Hingham Little League Board of Directors Meeting
April 27, 2005
Hingham Recreation Center

Meeting Mintues

The thirty first meeting of the Hingham Little League Board of Directors was called to order by President Rob Blomberg at 7:42 pm.

Attendees: Rob Blomberg, Mark Igo, Steve White, Cliff Boyle, Tim Driscoll, Rich Magner, Mike Letorney, Rick Linehan, Bruce Corwin, Melissa Flanagan, Rick West, Joe Granatino, Owen McConville
Absent.: Paul LeBlanc, Bob Keyes, Tim Zyrkowski, Tia Mastromatteo, Joe Craven, Elliot Sherman


Secretary’s Report
• Approval of Meeting Minutes from 4/4/04 Meeting
o Minutes accepted; to be posted by Tim Driscoll

Treasurer’s Report
• Current Balance
o 70,141.23
• Outstanding Expenses
o Approximately 10,000 due to Rockland Equipment for uniforms and equipment, outstanding balance with Beacon not determined as yet. Dues have been returned for several players not opting to play, including 2 12 year old players who did not attend tryouts and are now on waiting list for Majors. A copy of itemized financial statement was distributed, thank you Bob Keyes.

Business Related Issues

• Local Little League Business Filings and Topics
o Articles of Incorporation-Renewal
 Certificate of Charter for 2005 received
o Public Charity Filings
o 501 (3) c Form – in progress
o Insurance Fees and Options
 Preliminary version filed
• Received response, all set.
o Population Waiver
 Approved
• All set for 2005. This is an annual renewal requirement and must be considered again for next year when it is likely we’ll have a population requirement issue.
• National Little League Business Filings
o Charter Application
• Received
o Charter Fees
• Preliminary version filed
• Audit of 2003/2004 HLL Financial Results
o Status of Audit
• No report at this time
• HLL Constitution and HLL By-Laws
o Copies to All Board Members (Electronically)
• To be distributed, Mark or Elliot should have the e-copy.
o Posted on HLL Web Site
• Needs follow up once received

New Business

• Player Registration-Membership Committee Report & Team Schedules
o Rick Linehan and Elliot Sherman are Co-Chairpersons
o Update/Issues
• Registration requests still coming in. Determined that numbers will allow for some flexibility to not turn away players in Farm and Minors (some openings), but no openings in Majors. Two 12 year old players who did not register on time are on a waiting list.
• Discussion ensued regarding how we can improve on this process for process for next year, particularly registrations were difficult for the T-Ball and Farm levels. Our philosophy of not turning away any player who wants to play has to be balanced with our ability to run our team assignment process smoothly, and not sticking to our established deadlines (with at least 3 extensions) creates significant amount of work and opportunity for mistakes in not assigning players in the same timeframe.
• A motion was made and passed to restrict team rosters to a maximum of 13 Majors, 14 Minors, 17 Farm, and 15 T-Ball for this year. There is enough room at the Minors, Farm and T-Ball levels to add a couple of players in the works. Once filled, no more registrations will be accepted.
o Final Registration Counts
• Breakdown by age groups
• No report available at this time; information will be useful for next year’s planning.
o HLL Website
• Use of HLL website for registration database
• After experiencing some difficulties this registration season, we look forward to taking advantage of the online process for next season.
o Status of Refunds
• As above, refunds have been issued to several families.

o Update on Schedule for Major’s, Minors, Farm and T Ball
• Outstanding issue update from Rick Linehan
• Rick reports schedule is just about finalized for all levels barring a few field adjustments for games at South School field. Discussion ensued regarding number of games particularly at Minor League levels. With the number of teams in the league we have had to reduce the amount of games to ensure possibility of coverage for rainouts. The availability of fields is a huge challenge for us as they are fully booked for games, and practice fields are just about non-existent and impossible to distribute evenly. This leaves it up to the coaches to figure out practice time strategies at all levels.

• 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)
• We are in excellent shape again thanks to Melissa’s hard work, only a few checks not received but are expected without issue
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 Draft
• Outstanding Issues?
• Final rosters need to be submitted to Little League by June 1st
• Discussed issue of 2 12 year olds on waiting list for Majors; spots will be available only thru injury or withdrawal of player on existing team
• Update on responses to inquiries regarding 11 year olds not playing in Majors
• Rob reviewed letter to be sent parents who had inquiries on this issue, and will distribute to the Board electronically.

• Major League Committee Report
o Joe Granatino is Chairperson
o Outstanding Issues?
• Discussed process for informing all levels regarding weather cancellations. Rick Linehan, Rich Magner, and Steve White will take the lead in determining if rainout is to be called, and we will communicate as soon as possible, using the website as the primary vehicle. Tim Driscoll will serve as backup person to post to website if needed.

