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The Bucks Senior Softball League

Content

Tentative Minutes to be approved at the next board meeting:

September 26, 2019 


Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on September 26, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1 PM and was presided by Jim O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Jim O’Brien, Craig Niederpruem, and Jack Zupan

Voting board members not in attendance:

Mickey Angelo, Ray Buchichio,  Jim Mahoney, Ken Riess, Carl Weigand

Non voting members in attendance:

Dave Borden, Jack Galloway, Mark Rodill, and Bill Schwartz 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the August 29th board meeting were approved without objection.

 

Officer Reports

Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem:

  • Balance on Hand (7/31/2019) is $7315.62

  • August 2019 Expenditures total $1244.02 (C. Wright $25.02 for gas; Middletown Fee of $300; J. Zupan $319 for softballs; and $600 for Umpire Fees)

  • Balance on Hand (8/31/2019) is $6471.60

  • September 2019 Expenditures total $813.99 (B. Krieger $13.99 for registration forms; $800 for Umpire Fees)

  • Deposits of $2400 for 2020 player registration fees

  • Balance on Hand (9/25/2019) is $8057.61

 

Assistant Commissioner, Jim O’Brien:

  • The League’s website has been updated so all previous reports, including team pictures, have been consolidated and moved to a website archive page; the 2020 registration form is also available on the website for download by prospective members;

  • Many thanks in appreciation to the retiring 2018/19 board members: Ray Buchichio, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, and Ken Riess.

  • A  special thank you to Jim Mahoney for his 10 years of service as league Commissioner!  


Standing Committee Reports

Registrar, Bill Krieger:

  • 24 players have registered for the 2020 softball season with another 6 or 8 registrations received today.

  • Reminder email sent out to all players who have not yet registered.

  • Media posters have been shared with players from different communities.

Equipment, Jack Zupan:

  • With three tournament games remaining, there should be enough brand new game balls.

  • Scorebooks and rule books are available at no cost from the ASA when we register our teams, but not all team managers utilize them due to their preference for larger sized scorebooks.

 


Ad Hoc Committee Reports

2019 Post Season Workouts, Bob Johnson:

  • After the post season tournament Championship game is completed, Bob Johnson will be in charge of Tuesday/Thursday workouts.

 


Unfinished Business

Annual Audit of League Finances:


  • It is stipulated in our League’s Constitution and Bylaws that an Audit Committee, appointed by the Executive Board, shall annually complete an audit of the League finances at the completion of the post season tournament.

 

Annual Player Survey:

  • Based on Executive Board past practice, an end of season player survey has been done to solicit player suggestions for improvement of the League. The board then takes into consideration their ideas before planning the upcoming softball season.

 

New Business

Election of the 2020 Executive Board Officers by the 9 new board members:

  • Commissioner, Jim O’Brien

  • Assistant Commissioner, Jack Zupan

  • Secretary, Mark Rodill

  • Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem

  • 5 Board Directors: Dave Borden, Jack Galloway, Bill Krieger, Bill Schwartz, and Carl Weigand

Motions:

  • Motion passed appointing Kevin Culp, John Lutz, and Frank Deon to serve on the Annual Audit Committee.

  • Motion to include specific questions in the Annual Player Survey tabled for the new board to decide.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Northern Middletown EMS Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) at a date and time decided by the new board.

 

Adjournment

The meeting of the 2019 Executive Board was adjourned at 2:30 PM without objection.














Content

August 29, 2019

Call to Order

A special meeting of the Executive Board was held on August 29, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1 PM and was presided by Jim Mahoney. 


Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan


Voting board members not in attendance:

Mickey Angelo & Craig Niederpruem.

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved without objection.

 

Agenda Items:

Election Committee (Bill Kouvolo & Jim Mahoney):

Election Process:

  1. August 29:  The current Executive Board nominates and endorses a slate of candidates for vacancies on the 2020 Executive Board. 

  2. August 30-31: The endorsed slate of candidates and election dates (Sept. 14th to 21st) will be announced to the league at large.

  3. Any 2019 player, who wasn’t nominated by the board and is interested in running for the 2020 Executive Board, must declare their candidacy with the Commissioner by 7 days prior to start of election voting.

  4. If are no additional declared candidates, then the endorsed slate of candidates will be elected by acclamation.

  5. If there are other declared candidates, then an electronic election will be held Sept. 14th to 21st. 


Nominations Process:

  • All league players were asked, in a July 26th email, to indicate, by August 14th, if they are available to serve for a one year term and/or two year term of office on the next Executive  Board and, therefore be considered for nomination by the board.

  • 11 players responded:  Mickey Angelo, Dave Borden, Jack Galloway, Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien,, Bill Schwartz, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan.  Bob Johnson later withdrew his name from consideration.

  • On August 10th, the candidates were sent a follow up email which asked two questions regarding which board positions that they are willing to serve.                                                         

  • Five candidates replied to the August 10th questionnaire:

Dave Borden, Jack Galloway, Bill Krieger, Jim O’Brien, and Mark Rodill (Carl Weigand replied to a followup email reminder)

  • Two candidates, Jack Galloway & Jim O’Brien, included their resumes (sent by email to all board members). 


Post Season Tournament:

  • Regular season ends on Thursday, September 12th.

  • A Double Elimination Tournament begins on Tuesday, September 17th and ends on October 3rd.

Return to a 9:30 AM & 11 AM start times:

  • There will be railroad crossings that may inhibit some routes to the ball fields.

Extra Fall Season:

  • Bob Johnson volunteered to supervise informal pick up games after the completion of the post season tournament.

Forfeit Game Rule:

  • Discussion regarding teams not being able to field 9 players and having to forfeit games with eight players. 

Priority status of ground crew workers:

  • Discussion of the pros and cons of giving the ground crew workers priority status in the sub process.

2020 Registration Fee & Registration Form:

  • Projected cost of having paid umpires, instead of volunteer umpires, is approximately $5800 for 35 regular season games and post season tournament.

  • Discussion of what the registration fee should be for 2020 softball season.

  • Discussion about including, on the 2020 registration form, a proposed rule that players who miss 8 games for any reason, be removed from their team roster and placed on the priority sub list.   

Banquet:

  • The end of season banquet will be at Puss N Boots Tavern after the completion of games on Thursday, September 12th.

 

Motions:

Motion passed that election voting be done electronically beginning on Sept 14th and ending on Sept 21st.


Motion passed that the 2020 elected board members should be invited to attend the last regular board meeting of the 2019 Executive Board and, if agreeable to them, possibly determine their 2020 officers at that meeting (Elect one year Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Secretary, & Treasurer.  New Commissioner can appoint 5 director at their first regular meeting for 2020).


Motion passed that Dave Borden, Jack Galloway, Bill Krieger, Jim O’Brien, and Mark Rodill be nominated for a two year term on the Executive Board.


Motion passed that the board vote by secret ballot to nominate four candidates for a one year term.


Motion passed that the 2020 registration fee for all players (new and veteran) be $100, if paid by December 1st ( $110 after December 1st).


Motion passed that, on the 2020 registration form, players be informed that if 8 games are missed for any reason, he will be removed from his team roster and placed on the priority sub list.

 


Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the at the Northern Middletown Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, September 26th, at 1 PM.

 


Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3.10 PM.


Content

July 25, 2019 Executive Board Meeting


Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on July 25, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1:15 PM and was presided by Jim Mahoney.

 

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Mickey Angelo, Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan


Also attending the meeting:

Jerry Barsky

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved without objection.

 

Officer Reports

Commissioner, Jim Mahoney: 

  • Referred to a previously recommended 20 minute Youtube video by Doug Casa, in charge of the Korey Stringer Institute at Storrs CT at the University of Connecticut. 

  • Distributed a heat index information chart with recommendations.

  • Will be submitting motions regarding our league’s heat cancellation policy.


Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem: 

  • Balance on hand 7/25/2019 - $7568.15

  • Deposits: $24.00 - extra jersey - Ray Giberson

  • Expenditures: $ 237.44 - misc. uniforms 

  • Cash on hand - $7315.62.

 


Committee Reports

Registrar, Bill Krieger:

  • Two new players have signed on as priority sub players.


Bylaw Committee, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, & Ray Buchichio:

  • On June 15th, all league players were sent a copy of the board approved amendments for their review and informed that a subsequent voting survey would be sent to them to vote on, by July 15th.  Including the votes of the Executive Board members, seventy (70) players voted and 100% voted yes to approve the amendments. The amended Constitution and Bylaws will be posted on our league’s website.


Nominations Committee, Jim Mahoney & Bill Kouvolo:

  • The election committee will solicit nominations by sending all league players the following email: “Our Bylaws have been amended to reduce the number of members serving on the Executive Board from eleven (11) to nine (9), with staggered 2 year terms.  To initiate this change, an election will be held to select four (4) board members, who will serve a one year term of office, and to select five (5) board members, who will serve a two year term of office. The Executive Board will nominate nine (9) players to fill those board positions. Any league player, who is not nominated, may choose to challenge those players nominated by running against them in an open election.  If no challengers, then the nominated players will be elected by acclamation. If you are available to serve on the next Executive Board, please reply by August 14th to this email and indicate whether you are available to serve for a one year term and/or two year term of office.”


Umpire-In-Chief, Jim Mahoney:  

  • Due to circumstances, there may be a need to hire one paid umpire to work the remaining scheduled games.  

Liaison Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The Middletown Township Parks & Recreation Department has accepted our request for use of the softball fields from August 1st to October 31st (Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:30AM to 12:30 PM). 

  • Patrick Graham, Program Director for Middletown Township Parks & Recreation, has informed us that there have been several incidents where one or more of our players have driven past the summer camp barricades, which is not permissible.  If we have recurrence of these violations, the recreation department may not permit us to reserve the softball fields during summer camp weeks.

 

Unfinished Business

  • No Unfinished Business

New Business

  • July & August Heat Issues were extensively discussed and four motions were debated and voted on (see Motions).

  • Jerry Barsky updated the board on the status of his teammate, Frank Jones.

