Hingham Little League Board of Directors Meeting
Meeting Minutes -1/30/06
Hingham Recreation Center
7:30 PM


Present:
Rob Blomberg, Melissa Flanagan, Ed Anderson, Elliot Sherman, Skip Jenkins, Bob Madden, Tim Driscoll, Rick Linehan
Absent:
Joe Craven, Steve White, Rich Magner, Tim Zyrkowski, Joe Granatino, Bruce Corwin, and Owen McConville

Meeting called to order at 7:40 pm.
Secretary’s Report-Tim D.
· Approve 1/9/06 Meeting Minutes
o Motion made to approve and voted in favor. Tim to post the 1/9/06 minutes to the website.

Treasurer’s Report-Rick
· Current Balance -- $57,109.26
o Registrations -$26,448.30
o Rick distributed Banking Summary.
· Outstanding Expenses
o Update on fees to Hingham Rec for Boys of Baseball and meeting room rental
§ Rob negotiated with Tom Campbell. They agreed that there is no need for us to be charged for the room rental in light of what we contribute to the community. Same is true for field rental issue with Boys of Baseball. Rob will discuss this further with Hingham Rec representatives.
o Melissa requested a check for Lapels for $850. Original was issued but not cashed, Rick will reissue.
o Ed will need a check for LL Patches as well
· Status of transition to new Treasurer
o In good shape. Transfer of signators complete with the bank, etc.
· Goals For 2006

Business Related Issues

· Local Little League Business Filings and Topics
o Articles of Incorporation-Renewal
o Public Charity Filings
o Status of 501 (3) (c) Form
o Insurance Fees and Options
§ Application received & will be completed in 4/06 after teams are selected
· National Little League Business Filings
o Charter Application
· Approved for 2006 season
o Charter Fees
· Audit of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 HLL Financial Results
o Status of Audits

In good shape on all above fronts, no issues to report.

New Business

· Player Registration-Membership Committee Report & Team Schedules
o Registration results thus far (Elliot)
· Number of on line registrations received?
· Number of manual registrations received?
· Summary of registrations received thus far by age group
· Going well thus far from the Online system, very useful and beneficial tool and investment! 420 have registered online, 81 manual, for 501 in total. There are still more expected, need to continue to spread the word.
o Additional communication
o Identification of 11 and 12 year olds from 2005 season who have not yet registered
· Still unknowns - 12’s, have 46 outstanding who played last year but not signed up.
· 108 11’s and 12’s, 1 no, 88 outstanding from our numbers.
· Well ahead of last year
· What point do we start calling the outstandings? As of 2/15, the extra fee will apply. Wait another week or two, and we should send another reminder to the email list.
· Continue to post in the Journal and other sources
o Update on schedules (Rob and Rick)
· Majors
· Minors
· Other Divisions
· Proposed schedule distributed. Two eight team divisions in Majors. Teams randomly assigned at draft, with 12 game total schedule. 5 games interconference, to be blind draw.
· Minors on Monday nights at Haley and Hersey.
· Saturdays open for rainouts
· 16 teams, will be difficult to offer byes in first round. Will schedule by high/low seed in division. All will be aware of this plan prior to start of season.
· Similar scenario envisioned for Minors playoffs.
· Finals no later than June 18 which puts us in good shape to finish out All Stars, summer teams, etc.
o Outstanding Issues?

· Sponsorships and Donations-Committee Report-Bruce and Melissa
o Status of Major’s Sponsors
· All accounted for, Lapels is the final sponsor for 2006
o Status of Minors, Farm and T Ball sponsors
· Most are open in Minors, Farm, and T-ball.
o Rates remain the same as 2005-$500 for one year of Majors, $300 for Minors and Farm and $100 for T Ball
o Outstanding Issues
· With 501 (c) (3) approved reimbursement from Verizon sponsorship (2004-2006) remains outstanding
· Elliot working with Colin Pomroy
· Melissa distributed last year’s “Friends and Patrons” letter and agreement. 2006 version to be mailed out to existing sponsors and wait list in the coming weeks. We have good numbers for sponsors
· Rob proposed a team trophy for winning team at the Minor League level as well. Agreed it is a good idea.
· Clarification of league sponsor desires and player’s affiliation so they can play on specific team. We had a couple of issues last year and we’ll try to address. This is noted on Sponsor form
· Basically at the same place as we were last year, in good shape.

