Minutes
2008 Jan 17 Feb 7 Mar 18 Apr 4 June 5 June 12 July 1 July 28
  Aug 4 Aug 6 Oct 2
Jan 17, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M at Gambino's Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were; Tom Fiscus, Bill Smuck, Mert Opfer, Bob Kubat, Torri Pantaleon, Tom Herfordt, and Joe Beninato.
Guests were John Lucash, Bill Riggle,Ed Tworek, and Duke Burgess
  1. Budget - Mert O. presented the final budget totals for the 2007 season. We ended the year with a balance of $9,852 after all expenses were paid. Mert also presented three proposed variations of a budget for 2008, which will be discussed at the Feb. meeting. Motion to accept was made by Duane C. second by Bill S. Passed 8-0. Due to some unknown expenses that may arise from the results of the survey that may have an impact on expenses we will examine the balance that we will carry forward and make any adjustments in the fall to bring the balance in line with what the board agreed to carry of $6,000.
  2. Survey - Duke and the committee presented the results of the survey to the Board and explained their interpretation. It was decided that the Board would discuss in depth and make decisions at the Feb. meeting. It was decided that the results would be posted on the Web Site. A motion to accept results by Bob K. second by Joe B. Passed 8-0. The Board thanked the committee for a job well done.
  3. Season Dates - The following dates were discussed for the up coming season. Motion to accept by Bill S. second by Duane C. Motion passed 8-0.
  4. Fee - Moved by Bob K.to set the fee at $80, which include the cost of new uniforms for all players. Seconded by Duane C. Motion passed 8-0.
  5. Registration - Tom H. volunteered to be the registrar for the upcoming season, and will accept the registration forms. a PO Box will be set up for registration. This will be the only way registration will be accepted. We will post the P.O. Box on the Web Site. Motion was made by Duane C. and second by Torri P. Motion passed 8-0
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15.
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Feb 7, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M at Gambino's Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were; Tom Fiscus, Bill Smuck, Mert Opfer, Bob Kubat, Torri Pantaleon, Tom Herfordt, Duane Carolus, and Joe Beninato.
  1. Budget - Mert presented the 2008 budget. Expected revenue for the year is planned at $16,400 with expenses of $17,394. This will leave us with a balance of $8,318. This is higher reserve than we want to carry, but we are anticipating that we will have additional expenses that may be an effect of the survey results. If at the beginning of the fall season the balance is not in line with the board’s guidelines we will make an adjustment for the fall, ( ie lower rates). Motion to accept was made by Bob K., with a second by Duane C. Motion passed 8-0.
  2. Dates - A motion was made to accept the following dates by Torri P., second by Tom H. Motion passed 8-0.
  3. Registration Fees - It should be noted that registration fees are $80 this year and that includes the purchase of uniforms for everyone, which means each player is paying $50 to play ball this spring. If registrations are not received by 3/31/08 a late fee of $25 will be required in addition to the $80 fee.
  4. Changes - The board discussed the results of the survey in detail and a motion was made Bob K. and a second by Duane C. to accept the following changes as a result of the survey. The following items were deferred until the May meeting: Q15, 16, 17, &18. These deal with the election of the Board, the size of the Board, and length of the term. Item 25 (draft) was deferred to the March Meeting. Motion passed 8-0.
  5. Fields - It was reported that we are beginning discussions with Metro Softball for next year to see if we can have fields that are more centrally located. It should be noted that we will not be able to affect the 2008 spring season. We will be playing at NP Dodge Park.
  6. Committees - It was noted that there will be the need for several new committees in the upcoming year. To name a few: Rules Committee ( Pitching screen, and others) and Election Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30.
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Mar 18, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M at Gambino's Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were; Tom Fiscus, Bill Smuck, Bob Kubat, Duane Carolus, and Tom Herfordt. Absent were Torri Pantaleon, Mert Opfer, and Joe Beninato.

Motion was made by Bill S. and 2nd from Bob K. to approve Feb. Minutes. Motion Passed 5-0
  1. Defibrillator - There was to be a report on a defibrillator by Wally J. but he was unable to attend. He is working on it and should have some information next month.
  2. Draft - The Board discussed what method should be used for the upcoming redraft. The goal is to have each team capable of competing with all other teams. There were several options discussed.
    1. The same as the last redraft, which depended on the number of teams. Pick the top players and assign two to each team who would then draft.
    2. Same as above only those top players pick a Manager and then the three of them draft.
    3. The Board would pick and approve the managers. The managers would then arrange the players on teams making them as even as possible. After all managers are satisfied that the teams are as equal as they can make them, the manager would draw for their team. The Board would facilitate the process. The rational is to achieve parity in the league by having managers place players on a team fairly by not knowing which team will be his.
    A motion was made by Duane C. and a 2nd by Bob K. to adopt option "C". A motion was made by Bill S. to select the Managers on April 1st and to hold the draft on April 10th. Motion Passed 5-0. The only draw back to the early draft is if there are a lot of late registrations, but it was noted that we have given the players from 2/10/08 to 3/31/08 to get their registration in. That should be enough time and we need to get ready for the season to start. One of the concerns in the past has been the uniforms have not been ready when the season begins.
