Danvers Girls Softball – Open Meeting Minutes                                                February 9, 2006

 

 

ž             Treasurer’s Report:  Chrissy reported a balance of approximately $35,000, with an additional $5000 credit from Extra Innings.  Some discussion was had as to what we could spend the credit on this year.  Ideas included batting cage time for some team, equipment purchases, clinics.

ž             The DGS website is completely up to date, and will be the primary tool for communication with our families this year.  Any changes, additions, new information will be posted quickly and available the next day.  The hotline phone number will be only for rainouts. 

ž             2nd annual DGS Banquet has been scheduled for June 28th.  Jeff Clickstein will be coordinator.

ž             2nd annual DGS ASA Summer Softball Invitational Tournament has been scheduled July 28 – 30th.  We will be adding U-10 teams this year, and watching the interest level of U-16 teams.  We will not use volunteers as parking attendants this year, but will instead be looking for more help with field maintenance and concession sales.

ž             New 5-league structure will remain in place this year.  There will be no “grandfathering” of players.  Also, the Board of Directors will be looking at small rule changes in their February and March meetings.   Any suggestions are requested to be emailed to jonpalermo@comcast.net.  A request was made for the board to consider the ‘base stealing’ rule at the intermediate level.  The proposal would be if the ball goes past the catcher, no stealing allowed.  This defeats the purpose of trying to teach the girls the catching position at an earlier age.  2 intermediate coaches present also agreed. *The Board will discuss at their next meeting.

ž             All Board positions have been filled for this year.

ž             Registration fees were increased this year.  Families were offered a $10 discount if they registered by Feb. 3rd.  There will be 3 in-person sign up dates – 2 are DGS only, Thursday February 16th in the DHS library 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday March 1st in the DHS library 6-8 p.m.  The third will be town-wide for all spring sports, Saturday March 4th in the DHS cafeteria from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

ž             Registration to date is 200+ girls.  Dianne was unable to attend for official report.

ž             Coaches clinic – Cheryl had information on the Al & Al Coaches clinic to be held Sunday March 5th.  Cost is $200 to participate, regardless of how many DGS coaches attend.  The information will be posted on the website. 

ž             Snack Bar – Cheryl will use primarily a volunteer format, with team assignment as necessary.  Also new rules have been established for this year – No children in the snack bar unless with an adult, and all food consumed by volunteers must be paid for in full.  This is in an effort to increase fundraising profits from the snack bar.

ž             Equipment survey – Once coaches have been assigned, and Daryl knows who is coming back from last year he can establish what equipment is out there and what needs to be returned, and/or purchased.  He will make up a new form for equipment requests.  There are several coaching positions open in all leagues, any one interested is encourage to download three forms from the website and get them mailed in ASAP.  They are the coaches application, a CORI form, and a signed Code of Conduct form.  Please indicate which league you are applying for.    Daryl also has been in contact with Dick’s Sporting Goods, who has offered to provide each 2006 coach with a coaches bag, 4-5 helmets with cages, 15 waterbottles, clipboards, and coupons for the kids.  Forms to pick these up will be handed out once coaches are established.

ž             A question was asked about researching school conflict dates prior to doing the season’s schedule – Amy is researching possible spring conflict dates.  DGS will try to accommodate as many of these as possible, but there may be some dates when it is determined the number of players affected is not as great as the number of players available and games will be scheduled.

 

 

ž             Jon announced dates for the 2006 season –

§         Regular season:  April 24 – June 17

§         T-Ball:  May 1 – June 24

§         Playoffs: Week of June 19th

§         Parade: Saturday, April 29th, rain date of May 6th

§         Pictures:  May 19 & 20 at the Carriage House, Endicott Park – rain or shine

§         All Star game:  Saturday, June 24th

§         Banquet:  Wednesday, June 28th  

§         Still need date for Tball pizza party

ž             Tara Petrocelli – DHS Softball coach gave a presentation with many suggestions for her team’s involvement with DGS.  She would like the two organizations to see each other as a resource, and work together on things like field improvements, and player clinics.  The Board will review her suggestions.   Jon asked Tara for her feedback on DGS improvements already in motion, i.e. yellow safety tubing, feet markers on fencing, scoreboard installation and possible fencing and privacy screening of dugouts.  Tara said she thought those were all okay.  Daryl asked Tara about certain situations when the HS coach has finished games late and not left the field promptly, but had a team meeting in left field.  Tara said she would speak with the HS coaches about respecting DGS’s schedule. 

ž             Tball format – Kevin Cashman, new Tball Director will present a proposal to the board on Sunday.

 

Meeting adjourned 8:15 p.m.  Next DGS Open meeting Thursday, March 16th at DHS Library