A reform-minded group presented its demands to the Orchard
Valley Youth Soccer League board of directors through group
facilitator Ballan Campeau during a public comment period at the
board
’s regular meeting on Thursday night.
A reform-minded group presented its demands to the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League board of directors through group facilitator Ballan Campeau during a public comment period at the board’s regular meeting on Thursday night.
Campeau, who was the only member of the reform group to speak at the board meeting, read the reform group’s letter to the board.
But the board had no immediate response to the group’s list of demands, and League President Jack Salvemini said the group’s letter to the board containing those demands would be forwarded to a special bylaws review committee. The board was not offered the group’s petition, which the group said includes at least 50 signatures in support of the demands.
OVYSL President Jack Salvemini said the group’s demands have “no substance.” “Let’s see the petition,” Salvemini said, repeating his doubts that the document contains 50 signatures. He predicted that the bylaws review committee would have a recommendation for the board some time in the next two months.
But Campeau said the group would not give the board the petition until it is invited to a board meeting and vowed to take its demands to District II and California Youth Soccer Association officials. The group is seeking to open the league’s membership to all teams, have board members elected by a wider constituency and force the league’s bylaws to be published, among other demands.
“I’ve already copied (District II official) Dave Mann about this and I’ll take this to the state if I have to,” Campeau said.
Campeau’s presentation to the board was followed by several OVYSL parents and coaches who spoke in support of the board, characterizing board members as responsive to their concerns.
But Campeau repeated that the group’s issue is not with the board members themselves but with the league’s rules.
“It’s not about the people,” Campeau said. “It’s about the documents. We just want the rules published so we can see them and review them each year to see if they still make sense.”