Meeting Minutes 02/11/08

Meeting Minutes

Cataldo Division Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 11, 2008

Sportsman’s Club
644 Englemore Road
Clifton Park

The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Jerry Smith at 6:00 p.m. In attendance were: Barry Plunkett, Jerry Smith, Wally Lozano, Jack Postulka, Bob Janes, Bob Swayne, Ron Hoffman, Nick Walsh, Tony Longobardo, Bob Kibbey, Kurt Daigel, Bill Kloc, Ed Plew, Dale Meyers.

Committee Reports:

Player Counts by Conference

Jerry Smith stated he and Bill Kloc were working on tabulating and preparing a list based on the Survey and post survey polling together with registration returns to date. Jerry said that the Spagnola Conference (High Arc) had 45 – 48 players lined up to date and he felt there would be no problem in establishing 13 man rosters for the 4 teams. He said the Falzo Conference (Modified Pitch) had 52 – 55 players lined up – more than enough for 13 man rosters for 4 teams and a Reserve List. Kurt Daigel, Nick Walsh and Ron Hoffman requested publication of a list of the High Arc players in order to review player choices. Jerry said he was working on the list and wanted to make it as accurate and complete as possible before requesting Larry Young, League Webmaster, to post it on the League website.

Managers

Jerry outlined the Managers for the Spagnola Conference: Anaconda – Wally Lozano, CSI – Jack Postulka, Ravenswood – Gary Hunter, Sportsman’s Club – Brad Buchan.

Jerry stated Rich Pavone was the only manager to date in the Falzo Conference and three vacancies needed to be filled.

Bob Swayne stated he wanted to be a managerial candidate and he was unanimously welcomed as a candidate by all assembled. Other managerial candidates are still needed as well as a liaison/representative for the conference. Jerry stated all candidates would have to be approved by the Cataldo Division Executive Committee which consists of the 5 present Cataldo managers who served in that capacity last season – Hunter (Ravenswood – Spagnola), Buchan (Sportsman’s Club – Spagnola), Postulka (CSI – Spagnola), Lozano (Anaconda – Spagnola) and Pavone (Strecks – Falzo). Jerry said that he had received several inquiries concerning the present voting authority for managers and team reps since ’07 teams of last season are technically dissolved. Jerry stated that the 5 managers of last season who want to manage in ’08 still retain their managerial capacity to vote and act as the Executive Committee for the League and the Cataldo Division. The team reps for the new ’08 season have of course not been selected as yet. Jerry emphasized that potential Falzo managerial candidates should announce their intentions to be a managerial candidate ASAP so that the Cataldo Div. Exec. Comm. can vote on approval for the remaining Falzo Conf. teams. Jerry stated that managerial candidates are approved by the Exec. Comm. pursuant to authority under the league rules and bylaws.

Tony Longobardo suggested Mark Galeo as a potential sponsor and manager. Jerry said he has indicated a preference for High Arc but he can opt out if he so wishes. Jerry made it clear that all league players were not locked into their initial format choices but could change it up and to the time of the draft and formation of the teams for the ’08 season.

Schedule

Jerry outlined that April 26 is the season starting date with 2/4 Team Conferences. Three teams will play each other six times for a total of 18 games. Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day will be off days. Thursday will be for night games, June 5th – July 31st starting at 6:00 p.m. One field will be available from June 5 – July 31st and two fields from July 31st on Thursday nights. Playoffs will be scheduled for two weeks - September 13 – 20th.

Jack Postulka suggested cutting the schedule down to 15 games and having a double elimination playoff. Pro and Con discussion developed over Thursday night games contending with traffic and player availability et al. Dale Meyers said he had difficulty putting a team on the field on Thursday nights.

Jerry said he wanted to avoid lags or holes in the schedule resulting in situations where his team had two straight weeks off without playing. Jack Postulka agreed saying the byes also gave him problems in establishing team and player availability where the schedule created these open dates.

Rules – High Arc

Jerry stated that the High Arc Conference was working on its rules and that the Modified Conference will have their own say. He outlined several samples utilized by other sanctioned associations:

1. Pitching Arc – 6’ – 12’ Arc
2. Strike Out Rule: 3 Fouls a strike out; 2 Fouls permitted on two strikes – 3rd foul is a strike-out. Jerry said this rule is implemented to speed up play and move the game along more quickly.

