Hello League Players

We are introducing a more streamlined registration process this year. First, rather than asking for the same information that has already been collected and entered into our database, we are only interested in any changes in your personal information that may have occurred since the end of the last season. Second, the registration process will consist of only email communications as opposed to completing and returning registration forms. Signed waiver forms will still be required but this will be accomplished at the ball diamond when you come to the first game.

Please note that as a result of increased rental fees imposed by the RA Centre, we are required to increase our registration fees to $95 from $85 in 2024. This is the League’s first fee increase at least since 2018.

 It is very important therefore, that you respond to this email by March 14, 2025 if you are planning to return and if so, if you want to remain full time or part time players. If you don’t reply, we will assume that you will not be returning. If you are returning as a full-time player, please be sure that you can play at least 2/3 of the season. If not, then please consider joining as a part time player.

Please email your response by replying to this email  (ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com).

It is also important to indicate in your email response how you will pay the registration fee – by internet etransfer or by cheque. More detailed directions are provided at the end of this invitation. Please make payment by the March 14 deadline. We can only register you once payment has been received.

In your email response, please also only include any changes to last year’s registration form which could include address and phone number changes, changes in your health condition that you think, your future team captain should be aware of, any change to your CPR status if you indicated as such last year, and any changes related to your emergency contact (name, address, phone number). If you are not sure if there are changes, include the information anyways.

If you wish, you can indicate if you want to be matched up with another player such as scorekeepers, spouses/partners and nearby neighbours and if you have a preferred position in the field that is different from last year.

A couple of footnotes: 1) we are hoping to expand to 12 teams this year which appears to be feasible based on the number of players we had for 10 teams in 2024 and the number of additional part-time players who would have liked to play full time. So, it is important to reply to this invitation by March 14. 2) We will be asking for volunteers to be Team Captains and Umpires after our registration is completed and we know who is coming back.

I look forward to seeing all of you back on the ball diamond this year and to another fun, successful 60+ slo-pitch season.

Peter Atkinson, President

Attachment: Directions for Fee Payment (Full Time Players Only)

(Please note that Chery Ferguson has kindly returned as the interim Treasurer of our League.)

If Payment is by Cheque:

Please make cheque payable to Ottawa 60+ Slo-Pitch League and mail to Ottawa 60+ Slo-Pitch League, 6084 Willowbark Drive, Orleans, Ont. K1C 5T8. If you intend to hand deliver an envelope with the payment to the Treasurer’s address, please advise Chery by email (treasurer.ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com) before doing so as there is no mailbox at the house.

If Payment is by Interac E-transfer:

Please send to treasurer.ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com

If you have previously sent money to the treasurer and still have the above receiving email as your “Payee”, there is no security question or answer required as the League account has an automatic deposit. In the MESSAGE Box, please identify the name of the player who is registering for the 2025 season to ensure the monies received matches up with the registering player.

If you have not yet set up the League’s treasurer’s email as a “Payee” with your bank, you may have to include a security question and answer. Please use the following for the Security Question: “position on field” and as the Security Answer: “shortstop” (excluding quotation marks). Once this is entered and you proceed to create the e-transfer, a message will indicate that an automatic deposit has been set up for this “Payee”. Also make sure the treasurer’s email is entered accurately as the Payee. In the MESSAGE Box, please identify the name of the player who is registering for the 2025 season to ensure the monies received matches up with the registering player.

An email was recently sent to everyone who played full-time last year inviting them to attend a Rules Committee meeting in February.  Please email Malcolm Bruce, VP of Operations, if you are interested in being a part of this important committee.  malcolmrbruce@gmail.com

Hello All League Members

With the 2024 Ball season coming to an end, plans are in the process of organizing the Closing Breakfast.

The breakfast will be held on October 1^st  at 9:30 AM at the Royal Oak Centrepointe, 117 Centrepointe Drive, Nepean.

The Royal Oak has agreed to open their doors early to serve us breakfast. We will be the only client in the restaurant at that time. Doors will open at 9:15 AM.

This will be a buffet style breakfast with a choice of coffee or tea. The cost will be $16.00 per person all in. Everyone is welcome.

To book your meal, you can pay by cheque (Payable to Ottawa 60+ Slo-Pitch League – Cheques can be given to Chery Ferguson the next two weeks at the ballpark or you can  mail to 6084 Willowbark Drive, Orleans, ON K1C 5T8).  Alternatively you can send an e-transfer payment to Chery Ferguson @ treasurer.ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com.  Please respond no later than September 25th.

We look forward to celebrating another successful 60+ Slo- pitch season with you.
Robin Boyd, President

Hello Ballplayers

Hello Ballplayers

Every year at this time, the League holds elections for the Executive Committee that is responsible for all league activities. We always need a few people to step forward to join the Executive Committee and help guide the League as we organize for next season. Please consider getting involved, either as a candidate or by persuading another capable individual to stand for election.

This year three of our five Executive positions are up for renewal, League President,

VP Social and Treasurer. You can find the Job Descriptions HERE.

As in the past, the vote will be by secret ballot at the diamonds.

Bear in mind that you can nominate someone for a role (get that person’s approval, first) or you can self-nominate (that is, volunteer yourself).

Absence from Ottawa (for any snowbirds) is not a barrier to holding one of the positions as the monthly meetings are held virtually. You can be located anywhere and still participate. The success of our league depends on the availability of volunteers to keep things running smoothly.

KEY DATES

July 29 to August 16: Nominations
August 20 & 27: Elections by secret ballot at the diamonds.

Following the close of nominations, the candidates will be announced and instructions provided on how to participate in the vote.

Dave Tripp has kindly volunteered to look after the nominations and the election process this year.

Nominations (or questions) can be submitted by sending an email to Dave Tripp at <dtripp1661@rogers.com>

When submitting nominations please include the name(s) of the nominator(s) and the contact information for the nominee.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Robin Boyd, League President

president.ottawa60plusslopitch@gmail.com

Hello Everybody

The summer is here and with it hotter weather. We recently had some very hot weather and concerns have been raised by some players regarding the safety of playing under conditions of extreme heat. It is well established that extreme heat can bring health problems that may not be obvious until it’s too late.  These effects do not affect everybody equally. However, like every other bad thing, they disproportionately impact the very young and seniors.

As you may already know, every Tuesday morning, bright and early, I do a weather check to see whether we have a substantial threat (or reality) of rain making it impossible or unsafe to play. If the conditions do not allow play, the League Secretary notifies the captains that the games are postponed and the captains pass the message on to their teams.

From now on, I will be considering the projected temperature and humidity when making the call as to whether we will play. I’ll also look at any air quality alerts for things like smoke and other pollutants.

The members of the Executive have proposed a standard where any time the projected high is above 30 degrees Celsius, or the Humidex exceeds 40 degrees, the schedule will change as follows. One of the 11:00 o’clock games will be moved to 9:30 at diamond 4 and the other will be postponed and rescheduled. We will also reduce the games played on those days to 5 innings instead of 7.

Moving the one later game to 9:30 is based on the principle that the earlier games are not likely to be subjected to the worst heat. We also are trying to minimize having a long backlog of games that otherwise would need to be rescheduled.

If you have any concerns regarding this proposal, please refer them to me or to your captain for forwarding to me.  Otherwise, we will implement this starting Tuesday, July 2.