WLL Board Meeting Minutes

 

December 10, 2001

Meeting called to order.

Last meeting minutes reviewed.

Minutes approved.

 

Presidents Report

 

Registration Thank you.

Cottage Lake was a great place to hold event.

Registration statistics were provided in the handouts.

 

An interest was expressed about the number of returning major players.

Based on the registration numbers, there is no indication of team reductions at any level.

 

  • Action to distribute spread sheet that Rob created.

 

Darlene Jones nominated for T-Ball player agent.

Motion to vote seconded and motion was unanimous.

 

Important upcoming dates reviewed.

 

Treasurer Report

 

Spread sheet provided. A lot of cash has flowed in for registration and out with regards to bills from last season.  Mike is comfortable that we are current with our suppliers.

 

Concern raised on delayed billings for field use and yearly close of books. Example: umpires.

 

Fundraising Report

 

Goal is $15,000

Potential projects identified in handouts.

Renewing old sponsor contacts.

Clothing sales – could expand to include kid sizes and use picture day as a preorder location. League should not buy goods up front.

Ice cream night at downtown location.

Need to follow-up with Vargas Trophies on pricing and rebates to understand better which vendors the league should recommend. Problem with Vargas, in the past, is getting them to respond in a timely manner.

 

Motion to join Woodinville Chamber of Commerce entered and seconded. Open discussion:

  • Paul and Bill S to attend monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings
  • Derby/tourist group wants to clean up the area.
  • Can they help us to improve fields and network with sponsors?
  • Positive comments on the school field improvement proposal.
  • There is competition for field use and this could give us a priority.

Vote was unanimous.

 

No vote tonight on the Wellington field proposal. General consensus is positive but the Board needs more information.

 

Reports

 

No Softball report

No Seniors report

No Umpires report

No Web report

 

Equipment

 

Old equipment donations haven’t happened yet but will.

Will need to purchase some new catcher gear, pads and masks. Baseballs always needed.

 

Uniforms

 

Open discussion regarding a letter from Bob Milton.

Bob is concerned that Sports World claimed they didn’t get to bid on the uniforms. Keri did get 3 bids. Sports World was not very organized and Kerri did not award the bid to them.Board decided not to use Sports World last year.

 

Charlie will approach Bob Milton and the Town Center Association.

·        Check last year’s minutes and present to Bob M.

 

Regular season uniform is appropriate for all levels though there is a desire to do something different for Majors.

T-shirts for T-ball-- all others going to Henley to keep at end of season.

How many extra sizes to we need to provide a 12 man rooster. Carry about (3)? extra.

 

All Stars uniforms reviewed and were not used last year because no one liked them. Color is terrible. Cost to update and improve colors for uniforms for All Stars needs to be considered for this season. Parents cannot purchase uniforms on their own; must be provided by the league (Gary Newsome).

Pricings available-$30 bucks a shirt, not hat or sleeves.

 

Motion for a jersey instead of a Henley entered and seconded. There was more discussion on type and pricing. There was general agreement that Majors need to look different to reflect their level of play. There are storage considerations so we want players to be able to keep at end of season. Motion was withdrawn.

 

  • Point of order. Assign to a committee. Jersey selection committee: Kerri, Darlene and Scott

 

 

Player Review

 

Player review location will be at new Baseball Training Complex in Redmond for Majors and Minors Baseball only.

Player review postcards will need to update the location. Times should be the same.

Pros and cons discussed. Would not be able to evaluate fly balls. There are no weather issues which is a big plus.

 

Motion to commit funds ($500) to the indoor facility entered and seconded. Vote was unanimous.

 

George to lead player review and organize effort including working with sports complex.

 

Pictures

 

Same photographer as last year. Garry Brown Studios is.

 

Safety Report

 

Bob will take information off web and transfer to the current forms.

Schedule safety meeting with the manager and coaches meeting.

 

Vision Statement

 

There was not agreement on the vision statement as written. Eric, Janet and Paul were nominated to re-work vision and mission statement aligned with National Little League.

 

Discuss at next meeting how the vision fits our board directions.

A good philosophy will help guide us to be the league we want to be.

 

Local Rules

 

Local rule 4.04

Gary agrees that this is trend as many of our peer leagues have adopted this rule. 2/3 of major teams have adopted this rule and feedback has been positive.

Strategy is the downside to the rule.

Pinch runner rule is affected. (new rule this year)

Reentry of substitute and pinch runner rule may affect attitude about the 4.04 rule.

 

Did any of the competitive teams use this 4.04? Yes. Magnolia, Northwest, Northshore, Kenmore and others.

More at bats will make players better hitters because they see the ball more often.

This rule gives the strategy to the line up.

Elevates the play of all players. This doesn’t match with the 10 year old ruling.

Regular season is about learning and post season is about winning.

What happens to defensive requirements? Still gets 6 outs, doesn’t have to be consecutive.

Looks like you can keep a kid off the field I with defensive substitutions.

Rule was effective in Minors. Majors baseball is select baseball and this rule dilutes the select appearance.

 

Motion to vote on rule 4.04 entered and seconded.

3 opposed, 9 in favor, 3 abstained. Motion carried.

 

Questions to District 8 Administrator (Gary Newsome)

 

Little league does not recommend a redraft at Majors each season. To do this league would have to get approval from National Little League. There is a release form for a Majors player requesting to be redrafted on a different team. The team change request can be perceived as a coaching issue with a hidden agenda.

 

Can retained players be traded? Yes, up to 14 days if both agree, board and district approval. This would possibly eliminate the redraft issues.

 

Managers and coaches are selected each year. (Gary) The only person who is guaranteed a position is the player.

 

New Little League policy on birth certificates, all-star affidavits, boundaries. Will be checked at each tournament this season.

 

Little League looking at changing age calculation date to January 1, but is not being considered for this season.

 

WLL can participate in inter-league play and tournaments during regular season. It is called special play and District Administrator just needs a letter. League ca do invitational and have tournaments to spice up regular season.

 

Dr. Smoll Clinic requirement is once every five years.

 

All Stars teams who are double-rostered are the ones who are playing more games and more tournaments. Little League allows it. Second team cannot be affiliated with Little League.

 

Question was raised about coaching another non-Little League team while they are coaching a Little League team. Deferred to district administrator for an opinion.

Conflict of interest.

 

Manager Selection

 

Manager selection process as defined in handouts.

Need more Farm and T-Ball level managers.

No set deadline for manager applications, though looking at cut off date between January 10th and January 17th in order to complete selections.

 

Al and Al clinic required every year for Farm Rookie and T-Ball. Problem this year is that it falls on weekend at start of mid-winter break for Northshore schools.

 

End of Meeting

 

Motion to adjourn meeting entered, seconded and carried.