Association holds annual general meeting

The Canadian Soccer Association held its annual general meeting this Saturday in Banff, AB. The annual meeting brings together the Association’s membership, featuring delegates from all 12 provincial and territory members. Included on this year’s agenda were amendments to the constitution, elections of officers, application for new membership, and the Association’s Pathway to Excellence.

Of note, the Membership officially approved the Association’s Strategic Plan. The Membership then approved an $8 player levy for 2010, a $1 increase over 2009. The Membership also committed to continue work on the Pathway to Excellence Financial Plan to ensure success to the Association’s Strategic Plan. The Membership intends to return the Financial Plan to next year’s annual general meeting, thus strengthening the Association’s long-term stability. The annual player levies are applied to the provinces and territories.

Priorities within the Strategic Plan are Wellness to World Cup, Member Interaction and Sustainable Capacity. Wellness to World Cup features the Association’s long-term player development plan and its international aspirations for the national teams. Member Interaction highlights the Association’s relationships at both the external (FIFA, CONCACAF, FIFA members, provinces/territories, federal government, multi-sport organizations) and internal levels (players, coaches, referees, administrators, volunteers). Sustainable Capacity covers both operational and revenue priorities.

In other business, the Membership elected four positions to the executive committee: Victor Montagliani (vice president) and Mike Traficante (director at large) returning; Steve Reed (treasurer) and John Knox (director at large) newly elected. The Membership also granted conditional membership to the Canadian Soccer League beginning in 2010 with the strict condition that the league meets the Association’s approval of criteria set by the professional and technical committees.

Approved changes by the Membership to the Association’s constitution came on the heels of a constitution workshop the previous evening. With the support of Sport Canada, the Association is scheduled to hold a governance workshop meeting in the coming months.

The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its members and all its corporate partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but it also encourages Canadians towards a life-long passion for soccer.