Ithaca Babe Ruth Board

Monthly Meeting Agenda

THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS

OF THE ITHACA BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.

April 8th , 2025

The Meeting of the Board of Directors (the "Board" or "IBRL Directors") of Ithaca Babe Ruth League, Inc.,a not-for-profit corporation duly organized and validly existing in the State of New York (“IBRL”), was duly called and held virtually on  Month/Date/Time with a quorum of duly elected and serving directors meeting.

Members in attendance:

  • Will VanDyke (WV) President

  • Brian Donato (BD) Vice President/Cal Ripken

  • Jeff Stulgis (JS) Treasurer

  • Ben Cosgrove (BC) Secretary/Travel

  • Erik Frank (EF) Registrar

  • Nick Antczak (NA) Cal Ripken Commissioner/Babe Ruth

  • Mike Pieretti (MP) Travel Director

  • Katrina Blomquist (KB)    DEI

  • Gabbie Smith (GS)   DEI & Umpire Coordinator

  • George Tamborelle (GT)    Equipment

  • Dan Burke (DB) Fields

  • Kyle Gebhart (KG) Fundraising

  • Emily Workman (EW) Fundraising

  • Rusdi Sumner (RS) Fundraising


Minutes:

  1. Call to order, 

  2. Roll Call, Secretary

  3. Approval of meeting minutes: March 2025

    1. Discussion: None

    2. Motion: NA

    3. Second: KG

    4. Vote: Unanimous

  1. There is now a place for past minutes on the website

  2. Treasurer Report - Jeff

    1. Cal Ripken Spring variable revenue model has been successful with over $2,700 in “donation” add-ons to the registrations. Consider reducing standard registration cost in the future given that families seem to be okay with adding extra.

    2. Minor issue with Scriarabba Walker tax prep overbilling us

  3. Member Updates/General Discussion

    1. none

  4. President Report

  5. Additional Committee Reports

    1. Registrar

      1. 109 total Cal Ripken, 57 minors, 52 majors (by age), enough for 5 teams at each level. Very similar to last year.

    2. Cal Ripken

      1. This year we have some crosstown games with Watkins Glen and Dryden

    3. Babe Ruth

      1. Registrations will open soon

      2. Coaching candidates: Chuck Nocera, John Walker?

    4. Travel

      1. 3 travel coaches under contract

      2. 1 roving travel coach Kooper Knabe will serve as pitching coordinator/assistant coach

    5. Field Maintenance

      1. Field work on Cass F8 planned for Apr 13 morning

      2. Field renovation projects

        1. Materials/contractor: no tariff effects

        2. 2-3 days per field

        3. Cass F8 starts Apr 16

        4. Cass F9 would start 2-3 days later 

        5. Dirt project is estimated ~$23K for both fields

        6. New mound for Cass F9 approved for up to $6.5K

          1. True Pitch 600-G Terracotta color

          2. Approved by voice vote

    6. Facilities & Equipment

      1. Cal Ripken program requested helmets

      2. Purchased 12 dozen baseballs from Instant Replay for spring games

    7. Diversity and Inclusion

      1. Syracuse Mets, we care Wednesday, $5 per ticket donated to the organization: June 18 Wednesday. There will be a Fevo page to make the ticket purchases.

      2. Cornell baseball game attendance pushed back

      3. BJM Tigers program under consideration for 2026

    8. Fundraising

      1. Doug’s Fish Fry moved to new date. Will be held at CHFD.

      2. Venmo business account will be no-cost transaction and tied to a second IBRL checking account

        1. Approved by voice vote

      3. Lotto fundraiser prepared

        1. 1000 ticket opportunities

        2. Money will be collected via Cheddarup

      4. Copper Horse coffee fundraiser to be initiated

      5. Guthrie Orthopedics sponsorship could be explored

    9. Events and Tournaments

      1. Cal Ripken season opening kick off on Apr 26, 10a-7p at Cass F8

      2. Food truck working on permitting

    10. Communications

      1. Website Updates

      2. Facebook/Instagram, all social media

    11. Umpires

      1. Most umpires signed up for umpire scheduler system

      2. Second training session on Zoom planned for 4/9 evening

    12. Coaching

  1. Unfinished Business

    1. 2025 Calendar Look Ahead - Review

      1. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hpUNf7fXOOyXlN7p27mIA0TCVsYeJS8nEnDZFVvQIO4/edit?usp=sharing

  2. New Business:

    1. Recruit new board members

    2. Candidates to recruit

      1. Sarah Tomei, Brandon Lynch-Jacobson

  3. Announcements

  4. Next month's Agenda

    1. May 13 in person

    2. Proposed Topics

  5. Adjournment:

    1. Discussion: none

    2. Motion: NA

    3. Second: KG

    4. Vote: Unanimous

    5. Time: 935pm