Here is a list of business that was handled tonight. Some phone votes were taken to ensure that we had adequate input.

1. Metal Cleats are now allowed for 18U. Passed 7 to 2, one abstained.
2. Pitching distance for 18U will be 43’ for this season. Passed 10-0.
3. Call-up rule has been changed to allow call-ups in playoffs if the player has appeared as a call-up in 25% (formerly 50%) of the older team’s games. No other component of the call-up rule changed, including the stipulations about pitching and Executive Committee discretion. Passed 10-0
4. Team counts: for now, it looks like this:   10U-5;   12U-8;   15U-11;   18U-4.  These aren’t the final counts, but I think we will be down again this year. I will need final team counts in about 2 weeks. I will prompt you for your answers in the middle of March.
5. I do not know if East Allegheny will have teams this year.
6. About 45 minutes before the meeting, I received a call from Elizabeth-Forward, who would like to join our league with a 15U team. They are unhappy with the level of competition in the Mon-Yough League. This is an especially tough question without having everyone at the meeting. Here were the points that were made regarding EF’s candidacy:
• Still a long drive – 45 minutes or more for some communities, but it’s a distance that is handled from some communities to others already.
• They have already been in the league. They are committed to the sport (their 15U team would be very good)
• They are supposed to present their candidacy to the Community Reps and Executive Committee, but there is no time to do this, and it would be awfully hard to conduct a field inspection.
• The suggestion was made, and most present at the meeting agreed, that we could consider allowing EF’s participation if they forfeited any claim to home games for this season, as a sort of probationary season. That doesn’t meant that a community could not visit EF, but the onus would be on EF to travel. If they do agree to this, I will need some input for a clear majority. However, there were 5 voting members at the meeting who felt this was a decent solution.
7. Jim McGrath volunteered to be the League Secretary, which will enable us to fill a legitimate role that had not been filled in recent years, if ever. Jim already serves as our webmaster, so I have accepted his offer. If there is a problem with this, discuss it with me, but I don’t see any reason at all to not accept the offer.
8. Welcome back to Duane Miller as the PAL Community Rep.
9. Jen Devey resigned as Executive Vice-President at the end of last season. We are still looking to replace her on the League Board.
10. I am resigning from my position as President, effective July 31, 2010. I would love to “educate” my replacement throughout this season. John Wright is also interested in finding his successor as Treasurer.
11. We need Age Group Commissioners also. Last year, I handled 10U and 12U, while John Wright handled 15U. Clyde Treloar handled 18U. We may get Clyde back, but I would obviously prefer that we get more people involved in the league. I ask again, please look at your relationships and associations, and see if there are parents or coaches that could and would provide assistance.