EDITOR: First, I must emphasize I have enormous respect and
great appreciation for the time and effort Jack and Andrea
Salvamini put into the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League. My
father and mother, and my uncle, were very active in youth soccer
during my teens. I remember the love, caring and passion for soccer
extended to many youth and families in our community. I see the
same from the Salvaminis.
EDITOR:
First, I must emphasize I have enormous respect and great appreciation for the time and effort Jack and Andrea Salvamini put into the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League. My father and mother, and my uncle, were very active in youth soccer during my teens. I remember the love, caring and passion for soccer extended to many youth and families in our community. I see the same from the Salvaminis.
However, there are several things in the article in the July 13 edition of The Times on the reform movement that deserve further comment.
• The group of parents is called a “small group of disgruntled parents” who are unhappy at having been “kicked out” for not following rules. Yes, “kicked out” is exactly what happened to many in this group, (but not all), and the disappointment comes from not having access to the “rules” that Mr. Van Keulen claims are being enforced. The frustration is that nothing is in writing, and the rulings seem arbitrary. Furthermore, there is no consistent process or guidelines with which one can address the rulings. No one has any recourse, and the board has no accountability.
• Also, “these people” were described as having “personal issues” with the league. Yes, indeed. Everyone that is dissatisfied had experiences that directly affected them or their children and their teams. With personal investment of time and effort into the team and the relationships it includes, how else does one experience these problems except personally? I want to note, however, that what you are seeing is merely the “first wave,” people who have suffered recent arbitrary and inconsistent decisions by the board. We are discovering those who experienced similar problems years ago. I foresee that as momentum grows and the community is educated on the issue, we will see people join their voices to ours based on the “impersonal issue” of principle.
• Mr. Mott claims that many of these concerns “were resolved.” According to the dictionary definition, yes. A decision was made. However, “resolution,” to me, connotes that there is some discussion beforehand of both sides, and a conflict is resolved. Simply hearing “no” doesn’t feel like resolution, just termination. Again, I point to the fact, and the expressed frustration of many from whom we’ve heard, that there is no recourse, no guideline with which one can present the other side.
• The board states that OVYSL solicits board membership via announcements in the paper and sees little response. My family has generations of experience in community organizations. Based on this, I find this method of recruitment is the least effective way to gain participation. And, even if someone is invited to be on the board after having responded to an announcement in the paper, the problem is still that retaining membership is like navigating a minefield. People that have disagreed with the rest of the board have been summarily dismissed, without cause. Word about it gets around, and few people wish to spend their precious time volunteering for an organization that is run like this.
• OVYSL board meetings are open. Yes. So? I can go and listen, and perhaps speak, but the only people who can vote are the board members, who are appointed and not voted in by the member teams who pay a fee to the league, and are composed of families who pay an additional fee.
• Mr. Salvamini said “If they don’t like the rules, they can go somewhere else.” Unfortunately, many have done just that. We are not children. We are fee-paying parents, some have a history and love of soccer as great as the members of the board, some are new to this glorious game. We wish to have a voice in our community youth soccer league. These circumstances alone are enough for all participating youths and their parents to deserve the time and respect that is reflected in a well thought-out process that is fair and consistently applied to everyone.
Taking personalities out of the issue, it is not unreasonable to call for a process that helps encourage greater participation on the board. Greater participation will sometimes include disagreement and debate. Established and clear guidelines will facilitate true resolution of issues so that everyone feels satisfied that they were at least truly heard. In a country founded on democratic principles, it shouldn’t be a tall order.
Dina Campeau,
former OVYSL parent,
Morgan Hill
