The Mabel League 2006 Meeting Minutes
2006 Annual General Meeting
1) Welcome and Introductions
2) AGM Rules of Order
-Kelly R. reviewed the rules of order, and reiterated that they are similar to how we run the team rep meetings
3) Additions to the Agenda
-J. Nelson asked to add “T-shirts” on the agenda. Two additional proposals.
-Melissa (Wombats) asked to add proposal for three-pod system.
-Kathy H. (Wombats) asked to add “fundraising” to the agenda, and the policy for appeals (Kelly R. noted this may be covered off already).
4) Acceptance of the Agenda
-Carolyn motioned to accept agenda with additions. Sheryl seconded. Motion was passed.
5) Previous AGM Minutes
-Sheryl M. motioned to accept minutes as distributed. Carolyn seconded. Motion was passed.
6) Executive Report
-Kelly R. discussed the executive report from the previous year; she noted that the executive decided not to produce the same report for this year as the executive largely carried forward on the foundations that were formed in 2005. This year didn’t see a lot of changes, rather, mostly carry-through. Kelly R. asked if there were comments, questions, etc about how the Exec performed for them?
Mel (Wombats) stated that she felt it wasn’t a good year for them, although kudos to all their players who signed up with their team. An executive decision was made against their appeal to move down a division from the A-Division, and the Wombats wanted further clarification about this division and if the direction of the league is supposed to be fun for all.
Kelly R. stated she will not go through reasons for the decision as they have been over with many on the Wombats team, however, she stated she is glad that they came to the AGM because this is the forum to make change if unhappy with what is going on in the league. Kelly R. wanted to reiterate that hard effort and thought goes into each decision.
7) Financial Statements
-Janice M. directed all to the financial statements provided in the handouts and reviewed the content of the statements. The league made a total income of $31,085.68, and required a total of $25,680.04 in expenses. This resulted in a net income of $5,405.64. The bank balance as of
Questions on the floor:
-Carolyn (Fundamentals) – asked about the LIL being separate entity from the league? Janice M. clarified that a separate bank account was opened in the past (to allow organizers access to some but not all league funds), however, the LIL was never a separate entity.
-Shirley (Plan B) – asked whether or not T-shirts or prizes could be given with the extra money. Kelly R. responded that as the Executive, we would be reluctant to arbitrarily spend a sizeable portion of the leagues money without consultation. Janice M. added that the team rep meeting would be a better venue for discussing money expenditure.
-How much money should be considered a good running total?? Janice M. replied that approx. 10,000$ should be in the account at the beginning of the season to cover costs, e.g. Umpire fees, fields.
-Further discussion ensued about how the money sits in account over the season.
-How much money was provided to the league from the movie company? Two Hundred dollars was given as a donation for giving up field to the movie company.
Shelly (Plan B) motioned to accept budget as presented. Jan (Rats) seconded. Motion so moved.
Janice M. also stated that the league needs to change the signatories on the LIL account. Two resolutions require to be passed in order to change the signatories.
Motion1
Shelley (Plan B) motioned that any two of the Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary be the signatories for the League account for the ensuing year.
Clare (Plan B) seconded the motion.
Motion passed (30 pass, 0 neg, 1 abstain)
Motion2
Carolyn (Fundamentals) motioned that any two of the Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary be the signatories for the LIL account for the ensuing year.
Tammy (Fundamentals) seconded the motion.
Motion passed (30 pass, 0 neg, 1 abstain).
8) Proposals
#1 Proposal is removing the “rules of play” from the Constitution.
Proposed by Janice to simplify the procedure for changing rules at the beginning of the year as opposed to the current situation where the League needs to wait for the AGM to make changes.
As submitted:
Mabel League AGM Proposal - 2006
People making the proposal:
Janice Miller, Blue Devils
Christal Engleder, somethin’ naked
Emah Engleder, somethin’ naked
Topic: Housekeeping constitutional changes.
Our proposal will:
1) Remove redundant sections of the constitutions: Part 15, Section 2; Part 12, Section 20
2) Reword and clarify a potentially confusing section: Part 12, Section 19
3) Amend and update a section to current practice: Part 17
4) Remove sections no longer in use due to previous AGM changes: Part 7, Section 6, subsections 1and 2
___________________________________________________________
1a) Amend the Constitution by removing:
Part 15, Section 2 “ELIGIBILITY – A player must have played a minimum of five (5) league games to be eligible for playoffs, or have a doctors certificate, or by appeal to the executive committee.”
