Hingham Little League Board of Directors Meeting
March 21, 2005
Hingham Recreation Center

Meeting Minutes

Secretary’s Report
• Approval of Meeting Minutes from 3/7/04 Meeting
o Minutes approved; thank you Steve White for taking the minutes. TAD to post to website.

Treasurer’s Report
• Current Balance
o ,852, high balance due to the influx of registration fees.
• Outstanding Expenses
o No issues reported
• Status of detailed balance sheet for the 2005 year
o Bob distributed Income/Expense sheet with details.

Business Related Issues

• Local Little League Business Filings and Topics
o Articles of Incorporation-Renewal
o Public Charity Filings
o 501 (3) c Form
o Insurance Fees and Options
 Part of Charter Renewal Registration once player registration is completed and number of teams finalized per Division
• Preliminary Renewal Registration form ready to go, was pending finalization of number of teams.
o Population Waiver
 Rob forwarded letter to Don Whitman on 3/10/05
• Rob has not heard back, no issues anticipated
• National Little League Business Filings
o The below to be included in above Renewal.
o Charter Application
• Renewal due in 5/05
o Charter Fees
• Part of insurance application
• Audit of 2003/2004 HLL Financial Results
o Will be completed in 4/05

New Business

• Player Registration-Membership Committee Report
o Rick Linehan and Elliot Sherman are Co-Chairpersons
o Establishment of New “Final” Registration Date
• Still accepting registrations subject to payment of late fee.
o Updated Registration Counts
• Breakdown by age groups
• 12 - 69
• 11 - 93
• 10 - 103
• 9 - 112
• 8 - 221 (8&7s)
• 7
• 6 - 181 (6&5’s)
• 5
• Challenger – see below
• Total as of 3/21 is 779 total registered
• Still known ‘likely to register’ players, and still being mailed in
• Discussed ranges of ages and majors eligibility; 10 year olds in majors/11 year olds playing minors will be comparable to last years numbers. 13 players/team in Majors, no more than 2 10 year olds per team
o HLL Website
• Use of HLL website for registration database
• BBI working on updating the lists, will get back to Rick and Elliot; will add access privileges for Mark, Rob, and Tim to be able to make changes and additions
o Schedule for Major’s, Minors, Farm and T Ball
• Update from Rick Linehan on potential of three Divisions for Majors and Minors
• Rick provided an overview of issues faced last year relating to the 16 game schedule over 8 weeks. Majors playoffs finished in late June right on top of All Star game into July, really pushing the limit. Minors ran into similar issues. Rick proposed reducing the Major season schedule and creating 3 divisions to facilitate scheduling, with 4 teams in each; games would be 2x against opponent in division, then the other teams one time each to ensure balance schedule. Divisions would be chosen randomly. Suggests the season run from May 1 to June 16, ensuring plenty of time for playoffs (all teams make playoffs) and All Star game planning.
• Motion made to plan for a 14 game regular season over 7 weeks, and to have 3 divisions (American, National, International) randomly selected to balance the schedule. Motion was PASSED.
• Continuing discussion relating to schedule for Minors, consensus again was that 16 games was too many, including all teams guaranteed 1 playoff game. With 18 teams in the Minors foreseen this year, it will not be possible to play each team once, and the additional constraint of field availability is a factor, all indicating that a reduced schedule would be beneficial. All of the logistics have not yet been worked out as yet regarding divisions/team vs team play, number of games. A motion was made and PASSED to allow Rick Linehan the latitude to schedule between 12 and 14 games for the Minor League teams, considering availability of fields to schedule the games.