League Rules and Local By-Law Issues

· Player Agent Report-Skip
o Update on Tryout Process, Dates and Location
· Notification and communication details
o Schedule of Draft Dates by Division
o Other issues?
· Skip is going to contact Dan McHugh (HS coach) to enlist players for assistance with the tryouts. (Full uniforms, Varsity and JV’s)
· Inquiry about ‘moving up’, as decided last meeting. Does a list for kids who already played up exist? Can use discretion on a case by case basis for those outside the parameters, there are some complications due to LL rules.
· Inquiry - can kids get into Tball early? – Restricted for 5 year olds – 5/1/01 to 7/31/01. Anything after this birthday are not eligible to play in Little League. We have a firm commitment to honor this per LL rules.
· Need to establish the draft dates. Last makeup usually on the Tuesday after Sunday March 19th. Need 1 night for each level for the drafts. Need to check availability of Plymouth River School for the drafts. Skip informed that we have to sign up in person at the school for booking.
· Farms/T=Ball can be together. No rules really for Farm or T-ball.
· Contact Mike Letorney for projector, need to bring laptop. Would be good to invite Mike to MC for the Majors draft?
· Majors first. Proposed dates 3/28, 3/29, 3/30 (Majors, Minors, Farm T-Ball)
· Scheduling of when players show up at tryouts discussed.
· Need to get 2 sets of numbers from Beacon, pins, etc. Players issued as they sign up, numbers will be assigned by age group ahead of time.

· Major League Committee Report
o Review of Major’s Rules
· Update on rule changes
o Age considerations
· In 2006 all 11 and 12 year olds who attend at least one tryout will be drafted and will automatically play in Majors
· A limited number of 10 year olds who try out will be selected to play in Majors subject to space and draft order requirements
· Status of “sandwich” 12’s with birthdates from 5/1/93-7/31/93
o Breakdown of Major’s teams into Hingham American and Hingham National
o Other issues?
No Report.
· Question regarding siblings – this is a parent prerogative if they request the siblings play together. This is part of Little League rules.
· Minor League Committee Report
o Review of Minor’s Rules
· Update on rule changes
o Minors will be comprised on all 9 year olds and the majority of 10 year olds
o Players who have already played two years in Farm but whose birthdates fall within 5/1/96-7/31/96 can move up to Minors
o Other issues?

· Farm League Committee Report
o Review of Farm Rules
· Are any rule changes needed?
o Players who have already played two years in TBall but whose birthdates fall within 5/1/97-7/31/98 can move up to Farm
o Other issues?

· TBall Committee report
o Review of T Ball Rules
· Are any rule changes needed?
o Age issue for TBall players
· Little League advice to allow Tball players to register for Tball in 2006 if their birthdays are between 5/1/01-7/31/01
o Other issues?

· Manager’s Committee Report-Steve
o Goals for 2006
o Create process to Select Managers and Coaches
o Potential training for Managers, Coaches and players
o Practice manual for HLL
o CORI Process
· Rob has forwarded list of previous managers to Steve White. Elliot will provide list of former and new volunteers
· Preliminary training dates for Managers to review agendas (March 2nd and March 9th) ..to set goals and expectations
· Outdoor clinics being planned for start of the season..likely in early April. Steve will schedule these sessions.
· Need to have managers selected by end of February. Board needs to review and approve the managers ahead of time, however. Elliot suggested we go ahead with an informal meeting on 3/2 for all prospective managers and coaches to get around this conflict.

