The April board meeting for AYSO Region 337 was held at Faith United Methodist Church on April 6 at 7:30 pm. Board members present were: George Burgess, Rich Guy, Laura Walters, Terry Wilshire, Chris Mott, Bill Mize, Sharon Wise, Amy Waller, Jason DeRosa, Mike Moody, Cat Seagle, Vicki Easterday, Cheryl Blair, Joe Myers, and Kerry Patterson. The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m.

The first item on the agenda was the treasurer’s report. Sharon Wise reported that all looks good to carry us through August when next registration will occur.

Cheryl Blair and Joe Myers reported on Soccerfest 2006. There will be a committee meeting on April 17 at 6:30 at Faith United Methodist Church. Sponsorships letters are in the works of distribution. Cheryl wants to put a drop box at the fields to assist coaches in registering their teams. Registration will be May 19-21. Registrations are needed in by April 27, but we will accept late registers through May 2nd as space allows. The discussion was made about guest players. It was determined that we would allow up to 3 guest players per team. Kerry Patterson did a flyer for the basket auctions that will be given to the division commissioners to distribute among their division. Soccer Fest information will also be on the website and in the newsletter.

Bill Mize reported that there are still problems with game coverage each week, but it is better than before. He did ask that any emails with questions and especially problems to be addressed to him only instead of a wide spread of people that it really doesn’t concern. This will keep negativity down to a minimum. George announced that Kerry Patterson has been appointed to a new board position—Administrative Assistant to the Referee Administrator.

Terry Wilshire requested that all division commissioners give him a budget for the upcoming seasons by April 20. He will then turn all budgets in at one time to the treasurer.

Division commissioner’s reports:
U6- Vicki Easterday had nothing to report
U8- no one present to report
U10-Sharon reported that there were still some openings for the area tournament
U12- Rich Guy had nothing to report
U14-no one present to report

Chris Mott reported on the fields. The weather report for this upcoming weekend is calling for 2” of rain. Our fields are showing a lot of wear. Chris, Lynn, and Bill will check the fields at 7:00 am to determine the conditions. After their assessment, they will notify George and he will put a message on the region’s machine and also notify Russ to put on the website.

Equipment—Kid Zone game balls that Score had donated came in today.

Open forum:
George reported that people had donated $400 for Cameron Bayless to play soccer at Central HS. Cameron’s father Chris Bayless, a referee and former board member has cancer of the spine. TSSAA declared Cameron ineligible to play soccer at Central HS. George donated the money to the family to help with Chris’s medical problems.

George had a page copied from AYSO Shorts that he passed out. It was a copy that talked about the 7 steps to a successful region. We are doing most of the items that were listed. We will work on the rest.

Volunteer appreciation day was set for May 14 at 1:00 at the fields. All volunteers and their immediate families are welcome to attend. Amy is checking on a new barbecue company for this year’s event.

Vicki Easterday asked permission to use the soccer complex on Saturday, June 10 for a fundraiser car show for the Chicago team that is going to the National games this summer. George approved both them and also a track club that Mike Horner is associated with to use the complex.

George informed the board that the expansion of our complex, will consist of 4 additional U12 fields, permanent concession stand, and restrooms. We need to build up a reserve to help fund this expansion. Sharon Wise reported that National requires us to keep $5.00 per player in that reserve. Upcoming expenditures will include sprinkler system and goals.

Amy Waller reported some problems with skateboarders and we all need to keep a watch on children that skateboard at the complex on Saturdays. We do not want those children or anyone at the complex to be injured as a result of skateboarding.

Amy also reported that she had worked out for the kids in our region to be able to participate in a UT mini soccer clinic on Tuesday, April 18 from 6:00 –7:00. This will be held at the UT indoor complex and will be for any boy or girl in the 8th grade or younger. Indoor or outdoor cleats can be worn and along with those, shin guards and a water bottle is all that is needed.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:40.

Minutes kept by Vicki Easterday

Respectfully submitted
Pat Burgess
Regional Secretary