Don't forget to swing hard,
in case you hit the ball. 
~Woodie Held

BOSL NEWS

To All BOSL Members:

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Thursday, October 27th – 7pm – BOHC Clubhouse (Hectors)

Traditionally the attendance at our AGM has seen roughly 25% of the league members participate.  Simply put, this is not enough.  At our AGM, we make critical decisions as a group that affect items such as league rules, league by-laws, which players represent us on the Board of Directors, etc.  When these types of decisions are made by such a small group, there are times when the decisions are not reflective of the whole league.  So I would strongly encourage each of you to attend this year so you can do your part in helping to shape our league going forward.

This year’s agenda will include; 1) Acceptance of the 2010 Minutes.  2) League Financial Report.  3) Discussion/Voting of our 2012 League Auditors.  4) Election of the 2012 Board of Directors.  5) Discussion/Voting on 10 Rule Change Proposals and 1 By-Law Proposal.  6) Open Forum.  7) Adjournment.

Please see attached for the Rule Change Proposals as well as the By-Law Proposal and a list of the 10 candidates who are running for the 2012 Board of Directors.  Please note, these rule change proposals did NOT come from the Board of Directors.  These proposals came from various players throughout the league, many of whom will be there at the AGM to explain their rationale, etc.

That’s all for now.  See you all at the AGM.

Yours truly,

Mike Porkolab
BOSL President

Sept 12, 2011 - Get Tickets now for the Awards Dance

Hello Everyone!  Well another season has come to a close and now it is time to celebrate with all your teammates and fellow ball players this Saturday Sept 17th at the Holiday Inn in Burlington.

We must have our final numbers to them no later than Tuesday Sept 13 so this is your last chance to email me if you need tickets. Let me know the number of tickets you would like, along with your team name and I will put them aside for you to pay to pick up at the door on Saturday.

This is a fun night out with a wonderful meal and lots of raffle prizes  including the Vermont Barbque and the 4some at Muskoka Bay Resort.  Plus a few surprises this year.

Hope to see you all on Saturday night.

Wayne McSpadden
BOSL Social Director

August 29, 2011 - 2011 Willard Pilatzke Old Timer of the Year Award - Send your picks!

Well it is that time of year again, when members of the BOSL honour those special people who have made a difference in the league and contributed above and beyond playing the game.  The Willard Pilatzke Old Timer of the Year award is the only award voted on by ALL BOSL active members.  As such it is a Honour to be nominated as much as it is to be Awarded such recognition by your peers.  Voting will take place at the year end tournament, but the board of directors are asking you to submit nominees as soon as possible so we can prepare the ballots and have them distributed. 

So please take the time to read about Willard and what the League meant to him and should be what we as players in the BOSL should strive to attain.

Please email your nominations to John Bowers at  john32@bell.net
Regards

Wayne McSpadden
BOSL Social Director

August 28, 2011 - Larry Gagnon NEEDS YOU!!!!

We are just a couple short weeks away from our Year End Tournament and Larry needs your help.  Please review the schedule below and contact Larry to let him know what time slots you are available to Volunteer your time.

If you are able to volunteer let me know which of the time slots you want, (there is no time slot for beer testing).

Thanks, Larry Gagnon (Tournament Director)

August 19, 2011 - Calling All Captains

To All BOSL Players: Though we are still 3 weeks away from the end of our 2011 season, it is never too early to be planning ahead for 2012.
 
For the first time in recent memory, we are expected to have a high turnover of captains next year.  If you currently are a captain and have not yet let us know your intentions for next year, please let us know as soon as possible.  As of right now, it is looking like there will be 3 or 4 sets of captains not returning for the 2012 season.
 
So rather than send this e-mail out in October when baseball is the last thing on people’s minds, we wanted to do it today in order to plant the seed, so to speak.
 
There are several players in this league that would make fine captains, so if you are interested in being a captain in 2012, please contact TOM CLANCY (tom@tpcsg.com) – It would be ideal to register to be captains as a pairing, however, we will also be accepting single applicants as well.
 
Here are a list of duties (other than the obvious filling out a lineup, etc.) as well as our Captain’s Creed.
 
Captains Duties:

• Encourage sponsor support
• Support league Rules and Umpires
• Keep in touch with the executive and provide any feedback to them from your team.
• Attend all Captains’ Meetings. If you are unable to attend, ensure a designate represents your team at the meeting.
• Enforce the no Alcohol Rule at the Parks at all times or our league will be shut down.