• Sponsorships and Donations-Committee Report
o Chairpersons are Melissa Flanagan and Tia Mastromatteo
o Update of 2005 sponsors at all four levels (Major, Minor, Farm and T Ball)
• Majors are all set and paid
• Minors – one more than needed but will shift to Farm. Most are paid.
• Farm – 5 more sponsors are needed. Mike Letorney will sponsor a team (Horace Mann). Suggestion that we post at tryouts for additional 5 sponsors at the tryouts, should not be a problem
• T-Ball – In need of one more sponosor, in good shape (Nice job Melissa!)
o Discuss Other Issues
• 501 (c) (3) form required for Verizon sponsorship remains outstanding

League Rules and Local By-Law Issues

• Player Agent Report
o Mike Letorney is Player Agent
o Status of Tryouts-4/2 and 4/3 at the South Shore Sports Center
• Mike will review tryout process
• Updated registration numbers for 10’s, 11’s and 12’s not yet in Majors as well as all 9’s
• Staffing times at tryout table
o Melissa and Steve will assist (others?)
o Joe will staff a Managers table, hand out listings of players with their numbers
• Procedures to be followed
o Dan Morrison will pitch to Majors, Tim Z will pitch to Minors. Format same as last year, each player will get 3 swings, run out last pitch, and field 3 ground balls.
• Communication status
o Post cards were mailed. Notices have been published in the Hingham Journal and posted to the website.
• Coordination with Dan McHugh for HHS varsity players
o All set; 6 HHS players will assist each day
• Make-up tryout date
o Make up will be Tuesday April 5th at the Rec. Center
o Status of Draft
• Pre-Draft Meetings will precede each draft
• Draft/Selection Dates
• Majors-4/8 from 7-9 at Hingham Rec
• Minors-4/12 from 7-9:30 at PRS
• Farm/TBall-4/13 from 7-9:30 at PRS
• Draft order at Majors and Minors
• Majors-follow LL rules where last place of last year picks first and continues in reverse order of finish for Majors
o To be furnished at draft
• Minors order to be determined by double draw out of hat
• Manager/Coach draft combination resolved

• Major League Committee Report
o Joe Granatino is Chairperson
o Age limitations and restrictions
• All 12 year olds automatically in Majors (Little League rule)
• Number of players per Major’s team is 13 per team
• Maximum of two 10 year olds per team can be drafted in Majors
• 10’s must be taken by the 5th round
• Determine minimum number of 12’s required per team
o Safety Discussion
• Review of option of using batting helmet with face mask in Majors
• Significant debate weighing the pro’s and con’s of this issue followed. It was noted that use of face masks do reduce the risk of facial injury, that the occurrence of such injuries is infrequent based on available studies, and lastly that Little League has not taken a stance on this issue nor mandated use of masks at this time. A MOTION was made and PASSED by split vote to provide 1 helmet equipped with a face mask for each team in the majors, leaving the option up to the player whether to use at bat or not.
• Outstanding Issues?
o OPENING DAY
• Significant discussion regarding Opening Day planning followed.
• Opening Day will be MAY 1st
• Open cookout at Haley for Majors.
o All players will be in uniform and will be introduced
o Games will be scheduled for the afternoon
o Nominations for candidates to throw out the ceremonial first pitch discussed. Names included Bob Magner, Jack Lynch.
o Invitations will be sent for a Senators Hedlund and Bradley to attend, possibly Selectmen.
o Paul Leblanc offered sponsorship through Coca-Cola
o A sub committee needs to be formed; Bruce Corwin was appointed chair and will seek assistance for planning
• Elliot proposed an Opening Day Ceremony as well to celebrate the newly refurbished Hersey Field, and the members agreed this would be a great idea
o Provides a good opportunity to thank our sponsors and volunteers for the upkeep and improvement of the field
o Invitations to join the ceremonies, first pitch etc. to be determined.
o Minor league game(s) will be scheduled
o Cookout will be held
o A sub committee needs to be formed for ‘Hersey’ opening day planning, Elliot Sherman was appointed chair and will seek assistance for planning.
• This will be a great opportunity to kick off the season on positive note, but it will take a lot of work and planning from the members! This will be taken up further as an agenda item in subsequent Board Meetings.

