1. ANOKA RAMSEY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
IN-HOUSE PARENT MEETING
MARCH 24, 2017

2. Anoka Ramsey Baseball Association
AGENDA
INTRODUCTIONS
ORGANIZATIONAL
A) BOARD OF DIRECTORS B) WEBSITE
C) FACILITIES D) EXPERIENCE
E) VOLUNTEERISM F) UPDATES
- PROGRAMS OFFERED
A) LITTLE BALLERS B) TEE BALL
C) MACHINE PITCH D) 2ND GR. KID PITCH
D) 3rd – 6th GR. HOUSE E) 7TH – 9TH GR. NORTH STAR
F) U10 – U14 TRAVELING G) HIGH SCHOOL
- IMPORTANT DATES
- VOLUNTEER / UNIFORMS / FUNDRAISER
- QUESTIONS

3. INTRODUCTIONS DIRECTORS Geoff Whitaker – Commissioner Katie Lang – Assistant Commissioner Angie Erickson – Treasurer Jill Provoncha – Secretary Don Gonse – Traveling Jeff Nedland – Senior House Erik Entinger – Junior House Don Gawreluk – At Large COORDINATORS Sarah Deutschman – Uniforms Natalie Bernard – Fundraising Angela Young – Volunteer Katie Lang – Registration Dan Nosko – Tournaments Hans Lappann – 3rd – 6th Grade Randy Barker – 7th – 9th Grade Stacy & Chris McKay – Concessions Geoff Whitaker – Equipment Jill Provoncha - Communications

4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 16 Member Board representing over 500 baseball players from our local communities. - We are volunteer based! Members contribute 100’s of hours each year to provide a memorable experience for your baseball players. - Position terms are 2 years in length and we are always in need of additional help (22 Positions). - Current board contact information is at Click on Contact Us. - There will be multiple positions opening in 2017, please reach out to Geoff Whitaker or Katie Lang for more information.

5. WEBSITE INFORMATION www. arsports
WEBSITE INFORMATION House Tab  T-Ball through 9th Grade Traveling Tab  U10 through U19 Development Tab  Coaches aides (Videos and Plans) Resources Tab  Board, Fields, Links, Policies, Forms Anoka High School Fundraiser  Where does the money go. FAQ  Answers to your questions

6. FACILITIES - The ARAA Baseball Association utilizes over 28 fields throughout the cities of Anoka and Ramsey every season. - ARAA Baseball offers 4 outdoor batting cages at 3 locations (Central, Alpine, and Enloe). - New dugouts and fencing at Central ARAA is approved to install dugouts and new fencing at all fields at Alpine Park. Fields 1 and 2 ready to go for this season. - ARAA is looking to add dugouts at Central 5, 6, 7 - Central Park will serve is Game Only fields this year to serve as an exciting experience for players and parents GO TO THE RESOURCES TAB THEN FIELDS

7. COACH "Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." Tom Landry "You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within." Bob Nelson "My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team. Don Shula

8. COACH  Communicate with parents and players  Prepare for practices and games  Promote a positive atmosphere  Respect officials even if you do not agree  Respect your opponent BUILD YOUR KIDS UP AS THEY WILL REMEMBER YOU!

9. PLAYER  ARAA Baseball’s mission is to provide an educational, safe, and fun baseball environment for the youth in Anoka and Ramsey.  Our priorities are to be stewards of good sportsmanship, development of pride for our area and be an anchor in our community for youth activities.  This sport is afforded to youth boys and girls and it does not discriminate!  Players will improve and develop baseball skills  Promote physical, mental, and moral development  Teach fair and honest competition

10. PARENTS  Let the coaches coach and the kids play
PARENTS  Let the coaches coach and the kids play.  Arrive on time to games and practices. Many families can help out, just ask.  Respect the umpires, they are young and still learning.  Remember that your coaches and board members are volunteers. If you have concerns or recommendations we would love to hear them in a constructive manner. Try talking with your coach first. We could use you your help! Please consider open board positions or helping out at the coaching or team parent level. We will provide you with the tools you need to learn.

11. VOLUNTEERISM  ARAA is built upon volunteers
VOLUNTEERISM  ARAA is built upon volunteers. The concessions workers, coaches, team parents, and board members all are volunteering a great deal of time to provide a good experience for your children. Without volunteers this program could not operate.  Like all of us, volunteers make mistakes and have room for improvement. Please remember that next time a concern comes up and through constructive respectful discussion with coaches and board members we will identify ways to improve.  When you volunteer for an activity through DIBS, please make sure you fulfill that obligation or notify our volunteer coordinator (Angie Young) well in advance so we can find a replacement.

12. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS  Central Park – Game fields and New Dugouts  Alpine Park – New Dugouts  Bonnell Fields – Improved South Field & U10 Field  Plans for improvements at Central 5, 6, and 7  Plans for improvements at Enloe

14. PROGRAM OVERVIEW  Baseball for kids ages 3 – 19  Over 50 teams fielded

15. JUNIOR HOUSE Director - Erik Entinger  Little Ballers  T-Ball  Machine Pitch  2nd Grade – 1st Year Kid Pitch

16. SENIOR HOUSE Director – Jeff Nedland Coordinators - Hans Lappann – 3rd – 6th Grade - Randy Barker – 7th – 9th Grade  3rd Grade  4th Grade  5th / 6th Grade  7th Grade  8th & 9Th Grade

17. TRAVELING BASEBALL Director – Don Gonse  10A & 10AA  11AA & 11AAA  12AA & 12AAA  13A, 13AA & 13AAA  14AAA, 14AA

18. HIGH SCHOOL Varsity Head Coach –. Shannon Blansette JV Head Coach –
HIGH SCHOOL Varsity Head Coach – Shannon Blansette JV Head Coach – Tim Hale Sophomore Head Coach - Matt Olson Freshman A Coach - Ryan Rassatt Freshman B Coach - Sean Burns

19. VOLUNTEERING Angie Young UNIFORMS Sarah Deutschman FUNDRAISING Natalie Bernard

20. IMPORTANT DATES  Practice Starts – Target first week in April  Games – Early May through end of June  YOUTH NIGHT – May 12  A-Town Classic – June 3 – 5  End of Season Tourney – July 14 – 16  All Star Season – July 10 – July 29  Traveling Tryouts (2018 Season) – August 1 – 5  AR Baseball Board Meetings – 2nd Sunday – 7:00

21. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING BASEBALL!!