FORKS TOWNSHIP ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (FTAA)

MEETING MINUTES

4/16/07

 

ATTENDEES: 

Tom Gruver (Pres.)                     Dan Martyak (V.P.)        John Wieller (Treas.)     Nancy Bonfanti (Sec.)

Don Miller                                  Dana Guffy                    Tim Woodard                 Fran Tone

Linda Gruver                              Wayne Hultgren             Leon Stull

Joe Veres                                  Chris Henry                   Tim Woodard                 Melody Talpas  

John O’Neil                                Dean McKee                 Scott Abert                    Scott Hardy                  

Colleen Ziegenhorn

 

Meeting called to order by Dan Martyak.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

§ Reviewed and accepted with a motion from Fran Tone; seconded by Wayne Hultgren.  Motion carried.

 

MINUTES:

§ Minutes from 3/19/07 meeting reviewed and accepted with a motion from Linda Gruver; seconded by Leon Stull.  Motion carried.

 

CORRESPONDENCE (Nancy Bonfanti): 

o        Received bill from Flowers and Us for arrangement delivered to the Bush Family.

o        Received letter of thanks from The Children’s Home of Easton for a $250 donation to the youth summer program.

o        Received note from Rick Hartranft, Eqpt. Mgr. who would like to know who would pay for additional ice packs and first aid kits.

§         ACTION ITEM:  John O’Neil to get price for first aid kits from J&J.

§         Rick is authorized to purchase $150 towards ice packs and first aid kits on a motion from Fran Tone which was seconded by Dean McKee.

 

SPORTS REPORTS

 

GENERAL NOTES FOR SPORTS TEAMS: 

1.       BOXES AT BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS MUST BE KEPT LOCKED!  COACHES MUST LOCK BOXES AFTER USE!  Kids are taking the bases out to be used on the fields while unsupervised. 

 

BASEBALL (Report by Chris Henry)

§ Ages 13+ -- no report

§         Chris Henry reporting for ages t-ball to 11-12 year olds only

o        All teams are practicing.

o        Legion Team has been picked.

o        9-12 year old season opener is Friday night at the Community Center. 

o        Chaperones are being sought for Friday dance.  There are 20 so far.

o        The GEABL league fees are $900 total.

o        Chris attended a Babe Ruth league meeting and they are looking for $475 entry fee plus $1,000 per team which would be refunded if we sell the raffle tickets.  Chris wants to only pay the $475 for each team and just sell the raffle tickets.  Babe Ruth is threatening to not let us play in the league if we don’t pay this up front.

o        Chris is still getting phone calls from people with kids on the waiting list but teams are all full.

o        Field lining needs to be done.   Field maintenance workers will complete this. 

§         ACTION ITEM:  Chris Henry to supply schedule.

CHEERING (Report by Dana Guffy)

·         Mandatory parents meeting scheduled for Thurs., April 19 at 7:00 or 7:45.

FOOTBALL  (Report by Fran Tone)

·         Moore Township had dropped out and has now returned to the league. Schedules are adjusted. 

·         Organizations that split teams would have their split team play strictly on Thursdays and the schedules would be different from last year according to the new divisions.

·         Coaches will available for the first 3 Saturdays during the registration period.

·         Looking for 20 volunteers for the parking duties during the Laurens First &
Goal Football Camp @ Lafayette's Metzgar Fields on Sunday, June 3rd. In
exchange for doing this volunteers are allowed to stay for the camp and observe
drills and skill sessions. This year’s feature speaker will be Phil Simms.  Volunteers will be fed by Outback Steakhouse.

·         New game pants have been ordered for Pee Wees and Midgets.

·         May 31st is the cutoff for football registrations.  Everyone after that will go “wait-listed” level by level.  Fill-in by need at level only.

SOCCER (Report by Greg Russell)

  • This Sunday will be the first games because of weather delays.
  • Greg needs softball and lacrosse to make room at the airport field to set up a soccer field.

BASKETBALL (Report by Don Miller)

  • Season is complete.
  • A committee for by-laws has been formed and will meet closer to next season.

LACROSSE (Report from Scott Hardy)

  • In full swing.  First game was against Palmer last week.  One win, one loss.
  • There is a post-season tournament in Boyertown which is $360 to enter.  How can Scott get the money to enter this? 
    • The FTAA suggests to use income from lacrosse sponsored dance of $180 and he should make a motion to have the FTAA pay the rest.  Scott Hardy made a motion to request $180 to fund entrance fee for lacrosse tournament.  Motion seconded by Kevin Wall.
    • ACTION ITEM:  Scott Hardy to give John Wieller, Treas. 2 weeks notice before check is required in May.

