Edward Jones Investments

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

November 12, 2015

IN ATTENDANCE: Bo Wood, Dick Mullins, Keith Purdy, Tom Wendorf, Carl Pierce, Gene McCloskey, Eddie Sternberg, Mike Fleetwood, Grady Meredith, Pat Carey, Harry Gowl, Don Hillock, Neil Fleming, Paul Litwin, Steve Carey, John Allen, Jesse Bare, Ron Weber, and John Mancuso. All Executive Committee members and team managers were present.

---Bo announced that players under 60 who played last year would be grandfathered into this year’s roster.

---MOTIONS CARRIED

1) All batters must run to first base…Motion-Gowl Second-Sternberg

2) Number of teams set at 13 unless registration reaches 168, then automatically moves to 14—Motion-Meredith Second-Fleetwood

3) If needed, the 14-game schedule to have no byes…Motion-Meredith Second- Purdy (13-game schedule would have one bye per game day as it did in 2015)

4) Formation of a committee to review ratings systems headed by Tom Wendorf and assisted by four managers… Motion-Gowl Second-Sternberg

---MOTIONS DEFEATED

1) Batter cannot be thrown out at first base by an outfielder…Motion-Gowl Second-McCloskey

2) Draft 13 players per team…Motion-Meredith Second-Gowl

3) Filling team to 12 players even if one is not playing or absent…Motion-Gowl Second-Hillock

4) Having paid umpires as trial run on Field 1…Motion-Meredith Second- Purdy

---OTHER BUSINESS

1) To date there are 10 team managers and 1 “maybe”. Bo again stressed the need to find managers and assistant managers; related to this was an executive committee decision to allow managers and assistant mangers to pay half-fees ($ 30) for registration. In addition, the returning Grounds Crew memebers will have no registration fee.

2) Dues have been raised to $ 60 to cover increased costs.

3) At least three bids will be sought in order to secure the best quality/price shirts.

4) OTS will buy new bases, pitching rubbers and batting screens and will investigate the purchase of a single-piece home plate “system”

5) OTS will be participating in the Toys-for-Tots event at Fox’s Pizza Den (route 54, Fenwick), December 16, 2015. Tom Wendorf will send reminders.

6) Bo requested suggestions from managers regarding how to improve our field complex… a few were given immediately…Gene McCloskey suggested tarping pitching mounds, especially, since they are the many times the focal points for puddling water…it was also requested to have fields watered more frequently, especially in the height of summer.

7) Dick Mullins announced he will be doing “clean-up” work on by-laws, e.g., adding rule changes. He will also be putting together an experienced group of umpires to train teams of umpires. He suggested and will push for an executive committee composed of officers and 6 managers to improve the efficiency of meetings.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Carl J. Pierce, OTS Secretary

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

November 5, 2015

Present: Bo Wood, Dick Mullins, Carl Pierce, Keith Purdy, Tom Wendorf. The meeting was called to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.

• The number of teams and players for the 2016 season was discussed. At 13 teams and 12 players per team, we are limited to 156 players. There is a good possibility that the number of returning summer season players and new fall ball players will exceed that number. Options were discussed. It was decided to discuss this issue with the Board of Directors.  

• In the process of securing sponsors. Presently, it appears as though most of those will repeat their sponsorships. Letters will be sent soon to each sponsor thanking them for their current sponsorship and asking them to sponsor a team next year. There was discussion about increasing the team sponsorship fee, but it was decided to keep it at $350 for 2016.

• There are some openings for managers. Volunteers are being sought and OTS players will be asked to consider being a manager.  

• There was unanimous agreement to get at least three bids on shirts before ordering them from All Out Sports.

• The topic of paid, professional umpires was discussed. Several members liked the idea of using paid umpires on Field #1 for the 2016 season as a trial. This would cost approximately $2500 - $3000 for the season. Only 1 umpire would be used on Field #1. It was decided to present this idea to the Board of Directors for further discussion.