  3. Annual Meeting - Duane C. is developing a rough draft of how a draft and annual meeting could work, and will present it at the next meeting.
  4. Sponsers - It was reported that Ed T. is working on sponsors for the up coming year.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15.
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Apr 4, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M at Gambino's Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were; Tom Fiscus, Bill Smuck, Bob Kubat, Duane Carolus, Torri Pantaleon, Mert Opfer, and Tom Herfordt. Absent was Joe Beninato.

  1. Teams - The number of teams for the 2008 summer season was discussed. We had 120 players register. It was moved by Bill S. and a second by Duane C. that we would have 10 teams with 12 players per team and have the ability to add 1 more per team. Motion Passed 7-0.
  2. Managers - We had 7 players indicate they would be a Manager and 8 that said they would if needed. A motion was made by Bill S. and a second by Bob K. to approve the following list of managers. Motion Passed 7-0. The Board would like thank all of those who stepped forward and said they would help. There will be a Managers meeting at the park on Monday night. We will discuss the draft and team names.
  3. Bats - NSS has adopted the ASA rule on bats. There is a link on our Web Site under ASA that will tell you what bats cannot be used.
  4. Practice - Monday and Wednesday nights at NP Dodge Park from 6 to 7:30 in April. Along with that you can participate in volunteer practice at 10 am on Saturday mornings at Churchich Park.
  5. Rain Line - Will not be operational until the season begins. We will try to notify you by the Web.
  6. Season Start - REMEMBER THAT THE SEASON BEGINS APRIL 28TH AT NP DODGE PARK, FIELDS 3 & 4.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15.
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June 5, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M at Brownie's Watering Hole.
Those in attendance were; Bill Smuck, Bob Kubat, Duane Carolus, Torri Pantaleon, Mert Opfer, and Tom Herfordt, and Joe Beninato.

  1. Minutes - Motion was made by Joe Beninato and seconded by Tom Herfordt to approve the April 4, 2008 minutes. Motion passed 7-0.
  2. Treasurer's Report - Mert presented the Treasurer's Report. Currently, there is $9,652 in the League's Account.
  3. League Comments - Duane asked the members to comment individually on how the League is going, to which all responded positively. However, the members acknowledged that an error was made in allowing 3 teams to select red uniform shirts and 2 teams to select blue uniform shirts. In addition, shoulder patches were not placed on the shirts as planned. Bob Kubat stated he is ordering iron-on patches to rectify the situation.
  4. Board Elections - Duane presented his proposal for an elected Board of Directors. He envisions a Board consisting of a Commissioner, Associate Commissioner, and 7 Directors, each elected for a 3 year term. Current Board positions will become available on a staggered basis, allowing election of 3 new members every year. He has asked Paul Kwaak, Del Stokes, and Jim Albin to be on the Nominating Committee to determine the method of selecting and nominating those League members who apply for these positions. Further details of this process will be discussed with the 10 managers on June 12th.
  5. League Meeting - Duane made a motion to hold the First Annual League Meeting between the Summer and Fall seasons; date, time, and site to be determined. The election of new members to the Board will be held at this general meeting, with those selected to start serving at the conclusion of the Fall season. Motion seconded by Bill and approved 7-0.
  6. Ball Color - Bob Kubat stated he could not obtain white 44 core 525 compression softballs for the one week trial period planned this season; instead, he has ordered white 47 core 400 compression softballs. The one week trial period will be scheduled once the balls arrive and the managers are consulted on the dates.
  7. Umpire Fees - Motion was made by Bill Smuck and seconded by Mert Opfer to raise the umpire fees from $20/game to $22/game. The extra distance to Dodge Park and rising gas prices were cited as justification. Motion passed 7-0.
  8. Defibrillator - The defibrillator issue was discussed at length. A total of 4 individuals are attempting to obtain this piece of equipment via a donation for the League. If we cannot obtain one through this method, the Board is prepared to entertain purchasing one with our own funds. Mark Niebauer, a Cardiologist and Royals player, has volunteered to train volunteers from each team on how to use this equipment. The Board has discussed having 2 players from each team trained on the use of this machine.
  9. Managers Meeting Managers Meeting is scheduled for 6:30 Thursday, June 12, 2008, at Joe Beninato's house. Only Team Managers or their representatives (excludes Board members) and the Board will be present to discuss a variety of matters. Any issues the Managers desire to bring up will be discussed at this meeting.
  10. Fall League - The Fall League was briefly discussed. Bill was asked to contact Bob Knudson, Metro Softball, concerning Seymour Smith start dates. Mert was asked to study the fee structure for the Fall season and present a proposal at the next meeting. Tom was asked to rework the Fall season registration form.
