Email Exchanges
-----Original Message-----
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 21 October 2010 4:03 AM
To: Ray Brownlie
Cc: <mullerfam4@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Emailing: MECHANICS ABUAGB RB
Guys,
Thanks for the meeting on Monday, i thought it was a good and productive call. As i said when we chatted, i think you've put together a good foundational document for umpire development.
I have to apologise for taking so long to follow up but i've been slammed at work. Our postseason is a very busy time. Anyway, i wanted to type up my follow-up suggestions from the meeting but i've managed to leave my notes in the office. So, i'll type something up first thing in the morning and get it off to you guys. Sorry for the delay.
James
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 21 October 2010 5:28 PM
To: Ray Brownlie
Cc: mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: RE: Umpire Development - Targets
Darrin/Ray,
Further to our call, here are a few things that I think we should look to include in the umpire development plan.
1) Umpire Service Levels.
Determine ‘umpire service level’ targets for 2011, 2012 and 2013. I have put together a chart and attached it for your review but it’s my first thoughts on how we might present and format the targets for your plan. I’ve also included some examples of what the targets could be…but these are very much up for discussion and are meant as a starting point only. I’m looking to you guys to determine where you think these should be, and what you think we can achieve moving forward.
2) Umpire training targets
Based on the target service levels (and the number of games played each week), we’ll need to determine how many umpires we need to recruit and train at each level. The second table that I’ve drawn up in the attached document is meant to lay out these targets. In turn, these target numbers will drive how many clinics you think we need to schedule and operate to meet the umpire numbers we want to reach.
3) Umpire Instructional clinics.
You have a lot of good material you have put together. I would recommend adding to it by drawing up some additional documents:
4) Recruitment.
Finding new people is obviously not going to be easy. So, I think we need to develop up a strong recruitment and communications strategy for attracting new ABUA-GB umpires and ensuring that Clubs send their own participants to get trained.
I liked a lot of the ideas you talked about regarding protecting umpires on game days (e.g. different coloured shirts for trainees) and enforcing stiffer discipline on participants for poor conduct/respect at games. I’d like to see you draw up a more defined list of recommendations that we can act upon for 2011.
6) Programme Budget.
Can you provide a detailed budget breakdown for the umpire activities? I would suggest that this is divided between fixed costs (development of instructional materials, equipment purchase, recruitment marketing, etc.) and per clinic costs (e.g. facility rental, equipment rental, instructor fees, instructor travel, etc.).
7) Next meeting.
It’s going to be difficult for me to schedule another meeting next week, so perhaps we can look for a date during the week of November 1st (although I might be on the road on Monday/Tuesday). Anyway, let me know your availability and we’ll try and lock something in.
My best,
James
-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Brownlie [mailto:raybrownlie@btinternet.com]
Sent: 21 October 2010 5:11 PM
To: 'James Pearce (BBF)'
Cc: '<mullerfam4@aol.com>'
Subject: RE: Emailing: MECHANICS ABUAGB RB
Hi James,
I have started on the documents you requested and just to show you the potential I looked at the total number of adult and youth baseball teams including Clubs with more than one adult and youth set up The 2009 voting Members consisted of 45 Adult and 30 Youth Members If the BBF enforced the bye-laws and made each voting team send 2 players or volunteers each , it would give us a 150 people starting point to work with.
Over three years would give us 450 level 1 umpires.
Every team in the federation has new players staring every year, most clubs do not have the time to teach all the rules and this is where we could recruit our umpires pool from because they all will not become players either.
I look forward to getting the requested documents to you after I have received your list.
Regards
Ray
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 04 November 2010 3:37 PM
To: James.Pearce@mlb.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Meeting
James,
Thank you. I will speak with you on Tuesday
Darrin
-----Original Message-----
From: Pearce, James <James.Pearce@mlb.com>
To: 'mullerfam4@aol.com' <mullerfam4@aol.com>; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 4, 2010 3:34 pm
Subject: RE: Meeting
Darrin/Ray,
Sorry for the delay, I’ve been traveling in Asia and only just returned back to my office. I think that Tue, Nov 9th would be best for me. 8pm is fine. Thanks for the revised documents and notes you have sent through. I haven’t had a chance to review them yet, but will look through them on the weekend.