SOFTBALL (Report by Leon Stull)

  • Uniforms have been distributed.
  • Game schedules are being rearranged as far as location due to rain damage and field conditions.
  • PIAA rules have stated that we must replace any bats with a date prior to 2000.  Next year the date will be 2004.
    • ACTION ITEM:  Leon to let Rick know of this new rule.
  • Because of poor field conditions, softball must continue to use the airport field and requests that lacrosse make room for them.  Tim Woodard noted the issue and it has already been addressed.
  • All coaches must lock boxes after practices.  Kids have been seen getting bases out of the unlocked boxes not during a scheduled practice.  This leaves our equipment at risk!

WRESTLING  (Report by Joe Veres)

  • Post season banquet was held and the kids all received jackets.  A banner was presented to the kids and will be hung in the gym. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

DANCES (Report by Kevin Wall)

  • The March Dance had to be rescheduled from the 16th to the 30th.  Lacrosse provided 23 chaperones.  The list of chaperones was provided to Nancy Bonfanti, Sec.  Under 250 kids attended. 
  • Next dance is Friday, April 20th.
  • Kevin spoke with Greg Dorney who agreed to allow reducing to 2 police officers from 3 since turnout for dances has been lower but stated that if numbers rise to over 300, the additional police officer must be added.

SNACK BAR (Report by Wayne Hultgren)

  • Wayne needs help to stock the snack bar for Wednesday or Thursday of next week to prepare for baseball/softball.
  • Wayne needs lists of schedules, coaches and snack bar schedules from softball and baseball.  Due to schedules being handed out to both baseball and softball just this week, schedules are a week behind.
    • ACTION ITEM:  Chris Henry and Leon Stull to provide Wayne with schedules.
  • Snack bar will not open for Friday night or Saturday since there is only one game Friday night and softball has moved its games for field conditions.
  • Snack bar will be set to open for Monday, 4/23.
  • If no one shows up to work a snack bar, what do we do?  Wayne will take care of it.

REGISTRATIONS (Report by Dan Martyak)

  • Dan asked Don to add May registrations for football and soccer to the electronic board out front and to post notices on the front doors of the community center.  Dates are May 1 – 31.
    • ACTION ITEM:  Don Miller to take care of this.

RECREATION BOARD (Report by John O’Neil)

  • The old wooden jungle gym is going to be replaced.
  • The Rec. Board would like to suggest that fall baseball look into using the old uniforms and equipment that was for sale over the past weekend at the community center.  Ask Rick Hartranft if there is usable stuff and whatever is left should be donated to other local programs.

SCHOLARSHIPS (Report by Colleen Ziegenhorn)

  • 8 applications have been received.
  • Would like meeting for April 30th. 
  • ACTION ITEM:  Colleen to contact committee members Maureen Martyak, Nancy Bonfanti, Tom Gruver, Debbie Hultgren regarding meeting date and time.

BACKGROUND CHECKS (Report by Dan Martyak)

  • $8.00 fee was revisited because of push back from some coaches on being required to pay out of pocket.  The motion from January meeting stands.  Each coach is required to pay their own fee.  If they refuse, the commissioner can elect to come up with the $8.00 or dismiss the coach.
  • What do we do if someone refuses to have the background check done?
    • The FTAA By-laws state that a person without a background check cannot coach a team; therefore, if someone refuses to provide the necessary information, they cannot coach a team.  Another coach would have to be appointed as head coach.  This person may then become an assistant coach but may never be allowed to run a practice or game without the head coach present.
    • The FTAA is willing to make arrangements for a person to enter their personal information into the form themselves to maintain privacy.
  • If a previous check has been completed by the coach (i.e. police officer, teacher) and the coach can provide a copy and prove it has been done, our background check can be waived.
  • There is an outstanding background check for someone from baseball.  If the check is not completed, this coach cannot continue coaching.

GUIDELINES COMMITTEE (Report by Nancy Bonfanti)

  • Softball and lacrosse have been posted on the website.  Baseball was delayed due to website link issues but will be put up very soon.
  • A review of football and soccer guidelines will be held at the next meeting.

WEBSITE (Report from John Wieller)

  • Background check form has been added to the website.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • Community Days (9/15/07 and 9/16/07)
    • Colleen Ziegenhorn stated that we can have a booth for the Community Days. 
    • Football games here that Sunday.
    • She let the committee know that the mule is to only be used by town employees.
    • Colleen, Dan, Nancy, Kevin and Wayne will assist with ideas for tent and planning.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • A letter was received that our current fire safety inspection certificate would not be renewed as we the football home snack bar fire system is not up to code.  It must be completely replaced and it will cost $2,100 + any other underlying expenses to replace the system with a foam system.
    • A decision was made to only have hot dogs at that snack bar this football season since there will only be 3 home games. 
    • ACTION ITEM:  John Wieller to get 2 additional quotes and will look into these updates being made over the summer.
  • Soccer may host another tournament this year but a date has not been given.

 

Motion to adjourn by Wayne Hultgren and seconded by Kevin Wall.  Motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Nancy Bonfanti

FTYSO Secretary