  11. Board Meeting - Board Meetings will be announced on the website. Players desiring to come before the Board to present issues must contact the Commissioner well before the meeting to allow him to brief the other Board members. All individual player issues will be discussed and settled prior to the start of the regular Board Meeting.
  12. Rule Change Recommendations - Two recommendations from Jim Seeber concerning opposing teams furnishing a catcher for teams needing a replacement player and installing a 140 foot no-crossing line in the outfield will be discussed at the Managers Meeting on June 12th.
  13. Banquet - Bill announced that the Offutt Base Lake Pavilion has been reserved for Friday, November 7, 2008, for the League's Annual Banquet.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05.
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June 12, 2008
The Board/Managers meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M at Joe Beninato's House.
Board members attending were Duane Carolus, Joe Beninato, Mert Opfer, Bob Kubat, and Tom Herfordt. Absent members were Bill Smuck, Tori Pantaleon, and Tom Fiscus. Team managers attending were Duke Burgess, Bill Riggle, Cort Fernand, Dell Stokes (representing Steve Jordan), Dave Banghart, Gil Stephens, Paul Kwaak, Jim Wilmot, Dave Dye, and Ed Tworek.

  1. Board Membership - Duane opened the meeting by discussing his vision of the Board’s membership. His proposals were: Bob Kubat motioned that the proposal be accepted, unanimous second from those attending. Duane mentioned the need for a Board Secretary. It was suggested to solicit a spouse for the position, with Sue Kunnert being a prime example/candidate due to her involvement with the league. Managers and Board members will advertise this position with players for possible candidates.
  2. Ball Color Test - Duane asked the managers about which games the white ball would be tested. After much discussion, the managers decided to use one new white and one new yellow ball during each game during the July 7th through July 16th period.
  3. Game Cancellations - Duke Burgess proposed a ruling regarding weather conditions. After considering various situations, the following guidelines were adopted:
  4. Play Interference - Bill Riggle reminded everyone about his concern for players not moving out of the way when running to second base in a force-out situation. Managers will inform their team members of this before game time. The umpire can declare a runner out if he feels the runner hindered or interfered with the fielder’s capability to throw to first base.
  5. Player Replacement - Dell Stokes raised a question regarding the Player Replacement policy. After much debate, the following guidelines were initiated: Dave Banghart addressed the parity/fairness of the Player Replacement Pool distribution, wishing to change the selection process, using team standings as a factor in the process. After discussion, the current process will stand.
  6. Player Safety - Concern regarding players’ safety and ability to perform was discussed by all. Questions regarding certain players’ physical capabilities and how it affects the game were raised, with a decision to review more closely in the future and enforce the player standards as currently set forth in the league rules.
  7. League Growth - Dave Banghart proposed for future consideration: There was general discussion by all concerning the league’s growth. All agreed that there are numerous opportunities to advertise the league and encourage participation. Flyers, advertising, solicitation, and sponsorships were discussed. Duke showed a business card he uses to solicit membership. He will send the Word document to the manager’s to use as needed.
  8. Defibrillator - The issue regarding a defibrillator was addressed. Bob Kubat will have information next week on the acquisition of one.
  9. Networking - Gil Stephens proposed creating a list of all members’ occupations to encourage "Networking" for help, information, etc. Personal privacy was the main concern regarding this, but a possible option would be to create a page on the current NSS web site for those who wished to release that information to others.
  10. Sliding - Gil also questioned the ruling regarding no sliding into home plate when the safety factor is removed by having the second plate. After some thought, the current rule regarding sliding will remain.
  11. Current Rules - Paul Kwaak raised questions about the league rules being current and posted at the field. He was reminded that Duke promptly posts the current rules on the web site and that a set of rules are maintained by the umpires. The rules will be posted on the scoreboards in protective sheets in the near future.
  12. League Logo - There was general discussion regarding the league logo being put on players’ uniforms. Bob Kubat has someone that will put the logo on, with the consensus that the managers will collect the uniforms at the end of the summer season, have the logos pressed on, and then return the uniform to the players.
  13. Uniforms - Ed Tworek raised the issue regarding player uniforms. Duane maintained that he prefers players wear their respective team hats and dress properly to reflect the league. Most uniform "Rules" are not addressed as policy, but tends to be an unwritten guideline to encourage proper playing attire.
  14. Replacement Positions - Duke brought up a proposal to allow Replacement Players to play other positions rather than the current right field, right center, and catcher as specified. The current policy will stand, with future discussion tabled by the Board.
  15. Finances - Mert Opfer discussed the projected balances for the Fall league, based on expanded number of games, umpire costs, etc. Keeping projected fees at $65 will keep the league within the accepted cash balance amount. Concerns about the league’s cash balance were addressed.
  16. League Tournament - There was general discussion about a league-end tournament, with the issued being tabled for future review/discussion after the summer season.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00.
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July 1, 2008
The Meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm at Gambino's Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were; Duane Carolus, Tom Fiscus, Tom Herfordt, Mert Opfer, Bob Kubat and Torri Pantaleon. Absent; Bill Smuck and Joe Beninato.