  • The padlock to Langhorne Athletic Association (LAA) was removed and not returned to the LAA tool shed.  LAA will be notified.

Motions:

  • Board approved notifying all players about the situation regarding parking lot restrictions during Middletown Township Summer Camp.

  • Board approved the purchase of 5 gallon water coolers and cooling towels for use at the games.

  • Board approved the allocation of funds for the Umpire-In-Chief to hire umpires, from a pool of available certified umpires, for the remainder of the 2019 season.  Volunteer umpires will still be utilized.

  • Motion approved that, if the forecasted heat temperature and/or heat index exceeds the league policy guidelines for the second game only, the first game (playable under league guidelines) will not be cancelled.

  • Motion approved that games, played in the heat and humidity of July and August exclusively, will be limited to a one and ½ hour game time. No new inning can start after that time mark; if an inning is in progress, it will be completed; if the score is tied at the end that inning, the game result is recorded as a tie. 

  • Motion approved that the current cancellation guideline of 94 heat temperature and/or 98 heat index be revised to 90 heat temperature and 91 heat index.

  • Motion approved that, if the heat temperature and/or heat index exceeds league policy guidelines during a game, the game will be suspended for a time out meeting of the two managers to decide on appropriate action to be taken by the team managers and players.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the at the Northern Middletown Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, September 26th , at 1 PM. 

 

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3:55 PM.


Content

June 13, 2019 Executive Board Minutes


Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on June 13, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1:04 PM and was presided by Jim Mahoney.


Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, Carl Weigand and Jack Zupan.


Voting board members not in attendance: 

Mickey Angelo 

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved without objection.


 

Officer Reports

Commissioner, Jim Mahoney:

  • There have been 8 Rain-outs out of the first 13 scheduled game days.  Under new business, discuss what can be done to alleviate that situation. 

  • Compared to last year, opening day went very smoothly.

  • 1st time spring luncheon was held on opening day and had the highest attendance ever of 60 players.  Thanks to Kevin Culp and Bill Kouvolo for making those arrangements.

  • New players have been very pleased and complimentary of our league. 

  • Thanks to Jim O’Brien for setting up and maintaining a successful first ever Phone Hotline 

  • Some additional players have expressed interest in joining our league.

Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem: 

As of 4/1/2019:  

  • Deposits = $1878

  • Expenditures:

  1. ASA Insurance = $320

  2. B. Krzykowski refund = $80

  3. M. Cruz refund = $65

  4. Middletown Township Field Permit = $450

  5. Uniforms = $3892.13

  6. Gas, oil = $35.17

  7. Scorebooks = $59.28

  8. Luncheon expense = $188

  9. Internet Domain Name = $19.98 (2 year subscription)

  10. Telephone svc. Hotline = $102.35 (3 year subscription)

  11. Reimbursement Jim O’Brien = $10.33

  12. Reimbursement Jim Mahoney Umpire Supplies = $28.76

  • Cash on hand = $7568.15

  • Discussion of registering as an official 501 c (7) non profit and tax implications for the league and our sponsors.

  • JIm O’Brien was previously approved to have access to our league’s bank account.

Registrar, Bill Krieger:

  • Discussion of the registration status of Arvie Powel. 

  • Discussion of the possible registration of Art Lazlo as an honorary player.


Committee Reports

Draft Committee, Jim O’Brien:

  • After draft was completed, the competitive level of some teams have been changed due to players on injured reserve or personal reasons.  


Bylaw Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The Bylaw Committee (Jim Mahoney, Ray Buchichio, and Bill Kouvolo) thank all board members for their extensive input into reviewing and updating our current Constitution/Bylaws.

  • If approved, the amended Constitution/Bylaws would include the following changes:

  1. Renaming our Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League as the Bucks Senior Softball League. 

  2. Reducing the number of members on the Executive Board from 11 to 9 with staggered 2 year terms.

  3. Appointment of the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Secretary, and Treasurer by each newly elected Executive Board in their annual reorganization meeting. 

  4. Stipulated oversight duties of all nine Executive Board members.

  5. Provisions for Electronic Meetings and Voting by Electronic Survey.

  6. Player registration requirements and refunds.

  7. Player suspension for failure to comply with the League's rules of play and code of ethics.

  8. Return of players, who were declared ‘out for the season’.

  9. Stipulated team manager duties.

  10. Provision for amending bylaws by electronic vote.

  • Under our current bylaws, all players will be surveyed to approve proposed amendments.


Unfinished Business

  • No unfinished business

New Business

  • Discussion of the 2019 nominations and election to the 2020 Executive Board.

  • Discussion regarding creating a ‘bulletin board’ page on our league’s website for the purpose of players seeking or providing personal services, etc. 

  • Discussion of how to rectify field drainage problems (field tarps, french drains, infield dirt renovation & regrading).

  • Discussion regarding the possibility of making up rain out games and/or having rain delay starting times.

  • Discussion of sub runners rule; location of commit line; and chalking of batters boxes.

  • Jim Mahoney, Bill Kouvolo, Ray Buchichio, and Ken Riess announced that they will not run for re-election to the Executive Board.  

  • Elections for the new Executive Board to be held this year. Bill Kouvolo and Jim Mahoney were appointed co-chairs of the nomination/election committee.


Motions:

  • Secondary Motion passed to revise the order the last three sentences in Article IV Membership and Player Eligibility, Section 1. Membership, Provision letter c.   Before game uniforms are ordered, 70% of the registration fee may be refunded.  After game uniforms are ordered, and before May 16th, 40% of the registration fee may be refunded.  After May 15th, no fees will be returned for any reason. 

  • Secondary Motion passed to add the same last sentence found in item 2 to item 1:   For the first offense, the individual shall be given a documented verbal and written warning by the Commissioner.  The said individual shall be given an opportunity to be heard in his defense of such reason to do so.

  • Secondary Motion passed to indefinitely suspend a player after his third offense of the Code of Ethics:  On the third offense of the Code, the individual shall be indefinitely suspended, by a majority of affirmative votes of the Executive Board,  The said individual shall be given an opportunity to be heard in his defense of such reason to do so.

  • Secondary Motion passed to suspend a player for a first time egregious offense:  If the offense is egregious, the Executive Board has the right to take appropriate action. 

  • Secondary Motion passed to replace the term ‘percentage’ with the term ‘number’:  The candidate with the highest number of votes will win the first position, the candidate with the second-highest number of votes wins the second position, and so on, until all vacant positions are filled.

  • Motion passed (unanimously) to approve all amendments to the  Constitution/Bylaw.

  • Bill Kouvolo and Jim Mahoney appointed as Co-chairs of the 2020 Election Committee.


Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the at the Northern Middletown Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, July 25, at 1 PM.


Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3:36 PM.


Content

March 28, 2019 

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on March 29, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1: 15 PM and was presided by Jim O’Brien.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Mickey Angelo, Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger*, Bill Kouvolo*, Jim Mahoney*, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, and Ken Riess

*Skype connected

Voting board members not in attendance:
Jack Zupan & Carl Weigand

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the previous regular meeting were approved without objection.

Officer Reports

Commissioner, Jim Mahoney:

  • With regret, the passing of Ted Kilkuskie is announced.  Teddy was one of the original players, who help start and recruit players for the development of the Bucks 65+ Softball League.

  • Former umpire, Gary Purpura, sent an email with regrets about Teddy’s passing and his regards to all Bucks 65+ players.  In his opinion, the Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League is one of the best run leagues that he has ever been associated with.

Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem:

  • As of 3/28/2019, cash on hand in checking account is $10,826.73.  Expenditures are $562.47.

  • Registrar, Bill Krieger, deposits new registration checks directly to our League’s account.  His last deposit was made on March 19th.

  • After today’s meeting, Craig and Jim O’Brien will go to the bank and register Jim’s signature card so that he will be able to sign League checks.  

Registrar, Bill Krieger:

  • As of the March 28th registration deadline, there are 110 players registered for the 2019 softball season (23 newly registered players; 87 veteran registered players).

Committee Reports

Draft Committee, Jim O’Brien:

  • The Draft Committee (Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Jim O’Brien) will meet on Wednesday, April 3rd, to finalize the drafting of teams.

  • Based on the 110 players registered, there will eight (8) teams drafted for the 2019 softball season.

  • Seven team managers have been named for the 2019 softball season. One additional team manager is needed for the eighth team.

Bylaw Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The Bylaw Committee (Ray Buchichio, Jim Mahoney, & Bill Kouvolo) have finished reviewing the current Bylaws and will send, in the next few weeks, their recommended changes to all eleven Executive Board members for approval or disapproval.

Rules Committee, Jim Mahoney:

  • The Rules Committee (Team Managers - Mickey Angelo, Bob Johnson, Bob Esterly, Jim Mahoney, Jim O’Brien, Jack Zupan) recommended two rule changes to the Executive Board:  1) Return to the 0-0 count and 2) follow the ASA rule that the runner is not called out for leaving the base when a batter swings or when the pitched ball crosses the plate.

  • The Rules Committee recommend that the sub rule be modified to have the managers select one replacement player in order of their team’s win-loss record (last to first).  If more than one player is needed, a second selection round will be done in the same order.

  • In past seasons, pitchers were allowed to utilize a pitching screen to protect against being injured by hard hit line drives and/or ground balls.  The Rules Committee could not reach an agreement and tabled further discussion on the matter.

Audit Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The Audit Committee (Kevin Culp and John Lutz) will meet in May to audit the 2018 financial summary report of former Treasurer, Frank Deon.

Monday Softball Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The Monday Softball Committee (Ray Buchichio, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, and Carl Weigand) have decided to schedule 3 teams for the inaugural season of Monday Softball.

  • Twenty-six (26) registered players have signed up for games in May and June.  

  • The opening game will be played on Monday, May 6th, at 10 AM on Field #3 of Community Park.  A practice session will be held on Friday, May 3rd, at 10 AM.

  • If Monday Softball is successful, then the Executive Board approval will be needed for extended play after the summer break (July 1 to 15).

