20150211 dll bod meeting.pdf
Dexter Little League Board of Directors Meeting February 11, 2015 Members in Attendance: Caroline Arnedt, Charlie Gagne, David Sturmer, Jennifer Taylor, Brooks McFarland, Ken Bryson, Shane Fuson, Paula Condron, Jodi Kniesteadt, Lisa Pitts, George Michos, Melissa Boobyer, Jil Dramazos, Jeff Kirkey, Ed Gauthier, Mike Guinta, Kevin Pnacek, Rich Deleruyelle, Dave Rosevelt Members Absent: Eric Durliat Sturmer called the meeting called to order at 6:59 pm
Approve minutes:
Motion by Sturmer to approve DLL BOD Meeting Minutes from 1.15.2015. 2nd by Pitts. All approved with following edit: no registration discounts for siblings.
Upcoming Meetings/Announcements (Sturmer): o Dine to Donate at Aubree’s has been rescheduled to Monday, February 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm o Next DLL BOD Meeting, Thursday, 3.12.15 (Thursday before evals) o Today is 77 days from Opening Day with 3 DLL BOD meetings left.
Softball update (Pnacek): o Recently met with Travel Hurricanes coaches. They are very willing to work with DLL and mentor DLL coaches. Several girls would consider returning to DLL softball but likely would be unable to play on any All-Star teams due to already scheduled travel tournaments. o Earlier today met with DHS Varsity Softball Coach, Scott Crosby. He is interested in coordinating to make long-term improvements to the varsity softball fields. He also is interested in having varsity team members mentor DLL softball players (Big Sister type program) and could send 2 varsity players to practices to help out. Crosby will be running a clinic on 3/1/15 during open gym and will also hold an additional clinic with the varsity girls as a varsity softball fundraiser. o Softball 2015 goal is to have 10U district All-Star team. o Suggestion has been made to have registration available at open gym on Sundays. Kniesteadt indicated that she may be able to make a few.
Fields update ( Deleruyelle):
o
o
o o
Concession Stand Inspection: Has met with health inspector and the water pressure is 1 violation needing attention. Inspector recommended using a certified hose that can be run temporarily from water spout. Taylor indicated that Dexter schools denied this accommodation several years ago. Inspector also indicated that a gravity fed water line would also be acceptable. Should be able to fix pump that is there, just need a drainage plan. Batting Cages: Researched for Mill Creek fields (size: 14’ wide by 12’ feet high with varying lengths). Ballpark estimate of cost would be $1500 per cage. Dirt on floor of structure, so no maintenance. He has identified 3 potential locations. Deleruyelle to check with Dexter Schools on both the water issues and batting cages. Steffey field: Spoke with Jay Basso & he is purchasing bases and that travel team will help field maintenance when weather breaks.
Uniform Bid (Taylor) o Taylor was informed by LJ that it is a copyright violation to screen print patch on to jerseys. Taylor called Little League International and this was confirmed. However, District administrator suggested that DLL screen print the patches. o Passed out spreadsheet to all present with 3 bids compared. o Need to order by uniforms by 3/15/15. o DLL Patches $2 o Each team will receive 2 free coach shirts/hats per team. o Each player will receive as part of Uniform: jersey, hat, pants, & socks. o Only wicking material had been for machine pitch players since college replica jerseys only are available in wicking material. Several members questioned why all jerseys could not be wicking material. Cost was discussed and potential additional discounts. Taylor indicated that Fancy Stitch will not give any additional discount though she agreed to ask. Potentially extra revenue from apparel could cover addition costs. If players are more inclined to wear their jerseys outside of games because of the fabric, this provides advertising for DLL. o Taylor recommends Fancy Stitch but will need to tell her that screen printing the DLL patch is a potential copyright law violation. o Advantage Sports will still likely sponsor DLL since likely to get ball our order.
Motion by Boobyer, 2nd by Kniesteadt: Obtain uniform order from Fancy Stitch. All jerseys to be made from wicking fabric except for T-Ball who will have cotton. Vote: All in favor. Taylor to ask for Lambert for sewing on patches.
Discussion regarding additional revenue from fees change (Sturmer) o
o o o o
Taylor indicates that DLL does not generate significant revenue from apparel sales. Likely DLL will have an extra $3500 in raised fees, and given that there would be no sibling discounts, this could potentially raise the revenue by an additional $3000. Team Banners will cost $2200. Should keep receipt books in order to figure out how many sizes we will need in the future. Apparel budget determined in past to be $500. Increase budget for $2000. No 2012 registration data. Kniesteadt has 2013 data only. Dramazos to track of concessions. Pitts asked for a meeting of the fundraising committee to be scheduled.
Motion By Gagne, 2nd by Sturmer: If managing a project that utilizes a quantity, the designated DLL BOD member will keep record of such quantity to use in future years. All in favor.