Reason: The intent of this section is already captured and more appropriately placed within Part 16 – PLAYOFFS*, Section 7 which states that “[p]layers must have played a minimum of five (5) league games to be eligible to participate in the playoffs or supply a doctor’s certificate on appeal to the executive committee.”
1b) Amend the Constitution by removing:
Part 12, Section 20 “Each team will play teams within their own division twice.”
Reason: This section contradicts an earlier section in the same Part of the Constitution (Section 2). The later section (Section 2) allows the statistician and scheduling committee a degree of flexibility when composing the schedule while still maintaining the intent of the both sections.
3) Amend the Constitution by removing to the following words:Part 17 Awards “The following trophies will be awarded [ADD colon]: at the Year End Event.”
Reason: The wording of this portion of the Constitution was restrictive and did not allow awards to be given out after the final game of the playoffs, which has come to be practice in the last few years. The amendment allows flexibility of when the awards will be given out, while still maintaining which awards will be provided.
4) Remove the following sections from the Constitution:
Part 7, Section 6 UMPRIE-IN-CHIEF, subsection 1 “Will set up at least 1 training clinic per year at the start of the season open to new base umpires, new umpires or umpires wishing a refresher course.”Part 7, Section 6 UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF, subsection 2 “Will be in charge of scheduling base umpires for each league game in all divisions”
Reason: The use of (volunteer) base umpires was abolished at the 2005 Mabel League AGM. These sections are no longer valid.
Discussion:
- Shelly (plan B) questioned whether the team reps would still be privy to the changes to the rules of play and having to approve them.
- Carolyn (fundamentals) asked if there would be an appeal procedure for the rules of play changes made.
- Sue (OTLB) asked why there would need to be another committee why couldn’t we just go with rules of
- Cathy (wombats) suggested a friendly amendment to the proposal that would state, “These rules would be voted on and approved at the team rep meeting”
- Janice moved the motion with the friendly amendment
- Cleo (plan B) seconded it
- (pass, 26 neg 0, abstain 2)
Motion so moved.
#2 Proposal put forward by Lyn
Purpose: Clarification of some rules.
There is a time limit on games. NO NEW INNING to start after 1 Hour 45 minutes. Time starts at the first pitch.
Games may end in ties.
Minimum 8 players required starting a game. 15-minute grace period allowed to teams if they only have 7 players, to field a team minimum 8. If they play with 8 players, the 9th player in the line up is an automatic out.
No metal cleats allowed OR exposed metal from soccer cleats.
The Home team is to supply one new game ball, and one good used ball, or two new balls to umpire. (Back up balls should have logo / brand name and series type #/s still showing or be visible. Plate umpire will have the last say if the back up balls are usable or not.) If not usable, home team will supply a second new game ball. Color used must be consistent throughout the game.
Home team sits on (3rd) third base side, visitors on the (1st) first base side. (When known in advance in league play).
All teams should carry copies of field permits to ALL fields supplied by league executive.
Designate an official softball to be used by all teams in the league.
(Most widely used: Dudley WT12 White Thunder Advance High Seam 47 core, raised seams).
- Sue (OTLB) asked if the balls suggested were available in yellow, and when to vote on something like that.
Lyn said it could be voted on at the “Rules of play meeting” and that teams could agree on things like colour and number purchased by teams.
- Jan (ratz) did not have a copy of the proposal and was given one by Jeanette.
- Suzie (plan B) asked if purchasing the balls by the League would increase team fees. Kelly R agreed that it might but that this should all be brought up at the “rules and regs” committee meeting.
#4 Proposal put forward by Jeanette
PART 2 - MEMBERSHIP
3. Individual players registered for a team may not change team status in that season after their fourth team game or after registration deadline.
I propose that this section be changed to read:
Individual players registered for a team may only change team status in that season after their fourth game of after registration deadline if the team they are registered with folds and that team has advised the executive of that occurrence. These players must also be members in good standing with the league.
Reasons for this change: I have talked with our Softball BC Rep Dave Cummings about this issue and he has told me that if the team is planning on going to Provincials it would be a problem however if they are folding there is little chance that team will be going so changing teams should not be a problem. See section 14 and 15 of the Softball BC regulations.
1. On
2. If a player has paid their league fees and is in good standing with the league they should be able to play out the season in the league.
