Dues update

Dues are coming in, but slower than expected.  I usually get quite a boost after my initial emails.  In this case, however, only 6 players have paid. 

Get to paypal and send your cash-poor captain some money, please.

Pay your dues

I just wrote the big check to the league and they are cashing it right away.

Your portion is $95 for the season.  The fees went up for teams so it results in higher costs per person.  It's still a value for the fun we have and the overall quality of the league.

Please pay via Paypal.com to my personal address, not the team address.  You'll see it circulated via email.  I don't post it here so it isn't data mined.

You must pay before the first game, no exceptions.

Remember to avoid fees on paypal.  You can avoid them on your end by linking directly to your checking account or doing the check clearing process.  Paying via credit card is convenient, but you'll incur a small fee.  I will incur a fee no matter what, unless you designate this as a payment among friends and family.  So please do that or I pay needless fees.

Thanks!

Instructions for paypal - avoid fees!

I appreciate everyone using paypal - it is so much easier to collect and track.  Here are some additional instructions:

Make sure to send the money to my personal address, as shown on email.

Paypal is a free service when it's linked to your checking account.  You can link directly - therefore the money can flow both directions (you can paid by others too) - or you can do some kind of individual check clearance thing.  A few folks on the team do that.  You can also make convenient one-time payments via credit card.  This will result in a transaction fee.

Make sure to designate the transaction as a payment between friends and family.  That allows me to avoid a transaction fee.  This is not a good or service so you're not breaking any rules.  You are sending me money, which I advanced you as a favor.  If you don't make the right designation here, I end up paying a fee on my end to receive the money.

Thanks!

Heads up on dues

At this week's captains' meeting, I wrote the big check to secure our spot in the league this fall.  I want to make sure to let everyone know that they will have to pay me the dues shortly.  And we have a 100% paypal policy, unless you send a check well in advance of the season. 

I'm not collecting dues just yet because I'm hoping to be able to reduce them on a per person basis.  Nevertheless, please be prepared to pay the usual amount - approximately $80 pp plus the optional charitable contribution.  You will be required to pay it before the season starts.

Changes to payment policy - paypal is now mandatory

In the past few years, the process of paying dues has improved a lot.  My pain is being reduced, which is great, but we're not all the way there yet.

We're going to 100% paypal this fall.  I am willing to accept other forms of payment, but they must come well ahead of the deadline.

Paypal is extremely convenient.  First, it allows you to pay in a few clicks. I mean, you probably sit at a computer 8 hours a day, so the opportunity to get those dues paid is there.  You don't, on the other hand, spend all day writing checks, addressing envelopes, buying stamps, and going to the post office.  So it's no coincidence that you often forget to pay me, and don't make it a priority.  I'm trying to make this easier.  From my perspective, it's a pain to hound folks for money.  Dealing with partial payments, checks that I have to endorse and send to the bank in batches, etc. - not fun.

So there it is.  Please continue to use paypal.

The other elements of our payment policy are posted here.

Status of dues payments

Just a few more days left to pay dues. This has been the most successful campaign yet. A strong majority of players have paid already, with just a few left to pay. By my count, it's down to seven players. I'm sure I'll be getting their money before kickoff on the first game. Remember, no pay, no play.

There's also been a marked increase in paypal payments, with several players joining the service and reporting positive feedback.

Thanks team!

Charitable contributions low - pls give

There's good news and bad news. The good news is that people are paying their dues on time, which is awesome. The bad news is that charitable contributions are dropping off. Of course, these days you have to watch over your money so it's understandable. But let's do our best to keep the program alive. Contribute if you can!

Thanks for considering it!

Your official announcement on dues

This is your official announcement to pay dues. The deadline is game time on March 28th.

The bill comes to $80 per player. Don't forget about our charity program. Throw in your optional donation of $20.

Please use paypal to my personal address.

Email to follow.

The money is pouring in...(dues)

There's a new sheriff in town, and her name is The Alligator. She organized our Cherry Blossom tournament team and threatened bodily harm to those who didn't pay the dues on time. It has worked. Most people have paid, with just a few outstanding.

