Elections

Nominees:

Steve Lloyd’s Statement of Interest:

To: Executive, Elections Sub-Committee & members, Downtown Soccer Toronto

Please accept this open letter as my official statement of interest for the position of Commissioner.

I have been a member of DST since 2005, serving 3 terms on the Executive (2006-2008) as Operations Coordinator. During these formative years, we established not only the By-Laws and Constitution for the league but also developed most of the policies and procedures that endure today. I have assisted in two league expansions, from 6 to 8 teams and again from 8 to 10 teams, increasing membership from approximately 120 to 200 members. During this time DST spawned the TIPC event which has become a successful venue for hosting other teams from North America in a competitive environment. Notwithstanding my experience on previous Executives, I also bring a professional and personal background which includes Hockey School governance, Military leadership, retail management and customer service/logistics coordination. I hope to put all of my resources in play if I am given the opportunity to join the Executive in 2010.

My vision for DST is simple, as was the vision of its creators: to foster a safe space where queer and queer positive individuals of all caliber could play soccer without fear of physical, emotional or spiritual harm. My focus for the 2010 season would be stability and renewal. We've endured some rough moments in the recent past, through no fault of the serving members of the Executive. In fact, their ability to rise to the occasion and continue to move forward has inspired me to seek to once again work among them. The renewal that I hope to help foster would be a confidence in the leadership of the league; the stability in the form of a simple and straight-forward season of clean, fun soccer. Perfecting policies and procedures which help the league run smoothly will be a priority but so will community building; creating an atmosphere where people from different walks of life can unite and find their commonality on the pitch but also bring it off the pitch into their everyday lives. Only once we have built a stronger community should we again consider moving towards future expansions or re-organization to allow more individuals to benefit from and contribute to the incredible league that has been established.

Lastly, with DST's benefit in mind and regardless of the outcome of the election, I personally challenge each and every member who has yet to take a support role in the league to do so. Working on the Executive in the past has been an extremely rewarding experience which is unimaginable without taking it on. However working on the Executive is not the only way to contribute. There are many roles you can play and they are only limited by your imagination and your willingness to help, and it is only through the contribution of the membership that this league can survive. If I am rewarded with your vote then it is with the promise that I will follow-up on this challenge in the new season. Thanks for your time and best of luck in the playoffs!

Steve Lloyd

Nominees:

Daniel Tourangeau's Statement of Interest

Nominees:

Tedd Konya 's Statement of Interest

Fellow DSTers-

I would like to seek the position of Secretary on the 2010 Executive. I have been a member of the league since the 2007 season and have served on the Executive during the current season. It is my understanding that the league has not had the same Secretary for consecutive seasons since its inception. I believe the league would benefit from me maintaining the Secretary role because it ensures consistency in record keeping and organization within the Executive.

I have worked over the past year to organize and re-build the league records and I would like to keep building on this process. Also, I feel that I am now more prepared and well suited to getting the new Executive started on the right track.

We all play in a great soccer league! After traveling to other soccer tournaments internationally I realize that we are all a part of something truly unique and special. I would like to help be a part of the team that ensures the league’s success and would appreciate your vote.

Tedd Konya

Nominees:

Shane Butner's Statement of Interest

Hello Fellow DST'ers,

I would like to take a moment to officially express my interest in returning to the role of 'Events & Sponsorship' for the 2010 executive.

Since I have joined the league I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people who have truly changed my life since I moved here from the west. 3yrs ago I was on the first sub commitee to organize the TIPC events, last year a part of the executive as events/sponsorship, and am currently a captain this season.

This league has made some amazing strides in both a social and a sponsorship aspect due to the hard work of many volunteers. If selected, I look forward to building on that and getting as many people active and involved as possible.

See you on the Pitch,

Shane Butner (Slack's)

John Hazell's Statement of Interest

I would like to state my interest in running for the position of Events and Fundraiser Coordinator for the Downtown Toronto Soccer league.

I became interested in this role after working on one of the events this year and finding it very rewarding and enjoyable.

