VYSA BOD Meeting – June 17, 2026, Minutes Summary
Meeting Attendance and Quorum Discussion
The meeting began with informal conversation about World Cup games and Corky's upcoming event on Friday. The participants discussed various matches and teams, including Turkey's chances in their upcoming game. The formal meeting started with attendance check, noting that while several people were present including Corky, Gordon, Serkan, Anne, Bill, and others, John Davis was expected but had a time conflict with another Zoom call. The group decided to wait for John's arrival before proceeding with the approval of minutes, as a quorum was not yet reached for voting purposes.
Partnership Updates and Hall of Fame
Serkan provided updates on recent hires and partnerships, highlighting new agreements with Nike Soccer, Soccer Village, Trace Camera, Kalahari Resort, Sky, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Atlantic Union Bank. These partnerships willprovide significantfinancial and marketing support, including a six-year agreement with Nike worth $150,000 and a $220,000 contract with Soccer Village. The team discussed plans for an upcoming Hall of Fame gala dinner on February 6th at Kalahari Resort, with Trace Camera sponsoring a video component and Donald working on its creation. The conversation ended with the approval of April and May board meeting minutes.
State Cup and USYS Updates
Bill summarized recent events including the State Cup finals in May where several Hall of Fame members including Talene Tomasian-Marias and Marie Amarato Schweitzer attended and supported the events. He discussed a call with USYS leadership about a proposed MSA managed services agreement where USYS would move under the Federation, with a key vote scheduled at the USYS AGM in August. Bill also reported on a recent SRC meeting where they addressed a penalty kick infraction in a U13 girls match and discussed financial improvements including the hiring of a new bookkeeper to address previous reconciliation issues.
Soccer Expo and Cup Events
The group discussed two upcoming soccer events: a North American Soccer Expo in Michigan scheduled for July 30th-August 1st, which is sponsored by USYS and may be similar to the US Soccer Convention, and the National League Cup taking place around July 7th. Bill noted that USYS has offered two free registrations per state for the Michigan expo, though the group agreed to research more details about both events before making decisions about participation. The discussion also covered the National League's transition, including how the National League Cup determines teams advancing to the national championship series, with Anne clarifying that teams would need to spend money on both events.
USYS-US Soccer Merger Discussion
Bill discussed the potential merger of USYS with US Soccer and clarified that if state associations vote against the merger, it would be rejected without any alternative workaround. Serkan explained that the 60-page presentation covers local operating office governance and funding allocation, but specific bylaws are still being developed. Anne raised concerns about separating the merger vote from the financial allocation decision, particularly regarding the $4 million from
region 1 and approximately $14 million from the current merger. Bill confirmed that most state associations have agreed to the merger, with only Rhode Island and New Hampshire still considering it, and explained that the Region 1 funds were absorbed into USYS general funds and would not be returned to the states.
Funding Proposal and Financial Review
Bill and Serkan discussed concerns about a $14 million funding proposal, noting that while the presentation showed planned allocations for grassroots programs and coaching education, there were questions about whether the money would be used as intended. JD raised a significant issue about the SRC changing their policy regarding the appointment of SYRA without proper oversight, which Bill was unaware of. The meeting included a review of the treasurer's report showing a milestone of reaching $2.5 million in the Vanguard account, though it had since dropped by $100,000-$120,000. The discussion ended with plans to address the secretary's report and budget considerations later in the meeting.
Budget Review and Approval
The board reviewed a new budget that shows a projected $120,000 net income increase with a 3.4% margin, despite expenses being down 7% from last year. Serkan explained that while coaching education expenses appear higher than tuition revenue due to planned attendance numbers, they are working to address this through waiting lists and potential coach transfers from other programs. The board approved the budget allocation changes, particularly noting the improved financial transparency by tracking income where it actually occurs rather than across different budget categories. The board approved the 2026-27 budget after Corky made the motion and David seconded it.
Membership Approval Meeting
The board then discussed and approved a provisional membership for Bravo Enterprise, though they expressed concerns about the club using the PSG name without proper documentation or affiliation. Serkan noted that while there might be trademark issues, as long as Bravo Enterprise doesn't use the PSG name officially, there should be no problems. Bravo Enterprise was approved provisional membership to VYSA.
VYSA ODP Program Updates
Gordon reported that Virginia had the highest player selection in VYSA history for the region tournament, with 92 girls and 85 boys selected, and outlined plans for upcoming district tryouts in August and training sessions starting in September. He discussed upcoming coach education courses in June and July, including 11v11, 9v9, 7v7, D license, C license, and B license courses, as well as new club visit initiatives featuring mentorship opportunities for coaches. The group discussed the importance of recognizing contributing clubs while maintaining the ODP program's success, with Serkan noting that the program's focus on player development aligns well with US Soccer's goals.
Presidents' Cup and AGM Planning
Raymond reported on the Presidents' Cup Regionals in Loudoun, where 7 teams advanced to Wichita, Kansas, though he noted the event felt less special than previous ones despite the success. The discussion then shifted to upcoming AGM plans at Alex Renew, which will include
• Monitor and update the board on new sponsorship agreements and revenue share models once contracts are signed and information can be made public (projected for November/December).
• Coordinate with Donald and relevant staff to create and prepare the "50 Years of Virginia Soccer" video content in collaboration with Trace Camera and the designated committee.
• Work with Kalahari Resort and VP of Sales to finalize logistics and contract details for the Hall of Fame gala dinner and subsequent events.
• Update the board on the status of N1 (National League) team acceptances and any relevant impacts on VYSA.
• Follow up with Richard regarding N1 and update the board as information becomes available. Collaboration
• Serkan/RobertCarey: Continue working with Atlantic Union Bank on loan consolidation and update the board before finalizing any changes.
• Serkan/RobertCarey: Update the board mid-year (after major income in November) with a reforecasted budget, including any significant changes or new program results.
• Serkan/Staff: Prepare and present the new financial policy to the Finance Committee and board for review and approval by no later than August.
• Serkan/Staff: Ensure all AGM registrants/members are clearly informed of the timing and requirements for the AGM voting session (in-person/online) to ensure quorum.
• Gordon/Paul/Megan: Continue outreach and promotion for coaching education courses, especially in underserved/western areas, and consider introductory/interest sessions via Zoom if needed.
• Bill/John Davis: Address offline the recent SRC policy change regarding SYRA appointment process and consider appropriate VYSA response/action.