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Meeting for October 13, 2009
Questions about fundraising, considering our non-profit status.
Charitable work fundraisers for community could help improve image of GKMSA.
Questions about Fair Point Bill / Charges
Questions about the cost of Brown Field.
Discussion of 2 teams
- Suggestion - can go down one league only
- No C-1 can play below
Discussion of Open Pitching -
- restricted list suggested
- Open pitching down to D1 (top 3 divisions) Majority
in favor, no exact count listed in the minutes.
Should League adapt a "games played" requirement for the playoffs?
Wooden Bat League suggested
Poll on the website for wooden bats
Age Limit discussed
Suggested even # of teams for the playoffs
8 players to start a game
ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS FOR THE 2010 SEASON.
PRESIDENT - Rick Duquette 13 votes, Rob Goodell 9 votes, Jeff Castor 6 votes,
Chuck Beauregard 5 votes
VICE PRESIDENT - Scott Goulet 21 votes, Chuck Beauregard 9 votes
SECRETARY - Gordie Daniels, 18 votes, JP Cavalo 13 votes
TREASURER - David Kochman, unopposed
UIC - Tim Lepisto, by previous vote of the umpires, approved by the board for
the term
Meeting Adjourned.
Meeting for December 1, 2009
Discussion of Umpire raises for the upcoming 2010. It was presented by the UIC, and the Treasurer informed the board that it would call for a $6,000 increase in costs to the league for 2010 with the $5 per game increase, from the current $30 game to $35 per game per umpire. More research was determined and a vote was put off until the future meeting with constitution and by-law changes.
Meeting nights were scheduled, as follows:
Jan 5 - first binder night (by-law, constitution review and
pitching/bat discussions)
Jan 19 - second binder night & board meeting night
Feb 16 - Final Fee night, and roster turn in. Rm 22
Mar 2 - Placement night
Mar 9 - Complaint night
Apr 13 - Package Night
Apr 23 - Opening night (tentative, weather permit)
Paul Wilcox volunteered to call teams in the divisions for a reminder
Gordon Daniels to call all division reps for the board meeting
It was discussed and decided teams MUST turn in a roster with at least 9 names,
2 contact(s) with numbers (non work numbers), and email addresses
Letter to invite the Mayor, and discussion about singer for the National Anthem
Discussion also about organizing a House Committee
Re-affirm Umps must call in scores, to all games DAILY enable to keep schedule current.
DATES for Tournaments discussed:
Walt - May 15 & 16
Stans - June 5 & 6 (D2 & D3 ONLY)
E States - Aug 6-8
D States - July 16 & 17
C States - Concord - Aug 13-15
Ranking of pitchers, if divisions have open pitching. Established.
Meeting for January 5, 2010
All Executive and Board members present, except for John Driscoll and ump rep Ron Bush.
Pitching Topic:
Discussing about upper divisions
Open pitching from D1 & up
Ranking pitchers, new & old
C1 pitchers: Scott Goulet, Billy Hopkins, Kevin Russell, Rob Allen, & Brett Ouelette
Players on Multiple rosters: 2 TEAMS (Mens) ONLY & 1 Sr. TEAM
for a possible max of 3. Unanimously decided.
Board of Directors took an informal vote and voted 6-4 to open the top division,
6-4 to open C2, and 6-4 (opposed) to leave D1 closed.
The board reserved the right to change these findings, as this night was not the
meeting for constitution, and by-law changes and decisions.
The board did decide, unanimously, that the ball was going to change to the
Diamond of the same caliber as of the Worth from previous years. The
ball will remain white, 375 compression and 44 core.
The board decided to re-convene on Thursday Jan 14, 2010.
January 14, 2010 Meeting - Cancelled due to illnesses and one member out of town.
January 19, 2010 Meeting -- CONSTITUTION & BY_LAW MEETING
IN ATTENDENCE: all 5 execs (Duquette, Kochman,
Lepisto, Goulet, Daniels)
Board of
Directors Nat Johnson, Richard St. Pierre, Jeff Castor, Ump Rep Ron
Bush, Adv Paul Wilcox
Pitching Debate continues. Official vote with for the By-Laws /
Constitution.
C1 - Open pitching (with a restricted list) by a unanimous vote.
C2 & Lower - Bowling motion pitching style, by a 7-4
vote.
Ball - Diamond, white synthetic cover, 44 core 375 compression, all agreed to contact RJ's and one other source for pricing and availability. If RJ's is compatible with last year's prices and other sources prices, all in agreement to keep the business local and continue to purchase the balls from RJ Sports.
