Author: soundersalliance

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Why Don’t our Radio Stations Love The Sounders?


Photo from SoundersFC.com

By Kristina Vaughn

October 9, 2015

It’s been a lingering question for me, mostly this season, why is soccer (and the Sounders specifically) talked about so much less on sports programming on TV and radio? Even with the USWNT winning the Women’s World Cup, there was very little chatter about soccer.

I asked a friend of mine who works for a sports radio station to answer a few questions that I had about why this may be:

Soccer/futbol/football is played all year long around the world, why is it broadcast so much less than other sports that only play for half of the year?

Basically, there are three major sports that are covered by most conventional sports radio- Football, Baseball, Basketball. Hockey used to be a 4th, but has fallen off in the last decade and a half, fueled mostly by the labor dispute that led to a lockout. 

When the national teams (both Men’s and Women’s) are successful, do you see an increase in interest from listeners?

When the men’s and women’s teams are successful during the World Cup, and the Olympics (More so the World Cup) there is a genuine interest from listeners. The fever sweeps the nation, and everybody catches the wave for those couple of weeks.

What do you think it would take to get more airtime for soccer both in Seattle and across the US?

I think in the Northwest, it gets about as much airplay on radio and TV as you’re going to see. We have shows that have Adrian Hanauer and Sigi Schmidt on as guests when Sounders news breaks, and have had Sounders players on occasionally. In most of the other reaches of the country, you’ll find that MLS soccer takes even more of a backseat to bigger time local teams than it does here. The Northwest is the region that has more interest than any other in the US.

With the recent scandal involving FIFA, did that increase the soccer conversation?

It was a brief headline on our top of the hour updates, but didn’t change the conversation.

What is your favorite aspect of covering the Sounders (when you do)? What do you notice is different about our Club from other local sports teams?

There isn’t really a way to answer this; I produce the morning show, and we don’t spend any time on MLS soccer.

What is the biggest reason why soccer isn’t as entrenched in mainstream sports as football, baseball and basketball?

I’d say there are several facets. First, when you look at sports like football, they’re successful because of the dollars they generate (more than 7 BILLION dollars in the last year) and can market themselves accordingly. Football’s meteoric rise of the last 20 years can almost directly be tied into fantasy football, and the effect it’s had on the popularity of the game throughout all demographics.

That said, soccer fans often don’t do themselves any favors. The perception of soccer fan is that they’re standoffish to new or less educated fans, meanwhile, from the other side of their mouth, complain that those same people who would be casual observers don’t hold them highly in the mainstream.

I know that’s the case with me; soccer fans have ruined any interest I would have had in watching MLS soccer. 

In the Seattle metro area there are three sports radio stations; KFNQ-AM (The Fan), KIRO-AM, and KJR-AM. I’m not even sure that any of them have true soccer specific programming.

If we want more coverage, more Sounders news and conversation, on our local sports radio stations, we’ll have to show that we want it; that we’ll listen to it. You want more Sounders? Go after it! The only way we can make a difference in the air time of these stations is if we call, text, tweet, Facebook, Instagram the hell out of these radio stations to talk more about our Sounders.

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So You Really Want to Recall Garth Lagerwey? (No. No, I certainly don’t.)

By Stephanie Steiner

September 24, 2015

In a meeting with Adrian Hanauer in February of this year, when discussing the very first vote he was asked “what were those results – ninety-four percent ‘confident?’” to which he replied with genuine sheepishness, “I think they were ninety-seven…”  This man has set a very high bar.

That meeting in February between the Alliance Council and Adrian Hanauer was held to meet our new General Manager and President of Soccer, Garth Lagerwey, and to initiate the conversation of the General Manager Vote in general.  When our Charter was written, the authors didn’t anticipate the need to change the person in this role between voting cycles.  The Alliance Council was invited to weigh-in on the topic and propose a solution for voting now and going forward that would accommodate a new General Manager.  For instance, an important question that needed to be answered was: should the new General Manager get a minimum number of years before facing a vote?

We’ve also had the ability to recall the General Manager sort of.  I say “sort of” because the notion of a recall was always understood to be available but never written down. No process had ever been mapped out and agreed upon.  Discovering it was missing was a lot like reaching into the spare tire compartment and finding it empty – in this case, we were lucky to determine it was missing before we needed it.

The task of determining what the GM Vote and Recall process should be was not an emergency, but certainly we felt some sense of urgency to get the process completed during this season – Season Ticket Members could be expecting a vote next year and they should have an explanation of a new procedure if there was to be one.  Then our season got underway, and by the time we had a workgroup tasked with working on all of this, it was March. Throughout the spring, we polled fans via social media whether they thought the General Manager should have a minimum amount of time from their start, or if a General Manager vote should be every four years.  Responders were overwhelmingly in favor of giving a General Manager enough time to make a difference.  By late May, we had agreed upon our GM Vote language with the Club representatives, and had the GM Recall language still ahead of us to negotiate.

