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2 Local Soccer Clubs Seek Dues From Troubled CMI

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By PETER BERNARD

pbernard@wfla.com

Published: January 8, 2009

Two Bay area youth soccer organizations are feeling a money pinch because a company they use to process registrations has run into financial problems.

The problem centers on a company called Count Me In in Bellevue, Wash. It handles administration duties for all kinds of athletic teams, including soccer, baseball and ski clubs. Parents use the company's Web site to register players and pay club dues.

Gulfcoast United Soccer Club in Largo says CMI owes the club $112,000. The East Lake Arsenal Soccer Club in Tarpon Springs says it's owed out about $30,000.

"It's a travesty to have this type of thing happen," said parent and Gulfcoast volunteer John Hockin.

He says the club is cutting expenses and making other adjustments to keep the fall season going for its 1,100 soccer players.

The problems at CMI are spread nationwide. Teams across the country have complained about missing money. Calls to the company go unanswered and e-mail is not returned.

In a Jan. 21 Seattle Times story, CMI's CEO, Terry Drayton, said he is trying to find investors to keep the company going and pay back creditors.

A Gulfcoast parent said the league received a mid-December e-mail from CMI detailing its financial situation. It included a promise to pay what is owed, but offered no timeline.

"It ticks me off, and not only does it make me mad, but what about all the other kids throughout the United States who are being affected?" asked Gulfcoast President Sherri Callahan.

A lawyer representing East Lake Arsenal says he is working with a New York attorney to sue CMI. Brian Caulfield, past president of the Tarpon Springs club, says other teams may be added to the list as he discovers how many people are owed money from CMI.

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