Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

 

Meeting Date, Time and Location

- Thursday, Nov 7, 2024 – Biba’s Restaurant – 6:00pm

 

In Attendance

– Mike Alexander, President; Tommy Wiggins, Vice President; Chris Bolden,

Secretary; Rick Rhodes, National League Commissioner; Harvey Schulman, AL Member at Large;

Eurskine Lyons, NL Member at Large; Christine Scheurich, Treasurer; Gary Mastrodonato, Doris

Warpole, Past League Secretary; Todd Eaton, American League Commissioner & League Web Master.

 

Mike called the meeting to order at 6:15 pm.

 

Topic # 1: Financial Update – Bank Statement/Budget

Discussion – After reviewing the Financial statement, we realized that expenses in 2024 outweighed

league fees and sponsorship revenue by $4,100. Plus, considering our umpire situation, the projected

costs for 2025 will wipe out reserves and push us into a negative cashflow situation.

Resolution – We discussed many ideas to generate additional revenue in 2025: 1) raise league fees,

2) develop a banner advertising program for our MASSL website to raise additional sponsor revenue,

3) create sponsorship opportunities for new softballs purchased for play, and 4) multiple sponsors for

team jerseys.

 

Topic # 2: NL Commissioner

Discussion – Tommy Wiggins appointed by Mike Alexander.

Resolution – Tommy accepted. Tommy acknowledges that, as commissioner, he cannot manage a

team.

 

Topic # 3: VP Election Process

Discussion – How are we going to handle the VP election at the annual meeting?

Resolution – Good ole fashioned ballot box process at the annual league meeting. Must be present to

vote. Several members responded to my email (when the candidates were announced) wishing to

keep their vote confidential. We will hand each member a ballot when they enter the meeting and

sign in.

 

Topic # 4: Balance Board between NL & AL

Discussion – Concern voiced to member at large Harvey Schulman about the balance of the board

between NL and AL players.

Resolution – Perception was incorrect to begin with. We are balanced in NL and AL players on the

board (4 from each league).

 

Topic # 5: Team Managers Calling Subs Direct

Discussion – AL manager was recruiting subs instead of going through the commissioner.

Resolution – AL commissioner addressed the issue the next day, and the manager did not get his

“recruit”.

 

Topic # 6: Women’s Ball for Female Members

Discussion – Member voiced concern over giving female members the option of hitting the smaller

ball citing the defensive challenge that the small ball brought to the game. “It’s a different feel than

the larger ball and throws the fielder’s throwing accuracy off after fielding/throwing the larger ball

95% of the game.”

Resolution - Pros and cons discussed during the meeting. The Board decided the ‘pro’ of attracting

more female players and growing the membership as the reason to leave the option in play in 2025.

 

Topic # 7: Change Forfeit Deadline in G2 to 8pm

Discussion – Motion submitted to change to 8pm forfeiture for 2nd game versus the current 7:20pm

time limit for G2 forfeiture.

Resolution – Unanimous approval by the Board to change the rule to 8pm for G2.

 

Topic # 8: Incident/injury Reporting to Gwinnett County

Discussion – How do we handle scenarios where a player/member denies medical attention at the

time of the incident but seeks medical attention later?

Resolution – Suggestion to have managers communicate all injuries to the respective league

commissioner within 24 hours of play ending. Commissioners will be responsible for communicating

with injured player to determine degree of injury and then determine if said injury needs to be

reported to Gwinnett County. Doris suggested we add this to the Manager’s Duties sheet that we

pass out to all league managers at the beginning of each season.

 

Topic # 9: Playing in Both Leagues

Discussion – Will we continue to allow players to compete in both leagues?

Resolution – If players are willing to pay the fees, it is acceptable to the Board.

 

Topic # 10: Strong/Powerful Hitters in NL

Discussion – Concern from the membership raised about strong players (hard hitters) playing in the

NL.

Resolution – The Board decided to leave this issue to the judgement to the league commissioners.

League commissioners will consult each other when this comes up to decide which league each player

should participate in. League commissioners are keenly focused on player safety and are committed

to doing the right thing.

 

Topic # 11: How to promote the league & recruit new players – Player Referral

Program, et al

Discussion – Membership declined during Covid and has not improved to the numbers we

experienced pre-Covid. The league needs a few new avenues to reach potential players and attract

them to the MASSL league. Motion made to recruit a Marketing/Social Media specialist to help the

league design material to help recruit players into our league.

Resolution – Mike will devise a communication piece to send to the current membership.

 

Topic # 12: Umpire Association v MASSL Ad HocDiscussion – The Board discussed umpire staffing due to the number of nights where an umpire

becomes unavailable the day of the games. It happened numerous times in 2024.

Resolution – Mike Alexander knows of several umpiring associations around the metro area. Mike will

gather information about the various organizations including cost and report to the Board. Then, we

conduct a cost/benefit analysis to determine our best path forward in 2025.