Then the June USOC match happened and our July performance was worse.  Early August made us think that July was forty days long.  There were a lot of hashtags in social media with the word “out” attached.  I showed my own Italian temper and German stubbornness in social media with a fan who refused to accept the facts in chronological order.

Losing isn’t supposed to make us nasty.  It should make us committed to righting the ship, and that’s exactly why having our General Manager Vote and Recall process finalized is so important. But for crying out loud –we need to give Garth Lagerwey the opportunity right this ship himself.  I can’t speak for every decision our owners and General Manager will make, nor do I understand everything a General Manager faces.  Any General Manager will make tough decisions, and in Seattle, a General Manager will answer for them.  Had I met Garth Lagerwey in other circumstances – if he’d been an Alliance member instead of our General Manager – I would have recruited him for Alliance Council.  Seriously, I would have been that pain-in-the-backside who bought him beers and nagged him to nominate himself (with my tablet ready for him to say “yes”).  You think I’m nuts? Well I might be for many reasons, but I’d love more legal minds on council, and soccer management experience as well? Yes, please.

I am not kept up at night worrying about our owners, but some might be.  I don’t know what’s in owners’ heads nor pretend to be included in their strategy.  I am comfortable saying that Adrian Hanauer has a strong sense of doing what is right, and Joe Roth wants to win (he isn’t a guy to waffle).  Their job is to build and enhance the Club, including their own prosperity along the way – let’s face it, this isn’t supposed to be their donation to Seattle.  My job is to build and enhance Democracy in Sports – or specifically, Democracy within the Sounders – in perpetuity and specifically for the Alliance.  Luckily for all of us, these jobs are not mutually exclusive and we respect this in each other.  The Season Ticket Members of the Sounders FC are lucky to have owners who believe in the Alliance, in fact, they created it.  The ability to vote out the General Manager was the contribution of Drew Carey as a condition of joining the ownership group.  Without his commitment, there would be no GM Vote, no recall option, and no Alliance.

Now here we are, several months after that February conversation with a lot accomplished.  Garth Lagerwey has gotten us players who are making a considerable difference, and our big time players are getting healthy.  The Cascadia Cup has made its way back to Seattle and our standings in both the Western Conference and the race for the Supporters’ Shield look tremendously different than they did only a month ago. Everything feels better. Five weeks is a lot in soccer-time, and that is a concept that we’d remind ourselves of often as the Alliance Council took on the task of updating our GM Vote and Recall processes.  Throughout this year, Cameron Collins and I have been in negotiations with Taylor Graham and Maya Mendoza-Exstrom regarding these very processes.  After there is agreement all-around, it will all have to be translated into legalese, built into the Charter, and then into our Constitution and Bylaws.  I’m so glad I’m not one of the lawyers, and very grateful for their contributions.

So blah blah, why does it really matter then?  Because, damn it: by creating a GM Vote and Recall policy that is workable and has “teeth” to it, we support the Sounders’ legacy – correction – our Sounders legacy.  It’s not just about the threat of a recall or vote of no-confidence.  It’s our stake in the matter at hand.  It’s our stewardship of our Club, and it’s an assurance that we will have the best General Manager in the MLS. Our continued involvement drives loyalty.  It’s that loyalty that keeps us chanting long after a loss and the referees have been escorted out by police.  And our kids? By God they are Sounders.  Not just ‘til they die, but from their first breath.  This is a tie that needs to be strengthened, always.  This is what makes us unique, makes us strong, and makes us successful.  We get to have a say – I know, I wrote half of the agreement that grants it. This is not our just our entertainment.  This is our Club.

This may not finish up as our easiest season: it’s been full of moments we refer to as “not our best,” but also full of moments which should be our considered among them.  I’m proud of our Club, proud of our owners, and honored by their commitment to Democracy in Sports and the Alliance.  I hope you are too.  When all of the “legalese” is completed and handshakes are behind us, I’ll going to put my feet up, raise a glass, and watch Oba’s Goal of the Week (again).

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Meeting Minutes: August 2015

7:00 p.m. The NINETY

Present (8 of 32): Jerry Neil, Kelly Weiler, Stephanie Steiner, Cameron Collins, Hans Ulland, Craig Dillon, Kristina Vaughn, Paul Cox

Next meeting:    Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 7:00PM

I. Call to order – Stephanie Steiner

II. Roll call – Kristina Vaughn – 8 of 32 members present

III. Approval of minutes – Motion to approve July minutes made by Kristina, second by Hans. Motion passes.

IV. Old Business – Stephanie Steiner

  • Supporter Group bylaw proposal
    • Stephanie moves to vote during the September meeting. Cameron seconds, motion to vote on this passes.

