On March 28th at 7:00 PM, UYSA’s Constitutional Convention will meet at UYSA’s State Office to discuss key aspects in the design of the new governing structure for the Utah Youth Soccer Association. The meeting is open to interested members of the Association, and it will be chaired by former president Paul C. Burke, who was asked by current President Scott Maxfield and then assigned by the UYSA State Council, to lead this effort.

The meeting on March 28th will address the following issues:

• State Council Composition. The current governing body of the Association consists of the following electorate: Leagues and affiliated clubs with a weighted vote based on player population; elected state officers and district chairs; and certain appointed state officers. The Constitutional Council is expected to retain a weighted vote for member organizations (the functional equivalent of leagues and clubs. The question is whether to grant voting rights to elected state officers (as does US Youth Soccer) and, if so, what percentage of the overall voting strength.

• District Structure. Currently the Association has seven vaguely defined geographic districts that do not cover the entire state. Each district operates somewhat independently and uniquely. The Constitutional Council expects to discuss whether geographic districts are needed and, if so, how they should be organized.

• Presidential Powers. The Constitutional Council expects to discuss what powers should be assigned to the organization’s president.

• Conflict of Interest Policy. The Constitutional Council expects to discuss how to prevent the governance of youth soccer from being clouded by financial, organizational, and other conflicts of interest.

The Constitutional Council meeting will be open to interested members of the Association. For those who may be interested in the subjects listed above but are unable to attend, your comments are welcome and may be submitted to pburke at rqn.com.