News and Announcements
OTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
April 27, 2004 @ 12:30PM at Eagle 2 Diner in Millsboro DE
Present: Pres. Meredith, VP Corrallo, Sec. Mair, Treas. Neyen, Slack, Smith, Towson, Stradley, Clements, Myers, Bowman, Allen, Williams, Cavalluzzo, Rendina, Bokop, Woods
Current balance in OTS Treasury is $8,445.83. The spaghetti dinner cleared about $2300.
The league has two sponsors and two patrons. Ocean View Deli will sponsor the Gold team and Dynamic Physical Therapy will sponsor the Blue team. An 8th team is will be sponsored by Wells Fargo. The Maroon team will morph to the Teal team.
Over 100 people have signed up for this season.
Several motions were presented, discussed, and voted upon:
1. That the 2004 OTS League consist of 7 teams
5 for, 5 against, 1 abstention - motion failed
2. That the 2004 OTS League consist of 8 teams. Teams must have 9 players to play a game (own players and borrowed); the opposing team will supply a catcher when the opposing team is at bat. When a team has 10 players to play a game, the opposing team will again supply a catcher.
Motion passed unanimously
3. (Indian River High School will not be available until June 21.)
The season will consist of 32 game dates, split into two sections of 16 dates. For the first half of the season (until c. 7/2/04), OTS will use the Millsboro (M&T Bank) field for 2 games and the Georgetown (Sports at the Beach) complex for 2 games each on game days; for the second half of the season (starting c. 7/05/04), OTS will use the Millsboro and IRHS fields for 2 games each on game days. A schedule has been sent to all on this listing and will be posted at the fields. It will also be available for downloading on the web site.
7 for, 3 against, 1 abstention - motion passed
Jim Stradley said he is retiring; George Towson/Ron Allen will manage the Green team.
Rick Barry will be asked to manage the 8th team and select an assistant. (Note: He was called and has accepted the job)
Players who were not assigned to a team during the regular summer 2003 season ("new players") are to practice/scrimmage at Millsboro Tues. May 4 starting at 10AM. Managers and assistants will attend for evaluation purposes. All other registered players will practice in Georgetown that day.
Because an 8th team needs to be formed, a fairly extensive draft is necessary.
Additional motions were presented, discussed, and voted upon:
1. That there be a complete draft. Prior to the complete draft, each team will consist of 2 players the manager and the assistant
5 for, 5 against, 1 abstention - motion failed
1. That each of the current 7 teams will consist of 4 players - the manager, assistant, and 2 players protected from its 2003 regular summer season roster. The new team will consist of its manager, assistant, and 2 players who are not protected/are "new."
9 for, 1 against, 1 abstention - motion passed
The draft will be held at a 1PM meeting of the Board of Directors on Tues. May 4 at VFW 7234.
Meeting adjourned at 2:20PM.
Harriet Mair
League Secretary
OTS GENERAL MEETING
Bethany Town Hall
Feb. 18, 2004
The annual general meeting of OTS participants and prospects was called to order by President Gary Meredith at 7:05PM.
President Meredith updated the attendees as follows:
1) 55 player registrations have been received; in a non-binding poll, most players want to keep teams basically as is.
2) 4 teams have sponsors; 3 or 4 more are needed @ $300/yr. Patron level is $100. Sponsors and patrons will be featured on the OTS web-page.
3) OTS plans to field 4 teams (55, 60, 65, 70) in the fall DE Senior Olympics; this is a qualifying year for the ’05 National Senior Games.
4) The ’04 OTS budget is $6300. Copies were distributed. Insurance is required by M & T Bank and Indian River HS.
5) OTS will have a PO Box in 2004.
6) Practice starts in April.
7) Part-time/occasional players will pay $35, not be assigned to a team, not get a shirt and hat, but will be the first players called on as subs.
8) OTS will have a rain #.
Mike Carta, Senior Olympic/Tournament Chair, presented a rundown of known tournaments. Olney MD hosts tournaments in May (for 55’s and 60’s) and in July (for 65’s and 70’s). OTS plans to send a team in each category. Mike suggested that OTS host a tournament - perhaps in August at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown.
At its last meeting, the OTS Board discussed eliminating playoffs, play more league games, and allow for rain date/make-ups at the end of the season. Attendees at this meeting rejected the idea. After considerable discussion, Ron Weber moved the following: the OTS schedule will be divided into 1st half and 2nd half; at the end of 1st half play, the Executive Board will assess team balance and make adjustments as needed; the 1st half champion will play the 2nd half champion in a single championship game. Seconded by Frank Whaples. Approved.
Nick Spalaris shared the plans for the Night League.
