The following are two letters that have been sent to Calgary soccer clubs. If you feel that the ASA, whatever its faults, should still be saved then I implore you to take the same actions. Email your club and local District and let them know that you want the ASA to continue. The baby should not be thrown out with the bath water.

Using the soccer players of the province as pawns in these games needs to stop, messing with Tier IV provincials is one thing - killing the entire association is something completely different.

Greetings, Calgary soccer clubs,

This message is going to some of the major clubs in Calgary. Apologies if I have the wrong contact information for any of you. Please feel free to forward this to others.

The following is an email I sent to various people in Calgary. I have been doing my best to follow the events in the Alberta Soccer Association, and I am concerned that the entire Association might fail. I think that the Calgary clubs can play a significant role in preventing this from happening.

It is clear that the current ASA Board of Directors is not running the Association for the benefit of the members and players. It is time for all members of the Board to be replaced.

CMSA has the second-largest number of players in the province, so you carry considerable weight. It is time for CMSA to reflect the views of its members. I have trouble believing that the members of CMSA would be in favour of disbanding the Association. If, indeed, any of you are, then you should state that publicly, and let your members and the soccer public in Alberta know why.

On the other hand, if you believe that the Association can be saved, you are in a good position to do something about it. Especially if you act as a group.

I admit that I don't know any of the people involved in this mess, so I don't know who is most open to negotiation. At the CMSA level, the clubs are responsible for electing the BOD, so you have the most direct means of exerting pressure.

I am asking you to get together to do something to save the sport in Alberta. Shaun Lowther of NSD has taken a bold step. The rest of the major clubs in Calgary should join him.

Best regards,
Ian Hawkins


Dear soccer friends,

According to court documents

• No new soccer facilities, including a replacement to the Soccer Centre bubble. It would be irresponsible for any government to allocate funds to a sport that can't run its own associations properly.
• It will disrupt or ruin any provincial competitions.
• It will mean that teams from Alberta cannot go to national competitions.
• It will cost you more money. The court costs are already substantial, and winding up an association will likely take a large portion of whatever assets the ASA owns.

What has been happening? It's a long, complicated story. Here are some significant events.

• Chris Billings, elected President of ASA in January 2010, was suspended without a proper investigation, or a hearing. This is all against the bylaws of the ASA. Mr. Billings claims that he has never been given any solid reasons for this suspension.
• The group that suspended Mr. Billings took charge of the Association. They promptly fired some staff and forced others out. There is at least one lawsuit proceeding against the ASA because of this. Read the affidavit of Joel Butler
   
  for some details of the harassment and bullying.
• They also ruined Tier IV provincials for some players. Many were not allowed to play, others were not allowed to receive their medals.
• Since then, they have been running a campaign of intimidation.
• In early December, many of the member districts of the ASA filed a petition for a Special General Meeting of the ASA. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the removal of all members of the current Board of Directors. Gary Steen would apparently prefer that the courts wind up the Association, instead of having a meeting where the member districts of the ASA exercise their democratic rights.

What does the Canadian Soccer Association think?

• This is where things get interesting. Some directors of the CSA are playing their own political games. They have given unconditional support to the board of the ASA, and they have shown no desire to actually fix any problems. Instead, they have assisted the board of the ASA in bullying and suspending anybody who has tried to stand up against them.
• There is a vote scheduled for May, 2011, that could change the structure of the CSA. Currently, the Board of Directors is made up of representatives from the provincial associations. If the vote passes, the Board would instead be made up representatives from regions in Canada, plus six appointed Directors, who bring additional skill-sets, experience and capabilities necessary to deal with the challenges and opportunities of today’s soccer environment. This would mean that existing members of the board would lose their positions and the associated perks. Is there a connection between governance changes at the CSA and the mess at the ASA? Possibly. Read Ben Knight
   
  at Canadian Soccer News.

This seems unbelievable. What are others doing?

• Shaun Lowther played on the Canadian national team and as a professional player in the NASL. He is a member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. He is also the General Manager of NSD Soccer Club in Calgary. He has asked for an entirely new Board of Directors for ASA. Read what he has to say at Canadian Soccer News
   
  .

How did this happen?

• For the full story, read the original documents posted at Reform Alberta Soccer
   
  .
• In brief, the people running the ASA are too concerned with power and perks, and don't put their energy into improving the game.
• They are also, according to available evidence, forcing dedicated volunteers out of the sport altogether.

What can you do?

• Phone or email your local club. Find out their position on this matter. Press them to take a stand. If the clubs in Calgary act together they can force some changes on CMSA.
• Phone or email Gary Steen at CMSA. Let him know your thoughts.
• Spread the word.