Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2018 21:21:23 GMT 10
I was not at the BV Annual General Meeting. As an outsider I was understandably not invited and I would probably not have been welcome anyhow at what appears in large part to have turned into a cosy little love-in between certain employees of the organisation.
And not much else. Other than lip-service, I am guessing that bugger-all was delivered to raise the spirits or recognise the untiring efforts of the wonderful volunteers who nurture and sustain our grassroots clubs.
Seriously, no questions from the floor if that turned out to be the case? I am sure there were plenty of questions that might have been asked. So I am guessing there was no satisfactory explanation, and no reasoning for why so many rusted-on Victorian baseball people are disenchanted, disappointed and downright angry – in many instances – over the parlous state into which governance of our sport has degenerated in recent times.
At a time, that is, when there are so many positives and opportunities being generated for players of all ages and at all levels.
Among a range of questions that could/should have been asked are these:
Who is accountable in this organisation? And within Melbourne Aces? To whom and under what reasonable work expectations? How often is people’s work reviewed or assessed? Are any reviewing personnel independent and fully transparent?
Why can the organisation apparently not attract and retain properly qualified and competent people to key positions for more than a short time? Why is there such a turnover of staff?
How can we have a situation where there is ongoing conflict between officials and administrators in the sport, as has been the case this season? Our involvement in baseball arises from a shared interest and a shared enjoyment. We should never lose sight of that common interest and we can surely negotiate common ground that suits all parties.
Why has the vital media/communications vacancy not been addressed as a matter of urgency, even if only by the utilisation of volunteers who have openly expressed their willingness to help out? Especially at this crucial stage of the Summer League season? Is the Baseball Victoria Board or its CEO aware that an independent business has approached certain baseball individuals with offer of payment to help it to provide the media coverage that Baseball Victoria appears unable or unwilling to deliver?
Why should any other organisation feel constrained to do this?
The short answer – maybe because some people still care.
Should this not be a cause of concern and embarrassment to the Baseball Victoria Board?
Why has the Competitions Coordinator role not been properly carried out over the past few months (after a terrific interim job by one club stalwart)? Why was a person appointed to the role just prior to Christmas so difficult to contact for assistance over any related issue? The answer to that particular question has apparently been answered, with the BV website now showing the position to be vacant.
Why was Baseball Victoria not honest and up-front with clubs over what has been going on with appointment and retention of staff to key roles such as these?
Specifically on the Melbourne Aces. How is it that the club Executive Officer would on occasion be required to pay his own way for interstate trips when other employed staff did not?
Are the Melbourne Aces books properly audited? By whom? When will an audit become available to members and to other interests? Who will cover any residual debt after the 2017/18 season? Grassroots baseball clubs?
Is the Baseball Victoria Board still functioning? When does it meet? What role does it have? Is there a current Melbourne Aces Board of Management? If the answer to those questions is in the affirmative, then what is either group doing to address what are clearly serious shortcomings in the administration of Victorian baseball? How about letting people know what, if anything, is being done?
If either group is doing nothing – or if it exists in name only as an ego trip or to pad out a resume – then it should be replaced by the long-suffering stakeholders in the sport, who quite reasonably expect that their concerns will be heard and their interests will be protected.
Like “wyatt” - a person who posted a recent related message in another thread on this Forum - I am among a clearly increasing number of baseball lifers who are seriously disturbed by what we perceive as a worrying decline in the quality of baseball administration in this state. While we will always stick by what we have done and we will take pride in our efforts as baseball volunteers, current trends are disturbing and make people wonder, really, if it is all worthwhile.
Potential legal repercussions prevent any of us from being more specific in this Forum or in any other public vehicle, so please do not respond to this post with any personal reference, off the cuff or unsubstantiated comment.
While we always observe a degree of tolerance in open and spirited discussion, we will delete any post that crosses the line in what is already an emotionally-charged situation.
There is so much disenchantment and downright anger doing the rounds that it cannot be dismissed or ignored. It is time for clubs and concerned individuals to insist that enough is enough. We need to work through this together to identify the problems and collectively come up with some strategies to help restore credibility, cooperation and enjoyment to our involvement in the sport.
It can be done. And I am confident it will be done.
Our sport deserves far better than some of the slop that is being served up at the moment.
In closing this rant to Forum faithful, congratulations and best wishes to all clubs and all teams qualifying for Summer League finals participation. Play hard, play fair, play well and achieve your very best!
