Officers, Regional Directors and Leagues Meeting Addresses Dues and Insurance Concerns
by Jerry Smith, 3rd Vice President and Sanction League Director, Junior Scholarships
During the World Tournament, I helped chair the annual meeting of charter officers, regional directors and sanctioned leagues. One topic of conversation was the need to have charter secretaries get dues and membership information to NHPA Secretary/Treasurer David Sidles at least quarterly.
This is required by bylaws and helps the NHPA both financially and in the area of information. David has a need to know about our membership, and clearly the NHPA needs operational funding throughout the entire year.
It was also suggested that maybe our insurance coverage is not in effect for members until their dues are received. I had David check on our coverage and our agent stated what now seems obvious – the NHPA itself, not individual members, is covered by our insurance. That simply means that any sanctioned event is covered, and that includes about any aspect of the event on a case-by-case basis.
In the area of sanctioned leagues, I discussed my plan to rewrite the Red Book. First draft is already complete. There have been many changes implemented that are not covered in the 15-year-old publication.
I also explained the need to include a dues structure for leagues as we move forward. The sanctioned league program has a very large budget to cover, including awards, scholarships, patches and the annual tournament. A small fee per league would help lower the NHPA’s costs and be absorbed by the players that are eligible for the various rewards and benefits. The fee I am contemplating is in the range of a dollar per player per league with certain upper and lower limits. I am suggesting a 50 cent per player fee for leagues under 10 pitchers, a $10 fee for leagues with 10 to 25 pitchers and a $15 fee for leagues over 25 pitchers. Junior leagues will not have any fees. The council is considering the fee structure, and if you have feeling about this subject, contact me.