Notes from 2004-2005 meetings

The board's next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. October 20, 2005, at the Russiaville Lions Club.

From the September 15, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the August 18, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the April 21, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the March 17, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the February 17, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the Treasurer February 12, 2005, regarding sponsor changes:

Major League has no changes.
Minor League has one new sponsor, Central Bank, which replaces Expressions Silkscreen. It joins the six sponsors from last year at this level (Bowden Flowers & Gifts, Rodgers Building Supply, Stephens Machine, Mike's Pizza, Salsbery Garden Center and Depot Express).
Rookie League has two new sponsors, Kingsway Sports & Fitness Academy and Team Pride. They replace Central Bank and Expressions Silkscreen. Joining them are returning sponsors Integrity Alarm & Security, Indiana Pest Control, White's Meat Market, Stephens Machine, Eriks Chevrolet and Mike's Pizza.
A significant jump in the number of T-Ball registrants has swelled the number of teams at this level to 12. First-year sponsors include Fidelis Mortgage, First Baptist Church of Russiaville, GiBZ Construction Inc., Industrial Specialty & Supply Co. and Lucas Home Furnishings. Returning sponsors at this level are Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP CPAs, Gardner Plumbing, Herbst Pharmacy, Indiana Surgery Center, Martin's Hardware, Mike's Pizza and White's Meat Market.

From the January 20, 2005, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the November 18, 2004, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the October 21, 2004, meeting:

Read the minutes here as compiled by Secretary Greg Bewley.

From the September 16, 2004, meeting:

The restrooms will be bolted and locked to address vandalism concerns. New locks and/or doors will be needed in the spring, and more portable toilets may be utilized.
There are still some cases of equipment not being turned in. All equipment needs to be turned in as soon as possible. Major League managers should let Equipment Manager Ron Brantley know if they have any needs.
A decision to move up registration and tryout dates was tabled pending availability of the Western South Gym. The proposed sign-up dates are two weeks earlier than they have been in the past (January 22 and 29, 2005), and likewise for the proposed tryout date (February 12, 2005).
We can't add Major League teams without redistricting -- also known as "splitting our league" -- according to Cal Ripken regulations.
A proposal from Jeff Davidson regarding the Minor League diamond was considered. If the diamond is kept as it is (grass infield), Jeff will provide equipment and materials -- at cost or for no cost -- if the league will provide "sweat equity" to make repairs and improvements. We need to prevent more brickdust in the third-base area of the Minor League diamond from washing into the left-field area of the Major League diamond. The timetable to provide the "sweat equity" is to be announced; Jeff Davidson and Dave Jordan will establish a timetable within the next two weeks.
President Bob Kinsey shared his goals for 2005:
- Address the Minor League diamond issues (Dan Armstrong's proposal -- skin the infield; or Jeff Davidson's proposal -- work with the existing setup to prevent brickdust from washing away).
- Replace the roofs on the Minor League dugouts.
- Set the new batting cages.
- Put down asphalt from the concession stand to the Major League press box.
There was some discussion regarding a suggestion from Kevin Pattison to conduct a fund-raising golf outing/hog roast at an unspecified time.
Mike Woolley suggested selling booklets as a fund-raiser.
We still need to clean up/winterize the diamonds. Other duties, such as picking up trash and taking down the flag at the Minor League diamond, need done before cold weather as well.
The netting at the Major League diamond needs replaced. It is hoped that we can use any leftover netting from the Major League diamond, to put up first-base-side nets at the Minor League diamond.

President Kinsey proposed reorganizing the board into two components. The first would consist of an Executive Board, consisting of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Player Agent, Equipment Manager, Umpire-in-Chief, Secretary and Treasurer. The second would consist of all Major League managers. Under Article X of the RYBL Constitution, President Kinsey gave notice that these proposed changes will be put up for a board vote at the next meeting -- Thursday, October 21, 2004.

President Kinsey said he will remain in that position for at least one more year. Treasurer Mark K. Lyons and Equipment Manager Ron Brantley will keep their duties. R-Jay Smith moves from Assistant Player Agent to Player Agent. Likewise, John Householder moves from Assistant Equipment Manager to sharing the title of Equipment Manager with Ron Brantley.
New officers include Greg Bewley, secretary; and Kevin Pattison, umpire-in-chief. This year, there will be four assistant equipment managers -- Noel Wood, Mark Strunk, Jason LaMott and Craig Malson.
R-Jay Smith (Martin Brothers) and Alan Wilson (Lions Club) are the new Major League managers. The board considered seven candidates for the openings.

From the August 18, 2004, meeting:

A bid from Dan Armstrong of Sports Field Services, was accepted, to skin the infield of the Minor League diamond. The bid of $2,920 entails taking up what's left of the infield sod, putting down seven tons of a calcite-clay mixture and combining it with the existing brickdust already in place. Other modifications will be completed so that the diamond will drain better and be easier to maintain. Also, Sports Field Services will put clay around each of the bases on the Major League diamond. A decision on how to approach the Minor League diamond's pitcher's mound will be made later.
In the next 30 to 60 days, the board needs input regarding fund-raising. Can we do a better job with the raffle?
Also, a decision needs to be made in the next 30 to 60 days, regarding whether registration and drafts for the 2005 season, will be earlier than last year. It was reported to the board, that the softball league is considering conducting registration the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February.
Any Minor or Rookie league manager still holding his team's equipment, needs to turn it in as soon as possible.
Likewise, anyone still in possession of any Major League All-Star uniforms, needs to turn them in as soon as possible.
We need to come up with a better solution regarding staffing the Russiaville Lions Club's food tent during the week of the annual Howard County 4-H Fair.
An end-of-season Cleanup Day is scheduled for 1 p.m. August 29. Areas to be addressed include trash, signs, tarps and installation of pipes for batting cages.
The netting on the Major League diamond needs repaired. Do we have enough netting to cover the right-field line on the Minor League diamond?
Among those groups who will be recognized on Opening Day are the Martin Brothers City Tournament champions, and the 12-year-old State Champion All-Star team.
Four people have announced their candidacy for what looks to be two Major League manager openings.

2006 Draft Order

Major League

Lions Club
Martin Brothers
Stout & Son
Burger King
Waddell's
Mike's Pizza
Hollingsworth Lumber
Ellis Insurance

Minor League

Mike's Pizza
Stephens Machine
Bowden Flowers & Gifts
Depot Express
Salsbery Garden Center
Central Bank
Rodgers Building Supply

Rookie League

Mike's Pizza
Eriks Chevrolet
Stephens Machine
Integrity Alarm & Security
Indiana Pest Control
White's Meat Market
Kingsway Sports & Fitness Academy
Team Pride

Notes from 2003-2004 meetings