HLL Board of Directors Meeting, December 22, 2003
Hingham Recreation Center
The second meeting of the Hingham Little League Board of Directors was called to order by President Rick Linehan at 7:37 pm on December 22, 2003 at the Hingham Recreation Center.
Board of Directors present were: Rob Blomberg, Mike Bynarowicz, Dave Canepa, Melissa Flanagan, Tom Golden, Joe Granatino, Mark Igo, Bob Keyes, Mike Letorney, Rick Linehan, Owen McConville, Amy McGuiggan, Elliot Sherman and Rick West. Board member absent was Steve Hughes.
Local Little League Business Filings:
Articles of Incorporation - Vice-President Elliot Sherman addressed this matter and stated all paper work was being processed and hopefully by the next meeting the Articles would be signed.
Public Charity Filings - Vice-President Elliot Sherman addressed this matter also and stated that all paper work was being processed and hopefully by the next meeting the Filings will be signed and filed.
IRS-04 Number - Treasurer Bob Keyes addressed this issue and stated that he was waiting on the Articles of Incorporation and that he would file all the appropriate paperwork in the near future.
Bank Account - Treasurer Bob Keyes addressed this issue and after a discussion amongst Board members it was voted on to make the Hingham Institute for Savings the official bank of Hingham Little League.
National Little League Filings:
Charter Application - President Rick Linehan addressed this issue and stated that the Little League is forwarding him all the appropriate paperwork. Information will include teams in the division along with the insurance rates.
Player Registration Process:
The membership committee addressed this issue and after a lengthy open discussion it was decided that Elliot would continue to contact local sport leagues to the availability of their mailing list and Melissa Flanagan and Joe Granatino would contact the three elementary schools in town regarding the availability of their school directories.
There was a discussion regarding the rates for the registration fee for the season. It was voted upon that Major League would be eighty dollars and Minor and Farm Leagues would be seventy dollars. There would be a one hundred and sixty dollar cap per family. Tee-ball rates were tabled till it was decided if there would be a Tee-ball league this year.
Registration for the upcoming season will be on January 24, 2004 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Hingham Recreation Center and on January 26, 2004 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm also at the Recreation Center. The application will also be placed on the web site and a mailing will be done through Ryan Mailing Services.
The Publicity/Special Events Committee is drafting up a letter for the Hingham Journal to let everyone know about the upcoming season. It was decided that a weekly reminder should also be placed in the Journal regarding the upcoming Registration.
Sponsorships and Donations:
During discussion it was voted to set sponsorship levels and fees. Major League Sponsors fee were set at ,500.00 for a three year commitment. Minor League and Farm League fees will be set at 0.00 a year. Sponsors will receive their names on the player shirts, corporate sponsorship on the HLL website, recognition in the HLL yearbook, Thank-you notice in the Hingham Journal, Framed certificate, eligibility for a tax-deduction and the winner of each league will have the respective league trophy for display at their business.
The committee will provide to Mark Igo by 1/12/04 a promotional packet that will be sent out to potential donors. This package is tentatively set for a 1/31/04 mailing.
League Rules and Local By-Law issues:
Major League:
Eliot Sherman and Mark Igo provided board members with information pertaining to the National Little League and other Local Little Leagues rules and regulations. It was voted that this year teams would have thirteen players on their roster with a maximum of eight twelve year olds per team. It was voted that ten year old players would not be eligible for Major League Baseball. After the vote it was discussed and agreed upon that after the registration if it was deemed necessary the ten year old rule would be revisited.
Major League baseball will only use wooden bats.
The draft process and local playing rules were tabled for future meetings.
Minor League will consist of nine and ten year olds and those eleven year olds not selected at the Major League level.
Minor League baseball will only use wooden bats.
The draft process and local playing rules were tabled for future meetings.
Farm League will consist of seven and eight year old players. Six year olds may compete on the Farm League level if they have completed one year of Tee-ball and they receive a waiver from the Player Agent.
Farm League baseball may use wood or aluminum bats.
The draft process and local playing rules were tabled for future meetings.
Tee-Ball it was voted to start a Tee-Ball league for the upcoming season. Mark Igo and Mike Letorney will head up this committee. There will be a .00 fee to participate in the Tee-Ball League.
Wooden Bat Issue:
This issue was taken up and voted upon at each league level.
Managers and Coaches:
It was voted on that no previous manager or coach at the Major League level would be grand fathered in for the upcoming season. All players would also have to tryout for the upcoming season.
All individuals who would like to coach in the Hingham Little League must submit a volunteer application. The coaching committee will meet with each individual and make there recommendations to the board of Directors.
Last years Major League managers will be given consideration based upon their previous coaching experience.
Last years assistant coaches will be given consideration based upon their previous coaching experience.
Only Managers will be assigned to a team prior to the draft. Assistant coaches who are recommended to coach by the coaching committee will have their name placed on a list as an eligible coach. After the draft is completed Mark Igo will supply the Managers with names of volunteers who would like to be an assistant coach.
As soon as volunteer applications are processed a CORI check will be initiated.

It was voted on to keep the name of Joe Haley as one of the teams at the Major League level.

Uniforms and Equipment:
Uniform and equipment needs will be addressed at a later time after the registration period.

Umpire Issues:
Minimum age requirement for Major League umpires is ninth grade with a minimum of three years umpiring experience.
The issue of structuring umpiring teams will be tabled to a future meeting.

Umpires will receive .00 for a Major League game and .00 for a Minor League game.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 pm.

Submitted by Secretary Joseph K. Granatino.