 • It was unanimously approved to raise the registration fee to $60. Motion by Dick Mullins, second by Carl Pierce. In addition, it was motioned by Dick Mullins and seconded by Carl Pierce and subsequently approved to allow managers and assistants mangers to pay half-fee ($30) and the Grounds Crew (the five from last year) to have free registration if they are on the 2016 Grounds Crew.

• OTS will have a holiday get-together on Wednesday December 16 at Fox’s Pizza Den. This will include our annual Toys-for-Tots collection. Attendees will be asked to bring an unwrapped toy or 2. Tom Wendorf will send emails to the players to keep them updated.

• Several items were identified as being needed for the 2016 season: new bases, new pitching rubbers, new hitting screens and tees and new scheduling software (current company went out of business). It was also agreed to look into a one-piece home plate assembly that includes home plate, strike zone mat and batters box mats.

• A motion was made by Keith Purdy, seconded by Tom Wendorf and subsequently approved to recommend a By-Law change to the Board of Directors that would require all batters to run to first base. This change would eliminate the courtesy runner from home plate in all cases. Once a batter is on base, the SS-USA rules will be used for substitute/courtesy runners.

• There was discussion about the player ratings. In general, the feeling is that the ratings are too high. It was decided to discuss reviewing the ratings at the next Board of Directors meeting.

• The Executive Committee members were asked to individually develop a list of capital improvement projects for the field complex. The Board of Directors will also be asked to submit their ideas.

• It was decided to schedule a Board of Directors meeting for Thursday, November 12 starting at 1:00 at the American Legion Post #24.

Respectfully submitted,

Carl J. Pierce, Secretary

Hal Alpiar seems to be having a lot of fun in Tennessee. Here's the latest (if you're looking for something to do next July, be sure to read to the bottom):

• After playing in a geriatric softball league (an hour drive each way at 70mph for 7am batting practice with guys who needed 27 minutes to hobble up to the plate . . . y’like all those 7’s?, I decided to switch my exercise to stretching, calisthenics, jogging in the park, and working in the yard. I miss the ball-field camaraderie but, so far, it’s worked out fine for exercise. The rest of my existence has been geared to reviving my “business, marketing, and entrepreneurship development coaching” (which I do weekly by phone and email with business owners . . . sales, marketing, management help). I continue to work on the sequel to my HIGH TIDE novel, and am this week finishing the year-long production of the video being made of my children’s book.
• Some other projects, but most consuming of all has taken up most of 7 days a week for 2 full years: working with my book publisher/writing/editor/artist/musician partner Valerie on the script and production of the Broadway-bound stage musical she created: FEARLESS! Numerous feedback comments on FEARLESS! compare it to a modern-day “Sound of Music.”
• Music and script revisions, staging, scripting, performance and business planning preliminaries are now done, and the world premiere is set for July 7,8,9,10 weekend and July 14,15,16,17 weekend at the modern big-stage Cookeville Performing Arts Center here in the historic old town section of Cookeville, TN (home of Tennessee Tech University, near waterfalls, caverns, canoeing, and a great assortment restaurants, just an hour east of 24/7 “Music City” Nashville and an hour west of Knoxville). · Valerie and I are currently in fundraising mode, searching for and meeting with some big-money patron-of-the-arts backer-types to help us pay the expenses for producing these performances (Yes, do call your RICH FRIENDS!!). But even before expected donations arrive, we are moving forward on our own . . . on confidence, encouragement, commitments from friends to spread the word online and in person (PLEASE and THANK YOU!) and . . . on a bunch of prayers.
• With Valerie as Music Director (not a performer) and me as Business Director (and you’ll be happy to know, I am also not a performer!), we have committed full energies to making the July debut a success. Theatre people from across the country—and of course many old NY/CT/PA/MD/NJ/CA/CO/IL/MI/VA (and yes, even DE friends!) —are expected to attend. We haven’t even promoted anything yet (just sent notes like this last night to some other close friends, and today to you), and have already received back over a dozen seat commitments, including friends traveling from Seattle, San Diego, Northern Connecticut, Michigan and NYC. We plan to set up a block of rooms at Hampton Inn.
• The entire “happening today” (Boomer Generation/Generation X) drama/comedy/love story is bawdy in parts but always “family friendly.” The theme is about making the most of all that we really only have: time. FEARLESS! is also all about the great Broadway-style music (24-piece orchestra includes 2 pianos!) with 33 stage performers and lots of dancing, some familiar arguing, lots of laughing and toe-tapping, a little crying, VERY inspiring, and tons of fun. Interested Broadway musical investors are talking about taking it to a NYC stage. Keep your fingers crossed!
• Bottom line: I KNOW it’s in the middle of the season, but a long weekend get-out-of-Dodge trip would –I GUARANTEE– be worthwhile. You don’t like the show?... I’ll pay for your ticket. The mountains, fresh air, slower pace, and friendliness alone might do you all some good. LOL.   If any of you are (or have friends who are) thinking about a Nashville area visit next July, click on www.FEARLESStheMusical.com for show details and to hear Valerie sing and play her own creations (which will of course be performed by many other voices in the show) . . . Anyway, if it seems even remotely possible, you or any OTS friends or families could do this, please let me know soon so I can put you on the “maybe” list in order to plan specific date seating in your name, and make sure seats will be available for one weekend or the other. (All can be changed before mid-Jan if need be.) Tickets are $15, $12 seniors, $7 students, $6 children 10 and under. A major chunk of the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. We expect sellout performances, and we would love to count you in (and certainly any of your family or other guests you bring) as part of that. Besides, it would be great to see y’all (like my new drawl?) again, and give us chance to catch up with each other!

