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Treasurer's Corner Dear HMMS Participant,
As the Treasurer for HMMS, I get weekly inquiries about the cost of the registration for soccer and people want to know where the money goes? To address these questions I want to do two things; (1) Post on the HMMS web site a quarterly update, comparing actual expenses to budgeted expenses and (2) Answer some of the most common questions in a letter to the general membership. This will include information on fund raising activities, unexpected expenditures, donations, grants, and the question of the month.
As an example, here are a few questions that I received in the last month.
| Question: |
Why did the cost of registration go up again? |
| Answer: |
As with anything in our lives today, the cost of what we did or purchased yesterday, costs more today. Over the last few years the cost of field maintenance, field supplies, security, toilets, trash pickup, referees, uniforms, printing, postage, league fees, insurance (for players), insurance for the organization, field rental, software and hardware upgrades, league fines and the cost of help have all climbed. For example; a case of paint that normally will paint two fields, cost us less than $20 two years ago, and now because is over $35. With close to 50 fields, we paint 40-80 times a week, dependent upon the frequency of lining the fields. The cost for one week is $700-$1400. |
| Question: |
Other clubs pay less to play soccer. How come we pay more?
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| Answer: |
Not True! The HMMS annual registration fee covers both the spring and fall season. HMMS is one of the few remaining youth soccer programs that provide a uniform and cover all referee fees in the registration fee. In fact, the majority of clubs we compete against require the parents to pay an additional fee each week to cover the referee fees. There are many organizations that have a “mandatory” fund raiser program, which is something HMMS has never done. |
| Question: |
Why do you keep pushing the annual raffle fund raiser, especially with what you’re charging for registration? |
| Answer: |
First and foremost we are very lucky to have Bobby Rahal Automotive Group as an organization that has offered HMMS an excellent and unique opportunity to raise funds. Each participant has the potential to earn a payback. We appreciate the Bobby Rahal organization, and what they have done for HMMS over the last four years. Each year a car is donated to HMMS and raffled off, with 100% of the proceeds coming back to HMMS youth soccer activities. The raffle helps to offset the costs associated with uniforms, spring play, and many of the expenses we incur. We have never made the fund raiser mandatory, we do offer a buy out, but have never said you must participate in the raffle. This raffle program is licensed and has been audited by both state and federal government agencies |
| Question: |
Why is there a non-refundable $10.00 Travel Try Out Fee? |
| Answer: |
Over the last three years we have employed professional soccer players and coaches to evaluate the Travel and FC players. By doing this we eliminate the risk of bias and favoritism in the selection process. Secondly, we insure that HMMS conducts a fair and equitable try out process, with proper reporting and statistical information. The fee covers the cost associated with paying these professionals for their time |
| Question: |
I want to know what the executive, coaches, and trainer positions at HMMS are paid? |
| Answer: |
HMMS has only two contracted employees that are paid out of the funds generated through registration and specific fund raising activities. The remaining positions within HMMS are volunteer positions. A Travel or FC team may decide to obtain professional training and or coaching, that would be the financial responsibility of the team to fund. HMMS does not pay coaches and or trainers. The only trainers paid by HMMS would be those involved in special training that HMMS provides such as Foot Skills, Goalie Training, and Coaching programs that are offered to all HMMS participants. |
| Question: |
Can my team obtain a sponsor? |
| Answer: |
The financial commitment for a Travel or FC program can be a burden. However, HMMS offers all Travel and FC teams the opportunity to run concession stands at multiple events each year, and are allowed to do independent fund raisers, but not under the tax exempt status of HMMS. Should a team have a parent that owns a business, and wants to sponsor a team, they can not have recognition on any uniform or uniform warm ups, without the approval of the HMMS Board, which will give it the fair and equitable test. We need to remember that as a non-profit / township centric soccer association we need to apply sponsorship benefits equally across the organization. |
| Question: |
How do I set up a team account for my child’s team as Treasurer, and can we use the Tax ID number of HMMS? |
| Answer: |
This is a very good question. If you’re the team treasurer, you should have a separate account from your personal account to manage these funds. We have seen to many problems and issues involving the commingling of funds. As team treasurer you should go to your local financial institution and ask for a personal / sole proprietorship account and utilizing your personal social security number as the identification number. Your team does not need to open or obtain a Tax ID / EIN number. If you do that, you will need to file annual tax reporting and the financial institution can place your account within a business classification and in turn possibly charge you higher fees. As for the HMMS Tax ID number, the board will not issue this number to be utilized because as a classified non-profit / charitable organization we are responsible for reporting each year our financial activities, and if you utilized the Tax ID number, your activity would also have to be tracked, reported to the HMMS Treasurer, and HMMS would be financially responsible for any problems. Finally, when setting up the account be sure to place your teams name on the account with HMMS before or after it. This will verify that your team is part of the HMMS family and receive specific benefits. |
So those were the most common questions I have fielded in the last few months. I need to reiterate the most important reason that HMMS exists is to provide a youth soccer program for the residents of Hampden, Middlesex, Monroe, and Silver Spring Township. We provide the youth of our community with the opportunity to play an organized game that offers the ability to develop soccer skills, compete, and develop social skills. It’s about providing growth opportunities through sport and interaction. We are very excited about the continued growth of the HMMS organization and about the support we receive from the townships, particularly when they provide new fields and facilities. We are fortunate to have the support of our membership, and especially thankful to those who volunteer their time and /or talents to provide this soccer program.
Yours in Soccer,
James H. Heile, Treasurer
HMMS Soccer Association
P.O. Box 1264
Mechanicsburg PA 17055
(717)791-2734|
hmmssoccer@hmms-soccer.org
If you have any questions or comments about this report, or about the finances of HMMS in general, please contact James Heile at the information listed above.
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