Board of Directors Minutes

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association

Board of Directors Minutes
2/4/02

Present: President Rick Tompkins; Executive VP Frank Olszewski; VP Travel Tom Dougherty; VP Intramural Bill Blaise; Secretary Kathy Helm; Treasurer Ned Levi; Registrar Dave Edgecombe; Cindy Field (SYRA); Sue Hackett (District 1); Monica Chrisanthon (District 2); Bob McDade (District 3); Jim Tragone (District 4); Wim Roset (District 6); Joe Marsden (District 7); Jim Kuntz (District 8); Jim McFarland (District 11); Donna Outt (District 13); Tom Corey (District 14); Marty O’Donnell (District 15); Kim DiFiore (District 17); Greg Wilson, Executive Director; Guests: Frank Giancroce; Jeff DeLuca, George Gray, West Mont United SA

Absent: District 5, 9, 10, 16

Call to order: President Rick Tompkins called meeting to order at 7:40pm.

Guest Speakers: 

Referees - Frank Giancroce and Jeff DeLuca addressed the membership to review the proposal on referees attending clinics.  Referees must complete 6 hours of clinics to stay certified.  In the past they have let this slip by but they are now cracking down on the refs.  This may cause more shortages of refs in the leagues. 

Cindy Field asked assignors to send list of top referees in their area.  She received “0” response.  This was for state cup assigning so we would have the top referees. 

Tom Corey asked about automated referee reporting.  Rick stated we are just waiting for someone to do a presentation on the program.

Land Acquisition- George Gray, West Mont United Soccer Assoc, presented the land they are developing into soccer fields.  They would like to offer EPYSA use of fields in return we would help develop fields.  They have also submitted for a grant with USSF.

Rick reviewed Coventry Twp land acquisition.  They have not provided us with a contract yet.  Owen J. Roberts SD is also backing out at this time.

Bob McDade volunteered to attend West Mont SC meeting and report to board.

Minutes/Secretary: The minutes for the December, 2001 meeting were read. Motion by Jim Kuntz. Seconded by Kim DiFiore. Passed

Working to update the soccer manual. Many people have been helping to update information.  The goal is to have it ready in time for the AGM.

ODP – State staff have been out at the Indoor Cups evaluating.  Replacement for Tom Goodman, Region I National staff coach, is Bob Jenkins.

President Report – Rick reported on the following:

  • AGM – Rick asked Bill Blaise to chair the nominating committee.  Executive VP, Registrar and Secretary are up for election. Also even numbered districts.
  • Late cup applications- Motion to accept Parkwood Vemon application and deny other applications made by Jim McFarland. Second by Donna Outt passed.
  • Outdoor Cup – Cup committee suggested that finals for early cup play be held at Council Rock.  The board had no objections.  It will be Snickers and Challenge Cup.
  • Indoor Cup-Rick thanked everyone that helped with indoor cup.  Had a problem with an U13B Lower Dauphin team. State staff addressed issue with coach.
  • Cup rule change - U19 Boy and Girl do not have to play in league to qualify for cup
  • Executive Board will be attending the youth convention in Atlanta from 2/14-2/17
  • Soccer Start – Rick asked John Kukitz and Bob Kozlowski to represent EPYSA at the National Convention in April
  • 5-year planning committee has been meeting to establish sub committee in the following areas: Facility, education, grievance, programming, policy/procedures, registration, referee, travel, and office systems.  If you wish to serve on any of these committees please contact Greg.
  • Reviewed bad standing list on late fees. Clubs asking relief from the fine are:
    • Bustleton Bengals
    • Brandywine Booters
    • Hanover FC
    • Pottsgrove
    • Penn Academy

Tom Corey made a motion to reject all clubs asking for relief of fine. Second by Wim Roset.   5 in favor. 8 against.  Motion denied.

Pottsgrove – Tom Corey made a motion to reject Pottsgrove’s request for relief from fine. Second by Wim Roset Motion passed.

Bustleton Bengals – Wim Roset made a motion to reject Bustleton Bengals request for relief from fine.  Second by Tom Corey.  Motion passed.

Hanover –District 17 – Jim McFarland made a motion to reject Hanover’s request for relief from fine. Second by Wim Roset. Motion passed.

Brandywine Booters – Wim Roset made a motion to reject Brandywine Booters’ request for relief from fine. Second by Tom Corey.  7 favored 9 against  Motion denied.

Penn Academy – Tom Corey made a motion to reject Penn Academy’s request for relief from fine. Second by Wim Roset. Motion was passed with Sue Hackett and Jim Tragone opposing.

Treasurer Report: Ned reviewed budget committee report.  The audit report is back and everything looks good. He has been meeting with the local banks in order to consolidate our accounts.  