James
James,
I want to thank you for taking the time to go over the Umpire Development Plan with Ray and myself last night. I feel we have prepared a very good document and appreciate the help you have provided.
The ABUA GB have spent a lot of time preparing this document and believe that after a final edit it will be ready for presentation to BSUK. Ray has provide you with a copy of the plan in “Word” form to allow you to make any recommendations, which will be implemented prior to the final edit. We hope for the final edit to be done within the next week.
You made a comment last evening that BSUK had reservations about working with Ray and myself. I would like to point out that this plan is about Umpire Development and not about BSUK or any person.
We have prepared a very professional document to improve baseball umpire development. We have then presented the document to you in your role as the BBF Development Officer. It is your responsibility to take this to BSUK for the proper development funding that it deserves. You were elected by the BBF Membership to improve baseball development and it is your responsibility to ensure this happens. You need to ensure that baseball development is the top priority and not individuals. What the individuals at BSUK feel about Ray and myself should not even be a consideration, neither should how Ray and I feel about the individuals at BSUK.
This is a professional document for a good cause and should be treated for it’s merits and nothing else.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 23 November 2010 4:09 AM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: RE: Umpire Development
Guys,
I’m haven’t found the document that Ray emailed through very easy to work with. So, rather than delay this further, I am going to forward the document as it is to the Board this week as you requested and outline a number of action points for them.
As discussed, I am going to push for the following:
- Board approval to enforce the pre-existing bye-laws regarding club provision of umpires.
- Board approval and adoption of the umpire service level goals and certification targets that we have discussed
- BSUK support for umpire clinics as per our discussed clinic schedule
Also, I will engage both the board and BSUK on ideas regarding umpire recruitment. Of course, if you guys have any ideas I would be interested to hear them as effective recruitment is going to be critical if we are to grow the umpire ranks in a meaningful way.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 5:58 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
We are still waiting for the edits of the Umpire Development Plan that you promised. We would appreciate it if you could please send forthwith.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 December 2010 10:11 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
Is there any update on the Umpire Development Program that you were going to present to the BBF Board and BSUK.
Regards
Darrin Muller
ABUA-GB Umpire Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 20 December 2010 1:58 PM
To: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; mark.mullins@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: CEB
Mr President,
again I ask if you could please let me know what is going on with CEB for the 2011 season, as in relation to the BBF and National Teams. I have explained on numerous occassions the reasons for needing this information.
If you have no intention of answering my question then please just respond telling me this and I will not bother you any further.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA-GB Commissioner
BBF Officials Rep.
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 20 December 2010 10:27 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Development
Darrin,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been trying to get a lot done at work and personally over the last ten days.
To update you, I have presented your plan verbally (and provided an electronic copy) to the BBF Board and discussed BSUK's support of the Umpire clinics with John Boyd and Geof Ellingham.
While I have not received back any formal feedback from any of the Board members by email, it was received positively during our last board meeting. They were in favour of looking to enforce the Club requirement to send attendees and also were open to the idea of pushing for at least 2 people instead of just 1 as per the bye-laws.
BSUK has agreed to fund actual incurred expenses in 2011 in relation to the clinics but we are still going to need to nail down exactly what these will be. Justifiably they have also requested that their support of the clinics be clearly communicated to participants at the sessions and on related materials.
As a general principle, which is usually employed by BSUK and pushed by Sport England across all sports, they typically require participants to pay a fee for attending a development course. This is to ensure sustainability of training courses and it also places a value on the course itself especially if the individual is receiving certification. However, for next year I have strongly requested that they waive this requirement as it will obviously only limit the numbers of people that will attend. But this will be reviewed ahead of 2012.
So, in moving forward, can you send through your proposed dates/locations for the clinics and who will be involved on the instruction side of things for each one? Also, if you have materials you wish to distribute to each participant that you would like copied and prepared for each session, we should get a master copy to BSUK as soon as you have something available.