Umpire-In-Chief, Jim Mahoney:

  • Twenty (24) players have signed up to be volunteer umpires.

  • An umpire clinic will be held on Monday, April 29th.

League Website, Jim O’Brien:

  • Our League’s website will be updated to include a link to the current USA Softball approved bat list, the 2019 team rosters, the 2019 softball games schedule, the 2019 umpire schedule, and updated game rules.

  • Dicks Sporting Goods provides our current website free of cost, as long as we use their domain site tshq.bluesombrero.com.  In order for our league’s website to have its own unique URL domain name, but still be linked to the Dicks free website, it would cost approximately $10 to $15 per year.  This would make access to our league’s website easier to do.

Unfinished Business

  • No unfinished business

New Business

  • Before Carl Weigand can order hats and jerseys, he needs to know about any manager requests to change colors, team name change, sponsor name, etc.

  • Discussion regarding access and use of our storage box and equipment by the ‘Monday-Friday League’.

Motions:

  • Motion approved to have the spring luncheon on Tuesday, April 30th at Puss N Boots Tavern.

  • Motion approved to purchase our own URL domain name for our league’s website.

  • Motion approved to appoint Jerry Barsky as a 2019 team manager.

  • Motion approved to return to the 0-0 count game rule.

  • Motion approved to follow the ASA rule regarding a base runner leaving early:  “Runners can leave their bases when a pitched ball has reached home plate or is hit.  If the batter does not hit the pitch, the base runners must return to their bases immediately”.  

  • Motion approved to modify the sub rule by having the managers select one replacement player in order of their team’s win-loss record (last to first).  If more than one player is needed, additional selection rounds will be done in the same order.

  • Motion approved to reinstate the rule that 9 players are necessary to avoid a team forfeit.

  • Motion approved to keep the sponsor fee ($400) and registration process the same as in 2018.

  • Motion approved that the ‘Monday-Friday League’ will not be permitted to utilize our equipment or storage box with the exception of utilization of the AED in the event of an emergency.  If the AED is utilized the ‘Monday-Friday League’ must replace the pads utilized as quickly as possible.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the at the Northern Middletown Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, May 30th, at 1 PM.


Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3:30 PM.


Content

January 31, 2019

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on, January 31, 2019 at the EMS building.  It began at 1:15 PM and was presided by Jim O’Brien.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Mickey Angelo, Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan.  Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, and Jim Mahoney attended by Skype Connection (Thanks to Jim O’Brien for managing the Skype Connection).

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the November 7 and November 29 board meetings were approved without objection.

Officer Reports

Commissioner, Jim Mahoney:  

Much time and energy have gone into understanding the implications of a new M-F League and into coordinating efforts about how to respond to this presence. Many full Board meetings as well as smaller group conferences have occurred in an effort to come to consensus on the Board’s position as well as how and when to give our members adequate information to answer their questions and doubts. I have also answered many individual calls and emails from our members about this topic.

In addition, we worked on presenting and passing a pilot project in which players who might wish to play an additional day a week with peers of their own skill ability could do so. A survey to our membership has gone out and, at this point, over 50% have responded, resulting in interest for about 35 members. We have not yet made a decision about going forward with the project, based on present interest.

I personally have fielded about 5-6 phone calls from prospective members who have seen our ad in the papers. I sent these names on to Bill Krieger and Jack Zupan for their use/information.

I have drafted several proposals and sent them to the EB for deliberation prior to the meeting scheduled for this day, 1/31/19, for discussion and possible adoption. One has to do with simple rules changes and the other has to do with an Organization Day for our first official day of meeting/playing for the 2019 season.

I have had tentative discussions and study with the Bylaws Chair, Bill Kouvolo as he, Ray Buchichio, and I have begun information gathering on our first item, running meetings electronically.

I have not been able to gather a committee of managers for the Rules Review. So far, only Jim O’Brien and I make up the group. I sought a third manager back in December.

As Umpire-in-Chief, I will soon begin gathering the names of umpires from the past as well as recruiting from past members and new sign-ups, to get enough umpires to cover the absence of Gary Purpura. I plan to run an umpire clinic prior to the start of the season for new members and any others interested in attending.

Treasurer, Craig Niederpruem:

As 1/24/2019, cash on hand in checking account is $9304.73. Expenditures since 10/18/2018 ( Date assumed treasurer responsibilities) are $552.47. Agreed that second board member should be on signature card, just in case. Jim O’Brien volunteered for this position.

Committee Reports

Registrar, Bill Krieger:

96 players are registered for 2019.  88 are returning from 2018 and 8 new players. An add'l 6 people have expressed interest but no registration as yet.

Community Liaison, Bill Kouvolo:

  • The application for field use was sent to the Middletown Parks & Recreation Dept.February 1st is the date that they will meet to approve field usage.

  • Paul Kopera, Director of the Parks & Recreation Board of Middletown Township, sent us an invitation for representatives of all sports leagues to attend their February 11th rec board meeting.

Draft Committee, Jim O’Brien:

The Draft Committee is in the process of accumulating data for the 2019 draft.

The draft will be conducted like the 2018 draft whereby returning players will be distributed to teams and then new registrations will be distributed.  Number of players and teams will be final by 3/28. Each team should end up with pretty much the same number of new and returning players.

Rules Committee, Jim Mahoney:

Only two managers have signed on to the committee. Jim was looking for a third manager to volunteer for the committee but no one else volunteered so Jim and Jim O’Brien presently make up the committee to report to the Board. Jim Mahoney made a motion 1) to return to the 0-0 count and 2) to follow the ASA rule that the runner is not called out for leaving the base when a batter swings and misses or the balls first crosses the plate. The motion was no followed through in discussion. 

Bylaw Committee, Bill Kouvolo:

The Bylaw Committee (Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, & Ray Buchicio) has had discussion, by phone and email, regarding provisions to guide electronic decision making.  When we complete our review of the current Bylaws and have an agreement on proposed revisions, we will submit them to the Executive Board for approval.

On our Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League website, our current Bylaws are posted for everyone to read.  In our Bylaws, ARTICLE III  REGULAR, GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS, section (f) states:

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings of the League in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and Bylaws, and any special rules the League may adopt.

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, commonly referred to as Robert’s Rules of Order, RONR, or simply Robert’s Rules, is the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in the United States.


Umpire-In-Chief, Jim Mahoney:

Plans are being made to have an umpire clinic prior to the start of the 2019 season.No date has been set.


Indoor/Outdoor Practice (AED), Jack Zupan:

Three dozen indoor balls were purchased for indoor practice.To date there has been a good turnout for practices averaging about 23 people per session.

Outdoor: There are four dozen game balls left over from last year due to the large number of cancellations.We need about thirteen dozen balls to cover a season. We will need to purchase about nine dozen additional balls but it is not urgent since there are enough balls for five-six weeks.

No action on AED.

Scheduling, Bill Kouvolo:

In order to schedule the 2019 softball season, the Executive Board needs to decided several points regarding 1) the actual number of teams, 2) the official start and finish date of the regular season, 3) summer break time frame, 4) post season tournament format.The results of a pre-meeting survey of the Executive Board members in regards to the above points was reported. The results of that survey and individual board member comments can be seen at the following link: Board Member Comments

No Reports were submitted by the following Standing Committees:

Bat Certification, Equipment, Ground Crew,, Media Advertising, Purchasing, Social, and Website.

Unfinished Business

No unfinished business

New Business

Ray Buchichio and Jim O’Brien volunteered to attend the February 11th meeting of the Middletown Township Parks & Recreation Board.

Motions:

  • Motion carried that the actual number of player registered on March 28th will drive the number of 2019 teams and team roster numbers.

  • Motion carried that Thursday, May 2nd, will be the first regular game of the 2019 softball season, and that, Tuesday, April 30th, exhibition games will be planned and scheduled.

  • Motion carried that the summer break will be the first 15 days of July.

  • Motion carried that the postseason tournament will be a double elimination tournament.

  • Motion carried that volunteer umpires will be used to officiate all softball games.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Northern Middletown EMS Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, March 28th, at 1 PM

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3:04 PM without objection.


















Content

November 29, 2018

Call to Order

A special online meeting was held at 1 PM with some members participating by Skype Video Conference and others by telephone.  The meeting was presided by both Jim Mahoney and Jim O’Brien (computer base).

 

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, and Jack Zupan

Voting board members not in attendance:

Mickey Angelo, Bill Krieger, Ken Riess, and Carl Weigand

Also attending the meeting:

Jerry Barsky

 

Special Orders:

Jerry Barsky and Jack Zupan presented plans (on behalf of themselves and Bill Schwartz) to form a proposed 70 and over Monday-Friday league with games to be played at Community Park.

After answering questions from the members of Executive Board, Jerry disconnected from the online meeting.

The board then went into executive session and adopted a three point position:

  1. Our Executive Board recognizes their right to organize as a separate entity and will not hinder their efforts in that regard.

  2. Our players, who have registered to play in our Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League, have every right to choose whether or not to play in one or both leagues.  We do not support the MF league organizers’ proposal to require participation in both leagues by our registered players.

  3. Because our Executive Board believes that the proposed MF league may unintentionally become a potential competitor for skilled players, we will not endorse nor facilitate its formation.

Motions:

Motion carried to acknowledge the right of the proposed 70 & Over League to distribute a letter to all of our Bucks 65+ league players in order to solicit their participation.  We request that, before that letter is sent, the league organizers will share the letter with our Executive Board before hand, so that we can first send an advisory note to our members.  


Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Northern Middletown EMS Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Thursday, January 31st, at 1 PM


Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3:30 PM.

Content

November 6, 2018: Executive Board Minutes

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on November 6, 2018 at the EMS building.  It began at 1 PM and was presided by Bill Kouvolo.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Bill Krieger, Bill Kouvolo, Craig Niederpruem, Jim O’Brien, and Ken Reiss.

Voting board members not in attendance:

Jim Mahoney, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan.

Also attending the meeting:

Bob Johnson

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the August and September regular meetings were approved without objection.

