Elections

2012 Executive

The nominations for the 2012 Executive elections open on August 21 and run until September 11, 2011. Voting will take place at the field on September 18 and 25, 2011.

Interested nominees should send a Statement of Interest, detailing related skills and assets, to elections@downtownsoccertoronto.org. All nominee Statements will be posted to the site to help our membership decide their votes.

Downtown Soccer Toronto's Annual General Meeting will be held on September 15, more details shortly.

Governance

Downtown Soccer Toronto (hereafter ‘the League’) strives to govern itself with transparency, meaning that members must have clear access to records, proceedings, decision-making, and feedback on how the League is operated and maintained.

The League Constitution may be altered only in accordance with the Constitution.

By virtue of its meeting procedures, the Executive Committee (hereafter ‘the Executive’) has the authority to amend, repeal, alter, suspend or ratify any By-law.

Policies are established by the Executive for the optimal operation of the League and may be modified at any time.

The Executive Committee (hereafter ‘the Executive’) includes the following positions:

Commissioner
Treasurer
Secretary
Events and Fundraising Coordinator
Women’s Representative and League Ombudsman
Operations Coordinator
Membership Coordinator
Communications Officer

Job Descriptions

Commissioner

The Commissioner oversees the work of the Executive. The Commissioner also carries out the following duties:

Works with the Executive to ensure that the short and long term goals of the League are being met;
Ensures that the Executive and the League have secured the appropriate insurance (i.e. Director’s & Officer’s insurance and general liability insurance);
Chairs Executive meetings;
Represents the League to other sporting leagues and associations;
Acts as one (1) of four (4) signing officers for the League;
Coordinates and conducts the candidate interview process for selecting new Executive members in the event of a mid-term vacancy of a role on the Executive Committee;
Ensures that the Executive reviews the League’s bylaws and policies annually.

Nominees:

Tedd Konya’s Statement of Interest:

Fellow DST'ers-

I would like to submit my name to return as Commissioner of the league for the 2012 season.

I have been a member of the league for 5 years and have served on the Executive for 3 years, first as Secretary for 2 years (also as interim Events & Fundraising Coordinator during year 1) and as Commissioner this current season. Throughout my time on the Executive I have worked with the other members to strive to create a better league for everyone. No league is perfect but we continue to implement changes each year to respond to issues that arise from the membership. If chosen to be the Commissioner for next season, I will ensure the Executive continues to look at the best options for the league.

Specifically, if the city does not fix Withrow Park field in the fall (as they have promised), we will continue to pursue other options to secure funding to get the field fixed. Also, we need to find better ways to attract and keep women in the league. This league was founded as co-ed league and we need to ensure that we continue to provide this unique opportunity to our community. Lastly, we'll continue to review and revise our attendance and disciplinary policies so all of our members can have a safe, fun environment to play soccer and not feel threatened by overly aggressive players or exhausted due to players not committed to attending games.

Thanks for reading this, feel free to send me any questions you have, and I hope everyone has a great rest of the season!

Treasurer

The Treasurer maintains the financial records of the League. This includes the following:

Drafts and monitors the League’s budget, to be approved by the members of the executive in time that a summary of planned expenses can be presented to members at the Annual Business Meeting (ABM);
Keeps an accurate record of all monies received and disbursed in an electronic spreadsheet;
Monitors all transactions from the League bank account(s), and ensures the deposit of League monies are made in a timely manner, as per the League’s Financial Policy;
Presents the League finances for the Executive to review every two months, including a review of the League’s bank statements (as per the Constitution), revenues and expenses;
Closes the financial statement for the year of his/her incumbency, including the following:
- The closing of the financial statement shall be deemed to be the filing of the relevant CRA returns.
- Prepares appropriate paperwork for submission (e.g. Non-Taxable Organization Information Returns) in accordance with the relevant regulations;
- Producing a year-end financial summary for review by the Executive before December 15;
Documents and approves all Purchase Orders in accordance with the Financial Policy;
Reimburses the Executive and other league members for league-related purchases;
Works with the Membership Coordinator to ensure the collection of membership dues;
Resolves NSF cheques and unpaid dues to the satisfaction of the Executive;
Acts as one (1) of four (4) signing officers for the League.

Nominees:

Joshua Bertram's Statement of Interest:

My name is Josh Bertram and I'd like to return as your Treasurer for the 2012 season. Please consider this my statement of interest.

