Minutes of 19 August 2002 LVOTSL Meeting

Attendance: Tim Gilman (Gold), Tim Steber (Parkland), Tim Golden (hostwindows), Vince Garcia (Jeff's Demos), Alfredo Perez (Cementeros), Joe Dueh (ASC), Jeff Hixson (RCN), Bill Wagstaff (WL Strikers), Paul Feher (WL Strikers), Dave Leidig (HFA), Fred Farbod (Cementeros), Bill Moss (Deep Run II), Ruben Aragon (WL Seniors), Aldo Ormeno (Inca Peru), Adam Florkowski (Deep Run I), Milton Martinez (Latins), Jim Hare (WL Kickers), Julien Chica (Phoenix), Mario Cruz (Phoenix) and Hamdija Todorovac.
Meeting at Bethlehem Jeff's was called to order at 7:55 PM.

All teams represented.

Previous meeting minutes
Minutes from 5 March 2002 meeting were read. There was one clarification to the minutes. For the Inca-Peru vs Strikers forfeit, Inca-Peru owes the Strikers $40 not the refs since the Strikers already paid the refs.

Vice President's Report (Bill Wagstaff)
Bill reported on the following:
1. The schedule has not been completed owing to 1) the Latin Old Timers' name/organization change and 2) the possibility of adding a new team to the league.
2. The 2002 Fall season will start on 14 September and continue until 23 November.
3. Bill will e-mail tentative schedules to team reps ASAP. Please review the schedule and send Bill desired revisions by 1 September.

Treasurer's Report and Web-Site Manager (Fred Farbod)
1. The league's checking account contains $1,688.86 and the savings account stands at $3,287.76.
2. Forfeit fees of $50 are outstanding for Parkland and Inca-Peru.
3. Remember, game scores must be reported to Fred by Sunday noon following a Saturday game by the HOME team. The league would also like the visiting team to call in the score as a backup measure. This can be done through the website or via telephone 610-837-1146.
4. Hamdija assigned refs for the ASC vs HFA game on 1 June 2002. Unfortunately, the game was not played that day. The league agreed to pay the refs a one-half game fee for the mix up.
5. For the RCN vs Deep Run II forfeit, RCN owes a $50 forfeit fee and the $80 ref fees.
6. In the aborted HFA vs Inca-Peru game, Hal Grahn didn't receive his $40 payment. Apparently, Duncan McNeil had paid Hal, but he threw the money back. After some discussion, it was decided Hal should get payment for the game.
7. At the next league meeting, the $75 league fee is due from all teams.
8. Since the Latin's are exiting the league, they will receive their performance bond money back minus any fees that they owe league.

Fred also gave an update on the website (http://home.netcom.com/~ffarbod/lvotsl.htm)
Here's the latest:
1. The cards issued during games from which we have game reports are now on the web-site.
2. The site also has a link to minutes of league meetings.

Referee Assignor (Hamdija)
1. The issue of ref fees was raised. Hum indicated that ref fees have been held constant for 3 years. He recommended a raise to $52/game for one-man system and $90/game for a two-man system.
2. Bill Moss recommended we stay at $40/ref in the 2-man system, but send them $5 each after game reports have been received.
3. Tim Gilman made a recommendation that Hal Grahn (the ref most known for neglecting his game report duties) not do our games.
4. Adam made a recommendation we put Hal on probation. The recommendation turned into a motion that Hal Grahn be put on probation for the 2002/2003 season to ensure he does his ref duties responsibly including filing game reports within 48 hours of game completion. Failure to comply with the rules will result in his suspension from calling games in our league. Hal's performance will be gauged by a mid-season review. The suspension will occur effective Hal's first failure to comply with the above noted rules. Bill Moss seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
5. Secretary's note. We neglected to come to a conclusion on ref fees during the meeting. The league officers decided after the meeting to raise ref fees to $54 total for the 1-man system ($27/team) and $88 total for the 2-man system ($44/team).

Registrar's Report (Alfredo Perez)
Alfredo handed out copies of each teams current roster to their respective league rep. Alfredo made the following reminders:

1. Ensure the roster is accurate and up-to-date. Please send corrections to Alfredo.
2. Make sure that new registration forms (with co-signer) are used for new team additions.
3. Alfredo told the potential new teams what the league requirements were in order to consider a new team for admission to the league. Please see league minutes from 7 May 2001 for those requirements.

Games Commissioner (Dave Leidig)
1. Dave noted that his game reports and personal experience indicate a high frequency of game problems (forfeits, aborted games, altercations etc.) with matches involving Inca-Peru. Dave made a motion that Inca-Peru be put on probation for the first 6 months of the 2002/2003season. If an act of violent conduct is put forth by an Inca-Peru player or fan against a referee, an opposing player or opposing fan, Inca-Peru will be suspended for the remainder of the 2002/2003 season. The motion was seconded by Vince and passed with one objection.

Over-40 Update (Tim Gilman)
The LVOTSL over-40 program resumes on 10 September at Saucon Park C with 9 teams competing. The format is 11 v 11 on full fields with 2 games played on Tuesday and 2 games played on Wednesday. Interested parties need to contact Jorge Camacho (610-250-1107) or Bryan Snapp (610-774-4397).

Old Business (Tim Gilman)
Nothing under old business.

New Business (Tim Gilman)
1. There were discussions among the league officers about the Inca Peru vs HFA game from the Spring 2002 season. The game was aborted in the second half with a 1-1 score. The ref who terminated that game (Hal Grahn) did not file a game report. A game report for that match was completed by Hamdija following a conversation with Hal. After reading Hum's game report, the league officers voted that the game should remain a 1-1 tie. That vote was unanimous with one abstention.
2. The final results of the 2001/2002 season were handed out. In the A division, ASC won its fourth consecutive championship by goal difference over HFA. That classy hostwindows outfit finished one point back. The bottom two finishers in the A division, Deep Run I and Cementeros, were relegated to the B division. The B division champions were Deep Run II who were awarded a trophy and promotion to the A division for their troubles. Also gaining promotion to the A division were the Jeff's Demos after a one year stint in the B division. Congratulations to all.
3. The Latin Old Timer's, previous LVOTSL champions, have withdrawn from the league. However, a number of their players, headed by Milton Martinez, petitioned the league to accept their new team, Olimpia Soccer Club. The team will consist essentially of many of the previous Latin Old Timers and will continue to use Fountain Park as their home field. Typically new teams that gain entrance to the league are required to start in the B division. Leidig made a motion that we allow Olimpia SC to stay in the A division since Olimpia SC represents just a name change, not a new team. Ruben seconded the motion and it passed with one abstention.
4. Another potential new team, Phoenix Soccer Team petitioned the league for entrance to the B league. Their representative, Mario Cruz, told the league that 1) they would use Saucon Park as their home field, 2) wore white and purple uniforms, 3) had money at hand to pay up-front bond money and 4) had a roster of a minimum of 15 people. After some discussion, the league unanimously accepted Phoenix Soccer Teams petition to join the league.
5. Next meeting is scheduled for 21 October 2002 at the Lehigh Saengerbund, 7:30 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Golden