Oregon District #2 Little League Website: NEWS

Volume 75   

Year-End Wrap Up     At the close of another successful Tournament season, congratulations goes out to the teams who represented District #2 and the host leagues brave enough to welcome our district tournaments.  Reynolds LL offered to take on the big event, hosting the 9^th Annual Honor’s Tournament.  With 37 teams and more than 400 players, their volunteers made this huge event possible.  Kudos to Centennial LL volunteers, taking on no less than 5 district tournaments at once, another huge endeavor that welcomed 33 All-Star teams over a three week period.  And a big thanks goes out to Lents LL for hosting the lengthy 9 & 10 Year-Old Baseball district and state tournaments.  Their gracious volunteers never waived over the 3 ½ weeks it took 24 teams to determine a state champ.     Representing Oregon District #2 at state tournaments in 2010:   

9 & 10                         BB:  Gresham National           SB:  Portland           

10 & 11                       BB:  Reynolds                          SB:  Mt Tabor/Montavilla

Major                           BB:  Reynolds                          SB:  Gresham           

Junior                           BB:  Reynolds                          SB:  Gresham/Clackamas

Senior                          BB:  Mt Hood/Lents/Tabor

Our district Big League baseball team competed at state, representing us well by bringing home the Sportsmanship Award.  Big League softball All-star team advanced to regional play in Palmdale, CA.  Junior division baseball champs Reynolds won state and represented Oregon at regionals in Laguna Niguel, CA.   

News from Headquarters 
All U.S. Little League Softball Tournaments to be Played at Regional Headquarters Starting 2011By Communications Division   SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.  August 28, 2010  All five of the U.S. regional tournaments in the Little League Softball Division will now be played at the regional centers, it was announced today by Patrick Wilson, Vice President of Operations for Little League Baseball and Softball.“We’ve been working toward this for a few years,” Mr. Wilson said.  “As part our commitment to enhancing the experience for Little League Softball players, we are looking forward to having these tournaments in a stadium atmosphere.”“With six Little League Softball games on national television each year, funding assistance to all leagues with teams advancing beyond district, regardless of the division of play, free rule books, free background checks and so much more, we know we already provide more than any other program,” Mr. Wilson said.  “We will continue to strive to keep our program No. 1.” 50-70 Pilot Program to be Offered Again in 2011
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Sept. 27, 2010) – Little League International has completed its assessment of the 50-70 Pilot Program that was made available to local leagues beginning in January 2010, and will offer more options for local leagues in 2011.    Check out www.littleleague.org for more details.

 “New Business” for D2     District is asking that local leagues select two key board members to represent their league as part of a Baseball and a Softball Workgroup to find ways improve our program.  This baseball sub-committee will start off with determining our participation in the 50–70 Pilot Program.  Our softball program faced mid-year rule changes last season.  With members representing each league, local leagues could have had direct access.  Changes enacted by last year’s Congress also affect 2011.  Please have your Board select someone who will represent your concerns and relay information back to your Board for each of these committees.   

Mark Your CalendarsNov. 7^th, 2:00PM, District #2 Meeting Powellhurst Baptist Church, 111^th & SE Powell Blvd.     Held monthly during the Fall season, members (league presidents) meet to hear news, exchange ideas and get the information they need to make informed decisions.  All local league Board Members are welcome to attend.Nov. 12^th – 14^th  Oregon Leadership Training Conference,  Spirit Mountain, Grand Ronde, OR     You’ll never get a better opportunity to learn what you need to know to provide a successful Little League program.  People from around the state will be joining to hear from experienced staff and meet each other to better face the challenges in the coming season.  West Region Director Jim Gerstenslager will be running “President/VP” workshops.  Seminars, training clinics and roundtable discussions will cover the jobs of Player Agent, Secretary, Treasurer, Field Maintenance, ASAP, Website design, coaching, Challengers Program, softball and baseball.  All of the resources your local league needs come together at this event.  Plan to attend and bring lots of key volunteers.  Share and implement the information gathered at your next board meeting.Dec. 8^th, 6:30PM, District #2 Meeting, Powellhurst Baptist Church, 111^th & SE Powell Blvd.     With the Leadership Training Conference being held in November this year, the district will cut back on some of the officer training usually held during the Fall.  Given the opportunity to attend the conference, our Board Members will get training and much more if they attend. 

Local League Agenda for October

Constitution and By-laws - While the issues of the previous season are fresh in everyone’s mind, find ways to resolve those problems. 

• Make your constitution and by-laws a tool regularly used at board meetings.  Previous board members have addressed similar issues and put the resolutions in these documents.  Don’t reinvent the wheel.
• Make sure you have checks and balances in place for league funds.  Second only to tournament affidavit issues, embezzlement of league funds is the most common problem.
• Did you have an issue with funding travel for your District Championship team this year?  All-Star selection caused problems last season.  What’s the fix?  All of these policies should be covered in your local league By-laws (standing rules, supplementary rules, playing rules).  Now is the time to address and correct problems.  Constitution changes can only be made by the General Membership.  By-laws should be continually updated and revised by the Board, who have the authority to do so.
• Do NOT duplicate rules and policy already covered by LLB Inc. Rules and Regulations or the Operating Manual.   Your charter already dictates those policies will be followed.

1. Audit accounting as soon as the September bank statements are in.
2. Examine Profit and Loss and forecast the 2011 budget.  Gather input from committees for next year’s planned expenses. 
3. Make sure your By-laws have a system in place that dictates how money is handled during the season (concessions and general fund) to avoid loss.
4. Designate someone to prepare and file the return, due February 15^th of the following year. 

      Oregon District 2 www.eteamz.com/ord2website                      Oregon www.eteamz.com/orll

      Little League, Inc. www.littleleague.org              District 2 Info Phone Line:  503-764-1559