Redwood City Señors Softball Club, Inc.

 

SPRING 2003 NEWSLETTER

 

 

President’s Message

The Annual Meeting of the Redwood City Senors Softball Club was held on January 13.  At that meeting, the “State of the Club” message was given to the attendees, and election of the 2003 Board of Directors took place. 

       Eight members of the Board were re-elected to serve another one-year term.  Working with me on the 2003 Board are:

       Mark Kaufmann-Vice President

       Jim Mosso-Treasurer

       Bob Cushman-Secretary

       Rick Allen

       Joe Bozzuto

       Al Davis

       Dave Reck

       Tom Selph

We welcome Bob Cushman to the 2003 Board and extend our sincere appreciation to Donna O’Farrell who served as Secretary for two terms.

       The major 2003 Club activities include our three annual tournaments--Burlingame, Redwood City, and One-Pitch--daytime play in Redwood City, Winter and Summer Leagues, and the Club’s annual Christmas Party.  In addition, a major 2003 objective is to continue improvement on the communications with Club members, including major upgrades to our website to provide more timely information on the many Club activities

       We ended 2003 with 283 Club members--up 18% from 2002-- and assets, primarily cash, totaling nearly $20,000--about equal to the year-end 2002 asset level. 

       With our strong financial position and talented and active members donating their time and talents to the Club’s activities, we are confident that 2003 will again be a very successful year for the Club. 

       We continue to welcome your support and your ideas on ways that the Club’s Board can improve its services to the membership.

                                    George Stallos

Club Website

Thanks to the good work of Brenda Guzman, the Club’s website makes available important information on the Club’s many activities.  If you have not yet checked in to the site, it can be reached at:               www.geocities.com/rcsenors.

       The website contains an application form for players interested in joining the Club.  So, if you have a friends who have an interest in becoming a member, please refer them to the website. 

       Take a look at the site, and if there are suggestions on ways that it can be improved, please bring them to the attention of one of our Board members.

      

Club-Sponsored Tournaments

       In 2003, the Club is sponsoring two NCSSA-sanctioned senior softball tournaments.  As in past years, the Club will hold its annual Fourth of July Tournament in Redwood City at the Red Morton Community Park.  The tournament dates for this year are Saturday-Sunday, June 28-29.  Work on this tournament is underway and is being led Tom Selph and Dave Reck.

       We are targeting to have 30 teams participate this year across all of the age brackets--50, 55, 60+. 

       As in past years, this tournament will be an important fund raising activity for the Club’s treasury.  In addition to the revenues from the entry fees, a major source of revenue comes from the raffle that includes many valuable items that have been donated by Club members and supporters or purchased by the Club.  If you are able to donate your time to this tournament or have items that you are able to contribute to the raffle, please contact Tom or Dave.

       The Club also is sponsoring its third annual Memorial Day Weekend tournament in Burlingame on Saturday-Sunday, May 24-25.  George Stallos and Bob Cushman will serve as Directors for the tournament, which will again be held at the city’s Bayside Park located on Airport Blvd. near SFO.  It is anticipated that this year’s tournament will feature three divisions in the 60+ age brackets.  If you wish to help at this year’s tournament, please let George or Bob know as soon as possible.

 

 One-Pitch Tournament

       Mark Friday, July 4, on your calendars for the Club’s Annual One-Pitch tournament and barbecue at Red Morton Park in Redwood City.  As in past years, the event will feature spirited competition in one-pitch softball games for all members and a superb barbecue prepared by our Club volunteers for all Club members, their families, and guests.  

       Joe Bozzuto and Bob Cushman will be the co-Chairmen of the 2003 One-Pitch event and are looking for volunteers to help out in preparing for the games, barbecue, and raffle.  We hope that you will able to lend your time and talents to this event.

       In late May, you will be receiving  more details on the One-Pitch Tournament and a sign-up sheet for the games and barbecue.  In addition, you will be receiving raffle tickets that can be purchased for $1 each.  The raffle, which will include cash and other great prizes, is an important source of revenue for the Club.  

 

Daytime Play

       After about two months of daytime play at the Hoover School fields while the fields at Red Morton Park were being upgraded by the city, play resumed at Red Morton in mid March.  Year-round daytime play continues on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the Red Morton Park complex.  Batting practice begins about 9 A.M., and games get underway promptly at 10 A.M.  Members wishing to participate during the week should be on the field and ready to play no later than 9:45 A.M. to ensure that they are assigned to one of the teams playing that day. 

       Thus far this year, the turnout has been very strong.  Generally, there are between 30 and 40 members playing during the week, and with this turnout, we are able to have 3-4 competitive teams playing on two fields.

