Executive Messages

Welcome to the 2012 Season!

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

At the time of writing this message we are firmly entrenched in the off season and the winter blahs, however, for the first time in many years we have a full executive group who are working hard in preparation for 2012.  The new input of energy and ideas is refreshing and has me excited for the season to arrive.

We are a full year into the launch of our website and things are progressing nicely.  The best part of the website is that it provides the ability to register online for both players to play and teams for our tournaments.  This year we have a new webmaster, Richard Polishak.  Please email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you would like to add pictures or stories to the website. Check the site often for updates and current events.

 We are putting forth a few changes for 2012 to bring NDSA in line with Softball BC and Softball Canada initiatives.  Two things that you will quickly notice are:  1.We no longer use the terms mite, squirt, peewee, bantam and midget.  They will now be U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18/19.  2. We will no longer be accepting registrations for 4 year olds.  This is to accommodate the switch to a 3 year Learn to Play Program which is how it is intended to run.  Thus we will now have LTP 1, LTP 2 and LTP 3.

 I would like to thank April Del Rosario for her diligence in getting NDSA and our LTP Program in front of more elementary kids than ever before.  By the time we are finished running clinics in the schools we will have been in front of approximately 1000 kids from Kindergarten to Grade 2.  Each of those kids gets introduced to the sport, a gift and a registration form.  Feedback from the schools has been that the clinics are a great success!  Nice work April, our registration base will surely increase.

 We will continue to work closely with the Corporation of Delta to improve the drainage at the park and will be introducing some new programs that will allow you to help us with the upkeep of our fields to a standard that puts them among the best in the Province.  I thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in these initiatives.

 Each year we say goodbye to some of our volunteers and hello to some more so I would like to take this time to say goodbye and thank-you to Shane Simpson, Nathan McLeod, Doug Elgie and Kathy Lane.  While he is still on the Executive as Past President, I would like to especially thank Cliff Lane, who over the years has put in 1000’s of hours of his time for our kids and never asked for and rarely received a thank-you.  Thank-you Cliff for all you have done and all you will do as Past President.  Welcome to all of our new (and in a couple of cases recycled) Executive members, Deanne, Theresa, Steven, John, Albert, David, Rae-Marie, Louise and Richard.  I look forward to your help and energy as we move forward.

I would like for all of you to remember that North Delta Softball belongs to our membership, the executive is merely here to steer the ship.  Please feel free to contact me anytime at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  to give us ideas, encouragement and criticism so that we can make the experience for the kids the best that it can be.  All I ask is that you remember it is about the kids, not us as parents.

Have a great season, treat our players, umpires and volunteer coaches with the respect they deserve.

Chris Roper
NDSA President