Lawn Dr

Hey CSSA players, we don’t know about you, but we can practically smell the sweet scent of freshly mowed softball fields and hear the crack of the bat against the ball! Spring softball is just around the corner and it’s time to pay your fees online. The season starts March 13th. Once again, the CSSA board of directors has voted to keep fees at the affordable rate of $55.00 per player, per league for the 2023 Spring season. More than 90% of our 500+ members paid their fees online last fall, and it made for a smooth start to the season. Fees must be paid no later than March 4th.

Returning players, just click here to pay fees for the league(s) you play in: https://www.cssasoftball.org/product-category/uncategorized/

Please help us spread the word! Spring tryouts for new members ages 49+ will be held:
Saturday, February 25th 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Sunday, February 26th 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 4th 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Sunday, March 5th 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: The turf field adjacent to the Hobgood Park diamonds, accessible through the east entrance to the park, off Towne Lake Parkway. Here’s a map to tryouts:
https://www.teampages.com/photo_albums/150335-Map-to-Hobgood-Turf-Field--photo-album/album_photos/6339078

The CSSA gets stronger with each new member who joins our robust and active organization, so please tell a friend.

CSSA BOARD MEETING MINUTES
January 11, 2023

The first 2023 meeting of the CSSA Board of Directors was held January 11th, 2023, at Wicked
Wings, Kennesaw, and called to order by Norman Thiem at 6:50 P.M.
Board Members Present: Norman Thiem, Dick O’Connor, Mike Maguire, Dewey Hom, Maria
Burden, Bob Werner, Mike Parson, Leland Brown, Robbie Crider, John Humeston, Randy
Bergman and Steve Fleming.
Board Members Dan Bonham, James Bauch, Ray DeLuca were absent. Marty Aftewicz was a
guest.

A. Minutes of the November 7 , 2022 meeting, having been emailed to all, were Board
approved.
B. 2022 Sponsors: Most sponsors are returning for 2023, and some paid their sponsor
fees before the end of 2022, which was helpful for year-end financials. Door-2-Door,
Leaf Cremations, Becketts and AIMC are no longer sponsors. Latham Town Mules, TAC
and Mellow Mushroom are new sponsors. Woodstock Funeral Home returns as a
sponsor in 2023.
C. Treasurer/Financial Report: Norman Thiem presented a complete profit/loss report, a
balance sheet for year-end 2022 and a report of financial considerations for 2023. With
the cost of new jerseys in 2022, the organization shows a negative net income at
year-end, but this was a one time occurrence, and additional jerseys will only be required
for newly sponsored teams for 2023 so this will not be an ongoing issue.
D. CRPA Banquet: Eight board members will attend the annual CRPA Banquet January
19, 2023 to represent the CSSA.
E. Big Ball Indoor Softball Games at D-Bat Kennesaw: Mike Parson has organized
weekly recreational softball games at D-Bat Kennesaw. Emails will be sent out with info
for upcoming games/times. Using a 16” softball, this fun and fast-moving indoor game is
great fellowship and a way to stay fit and keep engaged in the game when practices are
not possible due to cold and/or rainy weather.
F. Spring 2023 Tryouts: Norman Thiem distributed informational business cards to board
members with dates and times for the tryouts. Cards will be handed out and/or posted to
get the word out. He also has signs in production which will be distributed to board
members for placement around the area to bring in as many new players as possible. As
previously decided, tryout dates are February 25th & 26th from 12-2 p.m. and March 4th
and 5th from 12-2 p.m., at the turf fields behind Hobgood Park. Directional signs will
be posted along Towne Lake Parkway to ensure that new players can find the location
on tryout days. Information will also be posted on the NextDoor App. CSSA has
established a new phone number for interested new players to call for info on tryouts:
(770) 400-9121.
G. 2023 Player Fees: As of January 1st, the online payment portal at
https://www.cssasoftball.org/product-category/uncategorized/ is ready for acceptance of
Spring 2023 player fees, and to date, 27 players have paid their Spring 2023 fees online.
All returning players are encouraged to pay their fees online ASAP, and should
definitely pay fees by March 4th. Managers should be reminding returning players to
pay fees online as directed above.
H. Proposed Rule Change: Dick offered a proposed rule change to move the pitching
screen closer to the pitcher (from 15 feet to 14 feet). After a discussion, the proposal was
rejected by unanimous consensus.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. The next BOD meeting will be Wednesday, February 8th at
6:30 p.m. at Wild Wings, Kennesaw.

CSSA BOARD MEETING
November 7, 2022

The monthly meeting of the CSSA was held 11-07-22, at Wicked Wings, Kennesaw, and called to order by Norm Thiem at 6:30 PM.
Members present: Ray DeLuca, Dick O’Connor, Norm Thiem, Mike Parson, John Humeston, Robbie Crider, Bob Werner, Randy Bergman, Leland Brown, Dewey Hom, Mike McGuire, Dan Bonham and Steve Fleming.
Absent: Maria Schell Burden and James Bauch

A. Minutes from 10-3-22 were discussed and approved.
B. Discussed current financial status of the league including the awards banquet, trophies, league rental fees, championship shirts, softball inventory, uniforms, etc. After everything is paid by years end, the league will have a balance of approx. $2000. Therefore, the league fees will remain at $55 per player for 2023.
C. Sponsor fees will be increased to $400 per year beginning in 2023, due to price increases in softballs, field rental, new uniforms, umpires, scorekeepers, etc. However, if sponsor fees are paid prior to January 1st, the fee will be $350.
D. Discussed current sponsors, those that are leaving and new sponsors that have already expressed interest for 2023. We are still looking for at least 3 more new sponsors to come into the CSSA.
E. The awards banquet will be held on 11-15-22. Currently there are 97 people registered along with 25 sponsors. The BOD has decided to add a few extra seats to bring the total to 132.
During the banquet the BOD’s will present the American Homeless Veterans with 2 checks of $1750 each, and $1000 to the City of Refuge.
F. A huge thanks goes out to Tom Cameron for his continued great work in organizing and heading up the fall golf tournament.
G. Calendar of 2023 events:
1. Tryouts/evaluations will take place on Saturday & Sunday February 25th & 26th and March 4th & 5th
2. Open practice will be held March 6th – 11th
3. Opening of spring season will be Monday, March 13th.
H. Winners for the Arnold Fowler, Lowell Lawson and Jeff Nichols Awards were certified for 2022, and winners will be announced and presented at the banquet.
I. Due to the Christmas holidays, and also being a slow time for the league, the next BOD meeting will be held on Monday, 1-10-23.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM

Hey CSSA friends, don’t miss your chance to attend the 2022 Awards Banquet on Tuesday, November 15th! Tickets are just $25 per person and on sale now. The November 6th ticket sales deadline is fast approaching! This years’ event promises to be fun, delicious, festive and full of good fellowship. Relive the season highlights with your teammates, help out Toys for Tots, and maybe even win a door prize! Get your tickets now at:
https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/ .

Michael Fortenberry of Orb Design and Manufacturing, Inc. would like you all to know that they have some great opportunities for part time work! They would like to hire some retired folks—players, wives, etc. for some interesting jobs. Here are their requirements:

1. Wanted, a retired machinist who could do assembly of mechanical items and would be willing to learn to operate and maintain a water jet. Would like someone willing to work a couple of days a week, occasionally more. Woodstock area.

2 Wanted, someone to do bench type electrical assembly work, building cable assemblies and wire harnesses. Prefer someone with wire crimping experience and soldering would be a plus. Requirement is for part to full time with flexible work hours. Some experience required. Woodstock area.

Please contact Michael Fortenberry at 770 926 9991 for more information.