Alexandria Little League (A.L.L.) Regular Board Meeting January 26, 2015 Meeting Minutes Attending: Directors: Gus Chiarello, Laura Kopp, Pete Biesada, Steve Cann, Hope Ford, Amy Goodrich, Marc Leon, Paul Miller, Darrell Wilson, Kelvin Yao. Officers: Tim Devine, Ed Goas, Kyle Jacobson, Debbie Kelly, Chris McKay, Mac Slover Guests: Maggie Rocchio and her parents Call to Order Gus Chiarello, as President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. President s Comments and Presentation of Bat to Maggie Rocchio League Secretary s absence was noted, due to travel conflict. Gus introduced the winner of the Mako bat for the 2015 Spring Registration raffle, Maggie Rocchio and her parents. Gus stated that Maggie played coach pitch in Spring 2014, and AA Fall Ball and is registered for Spring 2015 AAA. Gus asked each Board member to introduce themselves to the Rocchios. Photos were taken to be published on the League website showing Maggie with her bat. The Rocchios thanked everyone and then departed. Approval of December Meeting Minutes The December minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion to approve minutes was made and approved with no changes or objections. Outreach Efforts Laura Kopp reported on progress of the outreach committee and the upcoming clinics at City Recreation centers. Three clinics are to be held, 28 and 29 January and 5 March supported by TC Williams staff and TC and Bishop Ireton High School students. Board member attendance is also desired. Work on Spanish and English flyers and signage continues, and the League will participate in the Alexandria Washington s Birthday Parade. A Spanish speaking volunteer is attending Spanish language masses at local catholic churches. Regarding the Recreation Center clinics, Kyle Jacobson asked if clinic volunteers were required to have submitted Volunteer Background Check forms in order to interact with child participants. Mac Slover, speaking for City, answered that Background Check forms are not required in these cases. Treasurer s Report Hope Ford reported that the League still had money and apologized for the late publication of this month s Profit & Loss statement. Priorities for the past month have been getting all 2014 1099 MISC Tax Forms to umpires and 2014 tax information to the League s accountant. Hope also reported that the League s 2014 taxes are almost complete and that 3 or 4 end of year financial donations have been received, a number similar to last year. Hope also stated that expenses for 2015 Try Outs will likely increase given that evaluators are still seeking additional paid assistants. Debbie Kelly mentioned that she is ordering new merchandise for the 2015 Spring season.
YSAB Update Gus reported that YSAB meetings have focused on Eisenhower Corridor, Booth Park and aquatic program issues this past month. Mac stated that lots of issues are playing out this year, and will continue over the next decade. Ed Goas asked whether Booth Park s diamond field will be available to A.L.L. this season. Mac answered that it would not. Fields Report Steve Cann and Gus thanked Mac for getting A.L.L. access to Brenman 60 foot Softball field for Spring 2015, and for continued access to Booth Park on Sundays and Luckett Field on weekends. Steve also noted that A.L.L. will have access to Elementary and Middle School baseball fields for the pre season similar to last year. This is about as good as we could get. Steve will be meeting with the Majors, AAA and AA Commissioners again soon to update the Practice Field matrix. Amy Goodrich reported purchase of a 9 foot portable mound for use at Brenman Softball field, and caps for base post anchors. Gus stated a protocol for securing the portable mound at Brenman softball is needed. Spring 2015 Registration Discussion Kelvin Yao reported Majors/AAA Registration at 244 players: 55 League Age 12s; 73 League Age 11s; 73 League Age 10s; 43 League Age 9s. Paul Miller reported AA registration at 76, slightly lower than last year s 89 number around this date. Paul also pointed out that he expects the normal pattern of getting phone calls to register more kids for AA up thru March 15 th to play out. Paul told the Board that he has been sending e mails to families that played A.L.L. in 2014 but that have not yet registered for 2015. In response to a question, Paul said the count of 2014 players not yet registered for 2015 is 52 total (9 League Age 12s; 17 League Age 11s; 26 League Age 10s). Gus stated that it would be really good to know why families decide not to come back. 2015 League Division Structure & Expansion Using the 244 Majors/AAA Registration number, Gus proposed a 10 Majors teams x 12 Roster size = 120 plus 10 AAA teams x 12 Roster size = 120 (240 player total) Spring Majors & AAA structure for discussion. Division structure (Majors as mostly a 12 and 11 year old Division, AAA as mostly 10s, AA 2 as mostly 9s, and AA 1 (or A ball ) as mostly 8 year olds), talent distribution, previous Majors expansion, and other issues were discussed. A motion to change Majors by expanding to 10 teams was made and approved by voice vote. No verbal Nays were expressed and no abstentions were asked for. 2015 Majors and AAA Manager Nominations Gus summarized the process used to prepare Majors and AAA Manager slates for Spring 2015. As League President, Gus presented Manager slates for Board discussion and approval. Gus summarized his discussion with the one Majors manager candidate who was not selected and highlighted that the AAA slate is one manager short of the 10 team count just approved. Gus also stated interest in hearing additional information about AAA candidates.