  1. Fall Registration - Registration for the 2008 Fall League will begin as soon as the registration form is updated and available online. Tom H. will be working to get this completed as soon as possible. Players should watch the website for the updated form. The registration period will end on July 30. Registration fee will be $65 or $95 if opting for the draft, with a $25 additional late fee for any applications postmarked after July 30. Registration forms should be sent to the address noted on the form, with proper payment included at time of submission.
  2. Fall League - The Board members present reviewed the Omaha Metro Softball proposal from Bob Knudson for usage of fields for the fall league. Due to scheduled field maintenance, it has been requested that the Fall League end by Oct. 15. This would shorten the fall schedule by 1 week. It was suggested to move the start of the Fall League up by 1 week from Aug. 18 to Aug 11, and agreed upon unanimously by all board members present. With this scheduling change it was noted that the first 2 weeks (Aug 11 & Aug 20) of the Fall League would be played at NP Dodge Park, and remainder of schedule will then be played at Seymour Smith fields, beginning the week of Aug 25, and ending Oct 15. The cost will be $190 per team.
  3. Fall Draft - Board Members will meet on Aug 4 to review total numbers of players registered for the Fall League. Current team lineups will be reviewed. Those teams with the least amount of returning players will be dismantled (fall league only). Members of dismantled teams will be automatically put into the draft to be assigned to a new team (fall league only). The Fall Draft will be conducted on Aug 6.
    If a player wishes to change teams, then they can opt to go into the draft. Any player opting to enter the fall draft will be drafted to a new team, and remain on that team continuing into the 2009 spring/summer league. An additional $30 will be required to acquire a new team jersey and hat of their new assigned team. No jerseys & hats will be provided to temporary draft players (members of a dismantled team).
  4. League Champions Prize Selection Options - (Summer & Fall) ­ A catalog indicating prize selection options will be provided to the Champion teams. Team members, as a whole, can then make a selection of the item they wish to receive as League Champions. It should be noted that only one item per team should be selected. All members of the champion team will receive the chosen item.
  5. Defibrillator Acquisition - Bob Kubat reported that he has a couple models of defibrillators that he is looking at. Will bring to the next board meeting for everyone to take a look at.
  6. Issues presented to Board - It was brought to the attention of the League Commissioner an issue regarding league games scheduled for Wed July 9. There will be a number of tournament players traveling for regional tournaments and will be unavailable for the games scheduled for that night. Requests were made to consider canceling League games for that night. However, after some discussion it was agreed that it would not be fair to other League players to cancel these games. A concern for some teams being short more than 3 players would make it difficult to complete their lineups using pool players. The current league rule states a maximum of 3 pool players may be used to complete a team lineup. After further discussion it was moved by Tom Fiscus, second by Bob Kubat and voted unanimously by all present board members to amend this league rule for this one night of league play. Teams may pick up to a maximum of 4 pool players, if needed, for league play for July 9 only. It was also agreed that if a team needs to pick up a 4th pool player, then the additional position to place that pool player would be 1st base.
  7. Rules Reiteration - Teams can draw a maximum of 3 players (current exception will be league games scheduled for July 9, see item 6 noted above). The substitute players may only play right field, right center field or catcher, cannot pinch run, and must bat at the end of line up. If there needs to be a deviation from this rule in any manner, it should be properly discussed between the managers of the two teams playing each other and the Commissioner or his representative.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30.
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July 28, 2008
The League-Wide Meeting was called to order at 7:25 pm at Base Lake. Board Members in attendance were Duane Carolus, Tom Fiscus, Tom Herfordt, Mert Opfer, Bob Kubat, Torri Pantaleon and Bill Smuck. Absent: Joe Beninato. Approximately 50 League Players, representing all 10 teams of the 2008 Summer League were also in attendance.

  1. Opening Remarks -
  2. Board Elections - The Nominating Committee was introduced: Del Stokes, Paul Kwaak, and Jim Albin. They have prepared the ballots and will do the counting. Duane explained that 3 new members will be elected to the Board of Directors this evening. The newly elected officers will be assigned their Board positions based on their experience and areas of expertise, and will assume their responsibilities at the end of the 2008 Fall League. Bob Kubat and Bill Smuck are resigning their positions on the Board.
    Three League members had submitted applications for consideration for election: Dave Banghart, Ed Tworek, and Steve Quinn. Duane opened the floor to additional nominations. Del Stokes nominated Steve Jordan, who accepted the nomination. Bill Smuck nominated Bill Riggle, who accepted the nomination.
    There were 2 questions on the application form that each candidate was asked: Each of the 5 candidates then shared their responses with the group. A motion was made by Wally Jernigan, and second by Tom Fiscus to close nominations and cast ballots. League members present were instructed to vote for at MOST 3 candidates.