V. Anticipated Owner Meeting – Stephanie Steiner

  • Soon – will be announced in coming weeks

VI. Break – skipped

VII. GM Recall Update

  •  Alliance wide voting
    • Proposal to amend bylaw 2
  • Council voting
    • Attendance Bylaw proposal
      • Paul to revise for September meeting

VIII. Adjournment – Jerry moves to adjourn the meeting, Craig seconds. Motion passes.

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Meeting Minutes: July 2015

7:00 p.m. Seattle Sounders FC Conference Room

Present: (11 of 32):    Kyle Boyd, Cameron Collins, Paul Cox, Craig Dillon, Roberta King, Jerry Neil, Karl Picard, Dan Roe, Stephanie Steiner, Hans Ulland, Kristina Vaughn

Next meeting:                              Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 7:00 PM

I. Call to order – Stephanie Steiner

II. Roll call – Kristina Vaughn – 11 of 32 members present

III. Approval of minutes – Motion to approve May minutes seconded by Kyle; motion passes. Motion to approve June minutes seconded by Kyle, motion passes.

IV. Supporter Group Work Group Update – Stephanie Steiner

  1. One of our duties/rights/responsibilities named in the Charter
  2. History: started for Cascadia ticketing purpose
  3. Proposal for vote: revise Bylaw 7 to eliminate the last two sections/lines of bylaw – Kyle moves to table this proposal until the end of the meeting, Cameron seconds, motion passes

V. Visibility Work Group Update – Roberta King

  1. Working on getting better access to Alliance Council content on SSFC website
    1. Search by tag
  2. Monthly “minutes” write up – currently written by Karl
  3. No content calendar as of yet
    1. Need volunteers to write op-ed pieces
  4. AC highlights (2-3 per month)
    1. Expectations of 1st AC meeting
    2. What do you bring to AC if in a Supporter Group?
    3. More personal info – What do you do?
    4. How do you live the Sounders way – Passion, Courage, Community

VI. Scarf Vote – Kristina Vaughn

  1. Timeline set for scarf design
  2. Summer scarf vs winter scarf
  3. Need volunteers for the team: Jerry, Cameron, Dan, Roberta

VII. Community – Kristina Vaughn

  1. Water Carry event at March to the Match festivities on August 1 – more information to come following a meeting with WGHA

VIII. GM Vote Work Group Update – Cameron/Stephanie

  1. Continued discussion on Front Office’s POV
    1. Defining “unanimous”
    2. Communication plan
  • Signature gathering – FO does not like idea
  1. Creating a Code of Conduct in the Bylaws
  2. Creating a budget for the Alliance Council for 2016?
    1. Add a small amount of money to STH cost?
    2. Kyle will head the Budget Proposal Group
      1. Create rules and proposals
      2. Skeleton budget

IX. Old Business

a) Supporter Group proposal tabled to August meeting

X. Adjournment – Dan moves to adjourn meeting, Cameron seconds – motion passes

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Meeting Minutes: June 2015

7:00 p.m. The NINETY

Present: (10 of 32):    Dan Roe, Kristina Vaughn, Kris Mydske, Mark Nesteroff, Cameron Collins, Craig Dillon, Roberta King, Karl Picard, Mike Dollard, Stephanie Steiner (via phone conference)

Next meeting:                              Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 7:00 PM

I. Call to order – Dan Roe

II. Roll call – Kristina Vaughn – 10 of 32 members present

III. Approval of minutes – Dan Roe – Tabled item due to minutes not being available

IV. Front Office Guest – Mikeala Purvis – Fan Relations Manager

  1. 2016 Renewal process has begun with preliminary emails going out to current STH
  2. Renewal rate is greater than 90%; going to have conversation with remaining 10% of STH
  3. Looking into new option for renewal process
    1. “Sounders Til I Die” – Auto-Renewal
      1. Credit card held on file
    2. SG Work Group Update – Mark Nesteroff
      1. An opinion of the group is to not be involved in this
      2. Do we eliminate Bylaw #7?
      3. Mark propose to strike Bylaw #7; Cameron seconds; Vote to happen at the July meeting
      4. Dan moves to table SG revision; Cameron seconds; motion passes
    3. Visability Work Group Update – Roberta King
      1. The first blog (written by Stephanie) is one month old and not posted to website as of this date
      2. Spoke with Shane Evans
        1. “Minutes to be written by Karl
        2. “Op-ed” article
          1. Topics list to be compiled by volunteers
          2. Posted every other week
        3. Social media – currently running through Karl and Stephanie
          1. 2038 followers
          2. Trying to keep with 2.5 tweets per day
  • Found that pictures drive activity
  1. Alliance Council Table
    1. Need something to pass out
      1. Buttons/pins?
  • GM Vote Work Group Update – Cameron/Stephanie
    1. Discussion on Front Office’s POV
      1. Every 4 years for GM vote after start of “term”
    2. Weighted voting vs non-weighted voting
    3. Recall – Goal is to vote on this at the August meeting

Adjournment – Dan moves to adjourn meeting, Mark seconds – motion passes

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Meeting Minutes: May 2015

7:00 p.m.  Seattle Sounders FC Front Office

Present (12 of 32): Sam Chesneau, Cameron Collins, Craig Dillon, Roberta King, Leann Johnson, Angelica Mendoza, Jerry Neil, Karl Picard, Stephanie Steiner, Hans Ulland, Kristina Vaughn, Kelly Weiler