Regards,
James
From: Geof Ellingham [mailto:geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com]
Sent: 20 January 2011 11:09 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: john.boyd@bsukmail.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: RE: Development
Darrin
I’m pleased to say that I have now received a copy of the UDP, and BSUK’s Development Strategy Committee will be reviewing it in detail next week, and will I’m sure feedback any comments we have.
I would like to make it clear that what I said to you (on what I understood to be a private phone conversation between us) was that some of my colleagues on the BSUK Board had concerns about you and Ray teaching the courses, and that I shared those concerns. The BSUK Board as a body has not considered the question, nor taken any decision on it.
Regards
Geof
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 27 January 2011 7:15 PM
To: Sandra Brownlie
Cc: geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com; jenny.fromer@bsukmail.com; john.boyd@bsukmail.com; geoffhare@btconnect.com; Bodron@aol.com; darrin muller; delorenzo@talktalk.net; board2010@britishbaseball.org; brownlie_37@abuagb.com
Subject: Re: Emailing: ABUA GB Sec BBF BSUK Letter Jan 26 2011
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for your email.
There was a BSUK Development Strategy Committee on Tuesday where the UDP was discussed further. Due to unexpected work commitments, I was unable to participate in this meeting but I hope to follow up with John Boyd to discuss updates as it pertains to BSUK’s support of the ABUA-GB’s proposed development initiatives.
In response to a few of your questions and comments in your letter I have put down a few notes below:
1) Distribution of UDP plan
Contrary to what you state in your letter, the ABUA-GB development plan was distributed to the BBF Board at the beginning of December for their review and has been discussed at least two different meetings. As for distribution to BSUK, you are correct that this was not done until recently and was a poor oversight on my behalf. However, while that it is the case, the content of the document has been thoroughly discussed at length with BSUK staff and representatives for a couple months now.
2) Proposed Clinics
I am encouraged to see that you have set some initial dates for clinics, however, I noticed that seven are currently scheduled which is two more than I had previously discussed with Ray and Darrin. In terms of seeking financial support I have only discussed the operation of five clinics to this date with BSUK or the BBF board. Nevertheless, if seven can be successfully operated, attended and supported then that can obviously only be a positive thing for the baseball community.
It would be extremely helpful if you could provide the proposed locations (cities/towns and the proposed facilities) for each of these clinics so that we can see how they will be able to geographically cover BBF members from clubs across the country.
(On a side note, I know that the club in Bristol is keen to host something for their club in their area but that ABUA-GB are concerned about the number of likely participants. As a result, it would be good to know whether one of the proposed clinics will be close enough for their members to attend without traveling too great a distance.)
Further, it would be helpful to know who your proposed clinicians are for each clinic. As you note in your letter there are very strong concerns and reservations from within BSUK and the BBF over supporting Ray and Darrin in the role of a clinician. Given their prior conduct and behavior towards BSUK and its staff, I can thoroughly appreciate their reluctance to support these two individuals directly. Unfortunately, I think Ray and Darrin need to realize that their negative behavior does have, and will have, consequences that they do not like.
3) Funding for three years
While I understand that the UDP calls for a funding commitment of three years, it is not an uncommon situation for a funder to wish to evaluate the execution and success of the initial year’s activities before committing to further support. I believe we have ample time to conduct such an evaluation without it impacting on year 2 or 3 activities if the clinics are deemed to be a success and are achieving the objectives of developing umpires within British baseball over the long term.
What are obviously critical to the overall plan are the continued involvement, education, supervision and evaluation of individuals who participate in the umpire development clinics. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways in which this can be achieved during the 2011 season and beyond.
I also would like to make note of the fact that these clinics are an ideal opportunity for ABUA-GB to recruit many new umpires to the ranks of its own organization. Something that is quite clearly of great benefit to the ABUA-GB organisation.
4) Board Motion, recognition of ABUA-GB
You have written with concern over the Board proposed motion regarding the Umpire representative on the BBF Board. One of your specific concerns is that if this motion is approved by the membership, and a new Technical Commissioner replaces the existing Umpire Commissioner position, then your ABUA-GB members will cease to be members of the BBF. According to the current constitution (section 4.8), I do not believe that this is the case. As long as the BBF continues to recognize ABUA-GB as its official umpiring association then, through this recognition, its members will continue to be considered members of the BBF. Further, the recognized umpire’s association will continue to be a BBF voting member.
