Post by perfeckt on Jul 5, 2013 21:26:08 GMT 10
Dear BV and Aces, I am what you might call an avid fan of Victorian baseball and by extension, Oz, MLB and other forms of the game. Indeed I've just made a purchase from iTunes of the film '42', you know of this film about an historical time that deals with grass roots, adversity, etc. Until my son started T-ball I had no real interest in baseball apart from seeing some games whilst living in California for some time. I feel privileged to have met many "nose to the grindstone" unheralded volunteers that have had no other agenda than to provide an opportunity for people to play baseball. Volunteers that provide an opportunity for people from 5 or 6 years old through to the grave. Some have visions of an MLB career, some an Australian or State rep' side. Some even have aspirations to represent their Regional League and some to represent their Club at the highest level but most ( I don't know the pecentile but let me guess...90%?). All of the above I am sure you are well aware of and there are opportunities within the formal structures for a myriad of choices. Over a couple of decades now I can say with certainty two (maybe a couple more) things, 1:, The ingrained lack of timely delivery of information and engagement with grass roots baseball that can only be explained by the fear of fear itself. 2:, The over arching concern of the fleeting concept of control. I understand that everyone at the BV, ABF, etc. are overstretched, understaffed and rely on volunteers to help turn the institutional cogs but what must not be forgotten is the efforts of the army of grass roots volunteers. This Aussie Baseball Forum is a point in case. Sure, I check the BA, ABF, Aces websites and their links to the various leagues but this forum (in Victoria at least) is where I go to for the latest information, results, match reports and pre-match pontifications. All done by volunteers. So, why not embrace this form of volunteerism? You have a hungry constituency and an even hungrier 'newby' element to feed and foster. Place a link on your websites to this page and the previews and discussions that ultimately help an overstretched official structure, it could only help the cause (even with the detractors commentary). Again I would ask you, What have you to fear from an active, engaged baseball community? By the way, I am not a moderator of this forum but just an active contributer and apart from my local club interest I have no influence or vested interest but I guess that I do really love my baseball because of the passionate grass roots people I have met along the way. PLAY BALL !