As the principal of our finance and investment division (in other words, I write most of the checks), I am quite pleased!

I will formally announce the dues for the spring season in a separate post, but please feel free to pay them ahead of the March 28th due date. Several people have already! These everyday heroes include De, Ally, Anna, and George.

Heads up on dues

Hi everyone, I haven't done final calculations on dues yet. But we know league fees will be the same and our team will be approximately the same size. So, using last season's numbers, expect to pay $80 + $20 optional donation. Please plan to pay by the first game on March 21st or 28th.

Budget report

It's nothing but good news on the budget front for the team. Thanks to a tougher policy and solid numbers, we had a 100% collection rate. The result was a small surplus. We applied that surplus to the balance of the cost of the jerseys and the generous sponsorship fee paid by Cantina Marina. The jerseys are fully paid for.

I appreciate everyone paying on time - or at least communicating with me and paying really close to the deadline. Communication is key. We're going to do the same next season please. Pay to play.

Deadline for dues is Sunday

Lots of people have paid me, which is great! At the same time, however, it appears as if several players will miss the deadline that was announced a month ago. See our payment policy here. If I don't have your money before Aug. 30th, you can't play until you've paid and your roster spot isn't secure (unless you've talked to me separately). I avoided this kind of approach for years, but last season things just didn't work. I got strung out for weeks and months by some players.

Please arrange for payment by Sunday. Use paypal (to my personal account) or send to my home address. I sent out emails with those instructions.

On the charity side, contributions are way up this season! We should have a healthy donation to United for DC. So please keep them coming.

Fall dues are $100* - deadline is Aug. 30th

Fall season is fast approaching and it's time to pay up. Please note that we have a new payment policy, which is posted below.

Again this season, we encourage everyone to make a suggested donation of $20 to our charity program. Over the course of several seasons, we've been able to collect more than $1000 for local childrens' programs at United for DC!

Please send the money via paypal to pdi.usa(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

$80 Dues
$20 Optional charitable contribution
--------------------
$100 TOTAL

Thanks!

New payment policy

Folks, last season was a disaster in terms of the finances. Most people paid late, and others required multiple emails, calls, texts, and in-person requests all the way to the final weeks of the season. I guess people don't necessarily know the sacrifices we make to guarantee our team's spot in the league. We have to vouch for our team several months before each season; we have to write a check for $1650 before the season starts (no refunds); we have to collect the money from people, all the while making sure we don't end up in the hole if players skip out, which happens. So, when you step onto the field without paying, you are using us as a credit card, but without the late fees or the credit checks.

Let's turn over a new leaf. We have a new payment policy, effective immediately:

• Payment is due on or before the first game, even if you're not playing in that game.

• Paypal is preferred because it saves everyone a lot of time.

• Late payments are subject to a $10 fine each week, the proceeds of which will go to offset future team fees.

• If you don't pay, you may not be able to play, and your roster spot is not guaranteed.

• Communication is encouraged. Let us know what is going on. We don't want to have to ask.

Thanks for your cooperation!

(Note: Within 24 hours of our tournament, 100% of the people had paid in full. So, it seems we're on the right track.)

Tournament schedule released; more details emerge

It turns out that lots of folks are out of town. But Ally and I are putting the pieces together and it's going to be another fun year in Columbia.

Here's the schedule, which you can find along with the brackets here.

Saturday (Games at Cedar Lane Park)
Game 1 - 9:45 a.m.
Game 2 - 12:15 p.m.
Game 3 - 2:45 p.m.

Sunday (Games at Rockburn Park)
8:45 a.m. Semifinals
12:45 p.m. Finals

Directions to the field can be found here.

Thanks to Matt, who is joining us from Baltimore to play keeper.

Everyone, please bring your check or cash to the field for payment. The fee will be $25.

Looking forward to it!

The final countdown

Here we go.  We kick off the spring season - and our 10th year - at 5:30 in Pentagon City.  We are playing DC Thunder, which has some wicked attacking options that we will have to be prepared to stuff.  I hope you're excited!  The Goleros email, blog and text universe is buzzing.  We've got a lot of enthusiastic people out there.  The offseason is almost over...