· Equipment Committee Report-Ed
o Status/Inventory of Outstanding Equipment
· Uniforms-missing sponsor names and patches
· Uniforms in Majors are still missing and will need to be replaced
· South River teams will get own uniforms this year to address a large part of the issue
· Beacon will be used for the Majors replacements as they have the stock
· Reminder – 2 sets of shirts for Williamsport teams should be ordered at this time so we don’t have to worry about later
· Use of bag tags to identify equipment by Division and team
· Ed is looking into this still; has a price of $150 for 100 of them, but we agreed it is a good investment
o Update on Use of Lapel’s
o Status of Beal Street Field House
· $93,000 has been collected so far, goal of $100,000! Looks very positive. We made $7,500 pledge toward this goal for Sports Partnership
· Will have a brick drive as well, $100 per brick
· Two baseball diamonds will be there, separated from football fields
· Timeline – ZBA has signed off. Land swap details being worked out, etc. Developer targeting start of March this year, pending approval of the variances, etc. Issue before us is this season for our planning. We have to work on all options to ensure field availability
o Assessment of Equipment Needs
· Ed has done inventory, in pretty good shape
o Consideration of various vendors to supply equipment
· Ed has discussed with Mark Igo, for leads, Beacon, Rockland, Cushman, etc. shopping for best pricing. Will also check Little League equipment directory.
o Other Equipment
· Status of batting cage at Haley/Cronin
· Potential Order of Outstanding Equipment
· Temporary Pitching Mound at South School
· Second dry roller
o To be ordered, check on condition of the sponges
o Stencil for batters box lining brought up. Good idea for purchase
· Other equipment order
· Ed – add Port-A-Potties to the list of equipment to be followed up on for the fields. Bob Keyes can provide contact names.

· Umpire Committee Report-Rich
o Goals for 2006
o Review umpire requirements, rules and expectations for 2006
o Equipment inventory
o Schedule for Umpire Meetings and Training
o Review of assignment process and payment process for games
· No Report

· Safety Committee Report-Owen
o Goals for 2006
o Renewal of ASAP Program (A Safety Awareness Program)
o Outstanding issues
· No Report
· Valiant effort to be noted – Owen pulled in to the lot as we were leaving at 9:40pm. That’s dedication!

· Buildings, Property and Grounds Committee Report
o Goals for 2006
o Status/Changes To Existing Playing Fields-Haley, Hersey and PAL Fields
· Status of Haley Dugouts
· Need for sprinkler system at Hersey
o Addition of Kress and Central/Powers Fields
· Determine what Divisions will use these fields
· Mon, Fri, Sat, Sundays; work around some other issues
· For Kress parking is a big issue, safety concern; Rec may do something to alleviate.
· Powers field is pretty reasonable.
· Issue, no fencing in front of benches at either field could be a major concern for games. May be able to add fencing at Kress if we pay for it.
o Need To Secure Additional Fields Through Hingham School Department
· Hingham High School and South School were used in 2005
· Other alternatives included repairing back field at Hersey, Plymouth River, South, possibly Middle School field, Hull Street field, High School etc. or other alternative venues
o Field Meeting will occur on 2/1/06 at Town Hall
· Representatives from the Board will be attending (Bob Madden, Rob, encourage everyone to attend if possible, etc.).
o Application from Hingham Rec for fields for 2006 has been received
o Meeting needs to be scheduled with Hingham Rec and Hingham School Departments to discuss potential fields and field transfers to Hingham Rec
o Update on Community Preservation Committee meeting-Elliot

· Social Committee Report
o Goals for 2006 season
· Melissa would like to push this, will maybe plan a meeting – at Melissa’s!??
o Identify potential fundraisers

· Publicity Committee/Opening Day
o Goals for 2006 Season
o Early Planning
· Need to get started for Opening Day festivities (April 23rd).
· Looking for former ballplayers to throw out first ball!

· Cross-Hingham Baseball Liasion Committee-Joe C.
o Joe C. outlined the goals and operating guidelines for this committee (proposed number of members, rules, regulations, mission) at the 12/5/05 HLL Board Meeting
o Goal of the committee will be to combine efforts of those promoting Hingham Baseball from T Ball through High School
o Status of Dinner-1/29/06
· Moved to latter part of March
o Update from this committee
· No report.

