Lowell Little League: Volunteer Info

A word to the Parents:
At the core of any successful Volunteer organization are the people behind the scenes.  Lowell Little League has made huge strives in improving our organization over the last few years.  But we have dreams of making this organization bigger and better each year.  Our greatest limitations are not a shortage of ideas, rather a shortage of manpower to make those ideas reality!   Lowell’s High School baseball and softball programs depend on a good training organization.  The Baseball program won their first district championship in many years in 2008.  We hope they repeat it again in 2009, and that the softball program has equal success!     We need help EVERY year to improve and grow.  How much time is up to you but the opportunities are here.  PLEASE carefully review the list below and identify one or more ways you would like to give back to our organization and subsequently, the community and the kids.    If you do not know what to do, just come to ONE board meeting and meet the faces that work for your kids every day.   I promise you – you will get back WAY more than you give.  

 Respectfully,

 ** Denotes Lowell Little League Official Board Positions 

& Volunteer Opportunities - Those in blue are openings

 LEAGUE PRESIDENT **  presides at league and district meetings, and assumes full responsibility for the operation of the local league. The President receives all mail, supplies and other communications from Little League International. The President must see to it that the league personnel are properly briefed on all phases of rules, regulations, and policies of Little League. The league President is the contact between the local organization and Little League International. 

 VICE PRESIDENT ** presides in the absence of the President; works with other officers and committee members; is ex-officio member of all committees and carries out such duties and assignments as may be delegated by the President. 

SECRETARY ** maintains a register of members and directors; records the minutes of meetings; is responsible for sending out notice of meetings, creates & mails postcards & flyers, issues, membership cards and maintains a record of the league's activities.  The Secretary is also in charge of checking and responding to e-mail and phone messages.

TREASURER ** signs checks co-signed by another officer or director; dispenses league funds as approved by the board of directors; reports on the status of league funds; keeps local league books and financial records; prepares budgets and assumes the responsibility for all league finances including concessions, fundraising and sponsorship funds.   (Our current Treasurer is retiring after this year - Please let us know if you can help out!)

PLAYER AGENT ** conducts annual skills assessment and is in charge of player selection, assists President in checking birth records and eligibility of players; serves as a member of the board of directors of the local league an generally supervises and coordinates the transfer of players to or from the Minor Leagues according to the provisions of the regulations of Little League. Creates game and practice schedules for the league.   

SAFETY OFFICER ** coordinates all safety activities; ensures the safety in player training; ensures safe playing conditions; coordinates reporting and prevention of injuries; solicits suggestions for making conditions safer, and that all baseball equipment is in good working condition, and well maintained, and given to the coaches; and reports suggestions to Little League International through the league President. 

 COACHING COORDINATOR ** represents coaches/managers in league; presents a coach/manager training plan to the board; orders and distributes training materials to players, coaches and managers; coordinates mini-clinics as necessary; serves as the contact person for Little League and its manager/coach education program for the league

INFORMATION OFFICER ** manages the league's website, manages the online registration process; assigns administrative rights to league volunteers and team; ensures that league news and scores are updated on a regular basis; collects, posts and distributes important information on league activities including direct dissemination of fund-raising and sponsor activities to Little League International, district, public, league members and media; serves as primary contact person for Little League regarding optimizing use of the Internet for league administration and for distributing information to league members and Little League.  In general, this role will involve Flyers, Email Communications, Mailings, and website.  If you love details & organizing this is a great job!  NOTE:  This job will require several Worker Bees to delegate to.

BASEBALL FIELDS & EQUIPMENT OFFICER ** This position must ensure baseball and softball fields are safe, productive and pleasant environments for our players.  This role entails coordinating maintenance activities with volunteers, the City and outside landscaping firms.  Cleaning and inventorying equipment before each season and cleaning and properly storing and securing equipment at the end of the season.  Individual(s) are also responsible for weekly inspections and maintenance, coordinating the striping of the fields during game days, and generally treating the fields like they were your own backyard flower bed. 

ASSISTANT NEEDED for above*

UMPIRE COORDINATOR ** -- obtains, trains and schedules umpires for all the regular season games and upon request for tournament and All Star games; works closely with the Player Agent & Safety Officer; works closely with the Treasurer to ensure weekly checks are distributed; ensures that backup umpires are available for sick or no-show umpires. 

SOFTBALL LIASON ** -- This position ensures obtains, trains and schedules umpires for all the regular season games and upon request for tournament and All Star games; works closely with the Player Agent & Safety Officer; works closely with the Treasurer to ensure weekly checks are distributed; ensures that backup umpires are available for sick or no-show umpires

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR -- Contact prior year's sponsors for upcoming season sponsorship comments.  Possibly generate new sponsorships.  Ensure sponsors' logos are in pdf file format and given to the webmaster for the website, and are given to the uniform coordinator for team sponsorship, banners are ordered (if new) and placed on fences, and collect sponsorship fees.  This person will work with Player Agent & Equipment Officer. 