Officer Reports

Treasurer: Craig Niederpruem

  • A discussion was held regarding projected costs for the 2019 season and the remaining bills to be paid for the 2018 season.  Once finalized, an end of season financial statement will be completed and shared will all league players.

Assistant Commissioner:  Jim O’Brien

  • Congratulations to all concerned for a very successful 2018 softball season!  The new executive board, in their first year, deserves props for their many accomplishments.  In 2019, it is expected that the executive board will continue to make improvements in regards to communications, decision-making, and league administration.  


Committee Reports

AED/1st Aid Committee: Jack Zupan (absent- no report)

  • The AED device/1st aid kit is currently in Jim O’Brien’s possession.

  • A suggestion was made to create a protocol for administering an AED event.

  • The draft committee should consider that those players, who have been AED trained, be placed proportionately on each team roster.

Bat Certification Committee:Ken Riess

  • There should be enough sticker labels to be used for the 2019 season.

  • A link to the ASA approved bats will be posted on the league’s website for any player, who is considering buying a new bat.

  • A metal inspection ring is used to determine if an older bat is out of round.If so, it will be not be certified for use.

Community Liaison Committee: Bill Kouvolo

  • There are three individuals of community organizations with whom a positive liaison has been established:1) Chief Andy Foley, the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Medical Services, 2) Paul Kopera, Middletown Township Recreation Director, and 3) Paul Evans, Langhorne Athletic Association Facilities Supervisor.All three men and their respective organizations have been very supportive of our senior softball league.

  • There will be a call in November/December for players to volunteer to help the LAA take down wind screens and to help clean up the utility room, tractor garage, and rake shed (as was done in 2017).

Draft Committee: Jim O’Brien

  • Bob Johnson, Bill Krieger, and Ray Buchichio have been appointed to replace retiring committee members (Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo, and Craig Niederpruem) on the Draft Committee.

  • Recommended that the draft committee be comprised of 5 members with input being provided by the 2019 team managers.The draft committee will present the 2019 team rosters to the Executive Board for approval.

Equipment Committee: Craig Niederpruem

  • Recommended that the executive board consider purchasing additional indoor softballs, scorebooks, and possibly field game bases.

Grounds Crew Committee: Ray Buchichio

  • Paul Evans, LAA, should be alerted in regard to the condition of the mat drag and steel pronged drag.

  • Additional volunteers are needed to deal with eliminating field puddling the day before game days.

  • The sprinkler system needs to be adjusted to not water the field on rainy nights. 

Indoor/Outdoor Workouts: Jack Zupan (absent- no report)

Media Advertising Committee: Bill Krieger

  • The recruiting of new players will depend on a number of unknown circumstances that has yet to be determined for 2019 (number of teams, possible additional division, etc).

Purchasing Committee: Carl Wiegand & Jack Zupan (absent- no report)

Registration Committee: Bill Krieger

  • As of November 6th, there are 78 Paid registrants for the 2019 season.21 veteran players have not yet registered and have been contacted as to whether or not they will register soon.

  • Of the paid registrants, five of the eight 2018 team managers indicated their interest in managing a team in 2019. One other player indicated his possible availability.

  • There is a need to recruit players who are willing to try pitching and/or develop the skills needed to be a dependable pitcher.

  • A discussion occurred regarding the possibility of allowing players to register in the future via the league’s website.

Rules Committee: Board Oversight TBD (To be determined)

  • The rules have been updated and posted on our league’s website.

  • A discussion took place regarding the possible need to annually review our game rules and update.

  • A recommendation was made to have the duties of team managers include being on a rules committee to review and update the league’s game rules.

Scheduling: Bill Kouvolo

  • A discussion took place regarding the possibility of creating a season schedule thatwould result in a shorter schedule providing time at the end of the season to complete make-up games.

  • Before a 2019 schedule can be created, the board needs to decide other questions (number of teams, team roster numbers, possible additional division, etc).

Social Committee: Kevin Culp (absent- no report)

  • Congratulations to Kevin Culp, Social Chair, for planning the successful Trenton Thunder outing event and organizing the pre & post Puss N Boots Tavern luncheons!

Umpire Committee: Jim Mahoney (absent- no report)

  • Props to Fred Evans, 2018 Chief Umpire, and to all the volunteer umpires for a job well done!

Website: Jim O’Brien

  • Recommended that our league’s website have its own domain name.

  • Recommended that a phone ‘hotline’ be established for players to call and check messages regarding game cancellations.

Unfinished Business

  • Our league’s banner has been returned to the banner company to have a better weather backing applied (no charge).

New Business

  • A printed list of administrative tasks was shared with board members and posted on our google group email.

  • A discussion of how many teams should be formed for the 2019 softball season was tabled.

Motions

  • Motion carried to schedule our 2019 Executive Board meetings on the last Thursday of January (31), March (28), May (30), July (25), September (26), November (21*) 1 PM, at the Northern Middletown EMS Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) EMS building room.  *Thursday before Thanksgiving  

  • Motion carried to appoint Bob Johnson and Mickey Angelo to the Executive Board.

  • Motion carried that Ray Buchichio, Bob Johnson, and Bill Krieger be appointed to a 5 member draft committee (Jim O’Brien, Chair).  The fifth draft committee member to be determined. 2019 team managers are welcome to attend meetings of the draft committee to lend their insight regarding player evaluations.

  • Motion carried that the team managers should be responsible for reviewing the game rules of our league and collectively make recommendations to the executive board for approval.  Also, that duties of team managers be further stipulated.

  • Motion carried that a phone ‘hotline’ be established for the 2019 season and that a online domain name be purchased for our league’s website.

  • Motion carried to form an ad hoc bylaw committee to be chaired by Bill Kouvolo.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be on January 31st, 1 PM, at the EMS building.

Adjournment

Moved that the meeting be adjourned at 3 PM without objection.


Content

September 25, 2018 

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held at the Community Park Softball Fields.  It began around 10:30 AM and was presided by Jim Mahoney. Minute notes provided by Jim O’Brien.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Bill Krieger, Jim Mahoney, JIm O’Brien, Craig Niederpruem, Ken Riess,  and Jack Zupan

Voting board members not in attendance:

Bill Kouvolo and Carl Weigand

Frank Deon and Fred Evans (Resigned from the Executive Board)

Approval of Minutes

 

Officer Reports

Treasurer: No report

Commissioner: No report

Committee Reports

 

Unfinished Business

Post Season Tournament:

  • There was a discussion regarding the playoff schedule.  In previous meetings it was agreed that the tournament would be double elimination and that we would not schedule teams to play double-headers.   The discussion at the meeting was focused on reducing the schedule to minimize the number of days required by eliminating days where only one game was scheduled.  This could be accomplished by having teams in the Loser bracket participate in 2 double headers. Schedules were reviewed and discussed. It should be noted that managers should inform players that do not feel physically capable of playing two games should withdraw from the second game and utilize the sub process.  Jim O’Brien volunteered to document the schedule that was agreed upon and approved by the committee. Jim O’Brien later provided a diagram for review. The teams shown reflect the current standings which are susceptible to change based on results from games on Tuesday 10/2.

New Business

  • A motion was passed to re-confirm that remote participation and voting be acceptable and that the by-laws should be updated to include this information.  The initial discussion was in relation to offsite or remote access to board meetings. It was agreed at previous board meetings that members could participate and vote using remote access technology but were the league by-laws ever updated to include this information.

  • The topic then moved to issues associated with the usage of subs during the Tournament.  Two points were agreed upon. If a team is playing a double-header with substitute players, the players assigned in the first game will not be retained for the second game.  A redraw of available subs will determine which subs they use in the second game. Priority sub status will not be available during the tournament. All subs applicants will have equal opportunity to sub based on pill values.  

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Northern Middletown Station (1741 Langhorne-Yardley Rd) on Tuesday, November 6th, at 1 PM.

Adjournment

Content

August 30, 2018 

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on August 30, 2018 at the Middletown Township Station #22.  It began at 1:18 PM and was presided by Jim Mahoney.


Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Ray Buchichio, Jim Mahoney, JIm O’Brien, Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo (connected by Google Hangouts), Craig Niederpruem, Ken Riess,  and Jack Zupan

Voting board members not in attendance: 

Frank Deon, Bill Krieger (unable to connect by Google Hangouts), and Carl Weigand

Also attending the meeting:

Kevin Culp (Social Chairman)

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the July regular meeting were approved without objection.

Officer Reports

Treasurer: Frank Deon  Frank was not in attendance but he did provide Jim Mahoney with an updated Treasurer's financial statement.  Financially the League is healthy and expects to have a cash surplus of $3,114 from 2018 to 2019 unless unanticipated expenses arise.  This cash surplus was used to justify a reduction in player 2019 registration fees.

Commissioner: Jim Mahoney

No Report.

 

Committee Reports

Community Liaison:  Jim Mahoney

  • Jim Mahoney has made arrangements with Captain Andy Foley, Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad, for our use of the meeting room at Station #22 on a regular basis.

  • It was suggested, by Fred Evans, that we donate $100 to the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad in appreciation of their allowing us to use their meeting room.

Draft Committee:  Jim O’Brien

  • Blue Jays may be short players for the rest of the season and may need of replacement players.

Social Committee:  Kevin Culp

  • As of August 30th, 65 attendees have signed up for the Trenton Thunder Outing, Sept. 1st.  Suggestion for player attendees to wear the team hats to the game. Buffet served at 6:30 PM.

Indoor/Outdoor Practices:  Jack Zupan

  • Jack Zupan is checking out other possible venues for indoor workouts for 2019.

Website:  Jim O’Brien

  • Players stats are not posted pending resolution of several minor issues.

  • Creation of a financial status web page accessible only by board members is currently in progress.

  • A download page has been created that includes printable pdf versions of the league full schedule and the 2019 Player Registration form.