3. If more than one team folds it will cause a large amount of forfeited games that affect the playing schedule of teams who have paid to play a set number of games.
- Sue (OTLB) asked if only teams in danger of forfeiting could pick up players. She suggested that any team, not just a team that is in danger of forfeit, could pick up the avaliable players. Jeanette
- Tracy (OTLB) felt it was a good proposal as players might be able to play that otherwise might not get to play.
- Carolyn (Fundamentals) felt that there was no question of who could pick up the now free players. Any team could as it was currently worded.
- Christal made a friendly amendment that stated
“3. Excepting subsection 1, individual players registered for a team may not change teams status in that season after their fourth game or after the registration deadline.
i) With the approval of the Executive, if the team on which a player is registered folds and that team has advised the Executive of that occurrence, that player, if in good standing with the League, may be picked up by another existing team for the remainder of league play.
Discussion regarding folding teams ensued.
Sue (OTLB) suggested that a “member in good standing” was difficult to determine as some players could pay their fees and the fees might not be given to the league in their behalf. Kelly R stated that this occurred this year and currently the executive felt that it was an individual teams responsibility and the League would require the team members to have paid out any fee’s owing.
Discussion ensued regarding a team’s ability to pick up free players from any division.
Jeanette accepted Christal’s amendment.
Lyn suggested that this might need to be voted on by the team reps or the Executive before it was accepted. Christal replied that this proposal brings up a number of questions that all need to be addressed by the League.
Sue (OTLB) asked if we could pass this amendment now and deal with the repercussions at the team rep meeting. Lyn made a friendly amendment that followed Christals amendment but added “with the approval of the executive” to
Motion moved by Jeanette, seconded by Tammy
(25 pass, abstained 4, neg 1)
Jeanette’s Second proposal
PART 15 - LEAGUE PLAYING RULES
3. FIELDS – Quality of fields must be distributed equally between teams of all divisions.
I propose that this section be changed to read:
3. FIELDS – The scheduler shall distribute games equally throughout the fields allotted but may assign a home field to teams for the purpose of scheduling games throughout the season.
Reasons for this change:
If the scheduler is able to allot a specific field it will make scheduling games easier.
If the scheduler is able to allot a specific field, teams will know from week to week when that field may be available for their team to practice on.
If a team wants to store their equipment in a storage facility on that field they may have the option of doing so. This would make it easier for the home team to have the equipment at the field if they want to put a storage container at the field.
The constitution states that the quality of fields must be distributed equally between teams of all divisions by assigning a home field this should not alter that to much. A team will play all their home games on a particular field but the away games are played throughout the rest of the fields. As well the fields we have are all pretty much of the same quality
Jan (Ratz) felt that the fields were not all the same and it would be unfair to play all season at certain fields.
Melissa (wombats) felt that it would be harder for the scheduler to accommodate this request.
Motion failed.
#5 Put forward by the Melissa from the Wombats
Melissa suggested that the League return to the 3 Pod system so as to allow teams that were competitive and teams that were recreational should not meet as there are very far apart in skill. Also some teams when “misplaced” according to last seasons play in a pod higher then they should be playing ended up having a very bad year of play. With 3 Pods there would be more room for teams misplaced to play other teams that were closer to their skill level.
Carolyn (Fundamentals) felt that playing each team only once was not enough.
Krissy (Wombats) in favor of the 3 Pod.
Jeanette (Coastal) mentioned that teams would complain about playing the same teams over and over again.
Tammy Felt that 2 Pods were too competitive and 3 pods were better
Melissa (Wombats) felt there was such a large difference between the top and the bottom teams so having a middle division spread it out more
Cathy (wombats) felt she had heard pro’s and con’s for both sides of the 3 and 2 Pod structure
Discussion ensued regarding 3 or 2 Pod structure, many players for the 3 Pod structure.
Motion moved that would “Return the League to a 3 Pod system with Interdivisional play”
Melissa moved
Jan (Ratz) seconded
(3 abstained, 26 yeas, 0 neg)
#6 Put forward by Kelly R
TEAM STANDINGS and NEW TEAMS
Current reading of the Constitution:
19. The 2 division structure will be utilized. New teams are automatically placed in the bottom of the second division. Teams will play in their allotted division unless they make a request in writing to the Executive to be placed in a different division. No team may move up or down in divisions from year to year without approval.