• Minor League Committee Report
o Paul LeBlanc is the Chairperson
o Outstanding Issues?
• Debate regarding the need to track standings in Minors as the focus is on development. All teams will make the playoffs, and the seedings will be done by blind draw. After much debate, a motion was made and passed to continue tracking standings on the website, but to inform all that playoff seedings will be conducted by blind draw

• Farm League Committee
o Chairperson is Tim Driscoll
o Outstanding Issues?
• Nothing to report

• TBall Committee
o Chairperson is Mark Igo
o Outstanding Issues?
• Nothing to report

• Manager’s Committee Report
o Joe Craven is Chairperson
o Outstanding Issues
• Discussion again regarding lack of fields for scheduling practices ensued without resolution. There is a significant for fields in town and that is out of our control.
o Upcoming training for Managers and Coaches.
• No report
o Practice manual for HLL will be developed
• No report

• Equipment Committee Report
o Rick West is Chairperson
o Outstanding issues involving equipment or other items
• Rich Magner will order storage box for South School field
• Some teams did not receive bats and additional equipment, to be distributed and available for any teams in need. Issue regarding supplying of metal bats discussed and deferred as an issue for next season – need to supply them next season.
o Status of batting cage at Haley/Cronin
• Batting cage is available for all HLL teams on a first come first served basis.
o Potential Order of Temporary Pitching Mound at South School
• Issue discussed regarding permission to store mound at field. Cliff Boyle will follow up, but no issues are anticipated. A motion was made and passed to purchase a mound for South School field.. Fields and Grounds (Cliff and Tim Z) need to follow up ordering the item, Joe Craven has the details of what we need.
• Equipment and uniform distribution to be held at Rec Center on 4/29 Email and posting to website will be made.


• Umpire Committee Report
o Rich Magner is Chairperson
o Outstanding issues
o Upcoming training dates
• Meeting to take place on 4/27 for training and assignments. Once again, umpiring squad in great shape, 50 kids signed up for this terrific opportunity – great job Rich Magner and Mark Igo

• Challenger Division Report
o Chairpersons are Rob Blomberg, Joe Granatino and Tia Mastromatteo
o Tabled until Fall, 2005 or Spring, 2006
• Rob reported that he was contacted by the Patriot Ledger for a report to published soon regarding the program.

• 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
• Hingham Rec Permit Requirements
• Await confirmation on request for Haley, Hersey and PAL fields
• Status of .00 charged per player per team
o Update on use of Hingham School Department Fields
• Permit filed for use of Hingham School Department Fields
• Status of Hingham High School and South School fields
• Status of .00 per player user fee will be imposed by Hingham School Department
o Status of Ordering Portable Rest Rooms
• Need to be ordered from Haley, Hersey and PAL
• Complete
Issues - discussed need for dirt at the PAL fields and to build up the mounds. A motion was made and passed to request permission from the Rec Department and to investigate possible vendors to do the work. Cliff Boyle will follow up on this item

• Social Committee Report
o Chairpersons are Melissa Flanagan and Tia Mastromatteo
o Identify potential fundraisers
• Golf tournament is 9/21/05
• Other suggestions

• Publicity Committee/Opening Day
o Melissa Flanagan is Chairperson
o Finalize all details for Opening Day at Haley and Rededication at Hersey
• Hersey rededication-4/30
• Discussion regarding dedication at Hersey. Due to circumstances with conditions of the field not being final, it was proposed to defer ceremonies until the Minor League All-Star Game festivities in June. This will provide us an opportunity to better prepare for the ceremony and to highlight the improvements when they are completed.
• Haley-5/1
• Discussed logistics planning for Opening Day 5/1 at Haley. Melissa once again has taken the lead in organizing the details for the festivities – we owe Melissa a great deal of gratitude for tireless contributions. 1200 beef hot dogs on order with all the fixings. Bruce Corwin volunteered to assist in the BJ’s run and to arrange for beverages, thanks Bruce. Thank you also to our sponsors (Coca-Cola, Monadnock Water etc) for their contributions. All members of the Board are expected to be present at 8:30 Sunday morning to assist.

• Safety Committee
o Owen McConville-Chairperson
o Discussion of details of ASAP Program (A Safety Awareness Program)
• Outstanding issues
• Need to complete paperwork and send to Little League by end of April. Owen needs dates for coaches/First Aid training to be held. All first aid kits and ice packs are at the respective fields.

• Concession Committee
o Elliot Sherman is chairperson
o Status of concession stand at PAL Field
o Status of volunteers and start date
• No report

• Calendar of Events
o Review HLL Calendar of Events for potential changes to the Calendar
o Updated Calendar posted 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
• No report

• PAL Field Conversion/Tom Hastings land swap
o Results of 4/05 Town Meeting
• Pending vote at Town Meeting not yet taken

• Other New Business
o Other fundraising opportunities

• Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
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 10:05 pm.