Captain's Creed

• I am committed to the belief that the opportunity for the players to play is more important than the opportunity to win.
• I will visibly demonstrate that the respect for our umpires, (through good calls and bad) is paramount to enjoying the League’s camaraderie.
• I will give honest effort, hearty encouragement at all times, while accepting miscues as unfortunate happenings.
• I will deal with what I judge to be “not heads-up ball” privately between innings and not publicly on the field.
• I will assign defensive players to their position and will not reassign or substitute them away from an expected play.
• I will ensure that all offensive players contribute at their skill level and will not substitute them in pursuit of winning.
• I will encourage all players to increase participation in the League by explaining the various opportunities – volunteering for League events, attending the AGM, becoming a Captain or Board member.

August 15, 2011 - Year End Awards & Dance

Hello Everyone.  Well we are fastly approaching the end of the season and who will take the Dave Little Award for 2011????  Better Bitters (nah too many strike outs for Porky),  Gator Teds, nope Fairy Tale season for sure, but we don't beleive in Fairy Tales... BOHC - Definitely since Dave Little is a valued member of their team..........

So down to business,  We are having our year end banquet at the Holiday Inn in Burlington on Sat Sept 17th with cocktails starting at 5 pm, and dinner at 6 pm.   Awards and presentations will be aroung 8 pm followed the dance and raffle draws.

Tickets are available from Wayne McSpadden at all my games for the remainder of the season (look up BOHC schedule to see what diamond I will be at.).   Tickets are $56.50 each or $113.00 per couple.  As the banquet is only 1 week after the year end tournament we have to give our FINAL numbers to HI on Monday Sept 12th.  Tickets will be available in the Bunker at the  year end tournament but don't delay as they sell out quickly.

Good luck to all over the next few weeks and we will see you at the Dance.

Wayne McSpadden
BOSL Social Director

August 2, 2011 -

Gentlemen, After 3 months of trying, out of 224 players and families we only have 25 players for our Texas Holdem CHARITY Poker Tournament......This puts us in a rare position of not living up to our motto and being able to GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY!!!!! 

As I really think that most of our players want to be charitable as well as having a fun night out we are extending the dead line for registration to Friday August 5th.  Please register on line so we can be proud to support 2 worthy charities this year, the Nelson Youth Centre and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

If we do not get another 60 players by Friday August 5th we will be in the unfortunate position of CANCELLING THE EVENT.  We cannot operate at a LOSS to support these 2 very worthy charities.

So help us keep BOSL PROUD and register TODAY AT BOSL.CA/TEXAS

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PRO TO PLAY,  JUST ASK SCOT 'STAND PAT' CAMERON!!!!

Regards
Wayne McSpadden
BOSL SOCIAL DIRECTOR

July 25, 2011 - News

To All BOSL Players: WE NEED YOUR HELP
 
As you all know, at the very core of our league is the support that we provide to our charitable partners year in and year out.  Over the years we have had dances, golf tournaments, etc., in an effort to raise funds to help those in need.  After last year’s struggles with our golf tournament (it was generally thought to be too much money), we wanted to try something new and a bit less expensive this year and decided to tap into the very popular Hold Em’ Poker fad and organize a Poker Tournament to help both the Big Brothers/Sisters and Nelson Youth Centre organizations.
 
So here we are, less than 3 weeks before our tournament and we are woefully short on entries.  We have 20 paid entrants when really, 80 to 100 is needed to make this a success.  From what we have been hearing out there, it sounds like many guys/gals are planning to play, but are dragging their feet on signing up.  If you are in this group, I ask that you please sign up ASAP so that we can get an accurate head count.  We’ve also heard through the grapevine that some are just not interested, and that’s fine, as we experienced the same with golf last year.  Still there are others on the fence because they feel that they won’t have a chance to win or are worried that they aren’t expert enough to compete in a tournament, etc..  It’s this group that I would love to see step forward and sign up anyway.....because....

1. A good chunk of your $75.00 will be going to the charities.  Only part of the $75.00 will be used for the prize money pot and also a small portion will be going to those little extras (Gator Teds for food, the Legion for the hall rental, the poker company that runs the night, etc)
   
   
2. You don’t have to spend a dime more than $75.00 if you don’t want to.   During the first hour, if you are eliminated for some reason (it happens – not to me mind you, but it happens) – you can buy back in if you so choose (2000 chips and this is what is called a “rebuy”)  The cost for this has yet to be decided, but it won’t be a significant amount of money to do so.  Similar to the rebuys that can occur during the first hour, when the first hour is over, all remaining players will have the option to add-on a fixed amount of chips to their stack if they choose to – usually 2000 chips, but that is still TBD - and again, this will be 100% optional and at a low cost if you want to top up your stack.  After the first hour is over, no more money will be exchanged for chips and as players are eliminated, they are “eliminated”.
   