A few reminders.

We are playing on artificial turf this weekend so the game is on rain or shine.  Only thunder - not DC Thunder, but actual thunder - will stop us from playing.  If you have a question, call the inclement weather line shown on this home page.  

Please show up early because we want to take the field in an organized fashion in our first game.  You know how I suck at that.

Don't forget to bring your dues!  That's really important.  I had to front the money for you people already.  If you are not playing in the game, please pay your dues via paypal or call me to get my address for a check.  There was an earlier post on this.

No slide tackles in the league.  If you do one in the box, and it denies a goal scoring opportunity, the refs will now award a PK by rule.

That's all for now.  See you on the field!

Spring season dues - deadline is March 29th

Time to do some business. Please send your dues by March 29th using paypal. Send the money to pdi.usa(AT)gmail(DOT)com. I am using that wierd format so that my personal email address cannot be mined off the Internet.

$80 Dues
$20 Optional charitable contribution (learn more).
----------------------------------
$100 TOTAL


Thanks for your prompt attention to this. Dues are the same as last season. We've worked hard to keep them down. I hope everyone continues to support our charity program. We can cross the $1000 mark this season if folks keep giving.

Season to start Sunday March 29th

Ally's post is appropos. The season is starting a week sooner than I originally anticipated. We'll kick off on March 29th.

I will be collecting dues soon.

We're getting closer!

Thanks for your donations!

Thanks everyone, for your donations to our charity program. Today, I released $450 in funds to United for DC (see letter below). The funds were collected during both the spring and fall seasons in 2008.

We had a great participation rate in the fall - more than 65%, which exceeded our goal! Granted, United for DC could probably raise more money with one phone call to a larger donor, but $450 ain't nothing. Since 2007, we've now made $880 in contributions. Next time, we'll break the $1,000 mark, which will be a real accomplishment. What makes the program work is that I already have to collect money from the team - a few extra bucks here and there add up.

Thanks again!

Goleros Soccer Club

http://www.golerosteam.blogspot.com
golerosteam AT gmail.com


September 29, 2008

Ms. Sara Peterson
Program Manager
United for D.C.
c/o RFK Stadium
2400 East Capitol Street S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

Dear Sara,

On behalf of 25 recreational soccer players and supporters of the DC United organization, we would like to present another modest contribution to United for DC – this one, in the amount of $450.00.

The Goleros are an adult, co-ed, recreational soccer team based in Washington, D.C. (http://www.golerosteam.blogspot.com). Founded in 2000, we play on Sundays in the Capital Coed Soccer League (CCSL – http://theccsl.com). Our team nominated United for DC as a designated charity for which we reserve a portion of our bi-annual dues. We hope to continue making periodic donations to support your organization’s mission of promoting literacy and healthy living for local children.

It continues to be a pleasure to work with you. Thank you for including us on various mail and email correspondence regarding upcoming events. We’re hoping to send a few representatives to the annual awards reception at the end of October; we will let you know.

Best regards,



Pete & Jackie
Captains

cc: Zach Walker, Caithlin Gorman

Budget not affected by global financial crisis

Don't worry, team finances are in good shape, despite the global financial crisis. Here is a budget report.

Almost everyone is paid up for the fall season. Dues were $1650 plus a $25 overage fee since we decided to retain a little known alternate by the name of Carlos. I'm not trying to say he's little. Unlike last year, when our roster could swell to 30, we're only allowed 25 players. We have 23 full time players, which is one of the largest teams we've ever had - thus, the lower dues. We shouldn't have a problem fielding a team week-to-week.

Do you have an opinion on dues - do we get our money's worth from the league?

People really stepped up for the charity program this season - about 65% of the team participated! I am thrilled with that; it beats expectations. We had always aimed for 50% and gotten about 33-40%. Shortly, we'll be sending a check for about $400 to United for DC. I'll do another post on it. Really cool.

Is everyone happy with our choice of United for DC as the charity recipient?