Guests:  Petyr Beck (Documentary Media), Maya Mendoza

Next meeting:    Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

I.  Call to order – Stephanie Steiner

II. Roll call – Angelica Mendoza – 12 of 32 members present (13 needed to establish quorum)

III. Approval of minutes – Stephanie Steiner – Motion to approve April minutes passed

IV.  Guest Speakers – Petyr Beck and Maya Mendoza

  • Petyr Beck – Documentary Media publishing company and former college roommate of Adrian
  • Maya Mendoza – General Counsel for SSFC and Executive Director of Rave Foundation
    • Father, Fred Mendoza, served as General Counsel and saw transition of SSFC to MLS
    • Maya began when SSFC separated from Seahawks
  • Rave Foundation is a wholly separate 501(c)(3)
    • Created by Adrian to give back to Seattle soccer community and provide opportunities for those who cannot afford to play
    • Increase equity, opportunity and accessibility of the game
    • Allow for more urban participation
    • Design tennis court-sized urban fields for free, small pick-up games
    • First fields may be part of Yesler Terrace project and ideas to part of waterfront designs
  • Legacy book project that captures unique relationship between the community and team
    • A look at the team over the last 40 years of professional soccer
    • Coffee-table style, large, 200-page landscape book featuring images and stories
    • Mostly visual and less narration
    • Feature mid-70s team today
    • Bring in stories from the community coupled with compelling images
    • Images not only of match-day in the stadium, but also local bars, fields, etc.
    • Demonstrate the love for soccer in Seattle and commemorate the Pacific NW relationship with the team
    • Tribute to soccer in the community driven by images, quotes and stories
    • Include all supporter communities (e.g., more diverse south-end populations)
    • Council to help solicit stories, photos and experiences
    • Maya and Petyr interested in all types of feedback and suggestions; contact via email
      • 83-94 intervening time
      • NASL Sounders marketing directly to young people while MLS Sounders targeting adults with children
      • Players throughout the decades
      • Marketing campaigns with scarves throughout the city
      • Culture of 2009 opening MLS season to today
      • Personal perspective of supporter culture from within
      • Away match experiences
      • USOC family make-up and how it differentiates from S2 and First Team matches
      • Supporter group representation over the years
    • Rave Foundation project, so outside of MLS control
    • Maya considering summer intern to help with Rave Foundation and book generation
    • What stats would we like to see?
    • Considering eight-page fold-out with timeline displayed; perhaps showing jersey colors and designs over time
    • Collecting ideas and building content all through the summer

 V. Old Business

a) Changes to Charter – GM vote – Stephanie Steiner

  • Stephanie and Kyle Boyd presenting AC ideas to Taylor Graham
  • Engaging in collaborative conversation with the Club until we have a resolution to concerns
  • Club wants GM recall procedures in writing
    • More clarity on what vote actually means; confidence versus no confidence vote
    • Need to determine percentage of people required to petition for recall
    • Votes should be blind; FO should not be able to see who votes which way
    • Anonymous voting needs to be emphasized in advertising
    • Build more power into the recall vote and ability to call as needed, rather than be concerned about circumvention by the Club
  • Will need to detail vote advertising frequency, time of day, medium, etc.
  • If Club will not allow us to reach out to fan base directly, it has to be responsible for doing the work and absorbing the costs associated
  • Letter to Taylor expressing that conversation re GM vote is pending
  • Suggestion that we are too concerned about 48-month limitation; general fan is maybe only concerned with ability to vote on GM rather than when voting occurs
  • Goal should be to ensure the greatest number of Alliance members vote
  • Greatest fan engagement in October; shouldn’t timeline work backwards from there?
  • Consider engaging in soft polling with existing options and throwing out those that receive minimal votes
  • Stephanie and Kyle drafted four question to pose to fans
    • Put questions into blog form to be tweeted out one at a time
    • SSFC will distribute via social media
  • Requested Sounder at Heart to feature the blog

VI. Work group updates

  • Year-end meeting – Stephanie Steiner
    • Email went to FO to check on date and venue for this year
  • Supporter group recognition – Daniel Roe
    • Daniel, Mark Nesteroff and Brendan Vaughn participating in conference call to discuss
    • Sending clarification questions to Taylor
  • Community involvement – Kristina Vaughn
    • Pioneer Square clean-up event on May 16 (VAN away)
      • Viewing party post-event
      • Kristina Vaughn to clarify how many people are needed
      • RSVPs needed by May 8
    • Kristina met with Roger Levesque to discuss United in Green initiatives
      • Rave Green run in Kirkland – 9k, 5k and kids run
      • March to the Match water carry in support of clean water initiatives in Africa; hoping for 1,200 people and Guiness World Record
      • Considering July match; more info at June meeting
  • Communication – Karl Picard
    • Karl now managing Twitter account
      • Currently 2,500 Twitter followers versus 900 Likes on Facebook; need to pump numbers up
      • Goal to tweet twice a day with a photo and/or link
      • Shane willing to retweet by request
    • Work group is developing guidelines for appropriate communication via social media
  • Adjournment – Motion to adjourn passed
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Meetings

