A Coaches’ meeting was held Wednesday 10/20 to present the outline of the merger of the Whitman and Hanson soccer programs. A special meeting will be held in November to vote on the new bylaws. We’ll need two-thirds majority of our membership to approve (membership is defined as all head coaches, assistant coaches, board members/volunteers, and referees 18+ within a calendar year). If we do not get approval by two-thirds majority, the merger can not go through so … let’s all remind those coaches we need their vote in November!

The Whitman and Hanson programs have been talking about a merger for years now, but a lot of people probably have not heard specifically why we are pursuing this.

Some reasons:

• Whitman and Hanson have had merged Fall Seasons for the past five years. Each season has integrated us more and more, and most kids in the program don’t know it any other way.
  

• Our Grade 3/4 pilot program last Spring was a rousing success, putting in 5 boys teams and 4 girls teams that were balanced and competitive in their divisions.
  

• Merging the programs will elevate the level of play for all grades and divisions.
  

• Whitman and Hanson players will play together in High School, so if we start playing together now, we’ll create stronger bonds that will last as the kids move up through the program.
  

• Our programs benefit from sharing of resources: human, physical, and financial. We can provide consistent communication and engagement from one soccer organization across both towns.

Proposed WHYS Bylaws