League Banner Committee:  Jim Mahoney

  • At the June meeting, Jim Mahoney appointed a committee to develop a mockup of what the banner should look like.  The committee include Carl Weigand, Bill Krieger and Jim O’Brien. Their recommendation has now been forwarded to Ed ‘Dutch’ Powers  for creation of the banner.

  • It looks like this:  

Unfinished Business

Post Season Tournament:

  • A postseason schedule will be published once the regular season is completed and team seeds are determined.

New Business

  • Donation to the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad:  Fred Evans moved that a $100 donation be made to the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad in appreciation of their providing a meeting room for our monthly Executive Board meetings. Approved 8-0.    

  • Replacement Pitchers:  Jim Mahoney moved that a team does not need to be short players in order to be able to get a pitching replacement when the team’s pitcher is not present.  Motion defeated with 1 vote in favor and 7 against.

  • Weather Cancellation Policy:  Jim Mahoney moved that the decision to cancel be put in the hands of the Commissioner or his designee.  These include decisions regarding cold, heat, rain, or field conditions. For Heat the guidelines should be 94 degrees and/or a heat index of 98.  However, in all cases, the decision is based on common sense and is not strictly bound by the numbers. In the case of cold, games would be canceled if the temperature is expected to drop to 40  or the wind chill factor is below 40. Motion passed 5-3 (with cold temperature of 40 degrees amended to 45).

  • 1st Amendment to Weather Cancellation Policy motion:  Jack Zupan moved to defer game cancellation until 7AM on game day was rejected by a vote of 3 in favor and 5 against.

  • 2nd Amendment to Weather Cancellation Policy motion:  Jack Zupan moved for the deletion of the sentence “However, in all cases the decision is based on common sense and is not strictly bound by the numbers.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 3 in favor and 5 against.

  • 3rd Amendment to Weather Cancellation Policy motion: A motion by Jack Zupan  to modify the cold threshold from 40 to 45 was approved 

  • Modification of the run by rule:  A motion, by Jim Mahoney,  to modify the run by rule so that a player heading directly to the base, when there is a play, should be ruled out.  Motion was discussed and withdrawn.

  • New Umpire Shirts: Jim Mahoney’s  motion to procure new lightweight umpire shirts was approved by a vote of 7 for and 1 against.

  • Emergency contact information:  It was agreed that emergency contact information for all personnel would be printed and stored in a folder on the underside of our storage locked located behind home plate of field 4.

  • JIm Mahoney petitioned for a week delay before starting the 2019 season.

  • Jim Mahoney, Jim O’Brien and Jack Zupan were tasked with identifying 15 players that could be recruited as umpires for the 2019 season.  There are viable candidates in the 2018 rookie pool of players.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at Station #22 on Tuesday, September 25th at 1 PM.

Adjournment

Moved that the meeting be adjourned without objection at 3:00 PM.





Content

July 26, 2018

Bucks County Senior Softball Executive Board Meeting Minutes for July 26, 2018

Meeting Chair – Commissioner Jim Mahoney

Present – Assistant Commissioner Jim O’Brien, Treasurer Frank Deon, Director Ray Buchichio, Director Registrar Bill Krieger, Director Acquisitions Carl Weigand. Also attending was Ed (Dutch) Powers.

Current Financial Report

The meeting opened with a review of the Treasurer's financial statement.  Financially the League is healthy and expects to have a cash surplus of $3,114 from 2018 to 2019 unless unanticipated expenses arise.  There was a discussion of publishing financial statements to all league members.

A motion was passed unanimously to “Publish a financial statement twice annually, at the start and end of each season, and to distribute to all members via email.  Additionally the monthly financial statement will be published and maintained on the a web page that would be accessible only by the League Executive Board using login and password controlled accounts.

Banner Committee

Dutch Power provided a number of drafts of what the banner should look like and what information the banner should contain.  Dutch strongly believes that the banner should not say “Home of the Bucks County Senior Softball League”, but should include a catchphrase along the lines of "Come & have fun" or "Be young again" or "Play ball again" or "Be a kid again" or "Remember the fun?".

Jim Mahoney identified that the banner should be hung on the back of the batting cage on field 4.

The banner should include the web page address in a font size large enough that it will be highly visible.

Banner size options are 4 by 8 or 5 by 10.  

Jim Mahoney appointed a committee to develop a mockup of what the banner should look like.  The committee will include Carl Weigand, Bill Krieger and Jim O’Brien. Carl took possession of Dutch’s drawings and will scan them and forward to the other members of the committee.

Community Liaison

No change in status and no long term fallout from the incident with cars incorrectly parked during summer camp.

Draft Committee

Tom Redding will be assigned to the Hawks.  The Hawks are missing Jim Sweeney, Ron Thomas and Anthony Cantazarro.  Wally has already been assigned. Tom will be a skill upgrade over both Ron Thomas and Anthony Cantazarro, but not Jim Sweeney.  Tom will be given the Hawks current spare jersey and will not have a choice of numbers.

Jim Mahoney introduced the prospects of an additional team in 2019, but all agreed that that discussion was premature.

Schedule

Two motions were passed regarding the postseason tournament schedule.

A motion to seed teams based on final standings was passed unanimously.

A motion to schedule two games on the same day for the final if the team from loser bracket wins the first game was passed 5 to 1 with Ray Buchichio dissenting.

Registration

Registration fees for 2019 were discussed and a motion was passed to reduce all fees from 2018 by $5 for the upcoming 2019 season.

Emergency contact information will be added to the form.  Bill Krieger will remove the desired position portion of the form.

Web Page

A discussion was held on stats on the web page.  Jim O’Brien reported that having stats there resulted in teams that did not provide stats immediately proving detail that were not previously available.

The stats are currently not on the web page.  A motion was passed to publish player stats on the web page with an opt out option for any players who do not want this information made public.

Next meeting will be August 30th.

Content

June 21, 2018

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on June 21, 2018 at the Middletown Township Fire Station #22.  It began at 1:20 PM and was presided by Bill Kouvolo.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Frank Deon, Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, JIm O’Brien, Ken Riess,  and Jack Zupan

Voting board members not in attendance:

Bill Krieger and Carl Weigand

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the April regular meeting were approved without objection.

Minutes of the May regular meeting (with correction made by Jim O’Brien) were approved.

Officer Reports

Treasurer: Frank Deon

Income ($9395) - Total Expenses ($7459) = Ballance ($1936)

Ballance ($1936) + Advertising Revenue ($2000) + 2017 Cash Reserve ($1708) = Net Cash ($5644)

Commissioner: Jim Mahoney

No Report.

Committee Reports

Umpire-in-Chief: Fred Evans

  • Due to injuries and other circumstances, the volunteer umpire staff has been reduced to 22.

  • Recommendation that a notice, regarding the shortage of umpires and the need for additional volunteers, be included in the weekly game result reports.

Website:  Jim O’Brien

  • Our league website is a tool for communicating weekly with our players, our league sponsors, and publicly open to anyone who may visit our website.

  • The website is operated by Jim O’Brien and Bill Kouvolo. They are open to  any suggestions to improve the website.

Equipment Manager: Craig Niederpruem

  • Thanks to Ken Riess and Fred Evans for completing the purchase and placement of our new league equipment storage bin next to the backstop of Field #4.

  • Plans are to add our league’s name and/or logo to the storage bin.

  • Keys to the storage bin locks have been distributed to the appropriate individuals.

  • Ten smaller score books and some ASA softball rules books are available to any who needs one. In addition, two new fence scoreboards have been purchased.

  • The AED device and new game balls will not be stored in the storage bin, but rather in the utility room where the temperature is cooler.

AED/1st Aid Chair:  Jack Zupan

  • After the AED device is actually used, the pads need to be replace.  New pads were recently purchased and installed.

  • On June 27th, Captain Andy Foley of the Penndel Middletown Emergency Medical Squad, will train twenty four of our players in the use of the AED and how to perform CPR.  PMEMS is providing this training at no cost to our participating players nor to our league.

Community Liaison: Bill Kouvolo

  • During the summer, there is a children’s summer camp in operation at the Barn.  Part of the parking lot is barricaded to provide them a safe paved area for recreation activities.  No cars should be parked on the wrong side of their camp barricades.

  • Thanks to Paul Kopera, Head Parks and Recreation Director (Middletown Township), for arranging the free CPR/AED training session on our league’s behalf.

League Banner Committee Chair:  Jim Mahoney

  • Plans are being made to create a league banner to be displayed on one of the two softball fields.

Unfinished Business

Post Season Tournament:

  • The Executive Board decided that a Double Elimination format will be used for the 2018 postseason tournament.

New Business

  • Board Appointment:  Ray Buchichio was appointed by the Executive Board to replace Jack Murphy.

  • Reserve Players Fees: Motion passed to charge brand new Reserve Players $45 to participate as either a priority sub or as a player assigned to specific team’s roster.  Current Reserve Players, who paid $10 to play as a sub, will be charged an additional $45, only if assigned to a specific team’s roster.

  • Half Swing-Bunt Rule:  Motion passed that a batter, who contacts the pitched ball, must complete a full swing.  The batter is not allowed to take a short check swing to purposely hit the ball softly a short distance away, in the manner that a bunt would be intended.  The batted ball will be declared a dead ball strike; base runners return to their previous, and, if there are two previous strikes, the batter is out.

  • Emergency Contact List:  Recommended that an emergency contact information be obtained from all players, in case of need.

  • League Rules:  Game rules are posted on our league’s website under the title, ‘League Rules’.

  • Media Advertisement: Recommended that, in addition to recruiting players, media advertisement should mention the need for volunteers to help keep score and/or volunteer umpire.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at Station #22 on Thursday, July 26 at 1 PM.


Adjournment

Moved that the meeting be adjourned without objection at 2:46 PM.

Content

May 22, 2018

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on May 22nd at the Community Park Barn.  It began at 1PM and was presided over by Bill Kouvolo

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance:

Frank Deon, Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo, Bill Krieger, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, JIm O’Brien, Ken Riess,  Carl Wiegand, and Jack Zupan

Non-voting officers in attendance were:

Kevin Culp

Players in attendance: None

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the April board meeting was not approved pending modification.

