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January 2012 Page 3 EXECUTIVE BOARD NOTES November 21, 2011 - Approved the date of July 22, 2012 for the Annual General Meeting. The AGM will be held at Slippery Rock University. - Confirmed an email vote approving the lease of a Xerox Work Center 5745 from Amcom Office Products. - Unanimously approved a policy requiring all clubs to report changes to their Boards on or by March 1 and August 1 of every year. - Unanimously approved a policy requiring all clubs to hold elections between November 1 and January 31 of the following year beginning in November 2013. - The Board rejected a uniform sponsorship proposal from Score. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SET FOR JULY The 2012 Annual General Meeting of <strong>PA</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong> will be held on Sunday, July 22. The AGM will convene at 2:00 PM in the Advanced Technology and Science Hall Auditorium on the campus of Slippery Rock University. The meeting is held to conduct the business of the association including election of officers for positions with expiring terms, approval of the 2012-13 budget, and approval of any proposed amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws. The voting members of the State Council include a representative from each affiliated youth club and sanctioned adult league. Attendance is mandatory for all youth clubs; clubs not attending will be subject to a 300.00 fine. Registration for all state council members will begin at 1:00 PM. TOUCHLINE EXECUTIVE BOARD EXECUTIVE BOARD CREATES ELECTION WINDOW At its November meeting the Executive Board unanimously approved a policy requiring clubs to hold elections between November first of one year and January 31st of the next. The board took the action to create the threemonth election window to solve a persistent problem and proactively reduce the likelihood of another. Over the years, <strong>PA</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Soccer</strong> has consistently had problems getting clubs to report changes to Board of Directors. However, the problem hasn’t been consistently from the same clubs. The failure to report is often the result of Board changes and the outgoing officers provided little or no support to the incoming officers. Thus, the new members do not know to alert the state office of the change and the state office has no record leading to continued correspondence with old officers who usually fail to pass the info along. Attempts have been made to track down changes but those efforts often result in an exercise similar to chasing one’s tail so the goal is to have all the elections held in the same time period allowing the staff and volunteers to know that by February 1st all clubs will have completed elections and new officers should have been reported. Tracking down stragglers won’t be hit or miss as when elections are held throughout the year. Secondly, having all elections completed in a specific time period will allow <strong>PA</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Soccer</strong> to offer training specific to newly elected officers. The goal is to help new Board members hit the ground running. Recently, the number of calls and incidents due to poor Board operation has increased significantly. It is hoped this new initiative will help our newly elected officers be more informed and better prepared to begin performing their duties. Better performing officers will help clubs provide better service to their members. President Natalie Schwoeble 4133 Homestead-Duquesne Rd. <strong>West</strong> Mifflin, <strong>PA</strong> 15122 412-462-9385 natjos@comcast.net Vice President - Youth Thilo Boensch P.O. Box 274 Zelienople , <strong>PA</strong> 16063 724-316-8903 Thilo@zoominternet.net Secretary Peggy Neason 82 Lookout Ave., Monongahela, <strong>PA</strong> 15063 (H) 724-379-5386 pneason@comcast.net Member-At-Large Norman G. Hasbrouck 160 Quarry Lane, California, <strong>PA</strong> 15419 (H) 724-938-3620 bod-hasbrouck@pawest-soccer.org Member-At-Large Bill Kamienik 2514 Bonnie Dell Drive, South Park, <strong>PA</strong> 15129 412-653-4095 bill.kamienik@gmail.com Vice President - Adult Keith Renner 1021 McClure St Apt #3 Munhall, <strong>PA</strong> 15120 412-464-0829 RDKSportsinc@aol.com Treasurer Tom Beecher 4212 Tanglewood Dr. Allison Park, <strong>PA</strong> 15101 412-486-2550 tbsoccer1@verizon.net Immediate Past President Larry Solomon 24 Timberline Court, Pittsburgh, <strong>PA</strong> 15217 (H) 412-521-8971 soccersol@aol.com Member-At-Large Cheryl Bejgrowicz PO Box 8926 New Castle, <strong>PA</strong> 16107 724-714-1811 nerdudette@gmail.com Member-At-Large TBA 2012 is here! With the start of each New Year we offer resolutions in hopes of being a better person. Some only last until dessert is offered with our New Year’s Day meal but not all resolutions are broken. Here are some that will make playing and watching our game more enjoyable and meaningful. Let’s resolve to engage in “Fair Play”. Reward the skillful play and discourage the tactics and efforts that turn a blind eye to the spirit of the game. Let’s resolve to put the welfare of the players before the result of the game. Let’s resolve to have a positive attitude at the field…recognizing that all three teams (yes, three teams - home, away, and referees) will be trying to do their best but mistakes are part of the game. Less criticism and more encouragement will help the game be a positive experience for everyone. Let’s resolve to understand there is nothing wrong with wanting to win but it’s wrong to want to win at all costs. Let’s resolve to encourage a love of the game. By appreciating the game for its value and beauty we’ll want skillful, sporting soccer from both teams instead of a game filled with rule bending and attempts to manipulate the referees. Let’s resolve to learn more about the game. We’re never too old to learn and the game is always evolving. The coach, referee, or spectator who thinks they know everything about the game will quickly find they don’t know as much as they once did. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Let’s resolve to contribute more to the game. Take the referee or coaching course and help boost the ranks of our officials and educated coaches. We don’t have enough qualified officials (especially adults) and coaches. Even if you don’t referee or coach you’ll have a much better understanding of the laws and how they should be applied and the game and how it should played and coached. Let’s resolve to understand the importance of player development. Players should be encouraged to try new things and take risks, even if they result in mistakes. Mistakes usually provide us with the best lessons. Those achieving the greatest success are usually those taking the biggest risks. Mistakes are only bad when we don’t learn from them. Let’s resolve to keep the lines of communication open. Situations can be resolved if concerns are shared openly and honestly. Whether you don’t like the coach’s method of coaching, a club’s handling of team selection, or color paint used to paint the field’s bleachers…talk to someone and share your concern. Most importantly, let’s resolve to enjoy our time together on the pitch or along the touchline. The game provides a special bond; take advantage of the opportunity for friendship, fellowship, and sense of community it provides. Think of your own soccer resolutions to add to these. Then make them habits in the coming year.
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