Hingham Little League Board of Directors Meeting

Minutes of January 12, 2004

Hingham Recreation Center



The third meeting of the Hingham Little League Board of Directors was called to order by President Rick Linehan at 7:37 pm on January 12, 2004 at the Hingham Recreation Center.



Board of Directors present were: Rob Blomberg, Dave Canepa, Melissa Flanagan, Tom Golden, Joe Granatino, Mark Igo, Bob Keyes, Rick Linehan, Owen McConville, Amy McGuiggan, Elliot Sherman and Rick West. Members absent were Mike Bynarowicz, Steve Hughes, and Mike Letorney.



Old Business:



Correction on previous minutes should note that the league would not sponsor a league float, but the league champions would have a float, and all off the sponsors would be listed on the float.



Business Related Issues:



Local Little League Business Filings:



Articles of Incorporation - President Rick Linehan addressed this matter and stated all paper work has been filed.



Public Charity Filings - President Rick Linehan addressed this matter also and stated that all paper work was being processed and the paperwork will be filed in the near future.



IRS-04 Number - Treasurer Bob Keyes addressed this issue and stated that all of the appropriate paperwork has been filed.



National Little League Filings:



Charter Application - President Rick Linehan addressed this issue and stated that the Little League appropriate paperwork has been completed.



Charter and Insurance Fees:



Topics:



Mandatory Charter Fees and Insurance:



Charter Fee: 40 teams at .00 per team = 0.00

Accidental Insurance: .00 at :00 per team = 2.00





Optional Insurance:



Directors and Officers Insurance Fee: 5.00

Crime Insurance Fee: 0.00

General Liability Insurance Fee: 12.00



Total Charter Fees including Mandatory and optional Insurance: ,089.00



This issue was presented by League President Rick Linehan. After a short open conversation it was voted and agreed upon for the first year the Hingham Little League would purchase their Insurance policy through the Little League program. It was also agreed for following years we would solicit local bids through sponsors and local businesses for competitive rates.



Player Registration Process:



Membership Committee:



This was an open discussion topic with the board and it was agreed and voted upon that we would utilize the three elementary schools to the best of our ability by placing announcements and applications at each school if possible, placing announcement letters throughout the town at various businesses and town owned facilities. Ryan Mailing service would be utilized for mailings from other town sponsored sport programs. Mark Igo and BBI Marketing would facilitate the printing of envelopes through Kevin Bannon’s office. The envelopes would be labeled and an application would be placed inside for approximately 1200 packets.



Amy McGuiggan would write a notice to be placed inside each envelope to inform residents of the league and our intentions.



Joe Granatino would send out an e-mail requesting assistance from the board members to volunteer their time at the registration for the upcoming season on 1/24/04 from 9:00-1:00 PM and 1/26/04 from 6:00-8:00 PM.



HLL Web Site:



Topics:



Estimate cost to set up and establish?

Functionality?

Responsibilities?

Vote on allocation of funds to establish web site?



This was an open discussion where Mark Igo and Elliot Sherman were able to present to the board the success they have had with the Hingham Youth Hockey program with their web site. It was determined that the web set could be set up at an annual hosting fee of 0.00 dollars and a start up cost of ,500.00. This service would be provided by BBI Marketing that has already provided numerous start up cost functions to our League. It was nominated and

voted upon that BBI Marketing would handle the upcoming years Web site.



Sponsorships and Donations:



It was opened and voted upon to revisit the structuring of the fees for the upcoming Little League season for sponsors. After an open discussion it was recommended and voted upon to set the new fee registration for sponsors at the Major League level at 0.00 a year or ,200.00 for a three year commitment. The Minor League and Farm League fee would be set at 0.00 a year or three years at 0.00.



Packets to send out for sponsors should be available by 1/26/04 with a deadline for commitment to be 3/22/04 to receive their donation. The Little League Sponsorship form will be utilized for this mailing.



League Rules and Local By-Laws Issues:



Topics:



Major League:

Minor League:

Farm League:

Establish draft rules for all divisions:



It was voted upon and agreed that these issue would be tabled and taken up at the 1/26/04 meeting.



Manager and Coaching Recruitment:



Topics:



Comments on Manager’s recruitment letter:

Coaching Tandems vs. Single Coach Selection:



A motion was made and approved that the line stating that "assistant coaches may request to be assigned to a certain manager prior to the draft" in the league letter be removed. At this time Elliot Sherman requested that a roll call vote be taken. The following majority members voted to strike the language from the letter: Rob Blomberg, Dave Canepa, Melissa Flanagan, Tom Golden, Joe Granatino, Mark Igo, Bob Keyes, Owen McConville, Amy McGuiggan, and Rick West. The only member voting to keep the language in the letter was Elliot Sherman.



A motion was made and approved that explicit language regarding coaching assignments would be added to the coaches letter. This language included that no "assistant coach would be assigned to a Hingham Little League Team until after the draft is held". At this time Elliot Sherman requested that a roll call vote be taken. The following majority members voted to include this language Dave Canepa, Melissa Flanagan, Joe Granatino, Bob Keyes, Owen McConville, Amy McGuiggan, Rick West. The following minority members voted to remove this language from the coaches letter: Rob Blomberg, Tom Golden, Mark Igo, Elliot Sherman.



New Business:



At this time it was proposed and approved to order stickers for the new league. It was voted upon and agreed that the Little League language of "Character, Courage and Loyalty" would be on the new logo.



The meeting was adjourned at 10:27 PM



Respectfully, Submitted by Secretary Joseph K. Granatino