SoftballCanada Annual General Meeting Wraps up
November 15, 2009
Ottawa, ON
FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE
November15th, 2009
SoftballCanada Annual General Meeting Wraps up
(Ottawa,Ontario) – The 2009 Softball Canada Annual GeneralMeeting was held this past weekend in Ottawa, capping off a very successfulseason. Representatives from each Provincial and Territorial Associationattended the three-day event, and there was plenty of discussion on how toimprove the sport in our country.
Interactiveworkshops covered all areas of Softball Canada’s operations, including CanadianChampionships, Long Term Player Development, new initiatives, Slo-Pitch, andOfficiating. Also included on the agenda was a kick-off session outlining theOlympic decision and its implications on the game, a review of the 2009 season,a report on new initiatives, and an introduction to strategic planning. Anupdate was given on the implementation of the Long Term Player Developmentplan, as well as new material being produced such as clips from a new pitchingvideo that was very well received by all in attendance. Recommendations fromthe Competition Review Committee were also presented. A separate workshopintroduced a variety of social media tools for administrators to connect totheir members.
TheSaturday morning sessions were spent working on strategic planning, as SoftballCanada is in the process of developing a new strategic plan for 2010 to 2014. Alist of outcomes related to the four strategic pillars were presented, anddelegates were asked to prioritize those outcomes and set timeframes for them.From that feedback, a few key outcomes were targeted and groups were formed toexplore one of them in detail. Finally, participants were given a workbook toestablish their own strategic plan based on Softball Canada’s plan.
Atthe Annual General Meeting, Kevin Quinn was acclaimed as President, as were three existing directors: Larry Gould, Robb Andison and Ryan DeBelser. BobAbbot decided not to run for the Board, and Lynda Turton was acclaimed as the final Board member.
At the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet, Shane Boland (Goulds, NL) and Chenelle Mitchell (Carlyle, SK) were announced as the recipients of the Ethel Boyce Achievement Award ($1,000 bursary), while Brendan Roach (Waterloo, Ontario) and Patricia Seguin (Rigaud, QC) earned the Claude Deschamps Memorial Award ($1,000bursary). Softball Canada then presented the Home Run Sports Coach of the YearAward to Claude Vinet (Beloeil, QC), the Home Run Sports Umpire of the YearAward to Dick Coleman (Orleans, ON) and the Second Annual Rose Hodgson Volunteer of the Year Award to Carl Littlejohns (Innerkip, ON). Five inductees were then inducted to the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, including the 1949 TipTop Tailors (Team – Ontario), Phyllis Bomberry (Athlete – Ontario), Don Bracey (Official – Ontario), the late Gil Read (Builder – Ontario) and Darren Zack (Athlete – Ontario). It was also announced that Zack has been accept to theInternational Softball Federation Hall of Fame as well. All of these inductees brought significant contributions to their province and country, and were very humbled by the presentations.
I twas a very exciting Annual General Meeting in Ottawa, and Softball Canada would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event. Next year’s AGM will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan.
-SC-
Formore information, please contact:
GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)523-3386 x. 3105