Bats - will need to update the list to include the 2010 models of Worth, Louisville & Demarini's that comply with our specifications.
BY-LAWS
Art 2 Sec
3 Paying on time or early will reduce League Fees (to be decided in
October Meeting)
Art 3 Sec
6 ... , and written report in 48 hours. (Discussed
- no changes)
Art 4 Sec
5 Discussion - no changes
Art 5 Sec
2A Discussion - no changes
Art 7 Sec
6 Make-Ups - Discussion
Board decided not to make a change at this time, however, there will be a
stricter enforcement of
Make-up games this season. It was discussed that teams MAY be given
an opportunity to refuse
once on grounds of work schedules / wedding schedules, etc. at the discretion of
the VP. There will
be no allowance for a second refusal on ANY grounds. The Board
will plan make-up weekends,
which will be enforced this season.
Art 9
-- Discussion, no changes.
Art 7 Sec
8 Needs to read $64 instead of $60, due to the Umpire increase in
pay for 2010 in the Const.
CONSTITUTION
Art 3 Sec
1 Discussion, no changes
Art 3, Sec
4 Discussion on raising pay of the Secretary position to equal that
of the President
& Treasurer. Treasurer confirmed cost of this would inhibit the
league by approx $700
depending on the max number of teams probable. Board unanimously
approved.
Art 3, Sec
6 Umpires pay increase discussed. Points discussed about
spreading between the next two
seasons, 2010 & 2011. A one year hit to the budget would be too
detrimental to the
GKMSA surplus. By spreading over two seasons, the league would be
able to better
accomidate this loss by increasing league and/or player fees in the 2011
season. It was
mentioned that the umpires have had no pay raise in at least the 4 previous
seasons. Vote
unanimously in favor of the two year plan; increase to $32 for 2010,
and $35 for 2011.
Art 4 --
Discussion, no changes
Art 5 Sec
3 Move to change to one signature only, to aid Treasurer in paying
bills in a timely fashion.
Unanimous vote in favor of this.
Jeff Castor also made several preposals, including "primary roster"
signing, allowing playing down only 1 division lower, only allowing pitchers to
pitch in their "primary" division, only one player from a team serving
on the board, Weekend games, Umpire evaluation. All were discussed
and will be considered for future meetings.
Also -- Discussion about an End of the Season Banquet. Will be re-evaluated at future meetings.
Meeting ajourned.
February 23, 2010 Meeting -- TEAM/DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT NIGHT
Teams placed. Collection of unpaid dues and rosters discussed.
March 9, 2010 Meeting -- COMPLAINT NIGHT
Achilles - Moved up from Division 4 to Division 3.
MVS - Asked for move from Division 2 to Division 3. Executive Board stated Division 2 was created for strongest teams outside of the Open division, with MVS being one of those teams. Request denied.
Markem-Imaje - Asked to move from Division 4 to Division 5, as Kevin Kouvinen stated Markem is a company team of a non-competitive nature. Markem was required to drop an add-on from an upper league team, Pelkey, and then the move to Division 5 is granted.
Chabott Oil - Asked to move from Division 2 to Division 3. Executive Board felt team was competitive within the division placed, and also team has been successful on all levels for several years. Request Denied. Then after further review and written request from Eric Burbank, request was granted.
Bedaw Plumbing - Moved from Division 4 to Division 5, after Executive Board discussion.
Bergeron Construction - Requested move from Division 3 to Division 4. Argument by team that team had suffered two consective losing seasons. Executive Board felt additions of Emmond (pitcher) and Bell (ss) would make the team competitive in Division 3. Request Denied.
Hinsdale Conv. - Requested move from Division 1 to Division 2; Not enough to compete with other teams in Division 1, and Executive Board agreed. Request Granted.
McDougall's - Required to drop 2 A/B level players to stay in Division 1, and maintain some parity.
O'Brien Painting - Requested adding 2 players, dropping 1. Board approved as team is in Division 1 with mostly "untested" players.
Board also held meeting to formally decide that Division 1 is a 9 Player division, and pitching is Open, with a Restricted List. This list is at the Board's discretion, and can be modified at anytime.
Revised Pitching Restricted List, as of May 1, 2010
Division I - Scott Goulet, Bill Hopkins, Kevin Russell, Wiley Billings.
