radio, this will be refunded.

There appears to be a common complaint that the Jabra headsets lose connection during a game and either all communication is lost, or communication only works in one direction. This may be an issue with the compatibility between the Jabra 2.5mm plug and the socket on the radio, or may be a faulty Jabra. In both cases the supplied boom headset and microphone will usually work.

Ian Anguige

Following the AGM on Sunday, the elected Management Committee posts remain 'as you were', in that all personnel stood again, and there were no other nominations received.
I have pleasure in announcing the Annual Awards as follows:
1. Mason Award (Merit/progress in umpiring) - Lauren Mullett
2. Tony White Award (Up & coming umpire of the year) - Tom Marks
3. Gill Linnell Award (Services to South Umpiring) - Lia Waine
4. Julia Gill Lifetime Achievement Award - Jim Patel
5. John Nickerson Award (Coach of the Year) - Rob Stamp
6. Indoor Umpire of the year - Lee McEvoy
7. Young Umpire of the year - Ryan Croxon
8. SHL Clubs' Umpire of the year - Julian Warburton
9. SCWHL Clubs' Umpire of the year - Mark Cranley
In addition, Bob Chandler is now a Life Member of SCHUA.
Congratulations and well done to all!
Bridget

The Officers are please to announce the following appointments for next season:

1. Steve Godwin as Chair of Selectors (Outdoor)
2. Lia Waine as Chair of Selectors (Indoor)
3. Joy Elliott-Bowman as SRYUAG Administrator
4. Ruth Busse as Rep to SCHA and SCWHL
5. Dion Oliver as Rep to SHL
6. Jane Binner as Rep to EHA
7. Ian Anguige as Web Master and Kit Officer

In addition, you will soon receive notification of the AGM (which will take place on-line as last year).
Current posts up for election are:
Officers
1. Chairman - Bridget Midwinter (prepared to stand again)
2. Deputy Chairman - David (Tex) Lane (prepared to stand again)
3. Secretary - Paul Shackman (prepared to stand again)
4. Treasurer - Matt Miles (prepared to stand again)
Management Committee
5. Chief Coach - Dawn Bonner (prepared to stand again)
6. Appointments Secretary - Allan Notman (prepared to stand again)
7. Membership Secretary - Annika Barker (prepared to stand again)
8. Non-portfolio Members - Ian Anguige, Ruth Busse, Rob Stamp (all prepared to stand again).

Should anyone wish to stand for any of the above roles, please arrange for nominations to be sent to Paul Shackman. An official Calling Notice and request for nominations will follow in the coming weeks, but it's not too early to start thinking about who you would like to see representing you on the Committee!

Ideally, the home club will have called you before you set off from home: in this case, please go straight to your Personal Area, confirm the match as cancelled AND enter a zero expense claim. The sooner you do this, the less hassle for Allan & me - thanks!
If you do not get the call before you set off, please make sure you have your phone accessible in case you get a call en route (in which case, please pull over at the first opportunity and check messages). Once you've been informed of the cancellation, turn round and, once home, enter your Personal Area, mark the match as cancelled, enter your mileage expenses for the aborted journey and email me (treasurer@schua.co.uk) to confirm the time you received the call and any other details you feel I need to know as soon as possible . This is important as it will have an impact on whether SCHUA decides the club should be charged for the rearranged fixture (which will not be the case if sufficient notice of cancellation is provided).
In the unlikely event that you travel all the way to the ground only to find the pitch unplayable (and remember, that is the home club's call right up until the first whistle, after which it becomes your call on the grounds of safety. NEVER advise either team that you think the pitch is not playable before the start of the match!), then you should repeat the above procedure upon your return home, making sure to email me to confirm the details and timings of the day's events asap. In such a case, the home club will almost certainly be charged for the rearranged fixture.
Cheers, Matt (Treasurer)

The Officers would like to remind everyone about conducting appropriate Social Media usage with respect to posts on the internet concerning hockey related issues.

We would to ensure that everyone "thinks before they posts" and that all content is checked to ensure no person or organisation or team is abused in any way and that all posts are considerate and appropriate to the situation. For example, we would like to promote and encourage a discussion on the phone with a member of the committee rather than a post-match rant on the internet!!

Remember that all posts on Social Media and all emails are also subject to UK libel laws. Always think to yourself before you post your message - "would I say this message in person?" and "would I be happy to see a post about myself on this situation?" If not, then it simply shouldn't be posted.

The link to the EH guideline for Social Media is in the SCHUA handbook and also below this news item.

Ruth Busse
Hon Secretary SCHUA