March 1, 2003 – Denver, CO
Call to order – Doc Bradley
Invocation – John Lykowski
Reprimand by Doc…lets keep order during
meeting.
Secretary’s report – motion to accept as printed in
newsletter, 2nd, approved.
Treasurer’s report and Endowment report – see
attached. Motion to accept, 2nd, approved.
Committee reports:
TOURNAMENT:
Discussion of transportation issues:
from airport to hotel, hotel to fields and other area attractions. Issue has been taken care of by host hotel
per Ron Barton and Roy Trujillo. Due to
lack of funding, banquet could be cancelled.
Working on plans for an awards presentation alternative. Motion made to table the banquet discussion
until the World Series (WS) board meeting.
No 2nd. Motion died.
Motion by Lenny Williams to allow the NBBA to
provide up to $6000, if needed, to the Denver tourney committee to help cover
BANQUET expenses. 2nd Neal
McDonald. Approved.
Reminder to Ron Barton of a June 1st
deadline to declare himself as player or Denver Tourney Chairman.
Reviewed info on fields, hotel, volunteers and
insurance for the Series.
Information on rental car/vans discussed. Arrangements have been made with
Enterprise. 15 passenger vans are
available for $475/week. Contact Roy
Trujillo for reservations. Other
information to be given to team contacts at a later date.
2004 -- Columbus, OH, July 31-Aug. 7. Update given on funding, hotel, and fields.
2005 – STILL OPEN FOR BIDS
MEMBERSHIP:
Total of 23 teams registered (Number updated since meeting due to mail
delays). Have received requests for
information, videos or invitations to competitions from Nigeria, Puerto Rico
and Japan.
Discussion of NBBA instructional video…do we
currently have one? None known of, Tim
Hibner will work with Neal McDonald on producing one.
Renewed NBBA registration with “Encyclopedia of
Associations”.
LUNCH
BUDGET & FINANCE: Audit (required every 2 years) completed – no discrepancies
found. Raffle tickets have been printed
(and were distributed) – grand prize is $250.
2003 NBBA SPRING Board Meeting – page 2
BALLS & EQUIPMENT: Ball production good with no anticipated glitches.
Letter of thanks to be sent to “Leo and Jason” at
Merrimack Valley for maintaining and improving beep baseballs and keeping our
game alive.
Bases: 21 sets of foam available and waiting for
electronics ($110 each). Total cost for
new bases are $315 plus shipping.
Contact Jim Wolfe to order.
Blindfolds: Another source has been approved. Blindfolds may now also be ordered from
Maggie Braddock at a cost of $5 plus shipping each. Contact Ms. Braddock via e-mail at: Maggs51@wideopenwest.com
Committee motion to purchase 400 “NBBA” beep balls
at a cost of $10,000 for resale. 2nd
by Jim Wolfe, approved.
BY-LAWS: Now have current copy of NBBA Articles of Incorporation available in an accessible format. Will be working on comparison with by-laws for inconsistencies. Plan to attempt a “growth module” addendum to allow for expansion of quantity of board members. Will be changing the terminology so that each reference to “blind, legally blind, visually impaired or any other current term used” will be consistent throughout the document.
Discussion of the substance abuse issue. How will the NBBA determine if a coach
“knows” if a minor is in violation?
Each reported incident must be investigated on an individual basis.
Committee motion to require that on team roster
registration forms, any minor (under 18 years of age) needs to be identified as
such and a disclaimer signed by the coach/team manager accepting responsibility
for any minor(s) listed needs to be attached.
2nd Joe Wood, approved.
HALL OF FAME: Seeking historical profiles and a copy of the nominating letter for each Jim Quinn Award winner. Del Bethel, coach of John Ross, donated copies of the book “Feeling Sport” by John Ross to the NBBA. Motion made by Jeana Weigand to request a $5 minimum donation for each book distributed with proceeds going to the John Ross Endowment Fund, 2nd by Jim Wolfe, approved.
JIM QUINN AWARD: No new submissions to date.
NOMINATING: 5 board positions are up this term. 2 names have been submitted at this time. REMINDER: the majority of the board must be blind/visually impaired. ALSO, the person nominated must be willing to run!
2003 NBBA SPRING Board Meeting – page 3
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Dave Smolka reported on his trip to South Carolina. No interest expressed by that league in joining the NBBA.
Letters have been sent to all 50 State Blind Schools.
Fanfest, July 2003: NBBA will have a presentation.
There will be a ball demo/presentation at the Denver State Lions Meeting.
Edelman PR Co. is working on PR (mostly media) for the World Series.
If your team has had any Lions support, please provide that info to Dave Smolka.
RULES: Request for new ball rule will be discussed at committee meeting at World Series.
Dan Tracy’s e-mail was read.
PIONEER: Atlanta group has expressed interest in producing balls. Production to begin (possibly) starting in the fall of 2003.
PROJECTS: Plan to work with Tim Hibner on instructional video. Plan to work with Roy Trujillo to help try to get the cost of ball batteries decreased or donated. Are working on details for a possible NBBA scholarship.
UMPIRE EVALUATION: Guidelines have been set. Evaluation form presented.
Joe Wood made motion to accept guidelines and evaluation forms as presented, 2nd Neal McDonald, approved. Doc is to determine the committee to review the evaluations.
OLD BUSINESS
Ron Barton will get information out to teams at the World Series regarding the “trust” approved by the NBBA.
Substance Abuse violation: Actions outlined at the Fall meeting were completed.
Doc Bradley will address the issue of the missing of meetings by appointed board members.
Motion by John Lykowski to purchase anti-virus software for the NBBA laptop computer, 2nd, approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion made by Dave Smolka to increase the “webmaster” position to a committee of 3 to 4 persons, with acceptable credentials, to give our current Webmaster assistance, 2nd, approved.
2003 NBBA SPRING Board Meeting – page 4
Motion by John Lykowski to authorize the purchase of 16 shirts for NBBA World Series Head Umpires (to be returned to the NBBA after each World Series), 2nd, approved.
Motion by Lenny Williams to authorize the purchase of 16 hats (non-returnable) for NBBA World Series Head Umpires to go with the shirts, 2nd, approved.
Motion by Joe Wood to reimburse traveling board members, 2nd approved.
Motion to approve the printing of the NBBA Spring newsletter, 2nd, approved.
Motion to accept the NBBA definition of “visually impaired” as “20/70 or less with correction in the better eye and/or a visual field of 30 degrees or less”, 2nd approved.
Wording to be changed in the Letter of Certification information/instruction sheet in the newsletter.
PayPal is ready for setup on our Website to accept donations to the John Ross Endowment Fund. John and Kevin will work on completing that project.
Fall Board Meeting to be held November 7-8-9, 2003. No site at this time. Send all bids to Doc Bradley.
Motion to adjourn by Joe Wood, 2nd, approved.
Present: Jim Wolfe, Leonard Williams, Jan Traphagan, Kevin Barrett, Joe Wood, Michael Garrett, Seth Clark, Sam McKinzie, Tim Hibner, Stephen Guerra, Kari Biesendorfer, Neal McDonald, John Lykowski, Dave Smolka, Ron Barton, Roy Trujillo, Ed Bradley, Jeana Weigand
Not present: Kevin Sibson, Dan Tracy, Wilbert Turner, Keith McKinzie
Guests: Janet Leonard, Kerry Kuck, Ron Watson, Steve Lyles, Rocky & Karen Zamora;
Chris Parsons & Lois Zimmer representing Red Lion Hotel