Meeting Minutes: April 2015

7:00 p.m. The NINETY

Present (14 of 32):Kyle Boyd, Paul Cox, Craig Dillon, Michael Dollard, Woody Favinger,
Roberta King, Angelica Mendoza, Jerry Neil, Karl Picard, Daniel Roe, Stephanie Steiner, Hans Ulland, Brendan Vaughn, Kristina Vaughn

Guests:  Taylor Graham, Roger Levesque

Next meeting:    Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

I. Call to order – Stephanie Steiner

II. Roll call – Angelica Mendoza – 14 of 32 members present (13 needed to establish quorum)

III. Approval of minutes – Stephanie Steiner – Motion to approve March minutes passed

 IV. Community Outreach – Roger Levesque and Taylor Graham

  • Roger started with FO in December; shared passion for SSFC and community
  • Working in partnership with Taylor and Katie Pendleton
  • Met with past and current community partners to discuss how SSFC might have a bigger impact
  • Traditionally worked with five community partners; fundraising and issuing a check at the end of the season
    • Reevaluate the structure of five community partners with United in Green
    • Work with same community partners, but have flexibility to be involved in more programs and partnerships
    • Relationships with each partner will vary (e.g., player appearances and talks on leadership for Sounders in Schools, and fundraising and awareness-building for Washington Global Health Alliance)
    • Aiming for strategic over reactionary giving
  • New website and platform (soundersfc.com/community-outreach)
  • Intend to do more given various assets, such as on the business side and with the game of soccer, supporter groups and AC; involve the whole SSFC community
  • Include all stakeholders and not just the players; lean on FO staff, supporter groups and AC for service and mentorship as well
  • Pillars of equality and equity
    • Equality – introducing and growing the game of soccer and inherent values it teaches; let the game be the teacher (e.g., principles of discipline, teamwork and mentorship)
    • Equity – using energy and enthusiasm to make a difference in local community and combat growing disparity in the city
    • Provide opportunities to those who may not have them otherwise
    • Leverage soccer as a powerful vehicle to provide support and teach values
    • Aim for each partnership to be somewhere on the sliding scale between equity and equality
  • United in Green separate from Rave Foundation, which is focused on urban field development in around Seattle area
  • SSFC will partner with Rave Foundation (e.g., use field for Street Soccer Seattle training session)
  • SSFC working closely with Seattle Foundation; fundraising dollars go into donor advised fund that can only be distributed to 501(c)(3) organizations
    • United in Green is not a separate 501(c)(3)
    • Selected Seattle Foundation for knowledge base and history of working with nonprofits
    • Mission-driven structure of United in Green; perfect hybrid of 501(c)(3) status through Seattle Foundation, and independence and flexibility of not being a separate foundation
  • Electronic version of 50-50% raffle to be incorporated in State of Washington as a massive mean of generating dollars for nonprofit organizations
  • Will lean on AC to unite voice of fans and make United in Green successful
    • Initial service projects and other opportunities to get involved
    • Open-door policy with Roger and Taylor as AC has ideas and input
  • Work to streamline communication; get in touch with community in real time
  • Next big community push is week leading into April 26 match versus PDX
    • Week to get people focused on service and have an impact in the community
    • Different service event each day – schools, Habitat for Humanity, We Day benefitting Seattle youth
    • GiveBIG campaign begins May 5 – April 26 promotion launch for GiveBIG
  • Passion each of us feels is a byproduct of community impact
  • SSFC business goal is to be a global brand; community is a great way to start the conversation about expanding that reach (e.g., water sanitation project in Tanzania)
  • Will have transition and reevaluation periods to determine next steps; may determine a different focus area after impact is measured
  • What would fans like to see with respect to outreach?
    • Broad fan base with diverse backgrounds and interests; crowdsource ideas from that base
    • Brought-in stakeholders during evaluation process and development of mission, but hasn’t been much fan engagement with programming piece
    • Want fans to know that community is important and what SSFC is doing to make an impact
    • SSFC unique in including the fan base; how can fans work with SSFC to strengthen the community?

 V. Work Group Updates

a) Visibility team – Roberta King

  • Met with Shane Evans to discuss how to get information on the web and potential blog (e.g., Brad’s Captain’s Corner, which is visible and gets archived)
  • Same format as Shane’s regular blog posts
  • Biggest challenge is who will write the content
  • Suggests that we do not shy away from controversial or opinion pieces
  • Shane will use social media avenues to promote as we wish; could also do account takeovers

b) Supporter group recognition team – Daniel Roe (for Mark Nesteroff)

  • Should AC be able to recognize and remove supporter groups?
  • What does revocation of a supporter group status actually mean?
  • Team has yet to meet with FO to discuss if Club wants us to be the go-between
  • Recognized supporter groups are allowed privileges within their section(s); question of what exactly are the privileges
  • Original intent was to determine minimum standards for supporter group recognition
  • Create guidelines for Club to enforce