   
3. You do not have to be an expert poker player to do well or to have fun.  Though a basic understanding of the game/rules is necessary to at least have a reasonable chance to last well into the evening/win some money at the end, there will be players at the table that will be glad to help the novices if they have any questions or concerns.

Bottom line, it is going to be a fun night and you will be with your fellow league mates/friends in a “fun” tournament.  This is not Vegas or Niagara and will NOT be an intimidating experience.  It will be a blast and it well help out a bunch of kids who really, REALLY do need us to step up here.  We are also raffling off a foursome to Muskoka Bay Golf Club at the poker tournament.  Muskoka Bay is a gorgeous (and expensive) golf course up north in Gravenhurst, ON – rated 9th in Canada!  This prize, valued at $700.00, was donated by Brent Craigie who is a captain on Battlefield Graphics.   Thank you, Brent!

So please sign up this week at the website -  http://www.bosl.ca/texas/index.htm  - or see Wayne McSpadden, Dale Latendresse, Scot Cameron or myself in person at the diamonds/QBs and we’ll be glad to get you registered.  And also feel free to spread the word to friends, neighbours, family, co-workers, etc.  The more the merrier!

Read more on How to Play, Rules of the tournament etc.

Thanks, Mike Porkolab

July 16, 2011 - News
Hello everyone! If you play your cards right you may be the winner of the first
BOSL charity Texas Holdem Poker Tournament to benefit the Nelson Youth Centre and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

$75 gets you $2000 in chips plus a light meal supplied by Gator Teds and a crack at winning $1000.00

So register online today at www.bosl.ca/texas as this is limited to the first 100 paid registrations. Open to anyone 19 years or older.

Who will it be? 'Poker face Porky Porkolab'? Texas two hand Tom Clancy? Stand pat Scot Cameron? Or?????????

So ante up boys and girls.

Wayne McSpadden
(Social Director)

A big thank you to Joy Clancy who ran the concession stand. You did an excellent job, and took a big weight off of my shoulders. That gave me much more time to focus on other tasks like beating Jerry's Auto in the consolation finals. Thanks Joy!!!

Thank you to our student volunteers. They kept the park immaculate, and really helped out with pop/water sales. I hope it was a positive community service experience.

Thank you to John Romano (Better Bitters) and Ted Kindos (Gator Teds). Great job with the food and beer guys. The breakfast burrito has become an indispensable part of the BOSL tournaments.

Now that we have the mid-season tournament completed I would like to hear your feedback. Did we hit the mark with what you wanted to see in a slo-pitch tournament? What did you think about the extension of the beer garden? What could we do better? Is there anything we need to stop doing? Let me know. Please email me directly at larry@bosl.ca . I’ll review all submissions and take the feedback to the board of directors.

Thank you, Larry Gagnon, BOSL Tournament Director

Use this link: http://www.burlington.ca/ParkingExemptions/

Fill out the form for Friday June 17th to Sunday 19th.

Use the address: 5270 Fairview St (Yes, I know the address is different but don’t worry about it)

Select: Guests

Enter your plate number:

Bam, you are done. Happy parking.

May 15, 2011 - Tournament Volunteers Needed
It's already that time of year, if you can believe it. The mid-season tournament is approaching. I am coordinating both tournaments this year and I am looking for volunteers to help out. There is a fair amount of setup and takedown work to be done. If we can get 6 or 7 guys early every morning and after all the action each night that should work.

This year we are going to have some high school kids helping out by volunteering their time. In return they get written credit for the volunteer hours. If your child is interested in volunteering their time please let me know. Most of the time they will be running between diamonds selling pop/water and raffle tickets.

If you are able to volunteer let me know which of the time slots you want, (there is no time slot for beer testing).

Thanks, Larry Gagnon (Tournament Director)

May 9, 2011

Great news! Your board of directors has agreed to provide initial funding towards the purchase of 4 Lifepak 500 AED’s, to be made available at each of our four diamonds during the regular playing season and two tournaments. These devices have been ordered and are expected to be in place within two weeks. There was a great deal of discussion and research that went into making this decision. In the end we feel we have found the best equipment for our needs at the best price available. The BOSL board has once again demonstrated their continued commitment to the well-being of the membership they represent. This is a huge step forward for our league.

Using an AED significantly increases a person’s chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest. The success rate of CPR alone is about 5%. An AED administered within one minute of sudden cardiac arrest has a success rate of up to 90%. These impressive numbers made it a simple decision for the board of directors.

Larry Gagnon

April 19, 2011

Welcome to our 2011 season which is just around the corner.
The draft is over, the snow is gone, and May 3rd (our first game) is coming soon.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, allow me to officially welcome back the 200+ players from last year and extend a special welcome to the new members of our league.

