Financial Situation Update

Dear LCYO Parents,

 

As President of La Costa Youth Organization, I am writing to update you on the financial situation caused by LCYO not receiving more than $180,000 owed to us by Count Me In (CMI), the online registration and league management software company we have used since 2004.

 

Please take a moment to read this article as we are asking you to take action prior to player evaluations on January 10 and 17!

 

Most importantly, let me assure you the 2009 spring season will go on as scheduled.  Player evaluations begin this weekend and all preparations are under way for another successful season of baseball and softball.

 

As you should know by now from previous e-mails, LCYO is asking parents who paid by credit card to challenge that payment to CMI. This strategy is being used by other unpaid clients of CMI and has proven quite successful. Many LCYO parents have received credits for the disputed charges and already have paid LCYO via check (including me). Time is critical in the dispute process and if you haven’t already challenged the payment, it is of utmost importance you do so immediately.

 

In order to secure the needed funds to operate, LCYO will require parents who paid by credit card to either:

 

• Pay LCYO the registration (and/or sponsorship fees) upon a successful challenge of their credit card payments.
• Provide documentation that their bank has denied the challenge of the payment to CMI.

 

LCYO has made it clear from the beginning of this issue that we will NOT charge parents twice for their sons or daughters to play in the Spring. However, given the critical nature of this issue your Board of Directors believes it is essential and reasonable to require all parents to challenge the credit card payment and provide documentation if the challenge is unsuccessful. Prior to the issuance of uniforms in late February, team managers will need to confirm payment has been made for each of their players or that the parents’ challenge has been denied.

 

You can pay at evaluations – At evaluations January 10 and 17, we will have LCYO volunteers there to inquire upon the status of your dispute if you paid by credit card. If your challenge was successful, or if you received a provisional credit, we hope you will pay LCYO via check at that time. In the event the provisional credit is reversed and the charge reinstated, LCYO will reimburse you.   If your challenge has been denied we ask that you bring a copy of the correspondence from your banking institution. If the challenge has yet to be resolved, we will make note of that for future reference.

 

We are quickly reaching a point where the LCYO Board of Directors will need to make decisions regarding any financial cuts that might be needed. As such, it is essential we get a good indication from the player evaluations in the next two weeks as to the revenues we can expect this season.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

 

Respectfully,

 

Phil Urbina

President, La Costa Youth Organization