VI. Open items

a) Changes to Charter

  • GM Vote Team working on updating Constitution, Charter and Bylaws

b) GM vote

  • Recommendation handouts provided on: GM Vote, Recall Vote, Communication Channels, and YE Business Meeting
    • Vote of confidence at 48 months (or season when GM enters 48 month) and every fourth season thereafter
    • 48 months after individual is hired rather than complicating season vs. offseason
    • Necessary to mention offseason if voting every 48 months regardless?
    • Maya Mendoza will review language and finalize

c) Recall vote

  • 36 months to allow GM sufficient time to prove whether or not he/she is right for the job
  • After quorum is established, 50% of vote required to pass
  • 50% of AC voting to start process is too low; should be super majority
  • Motion to table GM vote and recall discussion to next meeting passed
  • Review handouts and come prepared to discuss at May meeting

d) Communication

  • Communication Channels; motion to table discussion to next meeting passed
  • Review handout and come prepared to discuss at May meeting

e) Creation of revenue

  • Need budget to plan YE business meeting (e.g., secure venue, A/V capabilities, staffing, etc.)
  • Hold the meeting in cooperation with the Club and negotiate which aspects should be AC responsibility and which should be SSFC responsibility
  • Do we have AC members willing to invest time/energy needed to execute YE business meeting?
  • Budget may also fund meeting materials, marketing/advertising, etc.
  • Suggest greater collaboration earlier on rather than budget and greater hand in planning
  • Sooner we communicate with FO on details and ideas, the better
  • Dialogue with Club about how we get to a point where we have a budget and run point on YE business meeting
  • Likely that FO would be willing to provide a budget for us
  • Two issues as separate: YE business meeting as a vehicle to obtain a budget, and increased collaboration with the FO
  • Budget discussion should reside with GM Vote Team, and increased collaboration should reside with YE business meeting work group
  • Motion to separate budget from YE meeting (budget to be discussed by GM Vote Team and YE business meeting to be discussed by work group) passed

 

  • Adjournment – Motion to adjourn passed
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Meetings

Meeting Minutes: March 2015

7:00 p.m. Seattle Sounders FC Front Office

Present (22 of 32):  Kyle Boyd, Samuel Chesneau, Paul Cox, Craig Dillon, Michael Dollard,
Nick Gibson, Leann Johnson, Roberta King, Angelica Mendoza, Kris Mydske, Jerry Neil, Mark Nesteroff, Karl Picard, Likkit Pocinwong, Jeff Randle, Erin Riley, Daniel Roe, Stephanie Steiner, Hans Ulland, Kristina Vaughn, Kelly Weiler,
Lee White

Next meeting:    Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

I. Call to order – Stephanie Steiner

II. Roll call – Angelica Mendoza – 22 of 32 members present (12 needed to establish quorum)

III. Approval of minutes – Stephanie Steiner – Motion to approve February minutes passed

 IV. Meeting overview – Stephanie Steiner

  • Suggestion to utilize Robert’s Rules of Order; preference for Robert’s as its more current
  • Review both Sturgis and Robert’s to decide which AC will utilize going forward
  • President to limit speakers who go on for too long or are redundant
  • Speakers to self-monitor and get to the point as quickly as possible
  • All commit to moving conversation forward

 V. Open items

a) Bio updates – Daniel Roe

  • Work group exchanged ideas and opted to update and streamline questions
    • Hometown
    • Years as STH
    • Soccer affiliations
    • Section in stadium
    • Favorite non-MLS club
    • Prematch ritual
  • March 20 deadline to submit bios; submit a new photo, otherwise old one will be used
  • Contact Me form removed; link to submit question to AC instead
  • Suggestion that when individual submits contact, should be able to indicate their section to route to closest AC member
  • Suggestion of one AC member assigned to each section to assist with administration of a Facebook page, ticket exchange and fan engagement
  • Content team may consider mini-interviews with members to use on AC portion of website

b) Work groups – Stephanie Steiner

  • Four primary work groups: visibility, GM vote proposal to ownership, Alliance membership, and supporter group recognition
    • Visibility team develops content, manages social media, drafts articles re process and members, and shares news re accomplishments
    • GM vote team develops proposal to ownership, and collects and shares content with visibility team
    • Alliance membership team determines criteria for membership, including half-season ticket holders, S2 STHs, and $125 buy-in
    • Supporter group recognition team creates a uniform process for recognition with deadlines, and guidelines for elimination of a group, etc.
  • Visibility team work load is mostly ongoing
  • Consider joining just one of the primary work groups and supplementing with smaller projects
  • Select a team leader and back-up, if designate is unable to continue

c) Work group reports

  • GM vote
    • Kyle Boyd (Lead), Kelly Weiler (back-up)
    • Develop timeline, solicit input and identify requests of SSFC
    • Connect with Drew Carey to discuss vision
  • Visibility
    • Roberta King (Lead), Michael Dollard and Kris Mydske (back-ups)
    • Nick Gibson to collect content
    • Priority is to update AC portion of website (correct information, logos, etc.)
    • Prioritize goals for the year
    • Request to meet with Shane Evans
  • Supporter group recognition
    • Mark Nesteroff (Lead), Daniel Roe (back-up)
    • Collaborate on content and funnel to visibility team
    • Timeline and outline for updates to Bylaw 7 to present at April meeting
    • Vote in June
    • Request form available via SSFC website for sign-up
  • Alliance membership – lead pending

