The Nebraska State Soccer Annual General Meeting was held November 20th, 2011 at Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center. Elections were held for District Commissioners in Districts I, III and V. Newly elected board members include Jon Eilers, District I Commissioner. Eilers replaces Darren Mehl, who formerly served for four years. Don Drazdys was elected as the new District III Commissioner. Drazdys replaces Paul McCormick, who formerly served for six years. John Sozio was re-elected as the District V Commissioner.
Paula Sharpe was elected into Office as the new Board of Directors Treasurer. Paula replaces Dave Riley as the former Treasure, who served on the board for eight years.
To confer thanks and appreciation for their service to Nebraska State Soccer, Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to outgoing board members Darren Mehl, Paul McCormic and Dave Riley.
Darren Mehl joined the Board of Director’s in 2008 and served for 4 years as a District Commissioner. He has represented his District well and was always able to do what was best for soccer in the state.
Paul McCormick joined the Board of Director’s in 2005 and served for four years as the Field Commissioner and two years as a District Commissioner for a total of six years. He devoted many hours to the fields in the Omaha area and has represented his District well. Only a few people really know the extensive hours that were spent on the fields.
Dave Riley joined the Board of Director’s as Treasurer in 2003 and served for 8 years. He was instrumental in forming the financial structure of Nebraska State Soccer. He has donated many professional hours to the association for accounting services. He has shared his knowledge with the staff and Board. The State Staff have appreciated his help! Riley has also served on many committees. Prior to serving on the State Board he was a Board member at Bellevue Soccer Club. He has served the game well.
Awards for the Boy's and Girl's Recreational and Competitive Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Administrator of the Year and the President’s Awards were also presented at the AGM.
Ryan Kruse, of OFC, was awarded the 2011 Boys Competitive Coach of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Kruse included the following statements:
“Ryan always leads by example in promoting and instilling good sportsmanship among his players and their parents” -Dan Hooi
“I wish everyone could have a mentor for their child like ours have in Ryan” -Diane Kortus
“He leads by example with the good rapport he has with coaches and referees in the community” -Amy Robbins
Becky Sanow, of OFC, was awarded the 2011 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Sanow included the following statements:
“Becky is a role model for each of the players on our team” -John Springer
“After every event we receive letters of gratitude and appreciation for Becky’s hard work with all of the players she helps” -Alex Mason
Jacque Tevis-Butler, of OFC, was awarded the 2011 Boys Recreational Coach of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Tevis-Butler included the following statements:
“Jacque promotes good sportsmanship in her players by encouraging them to play fair and to follow the rules” -Pat & Michelle Caffey
“Jacque is one of those coaches with a gift. She can bring the game alive to a 14 year old” -Christina Lewis
Andrew Brueckner, of Bennington Soccer Club, was awarded the 2011 Girls Recreational Coach of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Brueckner included the following statements:
“It was an honor to have Andy as my daughter’s soccer coach this season” -Christine Picconi
“The kids and club are fortunate to have Andy’s energy and ever growing knowledge of the game” -Ted Anderson
“He is so dedicated to the school and his community, Andrew is a great soccer coach, a wonderful dad and a great role model” -Joni Schultz
Cindy Sukhram, of OFC, was awarded 2011 Volunteer of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Sukhram included the following statements:
“Each year Cindy says ‘how can I help you?’ and she is mentoring new volunteers to assist. Whenever we see her at the fields or at the store, she is always asking what she can do to help.” -Pam Sweeney
“She is every coach’s dream for a team manager. She is the volunteer we cannot imagine living without” -Christina Lewis
Cristina Lewis, of OFC was awarded 2011 Administrator of the Year. Excerpts from nominating letters for Lewis included the following statements:
“On average, Christina is working on soccer 6 days a week and this alone is remarkable knowing she also works at the Methodist Women’s Hospital” -Alex Mason
“Christina has given her life to soccer and the development of our youth. She is one of a kind” -Shane Piper
The 2011 President’s Award was presented to Jimmy Norris and his wife, Frances. Norris joined the Board of Director’s as SRA around 1991 and served for around 20 years. From the staff’s records at Nebraska State Soccer, he and Harlan Milder have been the longest tenured Board Members, to date. Norris has been instrumental in forming the structure of the Nebraska State Soccer Referee Program. He has also served on numerous committees and helped many of the leagues. He worked thankless hours trying to improve soccer in Nebraska through its programs and by keeping members happy, which is not always an easy task!
The Nebraska State Soccer Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a great chance to get to know other people from across the state, discuss problems and solutions with other Affiliate Members, and win great soccer-related door prizes! The date for next years AGM will be November 18th, 2012.