Replacement Players

Discussion was initiated by Jerry Smith and Kurt Daigel concerning the procedures utilized last year. Bill Kloc and Dale Meyers offered good thoughts to avoid abuses in this area and Kurt Daigel stated the Player Placement Committee should have jurisdiction on this issue.

Jack Postulka moved to have the Player Placement Committee put in charge over player substitutes and notifying managers accordingly. Tony Longobardo seconded and the motion was passed by unanimous agreement without dissents.

Jerry stated that base paths lengths for High Arc games would be 65 feet and the pitching mound 46 – 50 feet from the plate with pitcher having the option of starting five feet in back of same.

It was agreed by all assembled that there would not be any forfeiture and if on game day the PPC was not available, the managers would have to agree on substitution choices or play with what they had. It was further agreed that a player having a replacement (rating/value) equal to or lower than the substitution did not need the approval of a manager.

Team Assignments by Conference

The High Arc Teams and Managers were outlined in Paragraph #2 above for the Spagnola Conference. The Falzo Conference had only Strecks lined up to date. Jerry stated that a Sponsor Meeting is needed and that this work should have been developed in October – November as soon as the regular season ended. Jerry said this is very important to establish color combos for team hats and uniforms with those of last year in order to secure an expense savings if possible.

Field Assignments

In order to secure playing dimensions for the High Arc Division it was established that Field #3 would be designated for High Arc play. This field could be outfitted for the 65’ base paths, 55’ pitcher’s mound and plugs and sockets to facilitate the base changeover. Jerry said the Town of Clifton Park has agreed to this. Jerry explained that Field #1 had size constraints with shorter outfield dimensions and Field #2 was deemed to be the best of the three fields. Jerry said President Mike Rager agreed with the field designation for High Arc.

Request to Town for Field Work

The Town will continue to add mix and fill on the fields as per last year and will cover the dugouts.

Jerry asked for suggestions from those assembled and stated he will pass them on to the Town of Clifton Park (Mike) accordingly. Jerry stated 3 sets of soft touch bases ($200. per set) are needed. Wally Lozano advised that the double base is a separate purchase item.

Old Business:

Jerry advised he had convinced the Town of Clifton Park to hold the field fees for our League to that of last year - $1,980 with the further agreement to revise the fees/contract for next year. This was done by negotiating with the Town and convincing them to re-calculate our fees based on our $ supply investment and sweat equity in maintaining the fields, together with our hourly use of the fields.

Jerry discussed the registration fee increase which was necessitated by cost avoidance on the potential field fee increase (double last year’s $1,980) and equipment/supplies/umpire/ price and fee increases. Jerry said any savings on the increase can be applied to the benefit of all league players such as a reduction in the cost for the banquet and/or a midseason BBQ at the Elks.

New Business:

Jerry led the discussion that the makeup schedule should be reviewed and set up by League Rule. He said that the makeup game should be played the next day (Sun.) and no later than the next Sun. following same. The two managers need to confer and this should be built into a League rule.

Tryout dates will be scheduled the week before Opening Day (April 26th) and there will be separate tryouts for HA and MP. The tryout committee will make the necessary information calls to all tryout candidates.

Bill Kloc explained that a talent based tryout means, for example, that if there are 48 openings and 50 try out – the best talent will be selected and 2 will be placed on the reserve list.

Bill said that depending on the talent and number of players available, new teams can be added for each division/conference – that his philosophy is that all avenues should be initiated to give everybody a spot on a team to play.

Jerry stated that we had received the Fed. Tax Exempt Certificate as well as the NYS Tax Exempt Certificate. We are still in the process of securing Sales Tax Exemption to date and he would follow up on the Charity Exemption ($25.00 fee to secure it). Further, Jerry explained he sent the letter Grant request for 2008 with our $ amount request of $7,500.

Jerry Smith and Bill Kloc discussed two potential indoor facilities to initiate early Winter/Spring Training. The All Stars Academy on Route 2 (across from K’Mart) owned and operated by former League player, Don Smith and Frozen Ropes (Commercial Place in Albany). Calls should be placed for the fee schedules, facility availability and hours.

Comm. Smith called for a motion to adjourn and Wally Lozano made the motion; Ed Plew and Tony Longobardo seconded and the motion was approved and passed. Com. Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Barry C. Plunkett
Sec./Mgr. of Documents