Greetings fellow Blue:
By now, many of you have heard talk of a new umpires' association for ALL softball umpires in the province. The "Ontario Softball Umpires’ Association" is now a reality! After months of planning and preparation, the OSUA is slowly taking shape. Our motto is "Umpires Working For Umpires".
Our association is being developed with the intention of presenting itself as a legitimate, official, and credible organization of softball umpires. Our ultimate goal is for the umpires of Ontario to gain full autonomy and equal status as a member of Softball Ontario beginning with the 2008 calendar year.
An interim executive is now in place. It is working hard on the development of a “brand” for our new association, along with a constitution, code of ethics, bylaws, and web-site. Our motto, logo, and all of the items mentioned have been carefully thought out, with no doubt in our minds that this major undertaking will be for the betterment of all. Proper representation, a cost-effective fee structure, and the opportunity to partner with others that regard the interests of softball as a key priority – these are just some of the benefits we hope will result from our new organization. Of course, to achieve these results, the organization will require the efforts and input of everyone.
The web-site will cost approximately $1000.00 to set up and maintain. It will be a key communication tool, providing everyone with critical information, and allowing opportunities to share their views and ideas. It will be used for the membership to actually see the ongoing work of your executive.
No one individual will gain financially from this endeavour. Everyone can benefit. From equipment "trading" to a chance to have a real voice, this will be YOUR Association!
We hope to attract many of the Blue in our province, both old and new, and form one of the strongest umpire associations in Canada! Most of us belong to a local umpire association. Let's get together and form a province-wide body that we can all be proud of.
We offer you a chance to be a part of a new beginning. Charter memberships in OSUA are now available. For an initial membership fee of $25.00 that will "Get the Ball Rolling", you can get in on the ground floor of a whole new beginning of an organization "for umpires and by umpires". Mail your cheque, made payable to the "Ontario Softball Umpires' Association", along with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to the:
"Ontario Softball Umpires' Association." C/O Tim Whitelaw, 59 Harold Ave., Kitchener, Ontario. N2A 2H9.
This one-time fee will get our new group up and running by providing a start-up stake of cash. Charter members will be entitled to special recognition at our first Annual General Meeting in the fall. You will be first in line to receive all information as it becomes available over the next few months. You will be helping to energize a long-awaited new era for the umpires in this province, fulfilling the dreams held by many who have come before us.
Yours in umpiring,
Sincerely,
Tim Whitelaw Joel Balberman
Treasurer Membership Director
OSUA OSUA
isfump5@rogers.com
