Attending the meeting were:

Tom Conway opened the meeting discussing three topics:

The resignation of Jeff Chambers from the DYS Board and as Travel Director. Jeff will fill-in as Travel Director until a replacement is found and ensuring that the spring season begins with minimal interruption - other than Mother Nature!

Email protocol to be used discussing sensitive matters

The Aztec soccer program

The March minutes were approved.

Minutes are sent out electronically by email or posted on the DYS site under About DYS & Board. Please send any changes in email addresses to DYS@theglobe.com.

The March Treasurer’s report discussion was tabled until the May meeting.

Final registration numbers for the U7-U10 Spring season were announced. In general, all six groupings, numbers remained about the same as the fall season (range -2 to +7).

The major reporting item was preparation for the April 10^th Coaches Meeting, which by this writing has been held!

Essex County cancelled all games on the 4/7-4/8 weekend. The first official weekend will be the weekend of 4/21-4/22. Let's hope Mother Nature is agreeable.

There are 31 teams registered for the spring season

UPDATE: ECYSA's instructions for handling the 4/7-4/8 weekend cancellations were announce recently. If you need a copy of the instructions contact DYS@theglobe.com.

VP of Operations Report:

Field Permits Have been OK'd with the Town. Thanks to Tom Guidi for filling-in at the Town Fields Meeting.

Spring Schedule is finalized and there will be an 8 game season beginning on April 22^nd through June 17^th with Memorial Day Weekend off for the tournament. An informational package was created for the Coaches Meeting.

U6 Fundamentals will begin on Saturday April 21^st through June 17^th.

The following locations will be used to store nets/flags for the spring season:

Each travel team will get 2 new game balls. These can be picked up at Tom Conway's.

Spring Coaches Meeting was held April 10^th at 7:30pm at the DHS Cafeteria.

There was a discussion about the urgent need for new volunteers to become involved with DYS. There will be a push at the Coaches Meeting to recruit parents to get involved.

Jerry Morin reported that he has 18.5 referees for the Spring Intramural Program.

During the first two week, the U7 program will not have referees has there will be training of new referees the first two weeks. Coaches should plan on refereeing the first two weeks in U7.

A small-sided Referee course is scheduled for August 4^th.

Registration deadline for Fall Intramural Tournament teams will be June 12^th.

Tom Guidi reported that the spring edition is being finalized. Watch for it in you mail boxes!

We welcome as many DYS parents as possible to volunteer. If interested in helping out contact Janet Gargan or send an email to dys@theglobe.com

226 team applications were received (90 small sided fields/ 136 full). Tentatively accepting 201 teams - this includes 4-5 teams that will also be playing in the Lynn tournament (a joint effort).

Tentative plans call for 5 site locations: Gates, High School, Plains, George and St. John. Middleton and Topsfield have also offered fields.

New Business: The MYSA AGM was attended by T.Conway, B.Trudeau and J.Chambers.

Minutes taken by Al DeBenedictis - Meeting ended at 9:40 PM