Muaythai Ontario Annual General Meeting 2024
Drafted by Sam Skinner, VP Administration
Posted 1 August 2024
Annual General Meeting of Muaythai Ontario
Date: 27 January 2024
Board Members in Attendance:
Kru Yai Dylan Benitez, President
Kru Yai Alin Hălmăgean, Honorary MTO President, Muaythai Canada President
Kru Yai Laura Vuculescu, Vice-President of Judges, Referees & Rule Sets
Kru Yai Matthew Jao, Director of Operations
Kru Lanny Chan, Vice-President of Communications
MTO Community Members in Attendance: 18
President Kru Yai Dylan Leading the Meeting:
- Funding & Financials
Current account balance at the beginning of 2024: $26,038.91
Large Revenues:
- OASF from Ministry: $25,000
- All Memberships (Athletes/Coaches/Officials): ~$100,000
- All Courses Registration (Coaches & Officials): ~$25,000
Large Costs:
- Annual salary for Kru Laura for event administration: -$30,000
- Annual salary for Ajahn Suchart for course development: -$30,000
- Compensation for President: -$23,000 in 2023
- Thai Culture Celebration & Awards Banquet: -~$8,000
- Annual insurance costs: -$10,000
- Relationship with the Ministry
Muaythai Ontairo (MTO) enjoys a close relationship with Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport (MTCS). MTO is recognized as an official Provincial Sport Organization (PSO), which gives legal authority to the organization to sanction Muay Thai events. In 2018, through the Ontario Amateur Sports Fund (OASF) application process, the Ministry and MTO entered into a contract stating that MTO would receive funding annually, so long as regular reports to the Ministry are submitted. Within the Board of MTO, Sam Skinner serves as VP of Administration, and is responsible for submitting formal reports to the Ministry.
We recently learned that as a result of our June 2024 application to OASF, MTO’s funding will increase from $25,000 in 2023-2024 to $37,500 in 2024-2025.
- Events Sanctioned in 2023
MTO’s main focus and responsibility is to sanction and facilitate safe competitive events. In 2023, MTO sanctioned 37 competitive events, which included approximately 600 bouts between athletes. Athletes represented 97 clubs registered with MTO across 16 cities in Ontario.
- Questions from the Community
When will provincial championships be held this year?
The provincial championship tournament will be held May 24th-26th at Red Owl Boxing in Burlington. SmoothComp will be implemented as part of MTO’s goal to increase our use of technology in the tournament process. SmoothComp will allow athletes to register online and will allow coaches to view real-time divisions.
Regarding the national tournament, MTO is not responsible for sanctioning or planning the national tournament. Nationals fall under the jurisdiction of MTC.
What are the rules surrounding promotional belts for sanctioned competitions?
Muaythai Ontario sanctions title belt opportunities for two A-class athletes where both athletes reside-in and train-in Ontario. Title bouts are sanctioned at the discretion of MTO President, Kru Dylan.
Muaythai Canada sanctions title belt opportunities for two A-class athletes, usually where both athletes reside-in and train in different provinces. Title bouts are sanctioned at the discretion of Muaythai Canada President, Kru Alin.
In 2023, individual event hosts have begun awarding non-sanctioned promotional belts for select winners of sanctioned bouts. MTO is concerned that the over-saturation of belted opportunities in Ontario may detract from the value of provincial and national title belts. To address this concern, the Board of MTO has created a new rule:
MTO member clubs may offer promotional belts for sanctioned bouts if both athletes are A-class athletes, and one athlete resides-in and trains-in Ontario, and the other resides-outside and trains-outside Canada.
This rule ensures that any promotional belts are awarded to high-level athletes, and does not conflict with title bouts falling within the scope of MTO or MTC.
What is the status of equipment requirements for high-level sanctioned amateur bouts?
Several community members expressed a desire for B-class athletes to have the option to compete without headgear. This topic will be discussed and voted on privately by the MTO Board of Directors, who will seriously consider the desires of the community and athletes and the paramount concerns for athlete safety in the field of play.
Can medical form expiry be changed?
Yes, MTO will change our policies to revert back to the 1-year medical form expiry date, rather than the current six-month expiry.
