Annual Membership Meeting - Past Minutes

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BOARD MEETING
WILMINGTON SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
Covil Estates, Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Attending: Phil Rose, Harry Rowe, Mike Abernathy, Gerry Paige, George Wesoloski
                  Mike Fleming, and Bill Cauley

President Harry Rowe called the meeting to order at 2:59 PM.
A quorum was determined and minutes of the March meeting were accepted as posted on the website.

Commissioner’s Report:  (Phil Rose)
Pick-up Games – During the month of August and until games resume on Sept. 8, players can come to Robert Strange Park at 10th and Nunn for pick-up games every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:45 AM.

Part-time Players – The League should not advertise for part-time players. It was due to the many part-time players who contributed too many games being cancelled in the Atlantic Division last year.
A player may turn out to be a part-timer, but our advertising should not publicly call for part-timers.

Senior Games – There have not been enough players in the 55 to 59 age group to have a team for the State Senior Games this year. It is thesecond year in a row that the 55 age team will not be represented in Raleigh. Also, very little interest is being shown for the Senior Games as very few attended the award ceremonies in May or bothered to pick up their award medals.

New Player Workouts – Phil no longer will be able to manage the new player workouts in the spring. The Division Presidents, Gerry Paige and Mike Abernathy, will organize and staff the workouts.

Reporting Scores – Games scores should be called in to Phil by 2PM of the game day in order to keep the website promptly updated.  Some team managers call promptly while others may call the next day or not at all. Phil asked the Division Presidents to remind team managers to call by 2PM the day of their game with their results.

Softballs for 2010 Season – There have been complaints about the poor quality and slowness of the softballs in use by both Divisions. A motion was made, seconded and passed  to use the Dudley Thunder Heat 375-44 for the 2010 season. Mike reported that these balls are available for $39 per box.

Schedules – The game postponed from Aug 4th will be rescheduled for a rain day at the end of the season prior to the play offs.

Atlantic Division President’s Report: (Gerry Paige)
Participation & Forfeits – It appears that the goal to increase player participation in the Atlantic Division has been successful. Each team now has 16 players. Also, the goal of reducing the number of forfeits has been achieved as there have been no forfeits so far this year... All games in the Atlantic Division have been competitive and the Division is well balanced.

Coastal Division President’s Report: (Mike Abernathy)
League Fees – The annual dues is to be paid at the annual meeting in January. It was moved and seconded that any player having not paid the annual fee by May 15 will be suspended from play. The Treasurer is to notify the Division Presidents of players delinquent by May 15. Approved unanimously.

Second Half League Fee – New players coming into the League after the first half of the season will pay a League fee of $40 regardless of the number of games anticipated to be played by the new player. Moved, seconded and approved.

Treasurer Report (Mike Fleming)
Bank Balance – The bank balance as of July 8 was $11,416.81 of which $5,847.32 belongs to the various teams leaving a League balance available of $4,569.49. In addition, the League has a $5,000 CD at First Federal.

Team Balances – The team balances are as follows: Legends $1,053.24, Jeffy Lube (formerly the Navigators) $1,088.63, Champions $1,033.85, Cardinals $1,004.48, Patriots $549.03, Batter Up $879.08, Eagles zero, Osteos $56.98, Roosters $19.11, Terminators $162.92.

All active players have paid their annual fee.

Old Business:   
New Player Assignment Procedure - The procedure for assigning of new players was reviewed. The League Presidents evaluate the new players, determine where they should best play and advise the Board of their recommendation as soon as possible (by e- mail to the Board members if necessary). Players coming out in the second half of the season may be assigned to a team or may be asked to rotate amount the various teams of a respective League.

Second Half New Players – So far there have been six new players with interest in playing the second half season. Charles Coftin age54, Richard Jocheim age 54, and Tom McCollum age 63 have been assigned to the Roosters. Jim Waldrop age 66 has been assigned to Jiff Lube. Ed Scott age 71 and Lee Porter age 66 have not been assigned to a team and will rotate with teams in the Coastal Division.

New Business:
Team Pictures Atlantic Division – George Wesoloski asked for team pictures of the teams in the Atlantic Division so they can be posted on the website. Also candid photos from the Atlantic Division are needed to use on the website as well. Gerry Paige volunteered to provide the necessary photos.

Picnic – An all League picnic will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Hugh McRae Park. Ken Denne will be asked to be chairman of the picnic.

Banquet – A League banquet will be held in the spring of 2010 prior to the start of the season.

Aging Players – Bill Cauley called everyone’s attention to the many aging players in the league who still want to play and remain active but see very little playing time as their skills decline. How to keep these aging ball players active and involved in the game of softball needs consideration. Bill suggested perhaps changing the league to six teams in the younger Atlantic Division and four teams in the older Coastal Division. The more capable players in today’s older Coastal Division would play down increasing the pool of players so as to have six teams in the Atlantic Division. There are many variations of this idea. A committee composed of Phil Rose, Harry Rowe and Bill Cauley will provide inputs into the idea for later discussion.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 PM                    
Respectfully,
George Wesoloski, Secretary