Amend the Constitution by rewording to the following:
Part 12, Section 19 “The 2 division structure will be utilized. Existing teams will be placed according to the previous year’s standings. Each existing team will play in their allotted division unless they make a request in writing with an attached copy of their roster, to the Executive to be placed in a different division.
Each new team registering will write a letter, with an attached copy of their roster addressed to the Executive requesting which division they wish to be placed into prior to league play. The Executive will review the letter, roster, player experience in the Mabel League, and any extraneous factors to determine where a team should be placed.
No team may move up or down in divisions from year to year without approval.”
Reason: The wording of this section potentially leads to a literal misreading of its’ intent. The purpose is to place teams into divisions to the best of the scheduler’s ability based on all available knowledge about the teams (prior year’s standings vs. “new” teams). This also takes away the automatic placing of a new team in the bottom division when it may not be appropriate. The rewording also ensures that appeals are received by the Executive with appropriate time to make changes if the decision is made to due so; and it ensures that appeals are reviewed and assessed for decision, and not automatically accepted simply on the basis of submission.
Sheryl (Plan B) suggested a friendly amendment “writing with an attached copy of their roster, to the Executive for review…
Also that it be changed to 3 Pod structure.
Kelly R moved
Sue (OTLB) seconded
(0 opposed, 1 abstained, 28 yea)
New Proposals:
Linda (Fundamentals) in regards to fundraising suggested that she would like to see all amounts given to League and teams be put into writing. Kelly W stated that a document had been made since the situation occurred with the Fundamentals. The Executive had also decided to remove the 10% from the raffle and 50/50 fundraisers.
It was asked what would happen if the event loses money. Melissa felt it would be good to have a guarantee of funds due to the large amount of work involved in fundraising.
- Lyn In her experience with the Naughty Monkeys was that her team had to step up and do a large job without any money back but that somebody had to step up.
- Janice raised the concern that a team that gets the most points also does not have to pay League fees, and there becomes a situation where teams are doing events to make money or are we doing it for the good of the League.
- Carolyn (fundamentals) Friendly amendment was that teams that participate in fundraising at the end of the year receive a portion of the net income from all events.
- Kelly R stated that she was not comfortable with the motion that was being forwarded and that this issue should be tabled until next year’s team rep meeting. This is a major financial issue and could take many hours to discuss.
Motion moved by Kelly W
Passed
9) Nomination of the Executive:
Chair - Sheryl (Plan B)
Co Chair - Suzie (Plan B)
Secretary -Tammy (Fundamentals)
Treasure r- Lisa (Plan B)
Fields - Melanie (Wombats)
UIC - Lyn (Naughty Monkeys)
Registrar - Daylene (Fundamentals)
Statistician - Meg (Girrls on tap)
Communications - Linda (Fundamentals)
10) Voting for the Executive
11) Meeting Adjourned
moved Carolyn, seconded Tammy,
Mabel League Team Rep Meeting Minutes
July 24 2006
All Star Game Update:
Piper-GOT
Christal- Naked
Lyn-Monkeys
Melissa-Eastside
Jodi-Tank Grrls
Michelle-Jets
Sherry-Ratz
Kelly R-Catch 22
Lisa N- Plan B
Jeanette-Coastal Flyers\
-Rockers
-Line Drivers
Game stars at 1pm, and the Kelly’s will be coaching. There will be All- Star shirts given out
Year End Update: Jodi updated group on the event and has sent out emails, flyers, and the volunteers are ready.
WESA Update: We have received some names but are still short some players so please contact the Executive to submit names of players interested.
PRIDE: Char gave an update on the Pride parade and got some volunteers already organized. There will be an upcoming meeting to attend to find out position. Char has received sponsorship from Patz MacMillan for the Float.
Storage Locker:
Finals: There had been rumors that some players felt the Catch 22 had rigged the games to ensure a win. Kelly expressed that this Executive has tried to act with integrity and openness, while involving the members of the League in decision making. The Executive has dealt with some major issues in the last 2 years, and feels that they have done the best they could. Discussion ensued and Meg stated that she organized the schedule according to the Softball Guide, but would perhaps look at the issue closer next year. Some teams requested that the play-offs be structured according to a weight from league play history. It was also requested that the A Finals and B Finals be at different times so teams could watch both.
There was a concern the Umpires still didn’t know the rules regarding last bats, but