· Summer Travel Baseball Committee-Elliot
o Goals for 2006
o Status of Elliot’s outline of the goals and operating guidelines for this committee (proposed number of members, rules, regulations, evaluation and tryout process, appointment of managers, schedules, etc.) for discussion and vote by the HLL BOD
o Summer teams will purchase own shirts to minimize confusion with HLL uniforms
§ No report at this time

· Concession Committee-Joe G. & Elliot
o Status of logistics of van use
o On hold for now. There were several volunteers who have offered to help on Opening Day.

· Calendar of Events-Tim D.
o Ensure updated Calendar posted on the website
· Rob will forward old version to Tim, will post it on the site with updated information for 2006. Will put significant dates on homepage.

· 13 Year Old Only or 13 year Old/12 Year Old Junior League Committee
· Discuss the proposed creation of either a 13 year old only Junior League or a potential 13 year old/12 year old Junior League that would be run by Hingham Little League
· Results of Hingham Hull Babe Ruth Meeting from 1/15/06
· For 2006 Hingham Hull Babe Ruth will have combined 13-15 year old teams but will also have specific teams by age (13, 14 and 15) who will play against each other and against other towns on weekends in the 2006 as additional baseball games
· Officer elections took place at the Babe Ruth meeting. Changes have occurred with their new Constitution and By laws.
· HHBR plans to have teams comprised of 13-15 year olds in the spring but will also have to have specific teams by age (13 only, 14 only and 15 only) to play in the weekends as supplemental for the spring; additionally to play against other towns.
· Elliot still interested in having a vote by this Board to create a 13 year old league (ie 13 yr old only Junior League, as do other towns) run by Hingham Little League.
· HHBR has a prep league policy established; used to have this in Hingham.
· Question – does HLL want to expand into this area?
· Fields – potential at Union Street and Middle School have Pony League size but go unused and uncared for.
· This 13 year old league would be in competition with HH Babe Ruth
· Other towns (Rockland, Scituate, etc) have an existing Junior League, with schedules, etc.
· Rob recommended we continue to focus on 5-12 year olds in HLL and have HHBR control baseball for 13-15 year olds.
· Motion was made to create a 13 year old team under HLL auspices, to play in the Prep League with surrounding towns.
o Further discussion regarding the history of the HLL Board discussing this with B/R.
o New HHBR Board is likely to promote the 13 yr spring league and is probably against this move.
o Vote was taken on the motion was taken. The motion did not pass.

· Use of Little League Optional Pitch Count Regulation in Hingham Little League (Majors and Minors) For 2006
· Review of Little League Regulations
· Feedback from Little League District and Region
· Was discussed at last meeting, Rob followed up for discussion
· Proposal, could do for Majors or Minors.
o Limits 12 and 11s, 85 pitches per outing, 75 for 10s.
o Questions for pitch counters, tactics/strategies
o No limit on number of pitchers per game.
o Would have to take the LL program in total
o Doesn’t retain our rules re: number of innings.
o Additional burden for what benefit?
o Had kids pitching 6 innings many times, and this is not in the spirit of keeping kids arms
o We have some flexibility within our rules to put in some type of restriction, possibly limit innings / game.
o Not received well based on discussion and sentiment of those present.
o Rob will inform LL that we are not interested
o Followup – For Majors and Minors Committees, review this issue for potential changes (ie restricting the number of innings a player can pitch in a single game).


· Other Additional New Business
o Regional Manager Training Meeting scheduled for Bristol on March 4th . Elliot suggested HLL support paying for any coaches interested in attending. Motion made: HLL will reimburse coach/manager for fees for those interested in attending. Vote: Passed unanimously.
o Rob will forward to Steve White for recommendation and distribution to those interested. Timing is not perfect, but put out there.

· Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
o 2/13/06
o 3/6/06
o 3/27/06
o 4/10/06
o 4/24/06
o 5/8/06
o 5/22/06
o 6/5/06
o 6/19/06
o 7/10/06
o 8/7/06
o 9/11/06
o 10/2/06
o 10/23/06 (Annual Meeting)

Change start time to 8:00 pm for February 13th.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.