Minutes of FWSRA Board Meeting (11/26/07)

 

Meeting called to order at 6:53 PM at the Franco home – Board only meeting

8 of 10 voting members were present-Quorum achieved

 

Minutes of April and October meetings were approved unanimously after each member was allowed time to read them.

 

Officer’s reports:

  • President
    • Responded to a parent’s (Steve Andro) e-mail concerning poor officiating at his daughter’s U7 and U11 games. President has note on file. FWMSC was made aware of the parent’s e-mail by Judy forwarding it to FWMSC President Heather Hamashima. Judy also did investigate and it was found that both experienced and new referees have been on these team’s games.
  • Vice President – No report
  • Treasurer
    • Account balance of $8312.
    • Pending expenses include $1200 in insurance costs and $1500 for awards program in December.
    • Working with insurance carrier in order to have insurance coverage for Directors and Officers by January 1, 2008.
  • Secretary – Absent (President recorded minutes)

 

Directors Reports:

  • Director of Assigning:
    • Stepha Azzadine wished to upgrade to grade 7 once he turns 17 which will be in the next few months.
    • 3 e-mails were received from new referees asking for reimbursement for their clinic fees. Debbie referred them to the FWSA website and Treasurer Darlin’ Boudreau
    • U-11 for the 12/1 weekend have been moved to Lakota but no one at FWU seems to know. Assignor concerned with fields being prepared properly (lines/nets).
    • There have been a very high number of added games in both October and November. Most of the games however, have been items that would not have incurred a fee under the old change fee policy. President’s Cup, field closures and PDL crossover games were the predominant causes.
    • Debbie did mention that there is mentality in the PDL organization that changing/adding games last minute is no big deal. She did state that Rob Walker is aware and working to change that mentality to one of more advanced notice.
  • Director of Instruction:
    • Lorenzo asked if FWSRA had it in policy to reimburse for board members attending clinics with a fee. A motion was made and seconded to reimburse Lorenzo for the $60 assignor’s clinic that he attended in order to have a back up on the board. The motion was passed unanimously.
    • An additional night of recertification will be held on December 12th. It was recommended that the meeting begin at 5:30 PM in order to allow early testing. At 7 PM we will conduct our usual awards presentations. The President will send out reminders for the recertification.
    • Lorenzo asked if any other board member has heard the schedule for the 4 State Cup Semi Final Camps. As Scott Ray is close to Starfire complex and in touch with Betty Schmeck often, he volunteered to do some investigation and report back at the next board meeting.
    • A proposal was made by Lorenzo to hold a clinic in January rather than May. As SKCSRA is having an adult only clinic on Jan 18-20, it was decided that Feb 1-3 would be a good time. It will be a Friday-Sunday clinic. Judy will research the use of the 312th Fire Station as a meeting location as schools will not be available on the weekend.
  • Director of Assessment:
    • Scott feels referee abuse is getting more frequent and feels all referees need to take a hard line toward stopping it. He ejected a coach for continued dissent. Board agreed that continued communication with our referees to send the message that referee dissent and abuse must be dealt with at every opportunity. Good coach management should be taken into account when accomplishing this. It was agreed that a communication to the referees asking them to notify the assignor of cases of coach/sideline poor behavior would help FWSRA address specific coaches/teams with FWU/FWMSC
    • Showcase tournaments to be held in Snohomish and at Highline in Dec and Jan respectively. Board agreed that the Director of Assessment should work with the assignor to identify referees needing/wanting to upgrade so that they can be encouraged to work these tournaments.

·                                                         Director at Large-Rashkow

    • Kerry suggested that when we as experienced referees are on a game with newer/less experienced referees that we try to have those referees do the middle rather than a line when appropriate. On field mentoring can then occur.
  • Youth Director at Large-Eley – absent
  • Youth Director at Large – Mondragon – No Report

 

Unfinished Business:

  • President reminded board that everyone must submit their Duties and Responsibilities to him by the end of December. President will send reminder e-mails in December.

New Business:

  • Two referees, Richard VanWetchell and Chase McLaughlin both missed numerous assignments.
    • For VanWetchell it was discussed and then decided that a 2 game 150% penalty, as per policy, will be applied. Additionally the President will write a letter advising him that self assigning privileges (which were removed 11/19/07) will not be reinstated and that he will be mentored on any assignments that he is allowed to take. There have been numerous complaints concerning this referee’s ability to apply the laws of the game correctly. If he does not agree, then he will not be allowed to officiate in FWSRA.
    • For McLaughlin, the board agreed that there would be no penalty. He was spoken to by the assignor and understands that this is the same as having a job. Phone calls must be made if an assignment cannot be filled, preferably with minimum 24 hours notice.

·         Kreig Eley suggested that for awards this year that the top three referees be rewarded to a much greater degree and that level 4 through 10 be a fixed $25. Debbie also brought up that Mod referees got almost the same award for doing considerably less games. Mike F agreed to structure and payout for awards based on these ideas and distribute by e-mail for review.

·         Mike F brought up assigning of new referees to higher level games. Board held a conversation on whether to fill assignments with less experienced referees or to let the positions go unfilled if there is not someone ready at that level. It was decided as a board that we should not put unprepared referees on games just to fill them and that the President is willing to have the tough discussion with FWU if they complain about unfilled assignements in these cases. Overall, there are more covered games this year than last.

 

For the Good of the Game

Meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.

Next meeting to be scheduled via e-mail.