The motion that has been proposed by the BBF board seeks to elect an individual who is specifically tasked to represent the BBF members’ interests in defining and managing the BBF’s relationship with its recognized umpire’s and scorer’s associations. Right now there is little formal definition of what the exact relationship should be between the BBF and either of our recognized associations – i.e. what each party’s specific responsibilities and rights are in relation to one another. The Board strongly believes that electing an individual who is tasked with representing the BBF in the management of both of these relationships is critical to defining stronger and more productive relationships with both associations.
As I have said to both Ray and Darrin on numerous occasions, I am committed to pushing umpire development forward with BSUK and the BBF and have been actively supporting the ABUA-GB plan. I have sought and received agreement for earmarking financial support this year for umpire clinics from BSUK. I have also received support from the BBF board for enforcing the bye-law provision that requires clubs to send representatives to these umpire clinics and also an agreement to push and enforce a strict code of conduct in relation to player and coach interaction with umpires during the regular season.
I see that you have placed a deadline of tomorrow evening at 6pm for a decision. This obviously is a very tight time frame. Unfortunately I have been unable to turn my attention to your letter until now but I will seek fast track a decision with regards to funding support. While I appreciate your urgency on this issue, I am not sure I will be able to meet your deadline of tomorrow evening. However, I will make every effort to push the process along. In support of that, is it possible for us to schedule a call over the weekend so that I can discuss the specific details (costs, schedule, location) of each proposed clinic? This would be invaluable for finalizing any specific support with BSUK. Therefore, given where we are right now, I would kindly ask for a few more days to finalise the situation so that I can talk with ABUA-GB representatives and the staff at BSUK.
Kind regards,
James Pearce
BBF Development Official
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 03 February 2011 9:47 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
Can you please let me know what is going on with the letters to the clubs reference the UDP. We would like our logo to be on any correspondence. I understand that Ray has provided you with the information you requested and that a letter to the clubs is due out today. I would also appriate it if you could inform us of when you will be available for another meeting, as you said you would like to meet this week.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 04 February 2011 4:41 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: UDP
Darrin,
I can be available for another meeting on Sunday any time from 2pm onwards.
Here is an update on what I have done:
1) I have sent through a list to BSUK of the equipment/resources that ABUA-GB is interested in utilising at UDP clinics. John Boyd is checking what they have and what the euqipment/resource availability is on the proposed clinic dates.
2) I have ordered 3 sets of the 'Champ Pro' starter packs from the outlet recommended to me by Ray. I will bring these over with me next weekend for the AGM meeting.
3) John staff is reviewing and compiling possible venues for the southern UDP clinics.
4) I have discussed with the John the logistics around establishing a payment/registration system through BSUK. He is discussing with his operations colleagues and hopefully I will hear back early next week.
5) On a BBF board call last night I briefly explained the proposed payment system for the clinics - £20 per participant and the additional BSUK commitment to sponsor 2 places per team per club. Because we were short on time, I was not able to get a final decision on a penalty fee of £20 for non-attendance but the Board agreed to return to this issue on our next board call which is scheduled for next Thursday evening.
6) I am currently drafting the email to clubs but I am concerned that I do not have all the final pieces in place to finalise this until I can get closure on the penalty fee noted above. Given the time constraints we are under I recommend that we distribute the Club email and individual member 'promo' email in close succession so that we catch up time.
Further to Ray's email on facilities, I am still hoping for more substantial information. I would be grateful if I could be provided the following for each proposed venue:
- Facility Name & Address
- City/Town Name where the facility is
- Rental Cost for the Day
- Facility availability on each of the proposed clinic dates
I will look to finalise this information with BSUK for possible Southern venues. I think it's critical that we have this information no later than Wednesday of next week.
