Posted on by Mabel Chairperson

Minutes June 13, 2016

MINUTES: June 13, 2016

Mabel League Team Rep and Executive Meeting

Alma Blackwell Common Room, 7:00 pm

Present: Exec – Allie, Shelley, Terra, Rebecca, Bri, Emma.  Team Reps – LJ (Marla Hooch), Dennis (leonard.), Clare (Plan B), Pat (Tanks), Laura (Heartbreakers), Pia (Team Sway), Romy (Isotopes), Crystal (Oddballs), Ruth (DitB), Devon (Biggest Hits), Robin (Beavers)

Chair: Allie (for Tammy)

  1. Welcome and Introduction (round)
  2. AGM September 12th – at this meeting any proposals to amend the bylaws will be voted on, and a new executive elected. Please consider running for a position – there will be openings.  If you would like to discuss job descriptions, they are posted on the website and any current exec would be happy to talk about them.  A reminder that if you do have a proposed amendment to the bylaws, you must submit it in writing, in the appropriate form (also available on the website) 21 days before the meeting (i.e. .August 22)
  3. LIL Tournament debrief: some feedback was received, such as the semi-finals played by the competitive division not being clear and the other divisions not being seeded properly.  The feedback has been duly noted and teams can rest assured that divisions will be seeded properly for the Finals tournament (the LIL was a fun tournament outside of season play so seeding was not paramount, for the Finals it is).  Feedback also suggests that people loved playing at Connaught, especially as all the fields are together.  It was also suggested that flip-cup, even though there were non-alcohol options available, is a little too focused on drinking.  Suggestion that next year there be more emphasis on the lawn games etc.  People seemed to like having an evening event on the Saturday at the field, so next year there will be more effort put in to that event.
  4. Congratulations to the Rebels who won the Recreational Division; BB9 who won the Intermediate Division (and donated their cash prize back to the league in recognition of having been allowed to drop down a division for the tournament) and the Leftovers who won the Competitive Division.

Co-Chair:  Allie

  1. Clinics – there is another set of weekend clinics planned for June 18 and 19. Both days still have space available.  Please pass this along to your teams.
  2. Statistics – an up-do-date listing has been created: Wombats, 2. Tanks, 3. BB9, 4. Marla Hooch, 5. Ballerz, 6. Plan B, 7. somethin’ naked, 8. leonard., 9. Sway, 10. Beavers, 11. Reckless, 12. Rebels, 13. Isotopes, 14. Heartbreakers, 15. Deep in the Bush, 16. Oddballs, 17. Biggest Hits

Treasurer: Rebecca

  1. We’re on track so far this year.

 Special Events: Bri

  1. Update on Softball World Series – money is being collected tonight, and tickets will be purchased shortly. Team reps are responsible for getting these from Bri and handing them out to their players.  If people don’t want to commit to tickets now, there will still be room on the bus for people who want to buy tickets at the field.

Registrar: Terra

  1. Scorebooks due at July team rep meeting
  2. Tips for completing scorebooks properly: ensure the team name is on the book; ensure that all names are clearly written, please use proper names, not nicknames; if you have more than one person of the same name on your team, please ensure last names are included.  Please include the spreadsheet that will be forwarded to you by email shortly.

 Schedule: Allie (for Alana)

  1. Update on rainout rescheduling: the couple of rainouts we’ve had so far have been rescheduled.
  2. Rescheduling requests: There have been a couple of requests to reschedule games for convenience – we don’t do that.  Please pick up players from the sub list so you don’t forfeit.  We also suggest you add all your players to the Facebook subs group so the whole league can see when a team is looking for a sub.

 Fields: Emma

  1. Templeton: The field is in dire need of attention.  A complaint has been lodged with the City.
  2. Clark Park: A request from the floor was received to obtain a porta-potty for the field for the duration of our season.
  3. Code of Conduct: Formerly known as the zero tolerance violence policy.  After going through a consultation process (survey, feedback, drafting) a final draft has been made for presentation.  With a couple of friendly amendments from the floor, the Code of Conduct was passed unanimously.  Please see the attached.

New Business

Team Sway requested an update of plans for fun.  Bri reported that the movie night fell through as the Rio requires a lot of notice for renting out the theatre. Sway also wanted to know if there will be an extra field available for finals to use for fun games.  As soon as the Exec has drafted the finals schedule we’ll get back to everyone about extra field availability.

Bri enquired of team reps whether they forward information to their teammates.  It would appear that not everyone has been as Bri keeps getting emails from players about things she has sent out information to team reps about.  Also, please “like” Mabel posts on Facebook, this helps boost the audience who see the posts.

Meeting adjourned.