• Minor League Committee Report
o Paul LeBlanc is the Chairperson
o Safety Discussion
• Make decision on whether to use batting helmet with face mask
• In polling of several managers, there were more against than for this idea. Paul suggested to follow suit with the decision reached at Majors level. A MOTION was made and PASSED to provide 1 helmet equipped with a face mask for each team in the Minors, leaving the option up to the player whether to use at bat or not.
• Make decision on whether to use some version of a “safety” ball vs. regulation Little League ball
• Paul reported consensus of managers is to stay with the regulation baseball this year.
o Outstanding Issues?

• Farm League Committee
o Chairperson is Tim Driscoll
o Playing rules in Farm will be unchanged in 2005
o Outstanding Issues?
• Question was raised regarding the draft. Last year each coach was able to pick 6 players at a time from the list; some warnings about possible ‘stacking’ of teams even at this level. We will remind the coaches about the sense of fair play with their draft picks, and try to stick to making teams from neighborhoods and school districts.

• TBall Committee
o Chairperson is Mark Igo
o Playing rules in TBall have been updated
o Use of other products including “blast ball”
• Will pass on this idea and use the same RIF ball as last year
o Outstanding Issues?

• Manager’s Committee Report
o Joe Craven is Chairperson
o Status of selection of Managers and Coaches at all levels
• All Managers have been contacted. Have 4 slots to fill on Farm level, 1 on Minors, will be done this week.
o CORI applications will need to be completed and submitted by all prospective Managers and Coaches
o Status of dates for intermediate and advanced training for Managers and Coaches
• Schedule to be determined, includes first aid training for ASAP
o Practice manual for HLL will be developed
o Creation of a Zero Tolerance Policy
• Joe has crafted the policy, incorporating key points from other policies found through research. The key message to be communicated is that all Managers and Coaches are required to refrain from arguing with the umpires about any issue on the field. Joe will distribute to the board via email and distribute to all Managers and Coaches for signatures.
• Equipment Committee Report
o Rick West is Chairperson
o Inventory completed in 1/05 of existing equipment and uniforms at all four levels
o Budget for 2005 will be approximately ,000
• Factor in potential Challenger Division
• Draft of budget was distributed, will require updating based on the numbers of registrations, new teams, etc.
o Determine what equipment needs to be replaced
• Rick and Mark will coordinate with Melissa regarding Sponsors (returning, new, etc) for the uniforms.
o Determine which potential vendor(s) will be used for ordering equipment
• Meetings are scheduled with Rockland and Beacon Sports. Equipment prices are essentially the same regardless of the vendor
o Equipment that will be provided
• Majors-hat, shirt, pants and sox
• Minors, Farm and T Ball-hat and shirt
• Challenger Division-hat, shirt, pants and sox
o Status of order of Roll Dry Machine
• No report
o Status of batting cage at Haley/Cronin
• No report

• Umpire Committee Report
o Rich Magner is Chairperson
o Review umpire requirements, rule changes and expectations for 2005
o Rates for umpires remain unchanged
o Completion of CORI form by all umpires
• Done
o Rule books need to be ordered
• Done, Rich will distributed
o Shirts needs to be ordered for new umpires
• Rich to follow up with Mark and Rick for final numbers/sizes for ordering prior to the start of the season
o 3/16 umpire kickoff meeting
• Meeting held, well attended, 41 umpires signed up. A large class of 13 year olds, will schedule them mostly for Minors
o Schedule two followup training sessions (one session for all umpires and a second session for returning umpires)
• Dates to be determined closer to the season, assignments will be handed out, review of rules, etc.