Can I ask one of you to provide me with a draft of what you would like to include in the email 'promo' mailing. Obviously dates and venues can be left blank for now but we need to draft the body of the text. I think you need to describe what the clinic will consist of, why people should do it, or why people might want to be umpires, etc. We need a good up beat sales message that gets people interested. Also, if you have a couple of photos that we could incorporate I think that would help dress it up. As per your request, please forward your logo file as well.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 February 2011 9:49 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development Plan
James,
can you please give us an update on the Email Shout (Ezine). Ray sent all the requested information on Monday as per your request. Also have you had a chance to look into the indicators?
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 14 February 2011 6:37 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
Can you please up date us on where we are with the clinics. Ray has sent you details of 2 confirmed bookings, and we haven't heard anything back from you or BSUK. Also can you up date us on what is happening with the clinics in the South, we need to plan and we can't do this without confirmation. I look forward to any information you can provide.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 14 February 2011 11:17 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: Umpire Development
Darrin,
My apologies for the delay, it has been a busy week for BBF-related work as I am sure you can appreciate.
Here's the information related to venues in the South that I received from BSUK. Please see the email below and the two attachments.
Also..
- At the AGM I provided Ed with the three sets of umpires equipment that I had purchased and brought over with me.
- I ordered the 50 indicators last week but these did not arrive before I left for the UK. I expect those to have arrived at my house today and I can forward those by UPS this week.
Regards,
James
-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Re: Fwd: Umpire Clinic dates / Facilities
Date:
Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:30:15 +0100
From:
Patrick Knock <patrick.knock@bsukmail.com>
To:
john.boyd@bsukmail.com
CC:
'John Mills' <john.mills@bsukmail.com>, Liam Carroll <liam.carroll@bsukmail.com>, Stanley Doney <stanley.doney@bsukmail.com>
Hi John
As discussed attached is a list of venues - this is what has come through so far and a couple more Pro-Actives/CSPs will get back. Second attachment accompanies the document and is sports centres in West London. They actually offer a 20% discount for NGBs - on the basis that NGBs can offer a discounted place on the course being delivered. This might be a good way to get a discount and have an individual upskilled as an umpire. West London is also where we have an FE project and Brunel AU programme so an umpire in this area would be good!
The others are from South East. What is prob best is if you have look at location and cherry pick the best ones, then we can check availability/confirm prices. Any more that come through I'll add to this and send on.
Patrick
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 12:03 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: Umpire Development
James,
Thank you for getting back to me. I appreciate it has been very hectic the past week with the AGM and all. We will get right on booking clinics for the South and up date you as soon as things start happening. I would like to thank you on behalf of the ABUA GB for your support at the BBF AGM at the weekend, it is great to see that the BBF are serious about umpire development. Thanks for the umpire equipment and the indicators, which I see Ray has contacted you with an address to get them to the UK even cheaper.
The ABUA GB Board are meeting this evening on skype around 2000 hours, if there is anything you would like to discuss please feel free to contact us and we will invite you in to our group.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 3:12 PM
To: john.boyd@bsukmail.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Clinic
John,
I have a hold on a venue for an Umpire Training Clinic for Sunday the 10th of April.
The fees for the venue are £16-50 for 4 hours for a class/conference room and £ 36-00 for 4 hours Sporthall w/nets, a total of £210 + Vat = £252
The Venue is Academy Sports Leisure Centre
Northumberland Avenue
Reading
RG2 8DF
0118 937 0270
Is it alright to confirm this booking? They will hold it until Friday for me. If it is alright can I ask them to invoice BSUK? What details do I need to give them.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: John Boyd [mailto:john.boyd@bsukmail.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 6:03 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Umpire Clinic
Darrin
Thanks for checking.
It sounds suitable and appropriate. If they're going to hold until Friday, can I have a bit more time to sort out our systems and budgeting, please? I'd like to sort out the exact details before we incur further costs - and I'm sure we can do much of this in the next couple of days to provide you with the yes or no for the venue.
When will they need payment?
John
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 10:00 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Clinics
James,
Thanks for the quick reply. Fair enough about the facilities in the South, I was just stating how I took the information, thus the reason for the email. We are extremely tight on time, and we don't all appear to be reading from the same hymn sheet.
If you contact Ray and I at 1045 we can have a quick chat.