Contract Update (Kirkey): o Contract committee met last week and looked through proposed agreement from Dexter Schools. o Overall, the agreement is lacking in sufficient details and for ultimately $70,000 in payments over the next 7 years, DLL deserves additional provisions. o Kirkey to contact Sean Burton (he been designated as contact person). Kirkey and Burton planned to talk today rescheduled until Friday, 2/13/15. o No current written agreement for 2015 season.
Registration update (Kniesteadt): o Current registration: there are 20-30 more kids than at this same time last year. o Total players registered as of today: 163 o Early bird registration ends 2/28 o Registration will be available at the Dine to Donate event at Aubrees on 2/16. o Picked Dick’s gift card winner. Pitts to send out announcement of winner in email blast indicating that the winner will be presented with the prize at Aubrees on 2/16. o Total players Spring 2015: 485.
o
DLL Registration Advertising Banner has been down for the last 2 weeks because pole fell down. Village will refund cost.
Commissioner Update (Bryson): o At this point there has been interest from 5 coaches for the tball division, 9 from majors division, 5 from minors, and 4 from machine pitch. o Moving up: Identified the problem with the product (experienced in the machine pitch division level). DLL needs to improve the quality of league’s product and produce a better district team. He is considering making the evaluating up criteria stricter to attempt to improve the product (i.e. must evaluate in the top 5% of the players in the league that the player wants to move up to). Many board members expressed concern that those players that have been allowed to move up in the past that are now hoping to evaluate up to the Majors division have been playing with the same cohort of boys (e.g. their friends in their same grade) for over 6 years now and it would be distressing to at this point indicate that they cannot evaluate up unless they meet this strict criteria. Many board members suggested implementing this policy in the younger years in which these players do not have the experience of always evaluating up. Estimates are that there are only a handful of players who would be evaluating up (i.e. 5-7). o Concern has also been raised whether a player playing in the major division could play in a 10U All-Star (minors) team with the intention of keeping options open to field the best possible team. Bryson indicated that although discussed, he considers this issue closed. o As District rules currently stand: DLL is allowed to have 2 10U teams, 1 11U teams, and 1 12U All-Star team. Several BOD members inquired why there cannot be 2 11U teams given that it is not against Little League International Rules and that both 10U teams last year were successful. o Until a final decision has been made, Kniesteadt will continue to indicate to those interested in moving up that they should register for the accurate age group and attend both the evaluation of their age group and that of the division that they want to move up into. o Once commissioner/Rules Committee has determined policy, they will bring it to the BOD for a final vote. o Has been in discussion with the District administrator, Pam and asked her to come to tonight’s meeting (she was unable to make it). He plans to meet with her again on Sunday, 2.15.15 to discuss several of these issues with her further.
Sturmer called the meeting to close at 8:39 pm.
Approve minutes:
Motion by Sturmer to approve DLL BOD Meeting Minutes from 1.15.2015. 2nd by Pitts. All approved with following edit: no registration discounts for siblings.
Upcoming Meetings/Announcements (Sturmer): o Dine to Donate at Aubree’s has been rescheduled to Monday, February 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm o Next DLL BOD Meeting, Thursday, 3.12.15 (Thursday before evals) o Today is 77 days from Opening Day with 3 DLL BOD meetings left.
Softball update (Pnacek): o Recently met with Travel Hurricanes coaches. They are very willing to work with DLL and mentor DLL coaches. Several girls would consider returning to DLL softball but likely would be unable to play on any All-Star teams due to already scheduled travel tournaments. o Earlier today met with DHS Varsity Softball Coach, Scott Crosby. He is interested in coordinating to make long-term improvements to the varsity softball fields. He also is interested in having varsity team members mentor DLL softball players (Big Sister type program) and could send 2 varsity players to practices to help out. Crosby will be running a clinic on 3/1/15 during open gym and will also hold an additional clinic with the varsity girls as a varsity softball fundraiser. o Softball 2015 goal is to have 10U district All-Star team. o Suggestion has been made to have registration available at open gym on Sundays. Kniesteadt indicated that she may be able to make a few.
Fields update ( Deleruyelle):
o
o
o o
Concession Stand Inspection: Has met with health inspector and the water pressure is 1 violation needing attention. Inspector recommended using a certified hose that can be run temporarily from water spout. Taylor indicated that Dexter schools denied this accommodation several years ago. Inspector also indicated that a gravity fed water line would also be acceptable. Should be able to fix pump that is there, just need a drainage plan. Batting Cages: Researched for Mill Creek fields (size: 14’ wide by 12’ feet high with varying lengths). Ballpark estimate of cost would be $1500 per cage. Dirt on floor of structure, so no maintenance. He has identified 3 potential locations. Deleruyelle to check with Dexter Schools on both the water issues and batting cages. Steffey field: Spoke with Jay Basso & he is purchasing bases and that travel team will help field maintenance when weather breaks.