       Recently during daytime play there have been instances where Club members have not adhered to the Club’s code of ethics which states that “members must conduct themselves respectably at all times...refrain from publicly degrading fellow members...and never direct abusive or profane language at officials or members”.  Failure to comply with the code will result in suspension of participation privileges or termination of Club membership.  Members noting violations of the code should bring them to the attention of a Board member.

         

2002-03 Winter League

       The sixteen-week 2002-03 Winter League season came to a close on March 4.  The Winter League, which was comprised of five very competitive teams (one more team than we had during the 2001-02 Winter League), was again headed by Mark Kaufmann and Al Davis.  Both men did an outstanding job in making sure that all elements of the league ran smoothly.   

       The Club intends to sponsor the 2003-04 Winter League at Hawes beginning in mid-November.  More information will be provided to members in early fall.  If you know players who might be interested in Winter League competition, please let them know of the playing opportunities available to members.  Club by-laws permit players who will be 50 years old during 2004 to play at the start of the 2003-04 Winter League season.

 

2003 Summer League

       The San Carlos Parks and Recreation Department and the Club will commence our second year of the Summer League in late April or early May.  As we did last year, games will be played at Highlands Park in San Carlos on Tuesday nights during the early part of the season and then move to Burton Park in June.  It is anticipated that the Summer League will run until mid-August.                    Attached to this Newsletter is a sign-up form for the 2003 Summer League.  If you are interested in playing, complete the form and return it to Mark Kaufmann at 1305 S. Railroad Ave., San Mateo, CA 94402--or send by fax (650-525-1920).  You also can express your interest by e-mail to Mark Kaufmann at [email protected] or to George Stallos at [email protected].

       Teams will be set based on the individual responses, and you will be notified of your team and the schedules.

       If you signed up for Summer League play during the Winter League, there is no need to resubmit the sign-up form.  However, if you signed up and no longer have an interest in playing in the 2003 Summer League, please let Mark or George know.

 

Tournament Teams

       In 2003, there are eight NCSSA tournament teams representing the Redwood City Senors Softball Club--one more than we had during the 2002 season.  The teams and managers are:

 

       Reds (50)--Ken Montagna

       NorCal Merchants (55)--Chet Lane

       Jolly Rogers (60)--Roger Severin

       Cardinals (60)--Ed Guzman

       Royals (65)--Joel Filios

       Seals (65)--Don Farber

       Chiefs (65)--Tom Selph

       Blues (70)--Chuck Pim

 

       The 2003 tournament season is just underway, and early results indicate these teams will represent the Club in an outstanding manner as the tournament season progresses. 

       NCSSA’s pre-season rankings of the teams were published recently, and based on the rankings, the Club will have extremely competitive teams representing us during the 2003 season.

       The Reds, a second year team, are ranked #14 in this 29-team 50 Division.  The NorCal Merchants are the top-rated team in the 55 Division.  This division is comprised of 24 teams. 

       In the 18-team 60 Division, the Seals also are the ranked #1, and the Jolly Rogers are ranked #6. 

       The Royals are rated #1 in the 65 Division, followed by the Chiefs ranked at #6 and Cardinals at #19.  This division includes 21 teams.  In the six-team 70 Division, the Blues are ranked #2.

 

2003 Club Christmas Party

The Club’s annual Christmas Party for members and guests is tentatively scheduled to be held December 6 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Redwood City.   

        Based on feedback we received from members that attended the party last December, the venue, dinner, beverage, raffle, and entertainment were well received.    Rick Allen is the Chairman of the 2003 Christmas Party and would appreciate hearing from members who are willing to donate their time to make this year’s event the “best ever”.

      

Memorials

Club members were saddened to learn of the passing of three long-time members of the Club. 

       Tim Bell, 68, passed away in January after a courageous battle with cancer.  He continued to play during the day almost to the end and was an inspiration to all of the members who witnessed, during a very difficult time for Tim, a positive, up-beat attitude sprinkled with jokes as only Tim could tell them. 

       Reno Pelligrini, 74, passed away in January after a short illness.  Reno was a mainstay with the Redwood City Blues for many years and possessed outstanding softball skills and had a particularly engaging personality.  Reno also will be remembered for his volunteer work with the Club--particularly in being an important cog in the success of the One-Pitch Tournament. 

       Frank Wood, 82, passed away in March after being in failing health for the past few years.  He will be remembered as an outstanding player and manager during his long association with the Club.  Frank was a very competitive player with a great “winning” attitude. 

       Our condolences go out to all of the family and friends of these three outstanding Club members.