Officer Reports

Treasurer: Frank Deon  provided copies of the Treasurer’s report to attendees.

Total Expenses for 2018 are budgeted to be $10,495 of which $6,488 has been spent.

Net cash available is $1,413

It was agreed at the April meeting that a cash reserve of $800 would be carried over for initial funding for the following year.

Commissioner: Jim Mahoney

Jim reiterated his position that we should have had practice games.

Passed on commendation to Craig Wright for his efforts in preparing the fields.

Recommended that managers encourage their players to sign up as substitute players.

Committee Reports

2018 Registration: Bill Krieger  

  • No change from April

Draft Committee: Jim O’Brien & Bill Kouvolo

  • Bob Nickels added to Raiders

  • No substitute players seeking assignment to teams

Bat Certification Committee: Jim O’Brien, Ken Riess, Jack Murphy, and Bill Fuller (Chm.)

  • Ken Reiss indicated that certification is going well.

  • Managers and umpires need to check that bats being used are certified

Community Liaison: Bill Kouvolo

  • The Langhorne Athletic Association (LAA) granted approval for use of Little League Field 2 for Batting Practice before games

Media Advertising: Bill Krieger

  • Advertising should continue as it is needed to build up our deplete ranks.

Website:  Bill Kouvolo & Jim O’Brien

  • Jim O’Brien is posting all game results and will send links to players to check game results

  • Bill Krieger pointed out that team schedules still show 12:30 start time.  Resolved later that day.

  • Jim O’Brien indicated that if managers maintain excel spreadsheets for player stats that that  information could also be posted on the web.

  • Jim is also open to any suggestions on data that could be added to make this a better resource.

Equipment Manager: Craig Niederpruem

  • Craig provided scorebooks to all managers.

  • Keys to the restrooms and storage room were also provided

  • Fred Evans reported that a 60 inch locker for field 4 would cost $425

  • Jack Zupan has game balls

  • Jim Mahoney requested that we re-obtain score tabs

Social Committee: (Kevin Culp)

  • The spring luncheon is being planned for Puss ‘n Boots on June 7th

  • Cost lsat year was $6 per person with a 20% gratuity added on.

  • Managers need to canvas their teams to determine how many people will attend.

  • Parking at this location will be tight

  • Frank has $312 available from last season’s luncheon

  • Alcohol costs are not included

  • Jim O’Brien will send out an email to all players advising them of this event

AED/1st Aid:  Jack Zupan

  • Waiting for training to be scheduled by LAA.

  • No Change

Unfinished Business

  • League Banner

New Business

The following motions were introduced by Jim Mahoney and seconded by Jim O’Brien

  1. A Motion to have Jim Mahoney chair an ad hoc committee charged with designing a 4’ x 6’ league banner was passed with no objections

  2. A motion to accept Jack Murphy’s resignation from the Executive Board was passed with no objection

  3. A motion have the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and Secretary contact prospective replacement candidates and make recommendations to the Board for appointment was passed with no objections.

  4. A motion to schedule a player Luncheon at Puss ‘n Boots on June 7th at 1PM at a cost of $10 per player with alcohol not included was passed with no objections.

  5. A motion to change 12:30 games to 9:30 on field 4 was passed with no objections.

  6. A motion to allow the executive board to approve emergency actions via internet board survey was passed with no objections after it was clarified that 6 votes would be required for an passage of emergency action.

  7. A motion to adopt all provisions of proposed rule with the exception of  section Q (pinch runners) and section AC (Procedure for Use of Replacement Players) was passed with no objection after lengthy discussion.  Much of the discussion focused on section O (Pitch Count/Strikes). The agreed upon verbiage of this section was not changed from the information sent out in the Executive Board survey.

  8. A motion was made to modify the the rule to state simultaneous contact of the ground and plate but was not passed.

  9. A motion was made to modify the Pinch Runner rule to eliminate the list provided to the umpires and allow players to determine if they need a runner after they have reached base.  This was much debated and was not passed.

  10. A motion to accept a modified version of the pinch runner rule was passed.  The details of the rule are shown below. The significance of the modified version is that a player no longer needs to leave the game if they are injured and need a runner.  They may stay in the game if both managers agree to append the injured players name to the list of players requiring runners. A runner of comparable speed must be used every time this player reaches base successfully.  Managers are not required to agree if they feel that they substitution is being made to gain a strategic advantage and not to minimize or prevent an injury. The version of the rule approved is as follows. “Q. Pinch Runners

  1. Players that require pinch runners must identify themselves to their manager before the game.

  2. Prior to the start of each game, managers will identify players needing pinch runners to the opposing manager and to the umpire.

  3. Players identified as needing pinch runners must be run for every time they reach base successfully.

  4. There will be no pinch runners from home plate. The batter must make it to first base. Pinch runners are allowed for any other base.

  5. Once a pinch runner steps in for a runner, that pinch runner may not be exchanged for another pinch runner.

  6. No runner may pinch run more than once in an inning and can only pinch run twice during the course of the game.

  7. If a pinch runner is used and then his turn comes to bat while he is still on base, he shall be declared out as the next batter but he may still remain on base if less than two outs.

  8. The list of players that require runners may be modified during the course of the game if both managers agree that it is necessary to prevent or minimize injury.  The list should not be modified to provide one team a strategic advantage. A replacement runner of comparable speed should be used to replace the added player every time he reaches base safely.”


A initiative to approve rule AC procedure for replacement players was broken down in subsets passed using a number of different motions.

  1. A motion to approve Rule AC section 1 through 3 was passed with no objection provided that references to the 12:30 time slot were eliminated.

  2. A motion to approve Rule AC section 4 subsection A through D was passed with no objection provided that references to the 12:30 time slot were eliminated.

  3. A motion to strike Rule AC section 4 subsection E was approved with no objection.

  4. A motion to approve Rule AC section 4 subsection F through G was approved with no objection.

  5. A motion to approve Rule AC section 4 subsection H was approved.  Motion to modify subsection H was submitted by Jim O’Brien and then withdrawn.

There was no Rule AC section 5.

  1. A motion to approve Rule AC section 4 subsection H was heavily discussed, a motion to amend the initial motion to break out a section regarding to use of replacement pitchers into a seperate rule was passed and section 4 subsection H was approved with no objection with the following wording:  H. In the event that a replacement player has started a game for a player that arrives late, the replacement player would remain in the game and the additional player would be eligible to play at the top of the inning after his arrival has been reported to the umpire and opposing manager.  The late arriving player would move to the last position in the batting.

  2. Players who are not selected to sub are placed on the Injury Sub List, again in the order of their pill numbers. If a player has to withdraw due to injury, and the team drops below 11 players, the next available player on the list will be chosen to replace that player, take a position in the field where the manager decides but bat in the injured player’s spot. Players who are selected at the start to play must be placed last in the lineup but are permitted to play where the manager decides.

  3. A motion to approve Rule AC section 7 and  8 was approved with no objection with the provision that rule 7 be modified to eliminate unnecessary wording.  Rule 7 will now read as. “Once a manager chooses to seek a sub the player must be utilized just like any other player.”

  4. A motion to approve new Rule AC section 9 was approved with no objection.  The new rule states. “9. In the event that an insufficient number of subs exist, the opposing team will provide a catcher.”

  5. A motion to allow managers to recruit pitchers in the event that their pitcher is absent was approved by a majority vote of 8 to 1.  The rule will be Rule AC section 4 subsection I and read as follows.

  6. There is one exception to rule G and that is when a team is missing their pitcher.  If there is a pitcher available to sub that pitcher is assigned to the team needing a pitcher automatically.  If multiple pitchers are available to sub they are each assigned pill values. The lowest pill goes to the team needing a pitcher and the other pitcher goes into the sub player pool.  If multiple pitchers are both available and needed they are assigned based on pill value and field order identified in Rule F.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned over 2 objections from Carl Weigand and Jim O’Brien (before Jim Mahoney could introduce a motion to prevent managers from using a substitute pitcher in place of their primary pitcher.)

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Community Park Barn on June 21st at 1 PM


Content

Minutes of 4/18/2018 BOD meeting


Attendees: B. Krieger, F. Deon, J. Zupan, J. O'Brien, J. Mahoney, B. Kovolo, K. Riess, F. Evans, C.Niederpruem; Absent: C. Weigand, J. Murphy.



1. Minutes from March meeting approved.

2. Rules - must be finalized today.

3. Executive committee responsible for rules - unanimous vote

4. Treasurer report - discussion about line items in budget; some items are only approximate amounts; need to establish a capital reserve fund for 2019 - unanimous vote.

5. Communications- nothing

6. Registration- substitutes pay $10; registration will not close.

7. Draft - completed and closed. Committee did fine job.

8. Purchasing - nothing.

9. Umpires - need more umpires; solicit from rookies; schedule on web page.

10. Bat Certification - done by K. Riess & B. Fuller; umpire @ each game will insure sticker is on each bat.

11. Community liaison- check on whether payment has been sent to Rec. Dept.

12. Media - ad sent out 10 days ago.

13. Workouts - coming to a close for indoor

14. Web page - work in progress

15. New business - checks from sponsors; compliance with ASA


Rules - 1) leaving base early

            2) substitute runner issue - mgr must advise umpire and opposing mgr. of names of players who need substitutes; can only sub run twice per game per player

            3) substitutes- PILLS process will be used


Old Business - luncheon - 5/8 or 10?

                       - game balls to each mgr

                       - payment to Gary in cash at each game

                       - decision on game cancellation - by whom and when?

                       - AED/ CPR training- when


Next meeting - 5/22 @ Barn @ 1 PM


Ended at 3:15pm.