  3. Financial Report - Mert Opfer reported at the start of 2008 the bank balance was $9,582. The current YTD figures include income of $9,839, and expenses of $11,800 leaving us with a current YTD deficit of $1,961. Our current bank balance is $7,891. When considering additional expenses and projected income from player registration fees for the Fall League, the adjusted estimated bank balance year ending 2008 is $8,225. This is $93 short of the 2008 budget. Currently the only plans for the existing funds are to keep them as a contingency reserve.
    It was discussed that Omaha Metro Softball may need some help in making improvements to the fields at Seymour Smith, and it may be in the interest of NSS to possibly assist in that funding.
    Steve Quinn suggested using some of the reserve fund in an effort to solicit new players, possibly looking into some advertising in local media outlets, and printing publications for use in advertising the League.
    A motion was made, second and passed by all in attendance to approve the Treasurer Report.
  4. Emergency Contact Information - George Scott brought to the attention of everyone the necessity to have some way to access emergency contact information for all players. Duane noted he has a list and carries it with him at all times when at games. However, this wasn’t common knowledge to everyone. Also, unfortunately, Duane is not always at the fields during all games. It was also noted that each Manager is suppose to have this information for each player on his roster.
    Dave Banghart suggested that the League consider adopting a protocol similar to what they use for their National Tournament team. Each player carries with them a small card with all the necessary emergency contact information and keeps it in their equipment bag. This information could also be kept in a central location for easy access, if needed. It was also mentioned that as adults, each person should be responsible for themselves and have that kind of information with them. There was some question as to what information should be provided. Due to HIPAA regulations, the League cannot collect medical information from any player. It was determined that this matter requires further review and discussion, and was tabled at this time.
  5. Defibrillator Report - Bob Kubat reported that the league could purchase a brand new defibrillator at an estimated cost of $1,275 or a rebuilt one (with a 1 yr. guarantee) for an estimated cost of $540. We are looking to have one on site at all times and most models will instruct a trained user exactly what to do. Mark Niebauer (cardiologist) stated that AED defibrillators are very self explanatory with easy to follow instructions. It would also be a good idea to have people with CPR Training using the machine. Duane asked if anyone present would be interested in being trained on an AED defibrillator, and a number of people responded positively.
    Further discussion involved proper storage and maintenance of a defibrillator. Although most are battery operated, the unit would need to be tested on a regular basis to ensure that it is in proper working condition. Another consideration is where to properly keep the unit. It was suggested to possibly split the cost with another league and keep the unit at the softball complex.
    Wally added that he had submitted 5 grant applications to help defer the cost. Unfortunately NSS is not tax exempt, so we do not qualify for any grants. In the end Wally made a motion that the League should move forward and purchase a new defibrillator. The motion was second by Steve Jordan and unanimously passed by all present. Dave Banghart and Bob Kubat will set up training as they have the contacts of the qualified personnel and Bob can get access to a "trainer" unit.
    In an added discussion regarding the defibrillator, it was suggested that the League should consider having a first aid kit on hand. Some suggestions were to make sure the umpires had one on hand at each field. Wally suggested that we propose in any future field contracts that Omaha Metro Softball would supply and maintain a first aid kit. At this time it was determined to table this discussion and continue at another meeting.
  6. Ball Test - Of the feedback that Duane received from Managers, 37 players preferred the yellow optic ball, while 5 players preferred the white ball. The remaining players were either undecided or had no comment. This season the League used the 44/525 yellow optic and will continue with that one. The Board will discuss future options for testing other types of balls at the next Board meeting.
  7. Fall Draft - The deadline for the Fall League registration is July 30, any registrations postmarked up to and including that date will be considered on time. Registrations postmarked after July 30 must include a $25 late fee. The Board of Directors will meet on Aug 4 to assess the number of players registered and determine the teams at that time. The Fall Draft will be conducted on Aug 6. The Fall League will begin on Aug 11; the first 2 weeks will be played at NP Dodge Park and then move to Seymour Smith fields for the remainder of the schedule.
  8. Seymour Smith for 2009 - Bob Knudson informed Duane that there is a possibility that NSS could have access to Seymour Smith for the summer season 2009. However, the only possible available nights would be Tues. and Thurs. Duane asked by a show of hands of those present who would be interested and willing to switch to a Tues/Thurs schedule in order to play at Seymour. The majority of players present were willing to make the change. Further information will be provided as it comes available.
  9. Election Results - The results of the Board Elections were announced. New Board members are Dave Banghart, Ed Tworek, and Steve Quinn. Congratulations guys! A League-Wide meeting will be held again next year, and at that time 3 more positions on the Board will come open. Duane noted that the Associate Commissioner position will be one them. Going forward, the Board will consist of 9 members: Commissioner, Associate Commissioner, and 7 Directors. Board member will serve a 3 year term and can run again. This should allow for an overlap of members and with turnover every 3 years. It would also allow for everyone on the board to participate in one full draft which is held every 3 years. Currently there are 6 remaining positions that are up for the option of leaving the Board next year. The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on Aug 4, time and place to be announced later. The newly elected Board members are invited to attend.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
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Aug 4, 2008
The Meeting was called to order at 6:40 pm at Gambino’s Pizza Parlor.