As someone involved in sales professionally I have strong communication and interpersonal relationship skills I think are needed for this role. On top of this I am hard working focused and put my all into whatever endeavors I am involved with.

As Events and Fundraising coordinator I plan on ensuring strong communication lines are open between the league and our sponsors in order to strengthen existing ties with current sponsors and building upon relationships with new or prospective sponsors. I would like to ensure that the fundraising initiatives the league puts on are prosperous while also furthering sponsor ties and community relationships with the league, on top of being entertaining for all involved.

I really look forward to further entrenching the league as a positive force within the community and hope that I am able to have a larger part in that as the Event and Fundraising Coordinator for DST.

Slainte,

Jon Hazell

Ben Montgomery's Statement of Interest

To my fellow DST-ers,

Please accept this as my official letter of interest in running for the position of Events and Fundraising coordinator for the 2010 DST season.

Joining DST was by far the best decision I have made since moving to Toronto in 2008. Not only has DST helped introduce me to the exceptional gay and lesbian community within Toronto, but it has contributed to some of the best experiences of my life so far.

As the 2010 Events & Fundraising coordinator, I want to work with the executive in bringing our ever-growing DST community to the next level; Not only by planning and executing unique and successful fundraisers to provide the funding essential to ensure the continued success of the league, but to do so in an exciting way that will help bring us closer together as a group.

In the past few years I have had a great deal of experience in both the planning and execution of fundraisers and events of all shapes and sizes, from a small 30-hour famine group, to high-level Corporate Events. I believe this experience, combined with your support, will help us to make 2010 the best season to date.

Let the events begin!!

Ben

Nominees:

Tara Vinodrai's Statement:

Dear DSTers,

I am writing this letter to announce my candidacy for the position of Women’s Representative and League Ombudsman for the 2010 Executive.

I have been playing in DST since 2005 and I have served on the Executive since 2006. It has been both very challenging and incredibly rewarding. Over this time, I have realized that DST is very special and unique as a community and as a soccer league. The league has changed a lot since I first joined and I have been part of four executives who have overseen this expansion, including securing an Ontario Trillium Foundation seed grant which allowed us to offer high quality skills clinics, increase our level of female participation and kick start our still nascent, but successful and popular tournament, the Toronto International Pride Cup (better known as just TIPC). Through this time, we have grown from six to eight to ten teams. Put differently, this means that rather than approximately 120 members, we now have over 200 men and women who play soccer and belong to our DST community. I am very proud to have been part of the Executive teams that have championed these accomplishments.

Every year has its challenges (cue the monsoon rains) and this year has certainly been no different. I feel that my experience on previous executives will be a real asset to the league as we move forward. Boring as it may sound, I was part of the executive that crafted the league’s constitution and bylaws in an effort to ensure that the league would have stability and longevity. We are in the process of reviewing our governance and I want very much to actively participate in this process. I love this league and I want it to flourish!

Outside of my experience on previous Executives, my professional life demands working and coordinating with many different people with many different perspectives. It demands sensitivity, negotiation and diplomacy, but also execution and delivery. It also demands an intimate understanding of long term planning, budgets and governance issues. My experience in DST tells me that these are all qualities which are also needed to help support our DST community and continue to deliver a fun-filled, high quality soccer season.

If elected, I will bring a high level of commitment and energy to my portfolio and to the league. I look forward to working with the rest of the Executive and the league to ensure DST’s tradition of strong community and success continues. Please feel free to approach me on the field or via email if you have any questions about my nomination. Good luck in the playoffs and see you on the pitch!

- Tara Vinodrai

Nominees:

Christopher Henderson's Statement:

The ability to organize, coordinate and plan ahead are strengths that I believe that I bring to the operations position, a position responsible for many of logistical matters necessary for the DST to run smoothly.

In my present job as a lawyer/bureaucrat, I think I can safely say that few people enjoy applying for permits, making schedules and taking inventories more than I do.

I consider myself to be a responsible, dedicated, approachable, up-beat and a good team player, all of which I think would be assets as a member of the DST executive.

I've greatly enjoyed my two years participating with the DST and would enjoy the opportunity to be involved in keeping it as a place of fun and good sportsmanship.