Uniform Bid (Taylor) o Taylor was informed by LJ that it is a copyright violation to screen print patch on to jerseys. Taylor called Little League International and this was confirmed. However, District administrator suggested that DLL screen print the patches. o Passed out spreadsheet to all present with 3 bids compared. o Need to order by uniforms by 3/15/15. o DLL Patches $2 o Each team will receive 2 free coach shirts/hats per team. o Each player will receive as part of Uniform: jersey, hat, pants, & socks. o Only wicking material had been for machine pitch players since college replica jerseys only are available in wicking material. Several members questioned why all jerseys could not be wicking material. Cost was discussed and potential additional discounts. Taylor indicated that Fancy Stitch will not give any additional discount though she agreed to ask. Potentially extra revenue from apparel could cover addition costs. If players are more inclined to wear their jerseys outside of games because of the fabric, this provides advertising for DLL. o Taylor recommends Fancy Stitch but will need to tell her that screen printing the DLL patch is a potential copyright law violation. o Advantage Sports will still likely sponsor DLL since likely to get ball our order.
Motion by Boobyer, 2nd by Kniesteadt: Obtain uniform order from Fancy Stitch. All jerseys to be made from wicking fabric except for T-Ball who will have cotton. Vote: All in favor. Taylor to ask for Lambert for sewing on patches.
Discussion regarding additional revenue from fees change (Sturmer) o
o o o o
Taylor indicates that DLL does not generate significant revenue from apparel sales. Likely DLL will have an extra $3500 in raised fees, and given that there would be no sibling discounts, this could potentially raise the revenue by an additional $3000. Team Banners will cost $2200. Should keep receipt books in order to figure out how many sizes we will need in the future. Apparel budget determined in past to be $500. Increase budget for $2000. No 2012 registration data. Kniesteadt has 2013 data only. Dramazos to track of concessions. Pitts asked for a meeting of the fundraising committee to be scheduled.
Motion By Gagne, 2nd by Sturmer: If managing a project that utilizes a quantity, the designated DLL BOD member will keep record of such quantity to use in future years. All in favor.
Contract Update (Kirkey): o Contract committee met last week and looked through proposed agreement from Dexter Schools. o Overall, the agreement is lacking in sufficient details and for ultimately $70,000 in payments over the next 7 years, DLL deserves additional provisions. o Kirkey to contact Sean Burton (he been designated as contact person). Kirkey and Burton planned to talk today rescheduled until Friday, 2/13/15. o No current written agreement for 2015 season.
Registration update (Kniesteadt): o Current registration: there are 20-30 more kids than at this same time last year. o Total players registered as of today: 163 o Early bird registration ends 2/28 o Registration will be available at the Dine to Donate event at Aubrees on 2/16. o Picked Dick’s gift card winner. Pitts to send out announcement of winner in email blast indicating that the winner will be presented with the prize at Aubrees on 2/16. o Total players Spring 2015: 485.
o
DLL Registration Advertising Banner has been down for the last 2 weeks because pole fell down. Village will refund cost.
Commissioner Update (Bryson): o At this point there has been interest from 5 coaches for the tball division, 9 from majors division, 5 from minors, and 4 from machine pitch. o Moving up: Identified the problem with the product (experienced in the machine pitch division level). DLL needs to improve the quality of league’s product and produce a better district team. He is considering making the evaluating up criteria stricter to attempt to improve the product (i.e. must evaluate in the top 5% of the players in the league that the player wants to move up to). Many board members expressed concern that those players that have been allowed to move up in the past that are now hoping to evaluate up to the Majors division have been playing with the same cohort of boys (e.g. their friends in their same grade) for over 6 years now and it would be distressing to at this point indicate that they cannot evaluate up unless they meet this strict criteria. Many board members suggested implementing this policy in the younger years in which these players do not have the experience of always evaluating up. Estimates are that there are only a handful of players who would be evaluating up (i.e. 5-7). o Concern has also been raised whether a player playing in the major division could play in a 10U All-Star (minors) team with the intention of keeping options open to field the best possible team. Bryson indicated that although discussed, he considers this issue closed. o As District rules currently stand: DLL is allowed to have 2 10U teams, 1 11U teams, and 1 12U All-Star team. Several BOD members inquired why there cannot be 2 11U teams given that it is not against Little League International Rules and that both 10U teams last year were successful. o Until a final decision has been made, Kniesteadt will continue to indicate to those interested in moving up that they should register for the accurate age group and attend both the evaluation of their age group and that of the division that they want to move up into. o Once commissioner/Rules Committee has determined policy, they will bring it to the BOD for a final vote. o Has been in discussion with the District administrator, Pam and asked her to come to tonight’s meeting (she was unable to make it). He plans to meet with her again on Sunday, 2.15.15 to discuss several of these issues with her further.
Sturmer called the meeting to close at 8:39 pm.