Those in attendance were Duane Carolus, Bob Kubat, Tom Herfordt, Joe Beninato, Mert Opfer, Torri Pantaleon, and Bill Smuck. Absent was Tom Fiscus. Also attending were newly elected Board Members: Ed Tworek, Steve Quinn, and Dave Banghart
  1. Financial Report of League Meeting - Mert Opfer reported that he paid out $260 to Bill Smuck, and $12 to Dick Smith. The free will donations totaled $150, leaving the League a total cost of $122 for the meeting.
  2. Sportsmanship - Duane shared with those in attendance an e-mail he received from Bill Riggle regarding an example of good sportsmanship on the field. Recently during a game between the Braves and the Royals there was an instance when a Braves player had made a play on a short fly ball to the outfield. After sending the ball back into the pitcher, the player was going back to his position in the outfield. Unfortunately the pitcher was not aware that the player was not in position and was starting the throw the first pitch to the next Royals batter in the lineup. Although the batter attempted to inform the pitcher that his fielder was not yet positioned, the pitcher went ahead and threw the pitch. As the pitch came in the Royals batter stepped out of the batter box and took a called strike without complaint. A second instance in the same game was noted when Royals players were in their defensive positions. The Royals outfielders were maintaining a position in mid outfield, as if observing an imaginary line in the outfield before moving up to play the ball on some of the weaker batters. Bill wanted to share this example with everyone and appreciated that good sportsmanship is something that we observe even without having it in writing.
  3. Fall League - As of August 4, there were 88 players who have submitted registrations for the Fall League. It was stated that one more additional player will be bringing their registration to the new player tryouts on Wed. Aug 6. This makes a total of 89 players for the 2008 Fall League. With this number in mind discussion began on how many teams and number of players per team.
    # of Teams - The first suggestion was to go with 12 players per team, making up 7 teams, allowing 5 of those teams to actually have a 13 player roster. The second suggestion was to go with an 11 player roster and go with a total of 8 teams. One team would have 12 players on their roster. There was discussion of the 7 teams vs. 8 teams. If going with a 7 team league for the fall then it would have to be determined whether to set up the schedules with double headers or byes. Some of the sentiment was that no one wants a bye as players paid their registration fees to play ball. Double headers were a concern, simply because not all players are comfortable playing double headers in a day. Although, that would only be one time through a 6 game cycle. Also it was felt that 13 players on a roster is too difficult to get everyone into the game (if all players are present).
    The advantage of an 8 team League makes for easier scheduling, and better balancing amongst the teams. There was some concern mentioned regarding teams being short players sometimes, however, the pool player draw should help take care of that problem.
    Bill Smuck made a motion to set up the Fall League with 8 teams. It was second by Torri, and passed unanimously by all voting Board members present.
    Games times were discussed. Since we will only be having 8 teams for the fall and utilizing 2 fields for games. We can set the schedule for 2 games per night. It was suggested to set game times at 6:30 and 7:45. Bob Kubat made a motion to accept these game times. It was second by Bill Smuck, and passed unanimously by all voting Board members present.
    The Fall Draft schedule will be discussed after all other Meeting business is addressed.
  4. Substitute Player Positions - In an e-mail to Duane, Bill Riggle requested that the Board of Directors consider adding 1st and/or 2nd base as another option for substitute players. His reasoning being that some players although physically limited due to injuries enter the pool and then are used in the outfield. It is felt that this is not a benefit to any team if a pool player with limited mobility is put into the outfield. They may not be able to aggressively play a ball hit to the outfield. If an infield position is available then that player could be used in that capacity. The Board members discussed the matter.
    It was moved by Bill Smuck and second by Bob Kubat to add only 1st base as another possible position for a substitute player. The rule of player position for substitute players will be amended to read: Must play catcher, right field, right-center field, or 1st base. The defensive position of the substitute player will be selected at the team manager’s discretion. The motion was passed unanimously by all voting Board members present.
    All other rules regarding substitute players will remain as stated. The substitute player(s) must bat at the bottom of the lineup, and teams will be limited to drawing a maximum of 3 players from the pool draw.
  5. Balls for Fall - Dave Banghart brought with him 2 balls to the meeting. One is the Worth Large Seam 44/.525 which is currently being used by the League. The other is a Baden Lexum 44/.375. Dave presented some of the pros and cons of each. He feels that the Worth 44/.525 although it is meant to be a livelier ball, and appears to come off the bat quickly, the flight is somewhat restricted by the large seam. He believes that the better quality ball is in the material components. Dave commented that after some use of the Baden Lexum the ball actually cleaned up very nicely, allowing for prolonged use. The survey results were reviewed and found that 28.7% of respondents preferred the 44/.525. However, 26.6% had responded that they would like to use the 44/.375. Dave currently has 4 dozen of the 44/.375 available for use for the 2008 Fall League.
