Danvers Girls Softball

Open Meeting Minutes January 12, 2006

• Christine Sweeney gave treasurer’s report of approximately $35,000 in account, with outstanding balances owed to DGS from 2005 12A and 12B travel teams ($350 each) as well as uniform fee from 12B Travel team ($550). We received $100 from Goodies from events run in conjunction with them last year.
• Jon Palermo reported DGS website is up to date, and will be the primary vehicle for communication with families. All meeting information and dates, as well as any rule changes will be posted there. For the time being the open meetings will be held at Danvers High School in room 101. Jon asked for suggestions on a new venue. Diane Minehan offered to contact the Fire Station about their conference room. Open meetings will be held the 2^nd Thursday of each month. They will be at 6 p.m. for the months of February, March and April and moved to 8 p.m. once the season starts. In addition, Jon reported the T-Ball director position has been filled by Kevin Cashman.
• The 2005 DGS Banquet was successful, Jeff Clickstein volunteered to head this sub-committee for 2006. Anyone interested in joining this subcommittee is asked to email Jeff via the website. The date has not been announced yet.
• DGS 2005 Softball Invitational was also a success. Things to adjust for 2006 include: T-shirt quality and quantity, increasing number of teams at U-10, U-12, U-14, possibility of dropping U-16 teams as they were the most difficult to recruit. The 2^nd annual tournament has been scheduled for July 28,29 and 30^th.
• 5 league divisions created last year will stay the same for this upcoming season. There will be no grandfathering allowed. Child may only play up/down if it is a safety issue agreed upon by the child’s previous coach and the board of directors.
• Any rule change suggestions should be emailed to the board - Rules will be discussed and/or voted on at the January and February board meetings, and be finished by March. Coaches will then be expected to abide by rules at all times, at every game.
• Fees were increased this year. DGS is offering a $10 discount for all registrations received by February 3, 2006. Registration letters were mailed to all previous participants on January 6^th. Dianne MacInnis will get registration information to DCAT for posting, and Cheryl Marshall will get it to the local newspapers. We will also accept registrations at the non-discounted price at the town-wide spring sport registration evenings after February 3^rd.
• Equipment surveys should be downloaded from the website, completed and returned to Darryl Parker at Cherry St. Fish Market. Please mark them as such.
• The discount card fundraiser will be done the same for the upcoming season as last year.
• Field Upgrades: All fields were re-clayed last year with the exception of Riverside, and Great Oak 1 & 2. DGS will install yellow safety tubing on outfield fences at Great Oak. Also DGS will put foot markers on Great Oak 1 & 2. Jon will approach high school athletic director and then town authorities about potentially putting up an electronic score board. Cost would be approximately $2500 - $3500. A steel door will be installed on snack bar due to safety issues. Jon will also research cost of batting cages and a pitching machine to go between the fields at Great Oak.
• Returning players to the same league will stay on their previous team, players changing leagues in Minor, Intermediate, Major and Senior divisions will have to go thru player evaluation and draft. Suggestion was made by attendee to redraft at all levels to create more team equality in a league. Jon asked for feedback, and the Board will review at their next meeting.
• Playoff tree and All-Star picks will be consistent throughout the leagues.
• Uniform ordering will begin in March. (One of the reasons early registration is so important).
• Picture scheduling has been moved to June and will be held at Endicott Park this year so they may be taken inside in case of inclement weather.
• Discussion was had about possible coaches clinic this year.
• Other suggestions were made about uniform colors, establishing sister teams, pitching guidelines and the stealing rule. These will all be discussed at the next board meeting.

Addendum to 2/9/06 DGS Open meeting minutes

Presentation made by DHS Varsity Coach Tara Petracelli –

Tara stated DHS would like to use DGS as a resource, and would hope DGS would used DHS as one also.

• She would like to run a clinic, possibly as a dual fundraiser, with separate areas for catcher, pitcher, outfield, hitting, etc… This could be done on the day of the parade.
• She has already approached the Athletic Director and the town about closing the area behind 3^rd base on Rollins field to parking due to safety issues.
• She would like to know if we would share the cost of a large storage bin (would have bases, pitching machine and other DHS equipment in it – that we would be allowed to use). DGS asked her to reconsider her suggested placement due to spectator areas.
• Tara said her students have to do community service, and she would look into whether working at our snack bar would qualify. If not, she suggested we could used the DHS girls one night a week to help out.
• Tara asked what DGS wants from DHS? She is willing to work with us in all areas – clinics for the kids, coaches training, etc…

The next DGS open meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9^th at 6 p.m.