Content

March 28, 2018

MINUTES OF 3/28/2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BUCKS 65 SENIOR SOFTBALL LEAGUE MEETING

  1. ATTENDEES -Fred Evans, Jin O'Brien, Ken Riess, Jack Zupan, Carl Wiegand, Jim Mahoney, Bill Kouvolo, Craig Niederpruem, Frank Deon, Bill Krieger

  2. Meeting called to order @ 1:10 PM. Minutes of February 2018 meeting approved unanimously.

  3. Treasurer's Report. – checks from 2 sponsors received and given to B. Krieger for deposit.

  4. Commissioner's Report. - Nothing new.

  5. Registration Report. Current paid registrants - 73 vets; 26 new = 99. Need 104 for 8 teams with 13 players each. Still looking for pitchers; some vets have medical/personal issues that are existing. BOD with determine placement of players via draft on 4/3/2018; each team will have 9 vets and mgrs.. will determine positions; hopefully all new players will be evaluated by 3/30.

  6. Purchasing Report. Color of team jerseys was transmitted to K. Wiegand; All team hats will be black with league logo; shirts and hats will be available by 4/20; additional umpire shirts and hats are not necessary as we have plenty from last season.

  7. Umpires Report. Currently have 29 available.

  8. Community Relations Report. LAA has approved obtaining storage locker and league banner; LAA will open season on 4/7/2018.

  9. Scheduling Report. All approved per B.Kouvolo; umpires can't be finalized until new players identified.

  10. Bat Certification report. Done after recent practice; ongoing procedure.

  11. Media Ad. Report. Will continue to advertise.

  12. Workouts. Second week in April earliest date to move outdoors due to weather.

  13. Website. B. Kouvolo reported; all players are registered using. J. O'Brien's name; will allow mgrs. To use EM for their teams; what does sponsorship buy?; will include a link on the website.

  14. Equipment. Batting mat in locker at field; need own league storage bin; CPR/AED system OK to go; need to schedule training for same; AED tng. $25/per person and need at least 1 per team; approved.

  15. Miscellaneous. Publish rosters ASAP after completion of draft; next BOD meeting on 4/18/18 @ 1PM.

  16. Rules. Mgrs. Are the rules committee; BOD still refining rules; all player should receive copy of rules before first game.

Content

 February 21, 2018

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on February 21, at the home of Jack Zupan.   It began at 1:07 PM  and was presided over by Jim O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance: 

Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo, Bill Krieger, JIm O’Brien, Carl Wiegand, Frank Deon, Craig Niederpruem, Ken Riess,and Jack Zupan. Jim Mahoney joined the meeting via electronic internet connection.

Voting board members not in attendance:

Jack Murphy

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the January 22nd regular meeting were approved without objection.

Committee Reports

Commissioner Report:  Jim Mahoney

  • Emails are being sent periodically to solicit new and veteran players to volunteers for the various duties that need to be done 

Treasurer’s Report:  Frank Deon

  • The projected total expense of $8570 is needed to cover the costs of umpire fees, shirts, hats, outdoor & indoor softballs,  USA Softball  Insurance, Township Fees, umpire shirts/hats, and umpire game indicators. 
  • $7650 has been collected so far in 2018 registration fees. Additional registration fees are expected.
  • $1708 is the surplus carried over from previous softball seasons.


2018 Registration: Bill Krieger  

  • There are 93 registered (paid) players for the 2018 season. 
  • 104 is the 2018 official cap for the total number of players (eight teams of 13).


Draft Committee: Jim O’Brien, Fred Evans, Craig Niederpruem, Ken Riess,  & Bill Kouvolo 

  • The committee met for two hours on Tuesday, February 20th, at SMG after the completion of the indoor workout.
  • Since the evaluation of new players is still an ongoing process, the committee only focused on the possible roster placement of returning veteran players. 
  • Team managers will be asked to review, adjust, and approve team rosters before March 31st. 


Purchasing: Carl Wiegand & Jack Zupan

  • 13 dozen softballs have been received.
  • Carl presented samples of hats and jerseys with prices  for the Executive Board to examine from 2 vendors labeled A & B.  Both vendors are related to league players, but remained anonymous for the selection decision.
  • The Executive Board chose Vendor B as this season’s supplier of hats and jerseys.


Umpires:  Fred Evans

  • Twenty seven volunteers have signed up to umpire games for the 2018 season.  
  • One new player has volunteered to be a volunteer umpire.  It is hoped that additional first year players and veteran players will sign up.


Community Liaison: Bill Kouvolo

  • An application for use of the Community Park softball fields was submitted to the Middletown Township Recreation Department along with a certificate of liability insurance.
  • The cost of reserving the softball fields from April 1st to July 31st is $300.
  • The Middletown Township Recreation Board will decide at their March meeting as to whether or not they will approved our request to place a metal storage box and to place a league banner at at Field #4.


Scheduling: Bill Kouvolo

  • A tentative schedule of 35 games for the 2018 season was presented for review.  An effort was made to have all eight teams have a similar number of home and away games and to also have a similar number of 9:30 AM, 11 AM, and 12:30 PM start games.


Bat Certification Committee (BCC):  Ken Riess, Jim O’Brien, Bill Fuller, and Jack Murphy

  • On February 20th at SMG, approximately 30 bats were checked.  Two bats were not approved for use. The internet was searched to verify older bats for approval.  All approved bats were officially stickered for the 2018 season.


Media Advertising: Bill Krieger

  • New players will be polled to see which media affected their signing up.
  • Various media outlets were contacted in the 2nd week of February to publicize our league.

Indoor Workouts: Jack Zupan 

  • Weekly turn out for indoor workouts has been well attended (approximately 30 to 35 some players).  First year players have been consistently showing up.


Website:  Bill Kouvolo

  • The homepage of the new website is 90% done.  Once it is fully operational, league players will be notified how to register to get access to the site.


Social Committee:  Bill Kouvolo

  • Kevin Culp has agreed to be the Social Chairman for the 2018 season.  Venues to accommodate all 104 players are being researched.


Equipment Manager:  Craig Niederpruem

  • If the Township approves our placement of a metal storage box, then the costs of having our own field equipment will be researched.


Rules Committee: Jack Zupan

  • Jack Zupan has agreed to chair the rules committee comprised of all team managers.

AED/1st Aid: Jack Zupan

  • Jack will send an email next week  to determine who is currently AED/CPR certified and to solicit volunteers to be newly trained and certified.


Grounds Crew:  Bill Kouvolo

  • Craig Wright has agreed to continue as the Head Groundskeeper for the 2018 season.  Additional volunteers to assist his preparation of the fields will be solicited.

Unfinished Business

  • A discussion took place regarding how to determine the names of the two new softball team and their colors.  Board consensus is to have the eight managers decide.

New Business

Fred Evans moved that the opening day of the 2018 season be changed to May 8 with two exhibition games on May 1 and May 3 and that the end-of-season tournament be a double elimination format.  Motion defeated 4 yes and 6 no.

Bill Kouvolo moved that Carl Weigand be approved to order hats and game shirts from vendor B.  Motion passed  7 yes - 3 no.

Bill Kouvolo moved that Jim Mahoney, Bob Johnson, Mickey Angelo, Jack Zupan, Fred Evans, Jim O’Brien, Craig Niederpruem, and Bob Esterly be appointed team managers for the 2018 season.  Motion passed 10 - 0.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the home of Jack Zupan on Wednesday, March 28 at 1 PM.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 2:47 PM.

Content

January 22, 2017

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on January 22, 2017 at the Community Park Barn.  It began at 1:05 PM  and was presided over by Jim O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner.

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance: 

Fred Evans, Bill Kouvolo, Bill Krieger, Jack Murphy, JIm O’Brien, Carl Weigand, and Jack Zupan 

Voting board members not in attendance:

Frank Deon, Jim Mahoney, Craig Niederpruem, and Ken Riess,  

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the December 28, 2017 regular meeting were approved without objection.

Committee Reports

2018 Registration: Bill Krieger  

  • There are 87 registered (paid) players for the 2018 season.  Ten 2017 players have yet to register.  There are 8 prospective new players who have yet to register.

Draft Committee: Jim O’Brien, Fred Evans, & Bill Kouvolo 

  • As team managers are appointed for the 2018 season, they will be asked to review the new and veteran player rankings in preparation for the drafting of teams.  Current Executive Board members will be asked to for their review and input also.  The formal draft will begin on March 31st.  

Purchasing: Carl Weigand & Jack Zupan

  • Jack will order 13 dozen softballs for the 2018 season.  
  • Carl presented samples of hats and jerseys for the Executive Board to examine.  He recommended that the board consider a polyester/nylon hat to avoid the perspiration damage sustained by cotton twill hats.  At the February board meeting, he will present 3 different vendor costs for our stipulated hat and game jerseys.
  • Jim O’Brien volunteered his services to provide Carl and Jack with the respective individual preferred numbers needed for the purchase of team game jerseys.

Bat Certification Committee: JIm O’Brien, Ken Riess, Jack Murphy, and Bill Fuller (Chm.)

  • Jim reported that some indoor workout players have presented their recently purchased bats for review before finalizing their purchases.
  • The BCC will be at SMG on February 8 and February 20 to certify and sticker bats.

Umpires:  Fred Evans

  • Twenty volunteer 2017 umpires have signed on for the 2018 season.  9 other 2017 volunteer umpires are uncommitted as of today.  An appeal will be made for additional volunteers. 

Community Liaison: Bill Kouvolo

  • Patrick Graham, Asst. Director of the Middletown Parks & Recreation Dept, informed Bill Kouvolo that, in the month of July, the softball fields are reserved for the sole use of the Middletown Township summer youth camps.
  • The league Secretary, Bill Kouvolo, will send a written request to place a league owned storage bin and to hang a league banner at the Community Park softball fields.  The request will be presented, by Patrick Graham, at the March meeting of the Middletown Township Parks and Recreation Board for approval.

Scheduling: Bill Kouvolo

  • Motion to cap the maximum number of players, set a deadline date for determining who will be included in the team draft, and board approval of assigning waiting list players to teams.

Media Advertising: Bill Krieger

  • Bill Russell has been distributing poster copies at indoor workouts.
  • All players have been sent an email with an electronic copy of the ad league poster.