    A motion was made by Bill Smuck to accept the recommendation of the 44/.375 and try it out right away. The motion was second by Bob Kubat. In an added discussion to the motion it was proposed that after 3 weeks of use, the Board would poll the managers regarding the player’s reaction to the ball. At that time it can be determined which ball to continue using next year. The motion was passed unanimously by all voting Board members present.
  6. First Aid Training Proposal - Duane shared with everyone an e-mail he received from Cort Fernald. Cort suggested that the League provide some basic First Aid Training. It was suggested that maybe next Spring/Summer that the managers or their representatives attend a mandatory Managers meeting, and the second half of the meeting focus on basic First Aid Training. Joe went further to suggest that we consider any or all players interested in receiving basic First Aid Training. He can get access to a facility that would allow for a large group to be trained. It was suggested at the start of the season next year; any players interested in basic First Aid Training should notify their managers. The proper time and place could then be established based on the number of people interested.
  7. Player Retention/New Player Acquisition - In an e-mail to Duane, Cort Fernald proposed that an ongoing committee be established to address player retention and new player acquisition. The committee should not be limited to Board members, but include any player who might be interested. Steve Quinn suggest that a representative from each team be on the committee, but it was determined it may be better to make it a voluntary basis. In his proposal, Cort recommended that this matter should be discussed with Team Managers, and get some feedback from them and their players by the end of the 2008 Fall League. Some things this committee could focus on for new player acquisition.
    Dave Banghart suggested:
  8. Follow Up - AED Defibrillator - Bob Knudson, as a representative of Metro Omaha Softball, sent an e-mail to Duane regarding our request for storage of an AED Defibrillator. MOS has no objection to NSS obtaining an AED unit. Their main concern is storage. He stated that it could be stored in the maintenance room at the fields, but it would be necessary that someone from the League be available during games (start and end) to have access to the AED unit. One concern of the Board is that there is no real security to prevent theft.
    One option was to have a team representatives be responsible for safe keeping. A rotating schedule (based on game schedule) would need to be set up to identify who is responsible for the unit. This might be more confusing than helpful.
    Another suggestion was to acquire a small locking safe that could be secured to the floor. Joe Beninato suggested using a heavy duty locking file cabinet, preferably a 2 drawer. He has some of these types of cabinets in his possession and would be willing to donate to the League. He will check exactly what he has and get back with the Board.
    Also look into the cost to insure the unit in case of theft.
    Bob Kubat will get the final cost to acquire an AED Defibrillator, submit to Duane and Mert for review and approval, and then order the unit.
    Dave Banghart and Bob Kubat will coordinate the training for those interested. Duane will discuss with Bob Knudson proposed storage security issues at the fields.
    In addition to the discussion of the Defibrillator, the acquisition of a First Aid Kit was mentioned. The idea is that a League First Aid Kit could also be secured with the Defibrillator, and be available during games. Bob Kubat believes he can get access to many of the needed supplies at minimal or no cost, and put a kit together. It was also suggested that an e-mail be sent to all players and request donations from either themselves, or possibly their networking sources.
  9. Board Member Items -
  10. Fall Draft, Aug 6 - Tryouts for the new players will be held at Churchich Park at 6:30 pm., Wed. August 6. We have 3 new players, and 3 returning players (played in previous years). After the tryouts are completed the players will be released, and the Draft will move to the Metro Omaha Softball office.
    Fall Draft Schedule was discussed. We are going with 8 teams for the 2008 Fall League, the Athletics and White Sox had the fewest returning players. Those 2 teams will be disbanded for the Fall, and their registered players will go into the Draft and be assigned to a new team for the Fall League (only). There will be 16 players in the draft.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
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Aug 6, 2008
The Fall Draft was called to order at 7:30 pm at Metro Omaha Softball office. Board of Directors present: Duane Carolus, Tom Herfordt, Joe Beninato, Mert Opfer, Bill Smuck, and Torri Pantaleon. Managers/Team Representatives present: Duke Burgess (Blue Jays), Bill Riggle (Braves), Ed Tworek (Nationals), Dave Banghart (Phillies), Bruce Babko (Cardinals), Bill Smuck (Royals), and Jim Wilmot (Tigers)
  1. Registered Players - 90 players were registered for the 2008 Fall League. 17 Players are in the draft; 4 new registration, 3 returning players from previous years and 10 members of disbanded teams from the Summer League. The draft was set up for 8 teams. Pre-assigned picks were established to bring all teams up to an 11 player roster. The last 2 picks would be determined by a random draw giving those 2 teams the 12 player roster. In the event of any additional registrations for the Fall League, those teams with an 11 man roster would then have a random draw to determine who would take the new player onto their roster.
  2. Draft Guidelines - New and prior returning players drafted for the Fall League will remain as a permanent team member to the team they were selected for the Summer League, if they return at that time. However, as with each season start, any player may opt to enter the draft for the start of the new season. A reminder to all present, it was noted that players registering for next summer will be placed to their original teams based on the date of receipt of their registration. First 12 registrations for any team will be accepted to their original team from 2008 League. Any additional registrations received after the first 12 will automatically go into the draft.
