HOUSTON
WOMEN'S SOCCER ASSOCIATION
MINUTES
OF MEETING
November 13,
2002
The meeting was called to
order by Jen Cooper, HWSA president, at Saengerbund Hall at 7:31 p.m.
Women's
teams absent: Katy Kicks, Synergy
Coed
teams absent: Buffalo Wild Wings, SCV Thunder, Stingers, SW United, Team
Fortress
MINUTES:
Teams will be recorded as absent if they do not answer
during roll call or check in with the secretary immediately after the
meeting. Minutes of the October 9, 2002
meeting were posted on the website; notice of posting was emailed to
everyone. Minutes of the August 7, and
October 9, 2002 meetings were approved as presented.
President:
1. WUSA exhibition match
· Attendance was standing room only (5,000+) despite bad weather.
· WUSA league officials and both teams were very pleased with the turnout, the organizers, and Houston.
· All invoices have not been received; however, we estimate that HWSA will receive at least $5,000 from the proceeds, most of which will go to scholarships.
· Thanks to everyone who volunteered and bought tickets.
2. FIFA has temporarily set aside the uniform sleeve rule -- sleeveless jerseys are allowed for the meantime.
3. Flyers are available for the women’s college cup in Austin on December 6 and 8.
Vice president:
Vice President Sharpe was out of town; Tom Whitehurst substituted for him in this meeting. He announced that there would be a D&P committee meeting immediately following the league meeting, and asked to see all D&P committee members along with representatives from La Raza, Boca Juniors and La Pandilla at that time. All team reps were reminded that a red card for violent conduct (striking or attempting to strike a player) carries a minimum three game suspension and a mandatory appearance before the D&P committee before the offending player can be reinstated.
Secretary:
Secretary
Schneider was out of town; Tom Whitehurst substituted for her in this meeting.
He announced that team reps who missed roll call should check in with him
following adjournment or be marked absent. Teams with outstanding fines should
meet with him after the meeting to pay same.
Registrar:
1. The registrar indicated that he has validated ID cards at the front table that may be picked up after the meeting.
2. Registration deadline for new players for the fall season is next Tuesday, November 19.
3. If you need to contact the registrar, please call him early in the morning.
Treasurer:
1.
Income for year to date (beginning
September 1) is $36,106, and $20,715 has been paid out, leaving a balance for
the year of $15,391; however state fees have not been paid yet.
2.
Our bank balance is $49,553,
not including money used to capitalize the HWSA WUSA exhibition match fund which
should be transferred back shortly.
3.
The Oktoberfest tournament
was rained out; entry fee refund checks are available at the front table for
teams that signed up and did not elect to receive T-shirts in lieu of cash.
Women's Commissioner:
1. The commissioner announced that all make-up games except one have been scheduled.
2. She needs to see all first division team reps, and the rep from Katy Kicks after the meeting.
3. Teams may be excused from league games to attend the women’s college cup in Austin (this will be considered as a state-sanctioned tournament for the purposes of rescheduling); however any team wishing to reschedule around the college cup must notify the commissioner tonight.
4. Teams wishing to use Dyess Park for make-up games on Saturday nights should contact the commissioner after the meeting. Teams trying to reschedule games during the week need to understand that most fields are booked up due to closure of the fields at Alief and Bear Creek.
5. Anyone who knows of good fields that aren’t being used should contact the women’s or coed commissioner.
Coed Commissioner:
1. Current fall season standings:
|
Division |
1st Place |
|
1/Mon |
Allies |
|
2/Mon |
RFN |
|
3/Mon |
Alliance |
|
|
|
|
1/Sun |
SW Kickers/La Raza (tie) |
|
2/Sun |
Montezuma’s Revenge |
2. Eleven of 19 fields the coed league uses are at Alief. Alief is closed due to flooding. Options for shortening the season were looked into, but were rejected for the time being due to equity issues; therefore, all make-up games have been scheduled using other fields. However, some teams will have both Sunday and Monday games the same week, and games have now been scheduled for the Sunday following Thanksgiving. The schedule will be available for inspection at the front table after the meeting. There will be no make-ups for additional rain days or teams requesting schedule changes.
1. The city has approved a capital grant for new fields and they have also applied for a U.S. Soccer Foundation grant to improve some fields in the southwestern part of town. Action is anticipated in 2003, and it is hoped that new fields will be available for the fall 2003 season.
2. Silvia will write a letter of support to the city and continue to look for new fields.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Coed schedules will be updated shortly; women’s schedules on the web site are up to date except for one game remaining to be rescheduled.
2. Please check your information on the team representative directory for accuracy. The list will be un-linked from the main web pages shortly to reduce the likelihood that the email addresses might be used to direct spam to team reps. The actual address of the tem rep directory page will not be changed and will be provided to team reps for their use as usual.
1. The October 26-27 Bear Creek tournament was rained out. Goodie bags are available for the taking at the front table. Tournament t-shirts are available for sale. Unsold shirts will be reworked and used as fall season awards.
2. Other tournaments: Thanksgiving day women’s arena tourney (flyer available); Quickfoot 4v4 in January; Coed State Cup will be in Austin on February 1-2; Women’s Over 30 State Cup will be in Houston on February 15-16; a women’s tournament in the Bahamas is scheduled for July (good travel deals are available; details at the front table and on-line)
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Elections for Association president, secretary, and field coordinator were conducted by Tom Whitehurst, acting vice president. All three incumbents agreed to stand for election: Jen Cooper, president; Sandra Schneider, secretary, and Silvia Guzman-Urteaga, field coordinator. The floor was opened for other nominations, but, there being none, the incumbents were elected by acclamation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Patti Ernst announced that players wishing to sign up for an over-40 team to play in the January over-30 league and national tournament in Hawaii this summer should contact her as soon as possible. She currently has only eight players signed up, but thinks she has found a coach.
2. Fall player registration ends at midnight Tuesday, 19 November.
3. No December league meeting; next meeting is Wednesday, January 8, 2003.
4. Spring season team registration deadline will be the January 8 league meeting.
5. A women’s skills clinic and coed goalkeeper clinic is scheduled for Saturday, December 14; location to be announced; fee is $5.00/person.
6. Over 30 league info will be available shortly on the web site since the season is scheduled to start before the next league meeting.
7. All team reps who were not counted present during roll call should see the acting secretary immediately following the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.