Sal Corrallo presented April ’04 spring training plans. Practice starts April 6 and continues on Tuesdays and Fridays 10AM-12 noon. Both Millsboro (M&T Bank) and Georgetown (Sports at the Beach) will be utilized. Players may go to either venue until their manager advises them differently.
Ron Weber reported on the improvements scheduled for the M&T Bank field prior to spring training.
In April, OTS will decide where to play League games.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM.
Harriet Mair
OTS Secretary
Report on the February 11 OTS Board Meeting. Compiled by Sal Corrallo
The meeting was held in the Ocean View VFW post and hosted by Pete Rendina.
All were reminded that the 2004 Players Meeting will be held in the Ocean View Town Hall on February 18 at 7:00 PM. Plans for the 2004 season will be presented for comment. This will include a proposed 2004 budget prepared by Bill Neyen and approved by the Board on February 11, 2004. It was expected that all teams would have a formal sponsor. Currently we have four sponsors and need from three to four more. The cost of sponsoring a team is $300.00. This includes the name on the jersey, on the web page as a team in the standings, and on the web under sponsors. The sponsor listing will include their business description, location, address, telephone number and web page.
Discussion was held on the potential games and make up of 2004 Tournament Teams. First, discussion was held as to make up of Tournament teams. OTS will form one team from each division, using the best players available. OTS players (and those in the night league), when invited, are encouraged to play on OTS uniformed and managed team. Currently OTS fields three teams, one each in the 60-64, 65-69, and 70+ divisions. A 55-59 team was also fielded but not uniformed by OTS in 2003, but uniforms are available for 2004. Players on tournament teams are provided with a hat they may keep once but must return the jersey each year. In 2003 OTS player John Brandau, who will also manage in 2004, managed it. . For 2004, the 60-64 team will be managed by Glen Chisholm, the 65-69 Team by Gary Meredith, and the 70+ Team by Jim Stradley. Assistant managers have not been named.
Mike Carta serves as the OTS Tournament Identifier and Scheduler. In the fall of 2004,the Delaware Senior Olympics will be held in Dover in September of October. This year’s games will serve as a qualifier for the National Senior Games to be held in Pittsburgh PA in the late spring in 2005. Carta also reported that the 65-69 and 70+ Teams have been invited to play on July 25 in Olney Maryland. He is trying to get an invitation for the 60-64 team. The Board decided not to play in this year's Eastern Shore Games on April 23-24, due to the lack of competition and fees. Carta was asked to look into a tournament held up state in the same time period, as well as other possible tournament sites. It was also suggested that we might want to consider sponsoring our own tournament in the new Sports at the Beach facility.
Plans are for Spring training will be held in the new Sports at the Beach playing fields on Route 9 just east of Georgetown on the way to Lewes. Three fields are being made available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12 noon. Direction to the field will be distributed at the Players meeting and will be posted on the web site.
Gary reported on the results of the player’s survey from about 40 players. The results will be updated at the Players meeting.
It was agreed that unless a player can commit to playing a full schedule with the team he is assigned. That he should be classified as a permanent sub. He will receive no uniform and will be charged $35.00 for the season. Permanent subs will be the first players selected when a team is short. If no players are needed, for the games at hand, the player can wait for another game, but in any there will be no guarantee the player will play on any given day, if there is no need for a substitute.
A proposed schedule for eight teams was distributed with a listing of playing dates. A final schedule will not be developed until teams are selected. In case of an odd number of teams, double headers will be scheduled on any given day for one team to play the team who would ordinarily not be scheduled to play. There will be no playoffs in 2004. However dates will be held open at the end of the year to make up rained out games
Copies of the by laws are in the handouts section of the web page. A limited number will be provided to the managers and officers and will be available for review at the Players Meeting.
The league will be getting U S Postal Box in the near future. (It was also suggested to Gary after the meeting that OTS look into the renting of a small storage unit for uniforms and other equipment)
The final order of business was the review of the managers 2003 rating of players. Each player was rated from, a low of one to a high of four, on four criteria: hitting, running, fielding, and throwing. A total high of 16 points to a low of 4 points resulted for each player. The points for each player will used to equalize the strength of each team if we maintain existing teams or form new teams through the draft.
Minutes of the January 14 meeting of the OTS Board
The meeting was held in the Ocean View Town Hall on January 14, 2004. League President Gary Meredith presiding. All 2003 Teams were represented along with the officers and a few players.
Plans for the fund raising spaghetti dinner were discussed. Tickets have been sent with the 2004 registration materials. Each is asked to sell four tickets. 450 are the planning number. We will request the use of the lower level, if the need arises. There will be two seatings. One at 4:30 and the other at 6:00pm. All OTS players attending are asked to help either in the setup early dinner phase or the late dinner clean up phase. Sal Corrallo will be collecting names over the next few months. Be prepared to sign up at the February 18 General meeting to be held in the Bethany Beach Town Hall at 7:00 PM. Gary will collect fees for both events. There will also be two 50-50 drawings. One drawing will be held for the early seating and another for the late seating. Posters will be distributed at the February 18 meeting.
