| Feb 24, 2011


Brian Steel from the Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association, supported by a number of members of his executive, presented a letter (Central Frontenac Softball) to council in response to a presentation that was made by Cory Thompson at the previous council meeting.

Thompson had asked if the township would be able to extend insurance for an alternative softball league that would hold games only in the township and not travel to locations in South Frontenac, and would be mainly for children in Mountain Grove and Arden.

Brian Steel explained that the association would prefer to set up a league that was exclusively local, but the numbers of kids registering made it impossible to do so.

“If another league starts up do you think it will have a negative effect on the number of kids your league attracts?” asked Councilor Frances Smith.

“Dramatically,” said Brian Steel, “I feel that if this continues it is only gong to bring about confusion. Parents won’t know what to do or who to join; it will have a profound effect on both groups.”

Steel was not asking council for anything in particular. “I just wanted council to be informed about what is going on,” he said.

On a positive note, Brian Steel also reported to council that the softball association has been talking with the Central Frontenac Soccer Association about ensuring that the soccer and softball seasons do not overlap this year, which would encourage more athletes to play in both leagues.

Cory Thompson was present at the meeting. He talked informally with members of council when the meeting ended.

Afterwards, he said that he is considering running something that is less formal than a league to avoid interfering with the softball association, perhaps more of a weekly family-oriented baseball game to be held at different parks in the township throughout the summer.

“A lot of kids, especially in Arden, aren’t playing ball at all. I want to get them to come out and have fun playing in a low-key atmosphere,” he said, “and once they learn the game and get some skills they might want to join the softball league. We want more kids playing ball, not less,” Thompson said.

 

Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association

Submitted by Brian Steel

We need to hear your voice, Central Frontenac. Register your children with the established Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association (CFMSA). We, the executive members of the CFMSA acknowledge there is a desire to play softball locally. We have an established policy that we adhere to regarding local play. That policy is and always will be that if there are enough registered children in a particular age group, we will embrace local play as a viable option. And we will love it.

Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association is a part of the Softball Ontario program, which establishes the fundamentals for a safe, fun experience for our children of all ages. Softball Ontario has a proven record of success from amateur sports all the way up to the Olympics. As an amateur organization, we have an obligation to maintain professional standards in safety. Those standards range from maintaining proper equipment, catchers’ gear, bases and home plate, softballs, even flour for the lines, utilizing registered umpires and above all having proper insurance to protect the future of our children. One injury can change a child’s life forever. Their safety also hinges upon organizing the children into proper age groups.

Successful management of the CFMSA unfortunately requires money, since we are a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization. In the season of 2010, the executive had $5,784 of operating costs to cover. Some of our expenses were covered by the generosity of the following:

John Lowery Memorial Fund; Robinson and Associates; Sharbot Lake Home Hardware; Ram’s Esso; Joe and Marg’s Parham; Wayne Bush; Anonymous.

On behalf of the executive, we thank all of you for your continued support.

President: Brian D. Steel; Vice-President: Shawn Craven; Secretary: Lesley Smith-Merrigan; Treasurer: Sherry Whan

Raise your voice Central Frontenac. We need to hear from you. Registration for the established Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association will be held in your area very soon.

 

 

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