d) Ticketing – Stephanie Steiner

  • Conversation on Facebook group and Twitter exchange re policy change for advance printing of tickets
  • Follow-up phone call with Ian Winklmann and Mikaela Purvis
  • Approximately 550 of all STH accounts (800 tickets) printed more than seven days in advance
  • Approximately 3-15 times per match, bar code is ineligible on printed ticket
  • Problem tickets are almost exclusively out of 800 printed more than seven days in advance
  • SSFC FO extremely willing to help anyone who needs access to their tickets in advance of seven-day window; ticket representative will assist
  • Forwarding may still occur at any time and is preferred, though cannot download or print until within seven days of match

VI. Statement to fans – Paul Cox

  • Should AC issue a statement re CBA negotiations?
  • Work group discussed and prepared statement for consideration
  • Binding resolutions and non-binding opinion statements voted on by entire Alliance
  • Both covered under Bylaws; must be brought to a meeting, SSFC provides input, and put out to vote by Alliance
  • Paul Cox, Nick Gibson and Woody Favinger presented proposed statement with motion to adopt as official statement on behalf of AC
  • Not in Bylaws to issue opinion on behalf of AC and not entire Alliance; Bylaw 3 discusses Alliance as a whole and not AC-only opinion
  • Suggestion to consider amending statement to make it clear that it is on behalf of AC only and not entire Alliance; risky for AC to make statement without actually polling the fans represented
  • General desire to make a statement, but it is neither prohibited nor provided for in the Bylaws
  • Note items to address and update in the Charter, Constitution, Bylaws, etc.
  • Motion to set a triggering mechanism (e.g., no agreement by 6:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 4) for when to issue statement passed (13 for, 1 against)
  • Motion for statement to be adopted with amendment failed (7 for, 11 against)

VII.  Adjournment – Motion to adjourn passed

Categories
Meetings

Meeting Minutes: February 2015

7:00 p.m. Temple Billiards

Present (20 of 33): Kyle Boyd, Paul Cox, Craig Dillon, Michael Dollard, Woody Favinger, Nick Gibson, Leann Johnson, Roberta King, Angelica Mendoza, Kris Mydske, Mark Nesteroff, Likkit Pocinwong, Brian Prouty, Jeff Randle, Erin Riley, Daniel Roe,
Stephanie Steiner, Hans Ulland, Kristina Vaughn, Lee White

Guest:   Jerry Neil

Next meeting:    Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

I. Call to order – Paul Cox

II. Roll call – Angelica Mendoza – 20 of 33 members present

III. Approval of minutes – Paul Cox – Motion to approve November minutes passed

IV. Council overview – Paul Cox

  • Schedule
    • First Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
    • Pioneer Square area (CenturyLink Field or SSFC FO or Clubhouse)
    • Additional optional meeting February 10 at 7:00 p.m. at SSFC FO
      • Introduction to Garth Lagerwey
      • Discussion re GM voting
  • Executive Committee roles
    • President
      • Main point of contact with FO
      • Preside over AC meetings
      • Ensure project progress
      • Lead annual EOY meeting
    • Vice President
      • Back-up President as needed
      • Advise President and Committee
    • Secretary
      • Keep minutes
      • Manage attendance and quorum count
      • Circulate agenda
      • Coordinate membership lists (e.g., Google and Facebook groups)
    • Two at-large members
      • Assist with AC leadership and projects
      • Established last year and worked well in driving AC forward
  • Nominations and elections
    • President – Stephanie Steiner nominated and elected unopposed
    • Vice President
      • Nominated: Daniel Roe, Lee White
      • Elected: Daniel Roe
    • Secretary – Angelica Mendoza nominated and elected unopposed
    • At-large members
      • Nominated: Kyle Boyd, Roberta King, Brian Prouty, Kristina Vaughn, Lee White
      • Elected: Kyle Boyd, Kristina Vaughn
  • Work groups
    • Opportunities to get involved and lead on projects
    • List may be updated throughout the season and over the years
    • Previous involvement to be renewed at next meeting and new groups created
    • All AC members asked to join at least one work group or create new project
    • List to be updated to include completed projects
    • AC profile work group (to create new questions and post to website): Mike Dollard, Angelica Mendoza, Brian Prouty, Daniel Roe, Kristina Vaughn
  • Open items
    1. Jock tag design – Jerry Neil
      • AC opportunity to design jock tag or neck tag for 2016 season third kit
      • Jock tag and City of Seattle logo design selected
      • Color to be altered to suit jersey
      • Sam Chesneau to contact representatives from Duwamish tribe for approval
  • Clubhouse fan display – Leann Johnson/Lee White
    • Museum/hall of fame for Clubhouse fan area
    • When facing storefront, area is on the right-hand side with windows facing the street
    • Starting nonprofit from scratch; mission statement completed, but still need name and logo
    • Long-term vision to include fan interaction, rotating display and greater SSFC involvement
    • Display will start small and grow over time
    • Rotating display of Washington State soccer history
    • Two name possibilities: Washington State Legends of Soccer or Washington Legends of Soccer (“Washington State” preferred per soft poll)
  • Open discussion
    1. CBA negotiations
      • In case of strike or lockout, will AC offer formal opinion?
      • AC represents fan interests; in position to voice opinion on behalf of fan base
      • Stress that strike or lockout should be resolved as soon as possible
      • AC to educate the fan base on what is happening
      • Challenging for AC to make statement without interacting with SSFC
      • Fans should be able to communicate with AC work group on CBA
        • Motion to create work group for CBA passed
        • Members: Kyle Boyd, Paul Cox, Woody Favinger, Nick Gibson, Kris Mydske
  • TBD times on schedule
    • Evening matches preferred over afternoon
    • Delay in setting standard start time given negotiations with television station(s)
    • Question re posting actual kickoff times
    • Concern re MatchPass benefits ending 30 minutes prior to listed versus actual kickoff
  • Adjournment – Motion to adjourn passed
Categories
Meetings