The 2011 season was my third in DST and each year I have enjoyed meeting great new people in a supportive, inclusive environment. I thoroughly enjoy everything that the league has to offer and recognize its importance in the community. Next year, I'd like to build on my DST experience by continuing to give back.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree in International Management from McGill and am currently employed in the financial services sector with Sun Life Financial. I have worked at Sun Life since 2004, where I lead a high performance team of consultants and am responsible for budgeting, cash flow management, financial statements and building strong relationships with business partners (to name a few!). I am also a licensed financial advisor, and feel that my skills are particularly well suited to the position of Treasurer.

During my tenure as Treasurer this season, the league's finances were administered in a responsible manner and we are forecasting a small budget surplus. The Toronto International Pride Cup also came in under budget. Finally, I'm very pleased to announce that the league has effectively managed its cash flow to earmark an additional $5000 for future field improvements at Withrow Park.

I strongly believe that my educational background in management, combined with my strong organizational skills and directly applicable work experience, would make me a unique and valuable addition to the Executive in the position of Treasurer. I therefore ask for your support.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or require additional information regarding my candidacy.

Sincerely,
Joshua Bertram

Secretary

The Secretary maintains all informational records for the league, with the following duties:

Prepares an agenda for all meetings and submits to the Chair for circulation prior to the meeting;
Keeps minutes for Executive meetings and submits these minutes for review to the Chair prior to the next meeting;
Coordinates with the Communications Officer to inform all members of the League of the date(s) and location(s) of Executive meetings;
Collects all documents, records and other information from the Executive to ensure a full record of the League’s affairs and to ensure there is a backup of all documentation;
Keeps statistical records of the League’s season, tournaments, and playoff activities;
Receives all league mail sent by post and distributes to the appropriate portfolio;
Scans and circulates any important documents (e.g. bank statements, field permits) to all Executive members;
Creates and maintains any necessary forms to be used by the Executive and other league members (e.g. Reimbursement form, Team Game Sheet);
Provides year-end statistics to the Communications Officer to publish on the league website;
Files Corporate Profile update with Service Ontario by Nov 30th;

Nominees:

Amanda Stocks' Statement of Interest:

I have been a member of DST for the last 3 seasons and have been an active participant in the league each year. Not only have I been involved in several fundraising events, but during the 2010 season I was a member of the Executive in the role of Membership Co-ordinator. My role included organizing, co-ordinating, and executing the league membership drive, working with the Events and Fundraising Co-ordinator to retain and recruit new sponsors to the league while simultaneously developing uniforms for these sponsors, as well as on-going recruitment of new players throughout the 2010 season to ensure each DST team had a full roster of players.

In 2012 I would like to take on the challenge of the position of Secretary for the league. With my strong organizational skills and attention to detail I am confident that I will be an asset to the league and the Executive.

DST is a group I am extremely proud to be a member of — not only as a player but also as a former member of the Executive. The league is a place that welcomed me with open arms when I moved to Toronto from Calgary in 2009 and made me feel as though I belonged. It would be a pleasure to be on the Executive again and I hope that you will take my Statement of Interest letter into consideration.

Regards,
Amanda Stocks

Events and Fundraising Coordinator

The Events and Fundraising Coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing all League-related social, fundraising and sponsorship initiatives, with the following duties:

Organizes and executes detailed event-plans for social and fundraising events, including the year-end banquet;
Assists the Communications Officer to create and distribute advertising and marketing materials for events, promotions and sponsorship;
Chairs all social and fundraising event-related Subcommittees formed during the season;
Maintains corporate and community relationships and sponsorship affiliations.
Coordinates with the Treasurer to ensure that all fundraising and sponsorship money is collected and deposited into the League’s bank account in a timely manner and in accordance with the League’s Financial Policy;

Nominees:

Dan Wilcox's Statement of Interest

Dear DST Members:

This is my letter of interest to be your Events and Fundraising Coordinator for the upcoming 2012 season in DST.

I have been there from the beginning in DST as part of the founding year executive in 2004 and have been a member of this great league each of the 8 years since. I have captained for two of those seasons and helped out from time to time in elections, fund raising events, etc., but now have come full circle and would like to give back, and help out on the committee again.

I have watched this league grow over the years, and under its regular solid leadership it has improved and matured into one of the best sports leagues in the city. It is a place where we can compete, but where we can socialize, and have a community we can all be part of, and where we can all be welcome.

As Events and Fundraising Coordinator, I would like to have a few more league events or nights out in 2012 like we did in the earlier years of the league. We have become such a large league that sometimes it is easy to get a bit lost, so this would help members to have more opportunity to get to know each other off the field even better. I would also like to have these events planned and announced far enough in advance that we can get an even higher level of participation than we do now. It may not be easy, but I will consult with you, the members, to see what you think we can do to best achieve this.