  3. Pool Player Guidelines - Since the teams for the Fall League are set up with a base roster of 11 players, the pool player draw was outlined. All teams must begin with a legal lineup of 6 players, and can only draw a maximum 3 of pool players, thus playing with a roster of 9, and NO automatic out will be recorded. As noted in the minutes of the August 4 Board of Director Meeting, 1st base has been added as an optional defense position for pool players.
  4. New Ball for 208 Fall League - Dave Banghart shared with the managers/team representatives present the new ball we will be trying out during the Fall League. It is a Baden Lexum 44/.375. It was agreed that an evaluation of the ball would be made at the 3 week point of the Fall League.
  5. Draft - Managers/Team Representatives proceeded with the Draft. The Fall League will begin on Aug. 11, at NP Dodge Park.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
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Oct 2, 2008
The Meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm at Gambino’s Pizza Parlor.
Board of Directors in attendance were: Duane Carolus, Bill Smuck, Tom Fiscus, Tom Herfordt, Mert Opfer, and Torri Pantaleon. Absent: Joe Beninato and Bob Kubat. Also attending were newly elected Board Members Ed Tworek and Dave Banghart, as well as guests, Duke Burgess and Bill Riggle.
  1. PARITY IN THE DRAFT PROCESS - Presentation by Duke Burgess and Bill Riggle. Duke and Bill provided a presentation which gave case scenarios of draft assignments based on manger value, player value, and team value. The spreadsheets that Bill and Duke created provide an ease of creating League Parity of the teams by properly analyzing manager and player values, thus resulting in balanced team value. This presentation and process is for consideration for future drafts.
  2. Treasurer’s Report - Mert Opfer reported that we currently have $9,060 in the bank with all debts paid to current date. Tom Herfordt reported that a scanner would make adding sponsor graphics and links to the website easier. Tom has already purchased an advanced printer (includes standard printing options, faxing as well as scanning) at a cost of over $100. A motion was made to reimburse Tom $50 to defray some of his own personal cost. It was moved by Tom Fiscus, second by Mert Opfer, and voted unanimously in favor by all eligible voting Board Members present.
  3. Fall Banquet - The banquet will again be held at the Offutt Base Lake Pavilion on Saturday, November 7, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Cost for the Pavilion is $100, and rental cost for the grill is $65. Bill Smuck reported that the flyers and tickets for the 2008 Fall Banquet have been printed. These will be given to the Managers at the games on Monday, Oct. 6, and wants all money and attending counts returned to him no later than Oct. 13th. The cost per person (player and guest) has been raised from $7 to $8.50. The cost of any additional guests will remain at $15. Bob Morley (Liquor Cabinet - Bellevue) has been approached for purchase of the Kegs and boxes of wine. Steaks will be purchased from Fairway in LaVista. Although the Royals, as 2008 Summer League champs are in charge of the banquet, they are looking for any volunteers that would be available to help with setup on Friday, Nov 7. Torri’s band has also been retained to provide musical entertainment for the evening.
  4. Emergency Contact Information - The issue of collecting Emergency Contact Information was again addressed. This subject was previously presented to the Board at the League Meeting held on July 28. At that time is was suggested to provide cards to each player to fill out the pertinent contact information, and any additional medical information that they would like to provide. Dave Banghart will get cards made up. Players will then fill out the information, and all cards for each team will be kept with the Team Manager, or another player in the event the Team Manager is not present for any game. It was proposed to establish this new policy for the 2009 Summer League.
  5. Defibrillator Update - There were 20 to 25 players who participated in the training of the new defibrillator. We also have additional players who have been certified through other authorized agencies. Duane reported that Joe Beninato has acquired a small wall mount cabinet to store the defibrillator in the small equipment room at the softball complex. However, since Omaha Metro Softball is planning some upgrades to the ball parks during the winter, we will wait until next spring after these upgrades are completed to install the cabinet. At this time, Duane currently carries the defibrillator with him to all games, and is always at the park for all games. In the event that he cannot be there, he makes arrangements for another League member to be in charge of the unit in his absence.
  6. First Aid Kit - Follow up to the First Aid Kit has been tabled pending further information from Bob Kubat, who was not present for this meeting.
  7. New Uniform Shirts for Fall Players - In light of the delay of getting shirts for new players for this fall, it was suggested that a few extra shirts for each team be ordered at the start of the new draft. This would allow shirts to be available right away for any new players joining the League in the fall. · There was additional discussion that new players for the Fall would automatically be entered in the draft the following Spring rather than remain with the team they were assigned to for the Fall. This would allow for those teams that were disbanded for the Fall to have a chance to draft new players (if needed) for the following Spring. It would also allow for those players who chose not to play for the Fall to have first priority to go back to the team they were drafted to in the previous Spring. At this time this was only briefly discussed, and no final decision was made.
  8. Board Member Items:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
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