Treasurer Bill Neyen will draw up an operating budget for 2004. It will not include one-time capital expenses such as the Millsboro field improvement work. He will also order extra home scoring plates and strike plate extensions.
Gary reported that the insurance for 2004 season has been paid. However OTS teams have not been registered with the Amateur Softball Association as yet. The league will follow ASA rules for 2004. A .44 yellow optic ball will be used on a trial bases for 2004. Bats banned by ASA will not be allowed.
Sponsors for teams are still being solicited. Three teams currently have a sponsor. (VFW 7234, one of our longest and biggest supporters, is one of them) Five more sponsors are being solicited. Archie Alexander showed the plaque presented to sponsors. It includes a Jersey, a Senior Olympic Medal, and a certificate. Sponsors are also to be listed on the OTS web page with additional information on their business. A link to their web page, if any, will also be included in the $300.00 contribution. Contact Archie at 302 226 8381, if you have any hot leads. Archie also discussed publicity plans for 2004, including leaflets to be distributed through churches, Mediacom and Comcast announcements, newspaper articles and TV station spots.
The Board spent a considerable amount of time going over and amending the league by laws. A Revised Version will be posted within a week (by January 21) on the web site under Handouts. The by-laws may be downloaded and printed. Hard copies will be available for those without an Internet connection and will be available at the Feb 18 meeting.
The league will again play on Tuesday and Friday. It is uncertain where games will be played at this time. Spring training will be a problem as all players come together. However it was suggested that we use the new Sports at the Beach on Route 9 south of Georgetown for April 6 opening of spring training since Millsboro is the only place available but is too small for that month. Arrangements are being made to use three fields so that all players may come at the same time. No work has been done on the Millsboro Field. The contract calls for work to be completed by the end of February. Practice continues on Tuesday and Friday when the temperature and/or wind chill is 45 degrees or more. League play will begin on May 4.
The next meeting of the Board will be in Feburary to consider team makeup and playing fields to be used.
The Officers and Managers/Assistant Managers met on DEC 3 at 9:00 am in the Ocean View Town Hall on West Street Ocean View. A brief report follows.
1. The fund raising Spaghetti Dinner will be held on April 16 2004 at the VFW Post in Ocean View, the same location as last year. The cost is $8.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 12. It begins at 4:30 goes on until 7:00pm. Each OTS member will be provided with four tickets to sell. OTS members will be asked to serve on the organizing committee and at the dinner. Members are asked to let Sal Corrallo know of your availability. Tickets and flyers are being prepared. They will be sent out with the 2004 registration materials in January. Vicki York of Remax Realtors will again have the tickets printed and donated to OTS. All monies raised will go into the OTS General Fund for use as necessary. More later.
2. 2004 registration letters will be sent in January to all 2002 and 2003 registered athletes. The fee will remain at $45.00. Players are asked to return their forms by February 15, 2004. There will be a general meeting of all players on Feburary 18 in the Bethany Beach Town Hall beginning at 7:00 pm to go over plans for the 2004 season.
3. The league will again be play by the rules of and be insured by the American Softball Association. Gary Meredeth will file the papers for 2004. As a result the balls to be used for 2004 will have a core of .44 instead of .47. The color of the ball will be optic yellow. The remaining unused .47 balls will be used in practice. Only ASA approved bats will be allowed. ((Note see the latest information on approved and disapproved bats in another news item.)
4. A report on the work to be done on the M&T Field was presented by Ron Weber. He said the contractor has promised the work will be done by February 1, 2004. The contract for $1200 has been signed by all parties. New bases will be installed and a plywood board will be made for home plate extended. Ron is also planning on doing some work in the outfield once the infield is resurfaced. Players will be asked to assist him. Players are asked to let him know if they are willing to help. (Call him at 537-2004.)
5. Archie Alexander again noted the sponsors are needed at $300.00 per team. One day league team, the Grey team, is sponsored by the VFW. In addition to placing their name on the Jersey, they will be cited on the web pages with their business information and address, phone number and web site. Players are encouraged to let Archie know of interested sponsors. (Phone number 226-8381).
6. A brief discussion was held on the number and make up of teams for 2004. No decision has been made as the process for organizing teams. A final decision will probably not be made until mid-April when the number of returning and new players can be determined. A brief discussion was also held on the use of playing fields. The M&T Field is the only field available that meets the tournament playing field standards, for example to the Delaware Senior Olympics. No decision was made on fields for 2004.
7. The next meeting of the Officers and Managers will be held on January 14, 2004 at 9:00 am in the Ocean View Town Hall. Player ratings and playing rules will be discussed.