Executive VP –Frank reported on Futsal.  The U-12, 14,16,19 boys and girls Indoor Cup champions will be invited to represent EPYSA at the regional Futsal tournament. They would be responsible for registration and fees related to the Futsal tournament.  If they win they would go to Nationals in June.

VP Travel –Tom reviewed registration committee meeting.  Demosphere and Youthleagues are the two programs they were discussing.  Need to check on our contract with Myteams before we can move ahead with either company.  Committee will meet and put specs together.  Then send to software company for pricing.

VP Intramural – Bill reviewed the intramural panel forum outline for the workshop.

Registrar Report – Dave reported on the registration committee. No new membership applications at this time.  Scholarship Application are on the web site.  If interested please check the web site.

SYRA- Cindy reviewed the information on clinics and reminded everyone they are on the website.  The 5 national referees have been recertified.  The letter went out to the referees for the ODP tournament.  Boy’s and Girl’s Young Referee award please give Cindy recommendation.

Executive Director: Greg discussed the following:

  • Phone Directory is out please review and let Greg know if there are any corrections
  • The touchline is out and it has cup applications and coaches workshop information.
  • If you would like to help out at the coaches’ workshop please let Greg know.
  • Packets were handed out on the nominees for the awards.  Please review to vote.
  • There will be two weeks of residence camp this year. The brochures are out if you need any please let Greg know.

District Reports:

Absent – 5, 9, 10, 16

1 -Sue reported that the flag fundraiser is over and they sold 5500 flags.  United Junior would like their tournament on web site.

2- No report

3- No report

4- No report

6- They have 18 new referees.  Looking for new assignor.

7- Joe asked….How formal do you have to be on contract with referee assignors? Is there a time restraint on contract? Some of the membership shared their procedures.

Rick read letter of suspension of coach from Reading-Berks and PAGS.  Waiting for PAGS to send report.

Looking into behavior issues for parents.  Parent Association for Youth Sports has some very good educational materials.

8- no report

11- no report

13- They are having 2 referee courses in March.  They will break ground on a 22 acre complex. Donna asked if fine/fee for transfer could be $2.00.  Rick stated that it can not be changed without the vote of the membership at the AGM.

14- No report

15 –They are suspending Hans Peter tournament and will review it next year.

17- no report

Old Business – Tom Corey was unable to do comparison on NSL fees until he can see contract.  On hold until Ned can provide contract.  Wim shared that a company gave his group a fee price of $125 so $85 that NSL is asking is not out of line. 

Ned stated that when the new program is ready his company would terminate their services.

Motion made by Wim Roset to pay the difference between the contracted rate and the $85 increase from February 1, 2002 to present for tech support with office system support. Second by Marty O’Donnell.  Motion passed 

Motion to table the increase for NSL. Passed.

Wim Roset asked about the email that went out to the board on the mailing list.  Why were members outside board responding to this issue to other board members other than there own district commissioner.  Rick responded that the district commissioners should, if they wish, send it to their own constituents and their responses should only come back to their district commissioners. 

National database marketing agreement that was done at the national level by USYS. One of the provisions in the agreement is before they can disseminate any information they must contact us for our approval.  Rick explained that this is one of our sponsorships and therefore we can accept or reject the sponsorship and the mailing. Tom Corey objected to his list of members going out for mailings.  Monica asked if her membership did not want their information given out can she send a formal letter stated that request.  Rick responded that it can not be a single club/league issue but an EPYSA membership as a whole that we are voting on to agree to the mailing.  Ned gave an example that our sponsorship with Adidas if they ask for a mailing list of our membership and we keep refusing how long to you think they would be our sponsors.  Adidas gives us equipment and financial support. 

Marty asked Greg to explain about the information officer mailing that was received. What was this for and how it worked?  It is information put out by Myteam as a communication link between our state office and membership via the website. Greg suggested that we put this on hold due to the fact that the registration committee is looking into new systems. 

New Business:

Jim Kuntz asked about tournaments being duplicated on same weekend.  Please scrutinize tournament applications that are being played in the same vicinity. 

Tom Corey stated he received a letter as a coach asking if his team would like to play in the particular league.  Is this appropriate?  Rick stated that it was not inappropriate depends on what he stated in letter.

Rick will have a conference call Tuesday night regarding Region I ODP.

US Soccer foundation is having anniversary dinner in Washington DC.  The cost of a table is $10,000. They asked EPYSA if we would like to buy a table.  Rick responded no thank you.  Then Region I was approached to buy a table and the regional director asked the state presidents to vote. Rick voted no again.

Greg reminded everyone to vote on the award nominations.  Motion to not award the Service to Youth award this year was made by Bill Blaise. Second by Tom Corey. Passed

Good of the Game:

If you are interested in World Cup tickets please contact Greg.

Meeting adjourned 10:10PM

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Helm

Secretary