Meeting Minutes: November 2014

7:00 p.m. CenturyLink Field

Present (20 of 48): Samuel Chesneau, Cameron Collins, Paul Cox, Michael Dollard, Woody Favinger, Leann Johnson, Roberta King, Angelica Mendoza, Pablo Mendoza, Kris Mydske, Jerry Neil, Randy Nunez, Likkit Pocinwong, Brian Prouty, Erin Riley, Daniel Roe, Stephanie Steiner, Brendan Vaughn, Kristina Vaughn, Lee White

Next meeting:    Saturday, November 17, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. (prior to EOY Business Meeting)

I. Call to order – Paul Cox

II. Roll call – Angelica Mendoza – 20 of 48 members present (12 needed to establish quorum)

III. Approval of minutes – Paul Cox – Motion to approve October minutes passed

 IV. Open items

  • EOY Business Meeting – Stephanie Steiner
    • Meeting with ownership from 5-6 p.m.
    • Awaiting final agenda from FO
    • Kris Mydske and Lee White managing Q&A portion
    • AC presentation
      • Shift of structure with Executive Committee and work groups
      • Work group accomplishments notable by and impacting Alliance
      • Championship banners
      • Meeting with Adidas; third kit design and women’s attire
      • Emphasis on how individuals are elected to AC
    • Tables for Alliance Members and Sounders Community Trust
  • Jock tag design – Paul Cox
    • Will not be mentioned at EOY meeting
    • In communication with Mayor’s Office re use of City of Seattle logo; mid-November decision
    • December 1 deadline to submit design
    • Sam Chesneau to send request to Duwamish tribe to approve use as well
    • Likkit Pocinwong and Jerry Neil will design back-up option if either City of Seattle or Duwamish tribe rejects proposal
  • Soccer Hall of Fame – Paul Cox
    • New location needed
    • Pioneer Square a possibility, but expensive to fund
    • Suggestion to combine display with Clubhouse
    • Similar to WA State Hall of Fame with traveling exhibits from National Hall of Fame
    • City providing grants to help small businesses form cultural/heritage exhibits (e.g., pinball museum)
    • Proposed resolution: AC supports honoring WA State’s contribution to US soccer; unanimous approval

V. Open discussion

  • October 27 match wanding
    • Insufficient number of wanders or space
    • Some with 45-minute delay from entry to seats
    • Many missed new banner presentation and first kick
    • Bag check goes faster than wanding
    • Bigger march, stronger push for fans to enter early and full stadium match all contributors to delay
    • Training and consistency issues
    • Discuss with FO prior to and/or at EOY Business Meeting outlining specific concerns
      • Consistency with bag handling; whether to set it down or not, and where
      • Number of wanders per line
      • Distance between bag check and wander should be increased
      • Number of staff for open bowl matches
  • Univision
    • 16-minute piece on SSFC and soccer in Seattle
    • Aired on national network
    • Discussed the Club, supporter groups, AC, players, etc.
    • SSFC retweeted link November 3
    • Missing Latino viewership and fan base
  • 2015 planning
    • First Tuesday of every month meeting day
    • Set and advertise schedule ahead of time so that candidates may determine if it makes sense to run for election based on schedule
    • Double-check Mariners schedule to make sure meetings will not conflict; only three conflicting games next season
    • Consider meeting at Clubhouse and parking in north lot, if available
    • Allow new members to have input in decision; find out who has been elected and float first Tuesday preference now
  • Sounders Community Trust (SCT)
    • S2 discounted tickets on-sale with purchase of SCT membership
    • 750 available (plus additional 200 for ECS members)
    • Unlimited number of Founders Club memberships available at this time (approximately 800 sold)
    • 2-4 Board positions available to fill during the season
    • S2 hired ticketing, public relations and marketing staff
    • Schedule tentatively all Friday and Sunday matches (with exception of Open Cup)
    • Good time to get involved, and ideas are welcomed

VI. Adjournment – Motion to adjourn passed