WLL Board Meeting Minutes                                      02/04/2004

Opening - Rob

No minutes of last meeting to review and approve.

Vote in New Board Members

Financial Report - Sue

• $45,000 moved from checking to savings for better interest rate.
• There is a shortfall in registration fees from the monies received and the projections in the 2003/04 budget.
• Action item for sub-committee to perform budget analysis for each line item in the budget. Committee to include Rob, Charlie, Sue, Mary, Paul and Richard.
• Budget projections for many expenses can be lowered. Reduced expenses for Softball was cited as an example.

Motion to discontinue voice mail service - Agreed unanimously.

Registration Update – Julie

Total registration is down from last years numbers.

§ One additional team in each of AA and AAA (compared to 2003), all other levels are down.

§ WLL enrollment is consistent with reduction in School District enrollments.

§  Registration after November picked up 25% compared to last year.

Team Updates

Discussion regarding 12 year old players in majors. There are currently seven 12 year old players in the minors.

Reasons cited:

• National rules require that there are a maximum of eight 12 year olds per major team.
• Creation of additional team would water down talent at both Minor and Major levels.
• Lack of availability of an additional suitable Major League manager.
• While it is a goal of WLL to have all 12 year olds playing in the Majors, it is not a guarantee.
• There are four non-safety issue 12 year olds in the Minors.
• Any Major vacancies that arise in the future will be filled by these four players where possible.

Also noted that some T-Ball teams have 13 players per team.

Request to change the number of 12 year old pitcher per week from 3 to 4 would have to be submitted to Williamsburg, via District Administrator Gary Newsome.

Important Dates

• Player Review @ Big League Connection                                                          – Feb 7^th (9am – 4pm) 13 – 16 yr olds, (Junior and Senior)
• Coaching and Safety Clinics                                                                          – Feb 11^th (6:30pm – 8:30 pm) @ Cottage Lake, (All Levels). Mandatory one person from each team.                                                                         – Feb 29 (10:00am – 12:pm) @ Northshore Sports Complex (All Levels)
• Equipment and Uniforms Distribution                                                             - Feb 29^th @ Complex (1:00 – 3:00pm)
• Practices begin March 1st
• Picture Day is March 13^th @ Timbercrest JH
• Opening Day Jamboree will be March 27^th.

Coaching Clinic Update

- Feb 29^th (10:00am – 12:00pm) @ Northshore Sports Complex (Gymnastics Facility). All levels. For coaches and managers.

- Pitching Clinic (9:00am – 10:00am).

- Cost $100, no charge for the facility per Dotty.

- Open to all Majors, Minors, AAA and AA managers.

- Former pitching coach for Gonzaga University.

Motion to pay $100 for pitching clinic passed unanimously.

Safety Update - Dave

• Suggestion to place 1 rule book in each safety kit (vs. giving each manager two books), was accepted. We have 78 books, 41 to each kit, one each to player agents and umpires, softball. Rule books for softball also distributed.
• 26 safety kits have been returned, 14 are still outstanding.
• Safety Clinic – scheduled for Feb 11^th (6:30pm – 8:30pm). Mike Helbock will do this again for us gratis.
• AED will be in the container in March. Discussion continued as to the timing of classes for its use.                                                                          - King County requires that it be a 4 hour class taught by certified AED instructor, (again Mike Helbock).                                                                  - The class includes adult and pediatric CPR. Consensus was that evenings were preferable to weekends.                                                                           -The class is not required. Priority will be given to umpires and members form majors and minors. Additional classes may be added if volunteer instructors can be found.
• Safety plan                                                                                                                 – Due to district Feb 17.

Reports  

Pictures - Dave

• Contract has been signed.
• Dave to be there on picture day, no other help required.
• Vendor requests some player information prior to picture day, Charlie to take care of this. Will ensure no personal information is given out.

Jamboree – Paul

• Will be March 27^th.
• Will include home run derby and pitching tunnel.
• Hit-a-thon will be scheduled for a later date to ensure better weather.
• Per  LL rules, each league is allowed one fundraiser per season. The Hit-a-Thon will fulfill this.
• Lower level teams will have opportunity to play at the complex on opening day. Majors and minors will not play.

Motion to buy a block of M’s tickets, for Little League days, to sell at the Jamboree.

Motion carried to buy 200 $10 tickets ($17 face value) for Sunday June 13^th, was carried unanimously.  To be distributed on a first come first served basis. Any leftover tickets could be used as Hit-a-thon prizes.

Fields – Charlie

• WLL has taken over scheduling at the complex so will get preferential times.
• Cost of fields will be approximately $60 per game, (which is more than School District fields).
• Complex fees will go down from budget due to fewer teams therefore fewer games.
• Northshore School District (NSD) has concerns regarding teams altering the fields by making trenches or bringing in extra dirt.
• To get dirt for fields contact Steve Bloomberg (425)489-6382

                                                                           Cell   (206) 423-9940

                                                                           Email sbloomberg@nsd.org

• NSD will not charge WLL for unused fields if they get 48 hours advance notice. To cancel fields contact Sara Land       (425)489-6240

                                                                            email sland@nsd.org

Meeting Adjourned