Kingsley Collins
February 2018
And not much else. Other than lip-service, I am guessing that bugger-all was delivered to raise the spirits or recognise the untiring efforts of the wonderful volunteers who nurture and sustain our grassroots clubs.
Seriously, no questions from the floor if that turned out to be the case? I am sure there were plenty of questions that might have been asked. So I am guessing there was no satisfactory explanation, and no reasoning for why so many rusted-on Victorian baseball people are disenchanted, disappointed and downright angry – in many instances – over the parlous state into which governance of our sport has degenerated in recent times.
At a time, that is, when there are so many positives and opportunities being generated for players of all ages and at all levels.
Among a range of questions that could/should have been asked are these:
Who is accountable in this organisation? And within Melbourne Aces? To whom and under what reasonable work expectations? How often is people’s work reviewed or assessed? Are any reviewing personnel independent and fully transparent?
Why can the organisation apparently not attract and retain properly qualified and competent people to key positions for more than a short time? Why is there such a turnover of staff?
How can we have a situation where there is ongoing conflict between officials and administrators in the sport, as has been the case this season? Our involvement in baseball arises from a shared interest and a shared enjoyment. We should never lose sight of that common interest and we can surely negotiate common ground that suits all parties.
Why has the vital media/communications vacancy not been addressed as a matter of urgency, even if only by the utilisation of volunteers who have openly expressed their willingness to help out? Especially at this crucial stage of the Summer League season? Is the Baseball Victoria Board or its CEO aware that an independent business has approached certain baseball individuals with offer of payment to help it to provide the media coverage that Baseball Victoria appears unable or unwilling to deliver?
Why should any other organisation feel constrained to do this?
The short answer – maybe because some people still care.
Should this not be a cause of concern and embarrassment to the Baseball Victoria Board?
Why has the Competitions Coordinator role not been properly carried out over the past few months (after a terrific interim job by one club stalwart)? Why was a person appointed to the role just prior to Christmas so difficult to contact for assistance over any related issue? The answer to that particular question has apparently been answered, with the BV website now showing the position to be vacant.
Why was Baseball Victoria not honest and up-front with clubs over what has been going on with appointment and retention of staff to key roles such as these?
Specifically on the Melbourne Aces. How is it that the club Executive Officer would on occasion be required to pay his own way for interstate trips when other employed staff did not?
Are the Melbourne Aces books properly audited? By whom? When will an audit become available to members and to other interests? Who will cover any residual debt after the 2017/18 season? Grassroots baseball clubs?
Is the Baseball Victoria Board still functioning? When does it meet? What role does it have? Is there a current Melbourne Aces Board of Management? If the answer to those questions is in the affirmative, then what is either group doing to address what are clearly serious shortcomings in the administration of Victorian baseball? How about letting people know what, if anything, is being done?
If either group is doing nothing – or if it exists in name only as an ego trip or to pad out a resume – then it should be replaced by the long-suffering stakeholders in the sport, who quite reasonably expect that their concerns will be heard and their interests will be protected.
Like “wyatt” - a person who posted a recent related message in another thread on this Forum - I am among a clearly increasing number of baseball lifers who are seriously disturbed by what we perceive as a worrying decline in the quality of baseball administration in this state. While we will always stick by what we have done and we will take pride in our efforts as baseball volunteers, current trends are disturbing and make people wonder, really, if it is all worthwhile.
Potential legal repercussions prevent any of us from being more specific in this Forum or in any other public vehicle, so please do not respond to this post with any personal reference, off the cuff or unsubstantiated comment.
While we always observe a degree of tolerance in open and spirited discussion, we will delete any post that crosses the line in what is already an emotionally-charged situation.
There is so much disenchantment and downright anger doing the rounds that it cannot be dismissed or ignored. It is time for clubs and concerned individuals to insist that enough is enough. We need to work through this together to identify the problems and collectively come up with some strategies to help restore credibility, cooperation and enjoyment to our involvement in the sport.
It can be done. And I am confident it will be done.
Our sport deserves far better than some of the slop that is being served up at the moment.
In closing this rant to Forum faithful, congratulations and best wishes to all clubs and all teams qualifying for Summer League finals participation. Play hard, play fair, play well and achieve your very best!
Kingsley Collins
February 2018