Stay happy and healthy. (Praying for Frankie and Mike for quick recoveries). Keep up all the fun and hard play, Guys! And warmest wishes to each of you for blessed family holidays ahead. Best as always - Hal (Alpiar) P.S. If you have any questions or just want to hear me apologize for OTS lurking and abandonment, please just pick up the phone and call me: 931.854.0474. I’d love to hear from you and will return any message promptly.

Hal sent another note on 11/6:

Looking for something to do next summer as a break from softball— besides coming to the World Premiere of Broadway-Bound FEARLESS! The Golden Love Musical in Cookeville, TN in July (7th through 10th and July 14th through 17th)?

Well, there’s nowhere you can get more entertainment for your money (and Hal will buy you a beer to boot!). BUT if you’ve been hiding big bucks and want to travel into the Big Apple summer sweat tank in June and empty your wallet, go for it. OR you can just enjoy the One World Observatory video link below by imagining yourself zooming up and down in the elevator (assuming you can afford it after getting mugged) and risk your neck (and other body parts) by going to New York City to see the real thing.

This is for sure a cool video: Take a tour of new One World Observatory - YouTube

BUT—for dollar value and excitement that lasts longer than an elevator ride—check out www.FEARLESStheMusical.com (play one of the love songs for your favorite female and ask if she’d be interested in seeing the World Premiere performance, then get ready to be hugged, kissed, . . .)   PLUS—for a third of the elevator ride price and a pleasant drive (once you’re past DC), FEARLESS! is hard to beat. Besides, you can still see Confederate flags flying, authentic rednecks, and eat lots of good ol’ boys spam, chitlins, hushpuppies, and fried green tomatoes, then kick back some good ‘ol Tennessee whisky – all of which will help you play softball much better than a miniature plastic Empire State Building or a pep talk from Jesse! 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Following the completion of tournament games this day, the Board of Directors met with all teams represented.

The first item was raising the age of entry to the league from 55 to 60. Any player under 60 who currently played this season or is registered to play fall ball will be grandfathered. The board voted to approve.

The second order of business was the review, assessment, and approval of player ratings as submitted by team managers and assistant managers. They will be used for referral and the draft in the 2016 season barring any unforeseen changes. Some players with health issues will be re-evaluated in the spring.

Respectfully submitted,

Carl Pierce