As far as fundraising, a great infrastructure is already in place and I would be open to member suggestions on how to make it even better. For now, I have the experience of being part of several organizations and sporting leagues in the gay community over the years which provides me with the experience and sensitivity that this part of the job requires.

Thanks for your time and consideration, and let's continue to make this league a great place where we can satisfy our needs to both compete and have fun socializing.

Sincerely,
Dan Wilcox

Women’s Representative and League Ombudsman

The Women’s Representative and League Ombudsman promotes the active participation of women in the League by means of the following:

Acts as a liaison between the Executive and the female members of the League;
Acts as a liaison between the Executive and League members in the following circumstances:
- If any League member feels that he or she can not approach their Team Leader (captain, co-captain);
- If a conflict arises between a League member and a Team Leader (captain, co-captain), especially around issues related to equity;
- If a conflict arises between any League member and the Executive;
- If a conflict arises between League members;
Collaborates with the Events & Fundraising Coordinator to organize events that encourage, expand and are inclusive of women's participation in the League;
Works closely the with the Membership Coordinator and Operations Coordinator to
- encourage women's participation in the League;
- assist in executing the draft; and
- ensure that the draft is conducted equitably and transparently as per the Draft Policy;
Works closely with the Membership Coordinator to resolve any conflicts that arise between Team Leaders and other League members;
Serves as the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Subcommittee;
Works with the Election subcommittee to ensure League elections take place in compliance with the League’s Constitution and By-Laws.
Works with the Commissioner to ensure the League’s by-laws and policies provide a strong framework for good governance, accountability and transparency.

Nominees:

Tara Vinodrai's Statement:

I would love to continue in the position of Women's Representative and League Ombudsman for the 2012 Executive. I love playing soccer, I love this league and I am dedicated to improving the DST experience for everyone.

I joined DST in 2005 and I have made many lasting friendships as a result. I have also served on the Executive since 2006. For this reason, I have a very solid understanding of how our league operates. It has been extremely rewarding and I have enjoyed the challenges that come with the role. Two challenges for this upcoming year stand out in my mind.

First, we need to make sure our field of dreams comes true. Making sure that our soccer pitch is improved is a top priority. I have a lot of experience writing grants and proposals, a skill which will come in handy as we continue to look for ways to find moneys to improve our fields.

Second, and important to this portfolio, DST was founded as a co-ed league and has always been committed to being an inclusive community, open to anyone regardless of their gender, sexuality, ethnicity or their soccer skills and knowledge of the game. I am committed to improving the attraction and retention of women in our league. Outside of DST (yes, there is life outside DST), 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. These are all qualities that are critical to this particular DST Executive portfolio and to addressing equity issues.

If elected, I will continue to bring a high level of commitment and energy to my portfolio, the Executive and the league. I look forward to working with new and returning members of the Executive. Most important, I look forward to working with you, the members of our league to make sure you have a great DST experience. Please feel free to approach me on the field or via email if you have any questions.

Good luck in the playoffs!

Operations Coordinator

The League Operations Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all aspects of game play and field management, with the following duties:

Maintains an inventory of League equipment throughout the season, and arranges for its storage during and after the season. Presents required purchases to the Executive for approval in accordance with the League’s financial policy;
Ensures game day equipment is transported to the field and set-up prior to the first game, taken down immediately following the conclusion of the last game and transported back to the pre-determined storage location;
Obtains field permits that satisfy the requirements for the season, including playoffs;
Coordinates and plans the skills assessments clinics;
Works with the Membership Coordinator and League Ombudsperson to execute the draft;
Creates season and playoff schedules that satisfy the requirements of the membership numbers and field permit allocations for approval by the Executive;
Reviews the League game rules regularly and presents any recommended amendments to the Executive for approval;
Ensures that League game rules are available to all members;
Ensures that Team Captains are aware of and reinforce League rules within their teams;
Employs Referees for the season and provides them with:
- The season game schedule;
- League-specific rules;
- Guides for misconduct;
Works with the rest of the Executive to determine the playoff format and creates the playoff schedule;
Coordinates with the Treasurer to pay the referees;
Acts as one (1) of four (4) signing officers for the League;

Nominees:

Membership Coordinator

The Membership Coordinator is responsible for all matters that relate to the membership of the league. This includes:

Coordinates, organizes and executes the League membership drive;
Coordinates with the Communications Officer to publicize the methods, location and dates of registration;
Orders uniforms for all members;
Coordinates with the Events & Fundraising Coordinator regarding sponsorship branding on uniforms;
Executes the draft in close collaboration with the Operations Coordinator and League Ombudsman and according to the Draft Policy;
Coordinates with the Treasurer to collect membership dues in accordance with the Financial Policy;
Maintains and updates a League Waiting List; 2.13.8 Coordinates nominations and purchase of all year-end awards;
Liaises with Team Captains;
Works closely with League Ombudsman to resolve any conflicts that arise between Team Leaders and other League members.;

Nominees:

Noelle Carbone's Statement of Interest

Dear DST Membership:
Please accept my letter of interest to run for the position of Membership Coordinator for the 2012 season.

I have been a member of DST for 5 years, was a team co-captain for 2 of those years and served on the TIPC Task Force for 3 years. During the 2011 season, I served on the Executive as Secretary. Although I never got to wear a pencil skirt, serving as Secretary afforded me the opportunity to serve the league in a new and greater capacity, which I enjoyed immensely.

As Secretary I took the initiative to draft the league's Code of Conduct (which I'm sure at least some of you read) to ensure that the league's spirit of equality, fair play and sportsmanship remained a priority for all members.

I have played soccer for most of my life because a) I'm Italian so I didn't have a choice (that's a joke, mostly); and b) the teams I've played on provided me an instant community in which to learn the game, meet amazing new friends and grow into a better athlete and person. Likewise, I've witnessed people who were struggling to find a community within this bustling city - as well as people who were struggling with their own sexuality - flourish with the support of their soccer-loving DST peers. I too experienced similar growth when I joined DST and I'd like to pay that forward as the Membership Coordinator for the 2012 season.

Thank you for your consideration and see you on the pitch!
Noelle Carbone

Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is responsible for the public relations and communications of the League. This includes the following:

Coordinates the production and creation of all media communication and/or publications distributed on behalf of the League;
Oversees the maintenance of the League website and executive email accounts;
Coordinates with the Events & Fundraising Coordinator for the promotion of League events;
Provides information to the Executive about external organizations which may benefit the League;
Responds to any inquiries from external contacts or directs those inquiries to the appropriate portfolio;
Coordinates the publication of the League newsletter;
Coordinates the timely posting and/or circulation of any relevant league information (e.g. meeting agendas and minutes, policies, league standings, announcements) via the League’s website or other communication vehicles;
Acts as one (1) of four (4) signing officers for the League;

Nominees:

Avery Miller's Statement of Interest

Hey everyone, I'd love to be your Communications Officer for the upcoming 2011-2012 DST Executive! This past year on the Executive has been a fun experience, as well as a learning experience, and I think there is plenty left that I can offer the league. I would like to continue some of the main projects that I've been working on this year: a new version of the league website and a new player rating procedure and team draft. There are some other 'behind-the-scenes' projects that I'm working on that will fix some of the bugs/annoyances that some of you may have noticed, such as new players not being immediately added to team email-lists. If you have any questions/concerns/suggestions, feel free to send me an email or bring them up at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on September 15.

In addition to the specific duties of individual Executive members, it is the responsibility of all Executive members to:

Be present at Executive meetings;
Actively participate in the discussion of issues brought before the Executive;
Contribute to the implementation of League policies, goals and ongoing activities;
Develop policies that structure, guide and govern the League, including the draft, team leaders (e.g. captains, co-captains), discipline, code of conduct, rules of the game, referees, financial accountability and record keeping;
Determine levels of, and secure sponsorship for, the League;
Determine membership dues for registration;
Make available to every member of the League the following information:
- The names and contact information of the Executive;
- A summary of the League’s rules of the game;
- Information pertaining to League operations (e.g. links to the League’s Constitution and By-laws on its web site).
- Organize the Annual Business Meeting (ABM), Annual General Meeting (AGM), and any other open membership meeting as required;
- Hold regular meetings at the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s appointee (hereafter ‘the Chair’);
- Approve the operating budget submitted by the Treasurer;
- Review and approve any single expenditure of five hundred dollars ($500) or more;
- Review the League’s finances every two months as per Section 6.2 of the Constitution.
- Secure the appropriate insurance for the league, including Directors & Officers liability insurance and general liability insurance (if not included with field permits);
- Maintain detailed records related to league affairs and to each Executive’s portfolio; and
- Ensure that a complete set of records, documentation and information is available to be shared to assist in a smooth transition between terms of Executive members.