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR – Fundraising is a critical role for the Little League to help finance equipment replacement and purchases, maintenance expenses and many of the expenses in running a league. This role focuses on making sure that our players and parents work hard to promote and raise money for any and all fundraising opportunities.  This role works closely with the Information Officer and Secretary.     Our Primary fundraiser is the cookie & Sub sale at the beginning of the year.   

UNIFORM COORDINATOR -- This role focuses on making sure that our kids get their uniforms before their first games; works closely with the contractor and Sponsorship coordinator to ensure proper logos and colors for each sponsor.   

DIVISION VPs -- A board position.  These people cannot be coaches for the division they represent.  They work closely with the Player Agent & President & Info Officer with registration, skills assessment, team placement, and all star selection (if applicable).  They helps coordinate practice and game schedules for their divisions, find coaches, establishes team parents, and serve as a liaison between  board members and the coaches, parents and kids.  This is a great position for someone that likes to coordinate activities and work with people. 

TEAM MANAGER (or HEAD COACH) -- Being a manager or coach requires time, patience, and basic knowledge of the game of baseball. You may be required to attend meetings, instructional sessions or seminars including umpiring, umpire as needed for other’s games. You will communicate with the parents/guardians of your players to inform them of any schedule changes, rainouts, and Little League events and activities.  As a manager or coach, you have more interaction with young people than anyone else in Little League. Therefore, it is important that you understand the goals and virtues of the Little League program in order to effectively communicate them to your players.  Team responsibilities include organizing and managing practices (at least one per week), games (1-2 per week) and selecting and working with Assistant Coaches.  Basic skills training will be provided for new coaches.  Lots of fun! 

COACH (aka Assistant Coaches) -- This full season commitment requires assisting the Team Manager in activities described above.  Position will likely include working with small groups of kids to develop specific baseball skills.  Coaches for AAA, Majors and Juniors will be required to help keep scorebooks and pitch counts during the games.  Basic skills training will be provided for new coaches.  Lots of fun, too! 

TEAM PARENT -- Each team needs one parent to help the coaches coordinate activities and communicate updates.  Activities may include creating a Team List of players names with jersey uniform numbers, parents names and phone numbers and email addresses, as well as monitoring volunteer commitments on the team.  Team parents may also be asked to work with other Committee Chair Persons or Officers in finding volunteers to assist with special events.  Should be email savvy.  

TEAM PARENT COORDINATOR -- Works with the Player Agent, President, and/or Division Coordinators to coordinates the Team Parents for all the teams.  This individual will be responsible for ensuring all Team Parents understand how to monitor volunteers for their teams, and serve as a contact for general questions from Team Parents.  Prior experience as a Team Parent is very helpful. 

SPECIAL EVENTS VP -- This is a Board position.  This individual may chair each special event OR assists as necessary the person who offers to chair these individual events.  This person will help with recruiting and working with all of the volunteers in the Little League program.  Special Events may include:   Picture Day with Pitch Hit & Run, Little League Night and End of Season Picnic with final games.  

LITTLE LEAGUE NIGHT COORDINATOR -- This exciting event honors all Little League players for their season by a night out at the White Caps.  The Coordinator of this event plans and manages the tickets sales and plans the tailgate party (and meeting point).  This game usually takes place mid-June.  Not only is Little League Night fun for everyone, it’s an important fundraising event for Little League.  

ANNUAL PICNIC COORDINATOR & WORKER BEES -- Come celebrate the end of the season, and watch the Minor division teams play their final games.  Activities may include Home-Run Derby for the Minors, AAA, and Majors divisions (sorry no Juniors), the dunk tank, pitching booth, catered picnic, etc.  Worker Bees are needed to assist in this fun-filled day for the entire Little League!  

CONCESSIONS MANAGER -(CO-Manager Needed now)  Concessions is a vital part of raising money for equipment & field maintenance.  This position (not always a Board position) reports to the Treasurer, and ensures every game is covered with volunteer help.  This individual orders and restocks food and beverage and retail items, makes deposits from the sales, trains people to open, close, and work their shifts.

CONCESSIONS WORKER BEE -- This position is great for parents looking to fill their minimum hours for volunteering in our Shorewood Little League organization.  Duties include arriving a half hour before game time to set-up the concession stand and food prep, serving customers, collecting money, restocking items when necessary, and staying a half hour after for after game sales and clean-up.  Currently we are looking for 10 Worker Bee positions – 2 workers per 3 hr shift/evening Monday through Friday.  These workers must complete a successful background check before working.

PRE-GAME SET-UP & ANNOUNCER -- This position is also great for parents looking to fill their minimum hours for volunteering in our  Little League organization.  Duties include: arriving 15 minutes before game time to set-up the scoreboard, announcing players as they come to bat, scoring the entire game, and putting away the score board equipment when the game is over. 

WORKER BEE - This position is another one that full-fills the minimum hours of volunteering.  If you select this commitment, you must be willing to help with either the Little League Night Tailgate Party or the End-of-Season Celebration when called upon.