 

SCHEDULE C
To the Operating Rules of the Mabel League
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Mabel League is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming space for all people to enjoy the sport of softball.
All members of the league are encouraged to recognize their roles and responsibilities, on individual, team and community levels, in supporting the maintenance of a positive, fun and safe environment based on the core values of mutual respect and inclusiveness.
To support this commitment, the Mabel League holds a zero tolerance policy for improper conduct – ranging from poor sporting behaviour to bullying behaviour to acts of violence. This policy applies to league members (including players, coaches, managers and scorekeepers), umpires, and spectators. The policy requires that all persons participating in Mabel League sanctioned events demonstrate good sporting behaviour and treat other participants with civility and respect.
The following types of conduct are considered to be in violation of the shared commitment to (1) good sporting behaviour and (2) maintaining a safe and inclusive environment: insulting, slanderous, and/or derogatory language, including attempts to deliberately embarrass; verbal/physical baiting or taunting; verbal/physical harassment; throwing of articles in a deliberate or aggressive manner; threatening behaviour, including aggressive physical approaches to another individual or group; intentional physical striking of another individual (including pushing, punching, tripping, shoving, etc); attempting to provoke or entice violence in others.
If you engage in any of the conduct outlined above, then your actions may result in disciplinary action, as defined below.
Authority
Under the Mabel League By-laws the Executive has the power to expel, suspend or otherwise discipline Members of the League.
From Section 2 of the By-laws:
(4) The Executive may expel, suspend or otherwise discipline any Member who in
their opinion is guilty of conduct which is improper or unbecoming for a Member of the
Society, or is likely to endanger the interest or reputation of the Society or is a breach of
these Bylaws, but the Executive may not expel, suspend or otherwise discipline any
Member until that Member has been notified of the proposed action and has been given
an opportunity to be heard by the Executive.
Process for Dealing with Policy Breaches
In accordance with the Society bylaws, improper conduct (as outlined by this policy) is subject to discipline and may result in loss of membership.
Violations of the Code of Conduct should be made in writing and submitted to the Chair and/or Co-Chair of the Mabel League Executive within a reasonable period of time. The Chair and/or
Co-Chair will refer the matter to the Rules and Grievances Committee*. In the normal course of action, the Rules and Grievances Committee will review and take action to investigate the violation. Investigation of a violation may include, but is not limited to:  Contact and follow up with the Member(s) directly involved within 72 hours of the violation being reported; Gathering of information and/or request for submission of a written statement of the occurrence by the Member(s) directly involved within seven days of the violation being reported; Gathering of verbal and/or written statements of the occurrence from the umpire, team leads, and/or other key witnesses to the occurrence within seven days of the violation being reported.
Once information has been gathered, and before any disciplinary action is taken, the Member(s) accused of violation will be given the opportunity to be heard by the Rules and Grievances
Committee.  At the conclusion of the investigation process, the Rules and Grievances Committee will decide upon disciplinary action and will put a recommendation forward to the Executive for a final decision. The recommendation will necessarily include: a description of the violation, a summary of the context in which the violation occurred as well as the information gathered, key
considerations that informed the decision, and the recommended disciplinary action. It is up to the Executive to rule on the recommended disciplinary action. If the recommended action is not
approved, the Executive will be responsible for determining an alternate course of action based on consideration of the information put forward. Once a decision is reached, the Rules and
Grievances Committee will communicate the decision in person and/or in writing to the Member(s) involved.
Depending on the extent and severity of the behaviour, and/or repeat incidences of the behaviour, penalties could include: temporary or permanent probation (including league membership
conditions, such as limitations on participation in certain divisions as a player or spectator),  suspension from some or all League events and activities for a specified period of time, or a permanent expulsion from the League.
In the case of a situation where violence has occurred or been threatened, the Executive may require the offending Member to immediately cease attendance at all Mabel League functions,
including all League games, in advance of a scheduled hearing. This temporary suspension pending resolution of disciplinary proceedings cannot be appealed. In addition, where appropriate, the League may choose to refer the matter to the Vancouver Police Department.
Rules and Grievances Committee
The Rules and Grievances Committee will include a Team Representative from each of the League divisions (recreational, intermediate, and competitive) as well as the Umpire in Chief and
the Mabel League Co-Chair. Memberships on the Rules and Grievances Committee will be renewed each season, with appointments to the Committee approved by the Executive.
[Cross-reference Operating Rules, Section 10 “Rules and Grievances Committee”].
Appeals
All decisions on disciplinary matters made by the Rules and Grievances Committee can be appealed by the Team Rep for the individual’s team. All appeals must be made within 24 hours
of the decision in order to be considered. Appeals must be typed and submitted in person or via e-mail to the Mabel League Chair and Co-Chair.  All appeals will be directed to the Executive.
Appeals cannot be made regarding decisions over a one game suspension.
* In the event of a conflict of interest with a member of the Rules and Grievances Committee (i.e. a player on the team of one of the parties) that person will recuse themselves and will be replaced by a member of the Mabel League Executive as requested by the Umpire in Chief.