July 22, 2015

 

Minutes of July 22, 2015 Meeting

 

Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Benton Street, Kitchener

 

Vice President Troy Stuebing managed the meeting for President Tim who was on vacation.  16 guests were present to hear our speaker.

 

50/50 Pot was $46.00 - draw for Klara Sarjani. John Vickery, and John Brothers (guest of Cathy).  No winner.

 

 

Coach Butch Carter was introduced by Leo Tobi.  Coach Carter became the coach of the Toronto Raptors basketball team in 1998.  He was recognized by the NBA as the first coach to take a team from less than 20 wins to the playoffs in two seasons.  He began his own basketball career playing for Indiana University and was drafted by the LA Lakers, eventually playing in LA, Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia.

 

Coach Carter began his presentation speaking about how and why he has chosen to remain and live in Canada.  He is currently working to start the Canadian Basketball League. Canada is one of the only countries without have a system for keeping its young players at home.  Currently there are about 250 young Canadians playing outside of the country in Europe and the US.  The Canadian Basketball League will operate with a similar model to the OHL with strong local regional community teams.  It will require communities to have assets for basketball (not arenas) with courts that would hold approximately 1500 - 3000 seats.  Possible communities for team sites include Hamilton, K-W, Ottawa, Scarborough, Quebec, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.  In many cases, it is Universities that have the appropriate sized facilities however they may require upgrades to make them competitive for sponsors and ticket holders.  In Waterloo Region both RIM Park and the University of Waterloo offer good facilities. The focus for the new league will be family entertainment.  Coach Carter reviewed the business model for team ownership and some of the requirements that the league will have such as anti-doping policies and mandatory Canadian content.  There is not yet a specific start for the league, but Coach Carter is hopeful to have it operational in the near future.

 

 

Week of July 27-August 2

 

 

Neil Aitchison      July 30

Brad Enns          July 30

 

 

CORRECTION: Gord & Shirley Ferguson celebrated 66 years of marriage on July 16! Married in 1949. Congratulations!

 

Hector & Yesica Servellon    8 Years July 28, 2007

 

 

 

August 5

Stephen Preece- Some great notes on Jazz in Waterloo Region