Indoor Workouts: Jack Zupan 

  • Approximately 35 players have shown up for the first several indoor workouts at SMG.

AED/1st Aid: Jack Zupan

  • All players will be sent an email  to determine who is currently AED/CPR certified and to solicit volunteers to be newly trained and certified.

Other Committees:

  • No reports from the Equipment, Social, Outdoor Workout, Website, and Grounds Crew Committees.

Unfinished Business

  • League Banner:  Dutch Powers has volunteered to design the ‘Home of the Buck’s 65+ Senior Softball League Banner.

New Business

Bill Krieger moved that the 2018 season 1) begin on May 1 (Tuesday), 2) start our summer break on June 29th, and 3) resume games on August 2 (Thursday), with the objective of ending all games, including the Tournament, by November 1st (Thursday).  Motion passed  7 to 0.

Bill Kouvolo moved that, for the 2018 season, 1) the Executive Board cap the maximum number of players at 104 (8 teams of 13 players), 2) only the players registered by March 31st will be included in the 2018 team draft, and 3) any new players registrering after March 31st will be placed on a waiting list and only assigned to a team with Executive Board approval.  Motion passed 7 to 0.

Jack Zupan moved that the Executive Board approve the purchase of 13 dozen league’s softballs that  are 12 inch 44 COR/375 PSI compression.  Motion passed  7 to 0.

Bill Kouvolo moved that, for the 2018 season, the Executive Board shall allow board approved sponsor names on the back of team jerseys for an annual cost of $400.  Motion passed 6 to 1.

Jim O’Brien moved that the Executive Board adopt a Honorary Membership policy:  A league member who determines that he can no longer participate as a team member but would like to remain active in the league can become an honorary team member.  Honorary membership status is eligible to previous active members of the league exclusively.

An honorary member will be included under team insurance policies and have the right to practice and participate in pre-game warm up activities including fielding and batting practice.  An honorary member cannot participate as an active player during the course of the game.  While the game is in progress, an honorary member can occupy the team bench, coach bases, keep score, and encourage his teammates.  He cannot argue, debate, or harass the umpires.

Honorary team members will not be charged a participation fee.  An honorary member has the option of selecting which team he would like to be an honorary member of.  An honorary team member will accept full responsibility for fees incurred if he elects to have a new hat or uniform purchased for him. 

Motion passed without objection.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the home of Jack Zupan on Wednesday, February 21 at 1 PM.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned without objection at 3:15 PM.

Content

December 28, 2017

Call to Order

A meeting of the Executive Board was held on December 28, 2017 at the Community Park Barn.  It began at 1:10 PM  and was presided over by Assistant Commissioner, Jim O’Brien

Attendees

Voting board members in attendance: 

Frank Deon, Bill Kouvolo, Bill Krieger, Jack Murphy, JIm O’Brien, Ken Riess, Carl Wiegand, and Jack Zupan 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the November 28th Special Board meeting were approved without objection.

Officer Reports

Treasurer: Frank Deon

Current treasury balance is $8,195.  

Commissioner: Jim Mahoney (sent written report)

    As we prepare for our first full and formal Executive Board meeting, I have a great sense of excitement. We embark on the 22nd season of the Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League, and those whose shoulders we stand on might not be able to recognize what we presently have and what innovative changes will exist in the days ahead.

    Our first meeting will be one largely “in the body” but it is within our imagination to see that someday we might meet in a virtual world. I, along with some others, anticipate attending the meeting this way, some 1500 miles away, using Google Hangouts. If it’s not perfected by this time, surely it will be so soon.

     Since we now have an opportunity to communicate with each other at the click of a cursor, I think it’s time to rethink how these meetings can work. All of our preliminary work can be done prior to the upcoming meeting and the ones scheduled to follow. This requires that we provide as much input to the discussions that are presented. This will substitute for the long, knock down-drag out meetings that test our resolve and our weariness to concede to a vote we might otherwise be opposed to.

    New Business has generally been the area to bring up current pressing topics or ones for the future. I suggest   that this part of the meeting be restricted to presenting future topics that will be discussed on line in anticipation of future meetings. I believe that issues should be presented for slow deliberation over a period of time. When a suggestion is made, we then have time to do research, think about the issue, perhaps discuss it with others apart from our group, do a survey of our league members, and participate in a give-and-take until we begin to see consensus. At some further point, we can take a preliminary vote to see where we stand and can then formalize it at an in-body or virtual meeting.

     To have such a process, and to be sure that we’ve heard from each of you, we need to understand that even if you agree with a point, it is important that you not only say that you agree, but, because there are so many embedded issues in a topic, to say exactly what you agree with and then to say why you agree, even if it is only a slightly different reason.

    We currently have 85 players registered, a few more yet to come, and probably an additional 15 more. This number alone will require tough choices on our part regarding number of teams, roster sizes, players as subs, and other related things, including the draft process and the teams we will end up playing on. Our members are waiting to see what comes from this new board. We have their confidence that we will do what’s best for the league so let’s reflect on that great responsibility and then proceed to govern in the highest possible way.

Committee Reports

2018 Registration: Bill Krieger  

  • As of today, there are eighty-five (85) paid registered players currently registered for the 2018 season.  This includes 13 new players.  Three (3) additional new players, who have not registered, intend to be at indoor workouts.  
  • Of the 86 players that were registered in 2017, 14 are currently have not registered for 2018.  Of those 14 non-registrants, four players are considered non-returners for 2018.  Therefore, ten (10) former players may or may not return for the new season.  
  • Speculation is that maybe four (4)or five (5) of those ten former players might return, which would be a total number of ninety some players (85+3+5=93).
  • Ken Riess recommended that a closing date for registration needs to be determined.

Draft Committee: Jim O’Brien & Bill Kouvolo 

  • When the draft occurs, we will only be drafting registered players. 
  • It is important to determine a baseline number for deciding how many teams will be created.  Registered new players need to be evaluated before the draft.  
  • The opinion of the committee chair is that the Florida system, with modification, will provide the best balance of team competition, with the flexibility of manager trades to reduce any obvious inequities.
  • In 2018, all managers must keep and provide accurate stats to better rate all players.  

Purchasing: Carl Wiegand & Jack Zupan

  • Softballs for indoor workouts have been purchased and received.  
  • Jerseys and hats will be ordered after the final number of players is determined.  
  • The committee is going to explore the cost of nylon hats. 
  • A question regarding our league rules for softball regs was answered by Jack Murphy and Ken Riess:  12 “ 44 core/375 compression softball. 
  • Fred Evan’s son-in-law and the niece of Franny Schweiss will be contacted regarding pricing and delivery.

Bat Certification Committee: JIm O’Brien, Ken Riess, Jack Murphy, and Bill Fuller (Chm.)

  • The committee will meet to review the ASA 2004 bat certification protocol that can be accessed by all league members at https://usa.asasoftball.com/e/equipmentBatTypes.asp 
  • There will be a three phase certification process: 1) Verify ASA single wall certified, 2) Visual Inspection for safety purposes, and 3) Sticker placement.
  • Once a bat has been certified it can be used by all league members. 
  • All Bat Certification Committee (BCC) members can certify bats, but may not certify their own.
  • An email will be sent to all players explaining the protocol and what is expected of them before they bring a bat to the BCC.  
  • Players will be notified in advance when the committee will be at SMG indoor workouts to certify bats in February.

Community Liaison: Bill Kouvolo

  • Thank you to those players, who volunteered their time on November 11, 12, & 13th, to help the  Langhorne Athletic Association (LAA) clean up the Community Park game fields and plant new grass on Field #4.
  • The former Executive Board approved a $200 check be sent to the LAA in appreciation for their sharing the use of their tractors, bases, and field equipment.
  • The purchase of a field banner was also approved.  The chair recommends that we look into the cost of owning our own banner versus paying a yearly fee to the LAA for display.

Scheduling: Bill Kouvolo

  • Printouts of four different tournament formats and schedules for seven, eight, and nine teams were shared  with the board members.  
  • Once decisions are made regarding the actual number of teams in 2018 and the tournament format, then a final schedule can be created.
  • Board members voiced their opinions regarding whether or not games should be played in July, ending the 2018 season by November 1st, and what the minimum/maximum number of players per team should be.  

Media Advertising: Bill Krieger

  • Additional media outlets have been contacted to possibly post announcements regarding our league. 
  • An informational flyer (4th version) will be emailed to all players with the request that they print copies to be posted at appropriate  locations near their homes.
  • The board discussed the need to notify prospective new players about the required SMG insurance and participation fees.

Indoor Workouts: Jack Zupan 

  • Emails have been sent out to remind players that the starting date for the 10 AM to 12 Noon Tuesday/Thursday SMG indoor workouts is January 16th  
  • The SMG cost is $7 for a yearly membership card plus $5 per session attended.

Website:  Bill Kouvolo & Jim O’Brien

  • Once the new website is up and running, the board members will be the first to view.  
  • The website will be a resource for players to view schedules, bat certification information, rosters, games results, standings, etc.

Rules Committee:  Board Oversight TBD (To be determined)

  • Discussion of a need to form a rules committee to annually review our game rules and make recommendations to the Executive Board for approval.  

Other Committees:

  • No reports from the Equipment, Social, Umpire, Outdoor Workout, AED/1st Aid, & Grounds Crew Committees

Unfinished Business

LAA $200 Donation:  Bill Kouvolo

  • The Treasurer will send a check to the LAA once he has the name of the LAA official and address.

New Business

Design of a Field Banner:  Bill Kouvolo

After discussion, it was recommended that Jim Mahoney be asked to design the league banner/s to be displayed at either one or both softball fields.

Main Motions

Motion by Jack Zupan and seconded by Jack Murphy that the BCC is responsible for defining the rules violation policy for bats.   Passed 8 - 0. 

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will be at the Community Park Barn on Monday, January 22 at 1 PM.

Adjournment

Moved that the meeting be adjourned without objection at 2:36 PM. 

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