[Back to News]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --September 8, 2000
Contact: John Johnson or Andy Frushour-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sept. 8 - The Michigan High School Athletic Association will conduct its 23rd annual Update Meeting series in October, one of the top communication vehicles it uses for the Association staff to interact with its 1,300-plus member schools.

The Update series is attended annually by over 1,100 school administrators. During the meetings, information about current MHSAA activities is disseminated, issues affecting interscholastic athletics are discussed and attendees are surveyed on various topics.

Six luncheon meetings are scheduled in the Lower Peninsula and a morning meeting is scheduled for Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts will address high school superintendents, principals, athletic directors and school board members on a variety of topics at these meetings.

"These meetings are an excellent opportunity for the MHSAA staff to meet and discuss the issues with school administrators an opportunity to meet and discuss the issues, but for those in attendance to meet with administrators from neighboring school districts with whom they normally are not able to have day-to-day contact," says Roberts. "The topics discussed at the Update series are timely, and the information we gather through the surveys we conduct at these meetings is valuable to the Representative Council as it approaches its rules-making agenda for the coming year.

"The Update series is among the most popular administrative services the MHSAA provides to its membership."

Major topics to be discussed at this year's Update series include a review of action taken during the past year by the MHSAA Representative Council, and its possible agenda for the coming year. Discussion topics at the Update meetings include initiatives to improve the training and retention of officials, health issues, changes in NCAA rules that impact high school programs, and legal matters.

Roberts adds that the Update Meetings also provide school administrators an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any recent changes in the Association's rules and regulations. A survey is also taken on a variety of topics. This year's survey includes questions about new tournaments, seeding of tournaments, changes in the transfer rule, and Internet providers to schools.

Parties interested in attending the Update meetings may obtain more information by contacting the MHSAA office at 517/332-5046.

Here is a schedule of the 2000 Update Meetings:

Oct. 2 -- Hidden Valley Club & Resort, Gaylord (Noon)
Oct. 5 -- Pine West, Kalamazoo (Noon)
Oct. 9 -- English Hills Terrace, Comstock Park (Noon)
Oct. 16 - Holiday Inn West-Lansing Conference Center, West Saginaw Hwy. and I-96 (Noon)
Oct. 18 -- Zehnder's Restaurant, Frankenmuth (Noon)
Oct. 25 -- Main Event Restaurant, Pontiac Silverdome (Noon)
Nov. 3 -- Northern Michigan University, Marquette (10 a.m.)

Lunch will be served at all sites except Marquette.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments conducted in 12 sports for girls and 12 sports for boys which attract approximately 1.3 million spectators each year.

RL01-012