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Senior Softball Women's Advisory Council (SSWAC) Summit Meeting Minutes, September 18, 2003 The council meeting began by discussing memberships. It was agreed that it was more important to have a diverse representation than to have a set number of members. Betti Garnett was introduced as a new member representing Florida. Colleen Needham was suggested as a possible new member representing the Northeast, and the council welcomed her as a member. It was agreed that each organization/entity/geographical location would have one member on the council, but alternates were encouraged for each membership position. So far only two alternates have been named. The membership, along with contact information, follows: Name Rep. Primary/Alt. E-mail Pat Blackmon East Primary pat@seniorcycling.com Layla Bryan SPA Primary laylab@attglobal.net Connie Byro LVSSA Primary grannysoftball@aol.com Betti Garnett Florida Primary softball2eag@aol.com Wanda Lanham Media Primary wanda@sandbagger.com Pat Lawlis SS-USA Primary lawlis@aol.com Sylvia Mergl Canada Primary sylviarm@earthlink.net Colleen Needham Northeast Primary canjld@fuse.net Vicki Oltean SSWS Primary vickio@ci.palm-springs.ca.us Judy Lee Schreiber USSSA Primary vickio@ci.palm-springs.ca.us Del Bowyer Florida Alternate DBowyer55@aol.com Diana Gano SSWC Alternate ssaints14@cox.net The minutes of the January meeting were distributed and approved without change. The first topic of discussion was the status of consistency in age divisions among the various organizations. There was enthusiastic, unanimous agreement that it is an important goal to get the alignment to "true" age divisions for all organizations. Currently, some players on a team are allowed to play in some tournaments but not others, and this is very difficult for a team's tournament planning, as well as for the players involved. There was also a concern expressed that older divisions don't get kicked out of tournaments to make way for new 40+ and 45+ divisions. The council unanimously agreed to this as well. These younger divisions are transition divisions, not true senior divisions. While it is important to provide a means for players to transition, senior women's softball is about expanding opportunities for senior women. In a discussion of how organizations are doing the transition to true age divisions, it was asked why we don't all do it immediately. The general consensus was that it was better to do the transition over a period of years so that players who can currently play in an age division will continue to be allowed to play in that division. While this process takes longer, it is fairer to all players, and it allows all organizations to have time to plan and "catch up" if necessary. Currently, SSWC and SPA are already in the first year of transitioning the youngest age allowed in the 50+ division to 46. In 2004 it will be 47, and so on until it is a "true" 50+ division in 2007. All other divisions in these organizations already are "true" divisions. USSSA currently allows players up to 2 years younger in each division, but they have already indicated at the Summit that, at their next board meeting, they will recommend that this be transitioned out. This leaves the SSWS as the only national organization and the LVSSA as the only other represented organization with no transition plans at present. They were not represented at the meeting, but the council expressed a hope that SSWS would start a transition soon. They currently allow players as young as 45 in the 50+ division and players up to 2 years younger in every other division. The LVSSA was also encouraged to begin transitioning their divisions soon. The SSWAC survey has now been administered at 3 tournaments at various locations in the country. It was also administered at this tournament. The responses have shown definite preference for starting to bat with a 0-0 count, using 11 defensive players for a 50+ division, and using a mercy rule (such as 20 runs after 4 innings) for a game-controlling run rule. The final results will be posted on the web at Sandbagger.com as well as on the Summit web site. The council decided to comment on the issue of bat banning that has become a point of contention this year in senior softball. The council strongly encourages all organizations to establish a uniform set of guidelines by the beginning of 2004 and not change them during the year unless it is a definite, proven safety issue. Other issues suggested for future discussion included: encouraging organizations to allow at least 13 players to bat to encourage more participation using the extra safety base at first base making the commitment line consistent deconflicting women's tournament dates targeting specific tournaments for older age divisions The next meeting of the SSWAC will be January 10-11 at the 2004 Senior Softball Summit in Cypress Gardens, Florida. Action items: 1. Judy Lee Schreiber will send the USSSA survey results to Pat Lawlis 2. Judy Lee will let council members know the specific dates of the next USSSA World Tournament (to be held in Little Rock, AR) 3. Pat will add Judy Lee's survey results to the others and then send for posting to the web on the Summit site and Sandbagger site 4. Pat will prepare meeting minutes and send to the council members 5. Pat will draft letters to the represented organizations discussing our concerns 6. Pat will draft a letter to the Gallatin Civic Center thanking them for their support

Summit Organizations The national senior softball organizations in America: ASA ISA Huntsman Games ISSA LVSSA NASCS SPA SSUSA National Senior Softball Hall of Fame