1) To all the new players, I would like to welcome you  to the best League in Burlington. You will be receiving many e-mails from me   informing you of League events. You will have a chance to meet your Captains and team and many other players in our League at our Opening Stag in April. I encourage you to use our website for upcoming events.

2) OPENING STAG:Our Opening Stag will be held on Tuesday April 26 at the Royal Canadian Legion (upstairs) beginning at 7:00p.m. to 9:00 pm. Note that this year we will be supplying snacks of chips, pretzels etc. so have dinner before you arrive. This is a chance for you to meet your new team-mates and your Sponsors, pick up your uniform and Player book and to socialize  with others in the League. Corbett's Source for Sports will be there with great deals on bats, batting gloves, gloves, pants, shorts, and other baseball equipment. Please plan to attend, the beer is cheap and complimentary snack food will be available. We will also be having our first 50/50 draw of the year.

Our 2 charities for 2011, Big Brothers\Big Sisters and the Nelson Youth Centre will be attending this event. The Canadian Blood Services will also be on hand in support of the Pints for Pints campaign. Each group will be giving a short presentation around 7:30 so be there to meet them.

3)  B.O.S.L.Web Site: Our  I.T. Director, Scot Cameron is working hard to continue updating our website with new features and advertising.  Please contact Scot or John Bowers to arrange website advertising. We urge you to visit us at www.bosl.ca. Our 2011 Directors List is there so you will be able to contact the correct person with your concerns and suggestions.

4) GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY

This year, our "Giving Back to the Community" program will focus on 2 charities.  These are not just some catchy words on paper, they really are what we are all about!  This year’s beneficiaries of our Giving Back to the Community program will be Big Brothers\Big Sisters and The Nelson Youth Centre.  Both are worthy causes and it is important for us to support our youth and future BOSL players(???)  We will also be making a donation to the St. Johns Ambulance in recognition of their support for us during our 2 tournaments each year.

5) Fund Raising:  We will be taking a sabbatical this year with respect to our golf Tournament.  Last year was financially successful as we raised just over $12,000 for the Carpenter Hospice. This year we are looking at a few alternatives to raise money to support our 2 charities.  We are looking into running a Texas Holdem Poker Tournament with cash prizes.  More on this in future Social Blogs.

6) BAT REGISTRATION: Please remember the all bats NEW AND OLD  must be ASA approved and you must register them with the League and obtain a sticker. ANY BAT WITHOUT A BOSL SECURITY STICKER will NOT be permitted. A table will be set up at the Stag or you to register any new bats.  Peter Woodhouse is updating the past database to reduce the 700 bats we have on file. All players should email Peter and/or their captains with an updated list of the bats they will be using going forward.

7) 50/50 DRAWS: As in the past, at ALL events and tournaments, we will be selling 50/50 tickets. Remember that the League's share goes DIRECTLY to assist in supporting our charities as well You do not have to be present when the draw is made as the winning number will be posted on our website. Please participate in these draws

8) Year End Awards Dinner Dance  Sept 17, 2011:  Once again we will be returning to the Holiday Inn on South Service Road in Burlington.If you are thinking of staying the night at the hotel we recommend you book now as there are 3 weddings the same day.  Look out for more information during the season.  We will be offering the Grande Buffet dinner as well as our awards presentations followed by a dance.

Well this is my first attempt at emailing everyone  this year so hopefully it works and I don't get too many bounced backs (I deal with enough bounces at first base!!!!).  Just a reminder to the Captains, not every player has supplied us with an email address so please contact those on your team that do not have email and pass this information on to them

I will do my best to keep you informed of all League happenings through these updates.

Wayne McSpadden
(Social Director)

March 4, 2011

My little baseball banner ad was viewed 124,811 x last year.
Not bad considering my same ad was viewed only 6 times in the entire year on our sister website ...those hockey players should play baseball.

Most online advertising today involves rotating banner ads that rarely get eyes because of the static rotation system used. On our BOSL website, your ad is seen every time on every page. In addition we have a MORE INFORMATION PAGE for every advertiser so you can tell us all about your service or business. It can't possibly get any better than this - act now and earn the respect of our entire baseball membership by placing your banner ad

BOSL consistently achieves over 20,000 page views per month during the Spring, Summer and Fall with over 6,000 visits at an average of 3 minutes per visitor. Online advertising has become the most valuable and truly measurable format to deliver eyes to your organization or service today. Since we use a unique rotating type style of banner display, your ad has the potential to be viewed on every page of our website. We offer a number of ad formats and placement options based on our proven analytics - to help you match your needs and your budget.

If it is just too confusing, please call John or Scot and we'd be happy to help.

John Bowers
(Director at Large)

( C) 905-630-0916

Scot Cameron
(I.T. Director)

( H) 416-203-1056
( C) 289-242-6339