Minutes of the Board Meeting

Meeting Site: Holiday Inn, St. Cloud, MN

Saturday, January, 24, 2004

Meeting called to order by President Odman at 10:30 a.m.

Roll call showed all directors present.

Motion Wegscheid, seconded Brennan, carried, to accept the minutes of the previous meeting as mailed.

First order of business was to reinstate teams and players that were ruled ineligible in 2003.

Motion Richter, seconded Fiemeyer, carried, to reinstate New Market for the 2004 season; also players Tim Nelson, Derek Stahlecker, Dan Brownian, and Luke Flicek. There will be a (one year) probation for team and players.

Motion Fiemeyer, seconded Forsman, carried, to reinstate Hastings for the 2004 season. Hastings will be on a (one year) probation.

Motion Roufs, seconded Wegschied, carried, to reinstate Brandon/Evansville for the 2004 season; also player Greg Anderson to be reinstated for the 2004 season. Team and player will be on a (one year) probation.

Joe Kreger of Green Isle, came before the Board with some concern on being classified to Class "B." After discussing his case, both pro and con, a motion by Roufs, seconded Fischer, carried, that Green Isle would be classifed "B" for one year. Kreger was then asked what section they would like to play in; he said they prefer Section 4. Motion Roufs, seconded Wegscheid, carried, to put Green Isle in Section 4 for the 2004 season.

Joe Serratore of Hayfield/Austin came before the board also with concern on change of classification. Like Green Isle, his concern was also that teams these past few years that were 1 and 2 in Class "C" were not reclassified. His main concern was not playing in Class "B," but playing in the same section with the other Austin team would be a problem. He stated should this happen he would fold the Hayfield/Austin team. After some discussion, motion Roufs, seconded Wegscheid, to put Hayfield/Austin in Section 2. Voting for: Roufs, Wegscheid, Odman; voting against: Brennan, Richter, Forsman, Zellmann, Fischer, Fiemeyer; motion defeated 6-3. Further business on this matter was tabled until March meeting.

Next order of business was selecting state tournament sites for the years (2007), (2008), (2009). There were 67 dedicated people on hand for this meeting, which shows that amateur baseball is still alive and well in Minnesota. There were (10) dual sites: (Norwood/Hamburg) - (Red Wing/Miesville) - (Bird Island/Willmar) - (Sleepy Eye/Hanska) - (Prior Lake/Union Hill) - (Gaylord/Arlington) - (LeSueur/Green Isle) - (Glencoe/Brownton) - (Chaska/Shakopee) - (Delano/Maple Lake) - one single site (St. Cloud). Presentations were given by the sites, and questions by the Board followed. There was a motion by Wegscheid, seconded Fischer, carried, that the following communities be awarded the state tournament in the years (2007) Norwood/Hamburg, (2008) Chaska/Shakopee, (2009) Gaylord/Arlington. The board would like to thank all bidding sites on a great job they did on their presentations.

The board next went over the MBA handbook to make any last minute changes or additions. There was one change, and one addition. In the November minutes, we stated a first time player did (not) need a release. This was changed to read (a first year player who resides within the corporate limits of a city who has a team in the MBA (needs) a release from his home team). --- The one addition that was made is (any player that is not on the final roster must be released.)

John Breimhorst came before the board with word that Jordan and Belle Plaine are gearing up for the 2004 state tournament. Both parks have been given new facelifts. The state tournament baseball this year will be the (Pro Nine).

The next meeting of the MBA will be March 13, 2004 at the Holiday Inn, St. Cloud, MN at 1:00 p.m. --- Then, on Sunday, March 14, 2004, the board will meet with all league officers, commissioners, and all parties interested in baseball. The new MBA handbook will be reviewed, and the league supplies will be handed out. This is a meeting everyone should attend (remember) Sunday, March 14, 2004, Holiday Inn, St. Cloud at 1:00 p.m. Mark it on your calender.

There being no further business, motion Brennan, seconded Fiemeyer, carried, to adjourn. Adjournment at 4:30 p.m.

Bob Zellmann, Secretary-Treasurer, MBA