Thanks
Darrin
-----Original Message-----
From: James Pearce (BBF) <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
To: Darrin Muller <MULLERFAM4@aol.com>
CC: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Sent: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:53
Subject: Re: Clinics
Darrin,
I am in the middle of things at work right now. However, I could to do a call in an hour or so.
However, in response to your question, we had agreed on a previous call that I would get southern facility options through BSUK for you guys. That it is what I have done. I was not under the impression that I, or they, were meant to be specifically booking anything.
I am happy to discuss this further on a quick call. How about 10.45pm your time.
Regards,
James
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: mullerfam4@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:37:08 -0500
To: <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Cc: <Bodron@aol.com>; <delorenzo@talktalk.net>; <geoffhare@btconnect.com>; <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>; <abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com>; <umpire89@aol.co.uk>; <mullerfam4@aol.com>
Subject: Clinics
James,
we need an urgent skype call. After speaking with John Boyd this afternoon it appears the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. We were led to believe that BSUK were booking the Southern Clinics and that all scheduling would be done through BSUK. It appears now that this is not the case. The teams have not even been informed as of yet. Please send us a current list of those that are attending the clinics.
It appears the ABUA GB are doing all the work. This will only work if all 3 organizations work together.
Can you please let us know what the BBF and BSUK are doing to make sure the UDP is a success. We need detailed information please, as time is running out fast.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
-----Original Message-----
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 16 February 2011 1:44 AM
To: Ray Brownlie
Subject: Re: Emailing: ABUA GB GAME MANAGEMENT
Thanks, will get these to BSUK to print and get copies.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: "Ray Brownlie" <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:29:38
To: <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Subject: FW: Emailing: ABUA GB GAME MANAGEMENT
James
These are the documents we need printing for the clinics
We need 30 copies of each document
Ray
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 17 February 2011 8:16 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
I would like to start by asking you to please read this email in the same tone as our recent skype calls, as this is how it is intended.
It is getting very late in the day for the Umpire Development Plan, and the ABUA GB Believe that if we don’t get the venues booked by tomorrow, Friday the 18th of February there will not be time to get everything in place in time, and the UDP will be under threat for the 2011 season.
The ABUA GB has spent hundreds of hours designing and writing a very professional Umpire Development Plan. We have been told by both the BBF and BSUK that it is a great plan and that both organizations would back the plan. However when all is said and done it appears the ABUA GB are the only group that are actually doing anything to ensure the success of the plan. A plan I remind you will not succeed unless all parties play their parts.
If the BBF and BSUK are serious then it is time they step up to the plate. It’s too late to be talking about supporting the plan; the time for action is now.
I would also like to say that in order for this to work all parties need to put the membership first and not let personal opinions destroy a golden opportunity.
I hope we can get the UDP back on line as I truly believe it great plan that will benefit baseball, which we can all agree is the most important thing.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your time.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 20 February 2011 3:30 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
I was hoping that you were going to get back to us this weekend as you suggested on our last call, especially as you were talking with BSUK on Saturday.
I have had a conversation with Geof Ellingham this afternoon, and was surprised that he wasn’t up to date with what is going on concerning the UDP. He wasn’t filled in on the bookings we lost due to them not being confirmed, he actually seemed surprised when I told him.
The first clinic in Bolton is scheduled for 2 weeks time, and the ABUA GB still have not had confirmation that BSUK have dealt with paying for the booking. The ABUA GB have put in a lot of work and this is all going to be for nothing if the BBF and BSUK do not do their part.
I wrote to Geof Ellingham after our earlier telephone conversation asking him that if they were serious about the UDP then they should cut a cheque for £3520 (176 x £20). The ABUA GB will then book all the clinics and ensure they take place, all that will be left for the BBF to do is ensure the clubs are aware when and where the clinics will take place.
I genuinely hope the past 6 months and hundreds of hours invested by the ABUA GB have not been done for nothing. This is a great project that will be a big benefit to the baseball community, but will only work if all 3 parties are serious and do their parts.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 22 February 2011 11:20 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: UDP
Darrin,
My apologies for not responding sooner. I am very frustrated and disappointed as I do not have any definitive news for you, even at this late stage.