 

Ad Hoc Agenda Items:

1) Softballs for 2025 – Todd mentioned the special for $44 per dozen. Buy the balls announced in

the special flyer.

2) Engaging other metro ATL area leagues to participate in an AllStar Players tournament. More to

come on this subject. Spread the word to see if we gain any interest.

3) Bring in special instructors for hitting and/or fielding to Saturday BPs. Eurskine will investigate

the possibility of bringing in someone.

 

Final List of To Do Items:

1) Presentation for Annual Meeting

2) Items needed for Annual Meeting

a. Projector – Jim Hannah (maybe?)

b. Projection Screen – at the meeting room in Lucky Shoals community center

c. Extension Cord – Chris Bolden will provide

d. Microphone – Jim Hannah (maybe?)

e. Ballot Box – Chris Bolden will provide

f. Door Prizes – member donations for raffle prizes. Eurskine committed to a bat

donation.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:07pm.

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Meeting Date, Time and Location

Monday, January 15, 2024 – Biba’s Restaurant – 6:30pm

In Attendance – Mike Alexander, President; Tommy Wiggins, Vice President; Chris Bolden, Secretary; Ron Petre, Former American League Commissioner; Rick Rhodes, National League Commissioner; Harvey Schulman, AL Member at Large; Eurskine Lyons, NL Member at Large; Christine Scheurich, Treasurer; Doris Warpole, Past League Secretary; Todd Eaton, American League Commissioner & League Web Master.  

 
Mike called the meeting to order at 6:47 pm.

 

Topic # 1:  How to promote the league & recruit new players

Discussion – Mike will touch base with Synaises about posting a recruitment ad on the Gwinnett County Parks & Rec website.  Post on Instagram?

 

Resolution/Action Plan –

 

Topic # 2:  Commissioner’s Reports – December 2023 Annual Meeting 

Discussion – Rick Rhodes & Todd Eaton advise the BOD on the discussion notes

 

Rick:  Group agreed to start with a 1-and-1 count.  Member asked why there are no reimbursements when the season is cut short due to weather issues.  Member asked for a new first base bag with raised corners versus the downward sloped corners with current bags.  Motion made to eliminate walks.  Suggested a fine process for missing games - $$ fine, suspension, banishment from the league.  Subs were an issue in the fall due to a limited number of teams in the league.  

 

Todd:  Flip flop rule implemented in 2023 went well.  Ending games in ties after 1 extra inning was agreed upon.  No ties in 2023.  Suggestion of making home plates out of wood for a louder sound when pitch lands on it.  Fix clamps on gates to make them easier to open/close.  Suggestion to stream games online.  Todd addressed it with a “privacy” rule.  

 

Topic # 3:  American League – Provide Females with option to hit women’s softball 

Discussion – 2023 AL Breakout topic.  Females playing in the AL want the option to hit the women’s (size) softball.  Approved by Ron Petre as a Commissioner decision for 2023.  Trae Christian feels it would help recruit other tournament playing females into the league.  

 

Resolution - 

 

Topic # 4:  2024 Spring Calendar 

Discussion – Started first week of April in 2023.  CBolden suggested starting 2nd week of April due to Gwinnett County & other school system’s Spring Break being first week of April.  Good Friday (March 29, 2024) will be cutoff date for registrations.  AL draft will be Wednesday April 3rd.  NL draft will be Tuesday April 2nd.  League start dates: National League Tuesday April 9th and Monday April 8th for American League.

 

Topic # 5:  2024 Sponsors 

Discussion – American League sponsors locked in on 2-year buy-in is Clif Parker, Chris Bolden and Craig Pippin.  National League 

 

Topic # 6:  2024 Option of playing in both leagues

Discussion – No, we are not currently allowing playing in both leagues.  

 

Resolution – Creates too many conflicts especially when fatigue comes into play.

 

Topic # 7:  Annual Gwinnett County Meeting

Discussion – Mike will reach out to Synaises and find out.  

 

Topic # 8:  Need to Replace Worn Out Fielder 1st Base Bags

Discussion – 2023 NL Breakout topic.  Players complained about the corners for fielders were worn down and fielder’s feet has a tendency to slide across and onto the orange base for runners.  Health and welfare issue to address.

 

Topic # 9:  Impact Hitters Under 60 National League

 

Discussion – 2023 NL Breakout topic.  Players are concerned about slow reaction times of older players.  Player safety issue, maybe?  Total of 13 players under 6 in the entire National League per Rick.  That would eliminate an entire team.  

 

Solution – Commissioners work this issue out between themselves.  Both commissioners agreed this is an ongoing discussion as registrants get assessed before the respective drafts.  

 

Ad Hoc Agenda Items: 

1. Insurance for Officers.  Harvey suggested we renew for 2024.

2. Eurskine – Ensure we use only the SSUSA regulated bats. 

 

Final List of To Do Items:

1. State of Georgia Registration – Annual Renewal Due 

   1. Christine to handle  

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:43pm.