EDITOR: I read with interest the editorial on the Orchard Valley
Youth Soccer League and Ballan Campeau
’s guest column on the same subject.
EDITOR:
I read with interest the editorial on the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League and Ballan Campeau’s guest column on the same subject.
First, I cannot comment on the current practices and procedures of the OVYSL board, it has been too long since I participated.
I would, however, like to give some insight on how the situation may have reached this point.
When I served on the board, the league was really three programs. There were two “club” recreational programs, one in Gilroy and one in Morgan Hill, and a competitive play program coordinated by the league.
I coordinated the recreational program for Gilroy and I worked with the coordinator for Morgan Hill. During that time we found it difficult to get people to take leadership positions that desperately needed to be filled. We needed club registrars, field coordinators, equipment coordinators, age group coach coordinators, publicity coordinators, fund raising coordinators and last, but not least, the referee coordinators. The league had corresponding positions.
Each of these jobs may take 100 to 200 hours of work during the 10-week soccer season. Because of the lack of participation, many of the club leaders and league board members often held multiple positions in addition to coaching and refereeing.
After asking, begging and pleading for help, many of us found it just easier to do the jobs ourselves.
After a while you just stop asking. I am not saying this is right, and I don’t know if this is what has happened to the current board, but I can tell you from personal experience it always seemed a bit presumptive when others wanted to tell us what we should do, but would not put them selves in line to do the work.
I would ask Mr. Campeau to add two more questions to his petition. The first is, “Will you be willing to contribute 100 hours of volunteer work to the league?” If the answer is “yes”, the second question is, “What position would like to serve immediately?”
If Mr. Campeu could get even half the number who signed his petition to answer “yes,” the league would be miles ahead of where they were when I left.
If the charges the newspaper’s editorial board and Mr. Campeau make are accurate, then things should be corrected. But with “rights” comes “responsibility.” If you get the right to vote for a board you must be sure everyone votes. You must also be willing to serve and do the “dirty” work. Being a “volunteer” is not enough, the league and the clubs need leaders.
Gordon Sakai, Gilroy