I have spent many hours over the last few days discussing the current UDP situation with BSUK and BBF board members and staff. At the heart of the discussions has been the application of various conditions in connection with their support of the clinics. My efforts over these last few days have focused specifically on adjusting these conditions to a point where I feel that we can still have an effective and successful series of clinics prior to the start of the season.
I know this is a somewhat cryptic message but I am not willing to go into the specifics surrounding these conditions right now. I have made a final series of calls today on the subject and will communicate the final outcome tomorrow to you once I have heard back.
Irrespective of the outcome, I feel we will need to review the current proposed clinic schedule to see what we think is still realistic given the timing we are faced with, and in light of whatever finalised conditions we are presented with.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 24 February 2011 8:18 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Cc: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com; john.boyd@bsukmail.com
Subject: Re: Umpire Instructional Clinics
James,
Please read this email in the same tone as our previous skype calls as it is intended.
To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. The BBF and BSUK have both been very unprofessional from the very beginning. You were presented a very professional document back in October 2010 and it has taken you until 9 days prior to the first scheduled clinic to reply, and to reply in the manner you have and with conditions that are totally unacceptable.
However the ABUA GB is an organization that is run by a democratically elected board and it's members, so I will arrange an emergency meeting of the executive board to discuss the issues and the ultimatums handed down by BSUK and then we will get back to you.
Today is a black day for British Baseball, when people’s personal opinions and agendas take priority over what is right.
I would also like to point out that the actions taken by the BBF have shown that they have already decide that both myself and Ray Brownlie are guilty of offences and that this decision has been reached before all avenues provided under the BBF Constitution and Codes of Conduct have been exhausted.
Regards
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 24 February 2011 8:49 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
Thank you for the Skype call this evening. I am sorry that the Umpire Development has failed, but even more for the reason it failed. This was a professional program and should have been treated as one, and people’s personal opinions should have been left at home. The ABUA GB will provide a formal response in the next couple of days.
As per our conversation I ask that you instruct Dan Lally to send the ABUA GB Treasurer, Geof Hare, a cheque for £1000 as agreed by the BBF Membership, so the ABUA GB can arrange some clinics before the start of the season.
I also attach a proforma for £409-15 for badges purchased by the ABUA GB for the Clinics. I kindly ask that these be paid to the ABUA GB as we have already paid the bill.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
Ref: Umpire Development Plan (UDP)
27th February, 2011
Dear James,
We are writing to inform you that the ABUA GB Executive Board held a meeting, via a Skype Call, on Thursday the 24th of February to discuss your email in reference to the conditions imposed by BSUK concerning the funding of the Umpire Development Plan.
We would like to start by saying that the ABUA GB spent over 400 man hours on an Umpire Development Plan that would have been hugely beneficial to the British Baseball Federation, with no direct cost implications to the BBF.
The UDP was presented to you in October 2010, to ensure that ample preparation time was available to implement the plan in a timely fashion for the commencement of 2011 season. After consultation with you, the ABUA GB made the recommended changes to improve the plan and make it more acceptable to the BBF. The plan was then approved by the BBF Board and presented to BSUK for funding.
You wrote to us informing the ABUA GB that BSUK were going to back the plan. Upon receiving your notification the ABUA GB spent time and money arranging clinics to ensure the UDP got off to a successful start. We were instructed to send invoices to BSUK for payment for the clinic venues, we were also asked by BSUK Co-Chair John Boyd to clear all clinics through him prior to final booking. When we forwarded the relevant information, Mr Boyd promised to look into the matter on several occasions and agree the clinic venues and funding, but failed to do so. Due to his lack of commitment to the project the venues were no longer available. This is due to BSUK failing at the outset to hold up their end of the agreement.
When the clinic venues were no longer available we wrote to you explaining our concerns regarding the clinics actually being able to take place due to BSUK not holding up it’s end of the agreement. We also expressed our concerns with your failure to notify the BBF clubs that they would be required to send 2 members from each team to attend the clinic. In fact, the ABUA GB was the only group of the three that was actually doing anything positive to move the UDP forward.