Division II & Lower - Rob Allen, Brett Ouellette, Matt Bemis, Tom Maynard
April 13, 2010 Meeting -- PACKET NIGHT
Approximately 60% of the teams showed up to pick up packets.
June 9, 2010 Meeting -- Arbitration Meeting with complete Board of Directors
First case - Mark Beaulieau
Incident occured during a game on June 4, 2010 at Brown field between Kmeics
& Peerless Srs., during a Senior League game. Discussion from
Umpires present at the game, Tim Lepisto & Chuck Beauregard, and witnesses who were
present at the game stated that Mark Beaulieau using the f-word repeatedly in loud
& yelling tones, directed at several sources including the umpires, players, & fans,
and also threatened a fan. Although a written record of previous
situations with Mr. Beaulieau could not be brought to the meeting, it was
indicated and acknowledge by several at the meeting that Mr. Beaulieau has not
been well behaved in the past on several occasions. Mr. Beaulieau
did not wish to address the Board of Directors and said nothing on his own
behalf; the coach of Kmeics did submit a letter apologizing for the
actions of the player. Combined with the
severity of the outburst on June 4, the Board UNANIMOUSLY voted in favor to
suspend Mark Beaulieau for the remainder of the 2010 season for all teams and
divisions within the GKMSA. Also with this comes two requirements -
a lifetime probation period following the 2010 season, should Mr. Beaulieau
decided to play in the GKMSA in the future, and a public letter of apology to
the League, Umpires, and the fans for the behavior on June 4.
Second case - Terran Haskins
Playing for Better Homes & Gardens on June 1, Mr. Haskins addressed the
umpires with several f-words, on the field; to umpires Ron Bush & Deb
Cornell. Mr. Haskins has never been before the Board before, and
although Mr. Haskins used foul language was ejected in the 5th inning, the
umpires felt it was due to Mr. Haskins competitiveness, and not a personality
conflict. A three game suspension was discussed, which was amended
down to one game, as Mr. Haskins spoke on his own behalf and showed remorse for
his actions and apologized to the League and Umpires. Also included
was a probationary period for the rest of the season, if Mr. Haskins appears in
front of the board again he will receive a one year suspension.
June 22, 2010 Meeting -- Arbitration Meeting with Board of Directors - Mark Beaulieau Appeal
Board convened at 5pm to hear an appeal from Mark Beaulieau, and both of the teams he plays for, Fenton's Auto Sales & Kmeics. Mark submitted a letter of apology and also apologized publicly to the Board and specifically to Tim Lepisto, the UIC and one of the umpires at the June 4 game where the incident occured.
Rick Duquette (President) also read a letter from Carlton Croteau for an appeal of the suspension, stating that he believed it was too harsh. It was also brought up in the letter that this was Mark Beaulieau's first offense; however, discussion among the board at BOTH the previous meeting and this meeting revealed that although Mark Beaulieau had never formally been brought before the board before (to the current board's knowledge), that Mark had been involved in confrontations (with umpires) in the past, including the infamous "passed ball" incident.
Mark Beaulieau's longevity & his devotion to the game, including as a player for several teams, including travel teams, and also his contributions as a sponsor at one time were taken into consideration for a reduction; and also the amount of time already missed for both teams combined, as well as this being the first FORMAL time Mark has been written up - with this in mind the board elected to reduce the penalty down to 12 games total. Considering Mark has served 8 to this point, he is to miss the next 2 games for each team he plays for. The lifetime probationary period remains in effect upon Mark's return to play. Should Mark Beaulieau be written up again, he will receive a suspension for the remainder of that current year plus the following season.
July 8, 2010 Meeting -- Arbitration Meeting with Board of Directors - Scott Cashman
Board of Directors Attendence: Rick Duquette, Tim Lepisto, Scott Goulet, Richard St. Pierre, Ron Johnson, Nate Johnson, Chuck Beauregard
First Subject: Voted unanimously to change that members of the Board of Directors can vote on all issues in the league except if the matter pertains to their own team.
Second Subject: Scott Cashman. A letter was written by Joe Walho about the actions of Scott Cashman during a game. It said Scott completely lost control and the f-bomb was said many times at umpire Beauregard. Scott came to the meeting and apologized many times, and showed complete remorse. He said he was completely embarassed of his action. At no time did he make excuses for his actions. The Board discussed the matter and kept our punishment consistent with other matters. The Board gave Scott a 6 game suspension and probation for the rest of the year.
Notes taken by Richard St. Pierre in the absence of Secretary Gordon Daniels.