Ed Van Ekeris' Statement:

Please consider me for the position of operations manager for the Downtown Soccer Toronto League for the 2010 season.

I have been a member for the past two seasons, and have thoroughly enjoyed playing and meeting many wonderful people in the league. I feel I would like to contribute my time and energy to help the next season run smoothly.

Thank you for your consideration,

Ed Van Ekeris
416-898-7145

Nominees:

Amanda Stocks' Statement of Interest

To Whom It May Concern:

Please accept this letter for your consideration for the position of Membership Co-ordinator for the 2010 DST season.

This has been my first season playing in the DST League. I am a new resident in the Toronto area and when I originally joined I expected that it would simply be something I did for exercise over the summer. I had no idea that I would meet so many new people, play in a league that was as fun, energetic, and competitive as it is, nor did I realize that I would look forward to playing soccer as much as I do each Sunday morning or afternoon.

Over the last several months, I have been very impressed by how well the league has handled several challenges throughout the 2008/2009 season. In my opinion, each of these has been managed very professionally and swiftly. Very clearly this is a winning team. I believe that my hard working, outgoing, and attention to detail attitude would be an asset to this group.

This league is something we should all be proud of…and I hope that you will consider me in the role of Membership Co-ordinator in 2010.

Please feel free to contact me directly (either via email or on the soccer pitch) with any questions or concerns you may have regarding my interest in this position.

Again, thank you for your consideration.

Regards,

Amanda Stocks

Jordan Stewart's Statement of Interest

Dear DST friends,

I am writing today to officially submit my candidacy for Membership Coordinator for the 2010 Season.

Though it is only my first season with the league, I have very quickly developed a great love for DST. As a result, I hope to find a way in which my particular skills and experience can best be put to use for the good of the league, and I feel that the Membership Coordinator is such a role.

The diversity of DST is both its greatest quality and greatest potential source of difficulty, and managing this diversity is a major component of the Membership Coordinator's role. I have spent 2 years on the executive of a dance collective with a mandate like that of DST - to welcome all regardless of skill level - so I have considerable experience managing similar challenges. In the end, the goal is to ensure a fair and fun season for everyone, regardless of their expectations at the outset, and I hope to be able to work with the rest of the executive to make that happen as best we can.

In addition, my present job demands a great deal of coordination, liaising, planning and organization ? all skills that will serve me well if you select me as your Membership Coordinator. Both professionally and recreationally you will rarely hear the phrase "that's not my job" escape my lips - a willingness to work hard and learn and a dedication that I would continue to demonstrate if elected.

In short, I am eager and excited to be a part of the 2010 DST Executive, and am ready to do everything I can to work with next year's executive to help make next season one of DST's best! I look forward to seeing you all out on the pitch, both this year and next!

Jordan Stewart, Zone #21
Jordan.stewart@utoronto.ca

Nominees:

Keph Senett's Statement of Interest

Dear DST Members,

This letter is to announce my candidacy for the position of Communications Officer for the 2010 season.

I am running again for a few reasons.

This season (2008/2009) has been extremely intense. Every executive member has gone above and far beyond the duties required to keep the games and events going forward as scheduled despite the strike, inclement weather, and other obstacles. I have seen extraordinary commitment from my colleagues and I believe that if our league is to continue as a healthy and vibrant community, we will need experienced leadership.

I have worked hard to give the DST community a forum and a voice, and as many of you know, this is the part of the job that I adore. I want to continue to improve the web site, facilitate communications through the newsletters, and promote the league by liaising with the membership, media and community leaders.

I love this league. I have been involved as a player since 2005 and in an executive position since 2006. I believe in what DST is trying to accomplish and I want to continue to contribute to the work.

I would like to invite you all to approach me with any questions you might have about the Communications portfolio and/or my intentions for the next season. On September 14 (the day after the first day of playoffs), I am travelling to South Africa where I will be volunteering for five weeks. Please feel free to approach me on the field on the 13th , or contact me via email (ksenett@gmail.com) at any time to discuss my nomination.

Keph Senett