• Challenger Division Report
o Chairpersons are Rob Blomberg, Joe Granatino and Tia Mastromatteo
o Ongoing problems encountered in getting the Challenger Division started
o Requirements for the Program
• Identification and number of players
• Two registrants thus far
• Update on recruitment
• Communication with Parents Advisory Committee
• Have received two versions of PAC List but cannot use the list due to concerns on how to make contact with the PAC as many names on the PAC List have disabilities that don’t qualify them for Challenger Division
• Need to attend next PAC Meeting to discuss and continue to spread the word about Challenger
• Joe Granatino will contact the new President of PAC to continue to drum up interest for the program.
o Player Criteria can be within Hingham or outside of Hingham
• No player will be turned away
o Schedules and Fields
• Games will be played on Saturdays
• Potential use of High School Girl’s Softball Field
o Uniforms and equipment
o Fees- will be the fee
o Funding/Grant status is still outstanding
o Finalize Playing Rules
o Communication of the Challenger Division Program
• Additional articles in the Hingham Journal and the Patriot Ledger
• Done
• Possible article in the Boston Globe South edition
• Done
• HLL Website
• Additional Contacts-Dan McHugh
• Hold meeting for parents of potential players
o Creation of “Buddy List”
o Creation of Parental and Volunteer List
o Handicap Rest Room issue
o Kickoff Ceremonies
o End of Year Awards Ceremonies
o Potential start up of Challenger Division in the fall of 2005

• Buildings, Property and Grounds Committee Report
o Cliff Boyle and Tim Zyrkowski-Co-Chairs
o Status of Existing Playing Fields-Haley, Hersey and PAL Fields
o Hingham Rec Permit Requirements
• Permit request for Haley, Hersey and PAL fields filed on 2/27/05
• Some additional information still needs to be provided to Hingham Rec to support the application
• .00 will be charged per player per team
o Update on use of Hingham School Department Fields
• No word yet, expecting to hear back soon
• Permit filed for use of Hingham School Department Fields
• .00 per player user fee will be imposed by Hingham School Department
• Fields will be used for Minors
• Update on Rob’s phone call with Barbara from Hingham Schools on 2/28
o Status of Ordering Portable Rest Rooms
• Need to be ordered for Haley, Hersey and PAL
• Bob Keyes will follow up on this item
New business related to Buildings and Fields
• Elliot updated the board on an important zoning issue before the town regarding a potential land swap for property adjacent/contiguous with PAL Field. The issue is under discussion with Selectmen and will be an article at Town Meeting. Briefly, if the article were to pass, the developer will pay for significant improvements to the fields, including new field house (with plumbing for rest rooms, storage area), fencing, grading, landscaping, lighting, etc. The improvements will benefit the recreation opportunities for the kids without cost to the programs

The article requires a 2/3 vote at Town Meeting, plus additional Legislative measures on the State level to move forward. Further concerns were discussed among the board, but the consensus is that this would provide a huge benefit to the program and bring the playing fields up to date from their present condition.

A MOTION was made and PASSED unanimously for the Board to endorse the proposal. Elliot will forward a letter of our support to the Board of Selectmen.

• Social Committee Report
o Chairpersons are Melissa Flanagan and Tia Mastromatteo
o Identify potential fundraisers
• Golf tournament is 9/21/05
• Other suggestions
• No activity to report at this time

• Publicity Committee
o Melissa Flanagan is Chairperson
o Decision made on photo vendor for HLL in 2005
• No activity to report at this time

• Safety Committee
o Owen McConville-Chairperson
o Discussion of details of ASAP Program (A Safety Awareness Program)
o Next steps needed to initiate the program
• Owen is putting together the information.
• First aid kits and ice packs for the field boxes are on order

• Concession Committee
o Elliot Sherman is chairperson
o Status of concession stand at PAL Field
• No activity to report at this time

• Calendar of Events
o Review HLL Calendar of Events for potential changes to the Calendar
o Post Calendar on the website

• Hingham Little League Website
o Status of additional content for the HLL Website
o Use of scheduling software
o Use of web banners

• Other New Business
o A request has been made of the Board by the Recreation Dept. to inquire if there is any interest in assisting with the popular ‘Sand Lot’ baseball program in August. The Board will take up the issue at a later time.

• Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
o Monday 4/4/05
o Monday 4/11/05
o Monday 5/2/05
o Monday 5/16/05
o Monday 6/6/05
o Monday 6/20/05
o Monday 7/11/05
o Monday 8/8/05
o Monday 9/12/05
o Monday 10/3/05
o Monday 10/24/05 (Annual Meeting)

.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 pm.

Submitted by Tim Driscoll, Secretary