2015 Proposed Majors Managers 2015 Proposed AAA Managers Eduardo Del Valle (Returning Majors Manager) Roger Blain Marc Leon (Returning Majors Manager) Jeff Hull Peter Loughlin (Returning Majors Manager) Mark Brisco Matt Keough (Returning Majors Manager) Eric O Leary Keith Reynolds (Returning Majors Manager) Thomas Canning Mike Goodrich (Returning Majors Manager) Steve Sternberg Bob Mannel JT Young Darrell Wilson Michael Powell Alan Lee Chris Krese Mike Engelberg Paul Miller and others provided additional background information on several of the AAA candidates. Darrell Wilson, as AAA Commissioner, gave the status of his efforts to find a 10 th manager for AAA. He pointed out that some good candidates with League Age 10 children are not volunteering because they are hoping that their child will be drafted onto a Majors team. Darrell also stressed a need for a AAA fallback plan if a quality 10 th manager cannot be identified in order to avoid a repeat of Spring 2014 problems. A motion to approve both Manager slates was made and approved by voice vote. No verbal Nays were expressed and no abstentions were asked for. Try Outs Gus stated that the League still does not have a Coordinator for the February 8 Try Outs. He expressed appreciation for all the help received so far, and described the plans for Try Outs and mentioned the walk through of plans held at the Episcopal Field House two days ago. Issues regarding handling walkup registrations, Division preferences, player names, equipment needs, evaluators, selection of Try Out times on Sign Up genius, plans for evaluating players that do not attend the 8 February Try Outs, and Try Out result processing times were discussed. Discussion of 2015 Majors Draft Scenarios Gus opened discussion by asking Board members to consider how the decision to expand Majors by 2 teams impacts the Draft. As League President, Gus identified two options for Spring 2015 Majors player assignments. Option 1: Populate 2015 Expansion Draft Pool with Existing Majors Players Option 2: Re Draft Majors in Total Pros and cons of both options were debated. The Player Agent (Kelvin Yao) noted that not a whole lot of time exists to make a decision, and asked how the League has handled expansion in the past. Procedures used in 2012 and 2013 expansions were described. Opinions were presented to not re draft Majors in total, and counter opinions in favor of a total re drafting were expressed. Desires of families on existing Majors teams to re enter the draft regardless of expansion were also cited. Gus asked who these families were and whether they have contacted the Player Agent per procedures established last year. It was pointed out that Board approval is required for players to re enter the Majors draft, those players should attend Try Outs, and that the February Board meeting should consider such requests. The question was raised which two Majors managers will be given the expansion teams, and discussion
continued. As part of the expansion manager discussion, a 3 rd Majors expansion draft option was presented. This option would allocate a certain number of opening draft picks to each expansion team, and that generated extensive discussion on the number and placement of draft picks and other issues. Opinions regarding competitive balance, team continuity, and other player issues were expressed. A suggestion was made for the Board to consider a motion for voting on draft procedures for Majors, but no motion was put forward. Experiences last year with the AAA draft were raised. The suggestion was made again to have only League Age 12s and 11s eligible for Majors given the high numbers of 12s and 11s registered, but no motion was offered to bring this suggestion to a vote. Discussion then turned briefly to roster sizes for the 60 foot fields, and to what structure will be used for League Age 10s, 9s, and 8s that are not drafted into Majors or AAA. To move discussion on to remaining Agenda items, the League President asked what really needed to be decided at this Board meeting in terms of structuring and sizing Try Outs. No motions were presented, so existing Majors teams remain intact and players on those existing teams do not have to attend tryouts. The League President proposed the following Manager Team assignments and asked that Directors provide comments, alternatives, or Yes or No votes on these assignments to the League Secretary. 2015 Majors Managers 2015 Proposed Majors Team Assignments Eduardo Del Valle (Returning Manager) A.A. Beiro Construction Marc Leon (Returning Manager) Logo Capitol Peter Loughlin (Returning Manager) Shamrock Matt Keough (Returning Manager) Lindsay Cadillac Keith Reynolds (Returning Manager) Christine Garner Mike Goodrich (Returning Manager) Eugene Simpson & Brothers Bob Mannel Expansion Team Darrell Wilson Pioneer Roofing Alan Lee Expansion Team Mike Engelberg Carlyle Club Update on Big Fields Registration and Plans Kyle Jacobson reported positive response to the 50 70 foot Intermediate Division proposal. Questions were asked regarding estimated costs for umpires and team uniforms for an Intermediate League, and whether Managers and Sponsors have been identified for teams in this Division. A motion was made to approve an Intermediate Division for Spring 2015 and was approved by voice vote. New Business Local Rules for Spring 2015. The use of Continuous Batting Order is not mandated by Little League International and its use, or non use, is an option to be considered. Social Media. Concerns regarding the use of pictures and audio from A.L.L. games was expressed. Announcements None. Adjournment
Due to the Presidents Day holiday on February 16, the next Board Meeting is moved to February 23, 2015 at 7:00PM. Meeting adjourned by Gus Chiarello. Submitted by: Pete Biesada, A.L.L. Director at Large for Dawn Bauman, A.L.L. Secretary