Your email of the 24th February, with ultimatums from BSUK that you were fully aware, was unacceptable to the ABUA GB, but we believe this was only done as an excuse for BSUK to pull out of the agreement to provide funding for Umpire Development. This isn’t the first occasion that BSUK have promised funding for Umpire Development only for them to pull out at the last minute when they were actually expected to provide monies. As disappointing as this is, it really comes as no surprise to the ABUA GB, but the fact that they waited until 9 days before the first clinic was due is extremely insulting.
The worst part of this saga is that, once again, the BBF and BSUK have allowed personal opinions towards individuals take priority over what is actually in the best interest for the sport of baseball. I am led to believe that BSUK are a development agency jointly owned by the BBF and the BSF, but it appears that once again BSUK have dictated to the BBF how the development monies will be spent.
BSUK have been provided monies from Sport England and in return BSUK must deliver 7,000 new members over a 4 year period. How will the BBF and BSUK achieve on delivering 7,000 new members with out developing suitably trained and qualified officials? This is a complete mystery.
The ABUA GB Executive Board has voted unanimously to not accept the ultimatums laid out by BSUK in return for funding for the UDP. The ABUA GB has survived for many years with no support from BSUK and we will continue to do so in the future. This is not an ideal situation, but it is one we are used to, and as such will endeavour to address ourselves.
The ABUA GB is an Independent Service Provider who provides a very professional service to several different Baseball Organizations and Federations across the UK and Europe. The ABUA GB Instructors are professionally trained to a very high standard, many of whom are recruited to umpire prestigious tournaments across the globe. It is the ABUA GB who will decide which Instructors will teach at its clinics, and it is extremely unprofessional for BSUK to deny development funding based solely on who is delivering the clinics. It should be expected that BSUK is capable of acting in both a professional and business like manner
The ABUA GB will make every effort to offer some type of Umpire Training Clinics to those individuals prior to the 2011 season, but will unfortunately this will be limited due to time and financial constraints. It is a very regrettable situation that we find ourselves in but our organisation will continue to provide a professional approach and assist in maintaining the highest standards achievable.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 06 March 2011 8:38 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Development Funding
James,
Could you please let me know what the status of the £1000 development funding is. During our last conversation you said you would ask Dan Lally to arrange the monies be sent to our Treasurer, Geoff Hare. We have started arranging clinics, so the funding is needed to ensure we can pay our bills.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 09 March 2011 6:21 PM
To: daniel.lally@britishbaseball.org; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
Dan,
I spoke with James Pearce a few weeks ago and he said he was going to speak with you and ask for you to forward the Umpire Development monies to the ABUA GB. I would appreciate it if you could forward these monies to our Treasurer Geoff Hare as the ABUA GB really need it to pay for the clinics we have arranged.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 March 2011 9:51 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; daniel.lally@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Development Funding
James / Dan,
I am writing again reference the Umpire Development Funding for 2011. I appreciate you both have full time jobs and are very busy, but i would appreciate it if one of you can confirm you have received my emails and that you are making the neccessary arrangements to get the cheque to our Treasurer Geoff Hare. We are doing our first clinic tomorrow, so an urgent reply would be appreciated.
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: Darrin Muller [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 13 March 2011 2:43 PM
To: Daniel Lally
Cc: <board2011@britishbaseball.org>
Subject: Re: Development Funding
Dan,
Thank you for getting back to me. The ABUA GB did not back out of the Umpire Development Programme and to say so is not truthful in the least. The ABUA GB have acted professionally through the whole process which is more than can be said for the BBF or BSUK, and I would suggest that the BBF gets it's facts straight before putting them in print as you have in this email.
The ABUA GB wrote the Umpire Development Plan and presented it to the BBF, who approved it and then sent it to BSUK for support. BSUK refused to support the plan unless certain conditions were met. The ABUA GB could not accept the conditions BSUK insisted in, so in short the Umpire Development Plan was never agreed. The ABUA GB have never backed out of providing Umpire Development, nor have they refused to do so, we simply refused the conditions imposed by BSUK. We also came to an agreement with James Pearce that we would provide training with the monies from the membership, so that some training would take place prior to the season, as was confirmed in an email to James on 24 February.
At the BBF AGM the Membership recognised the ABUA GB as the officially recognised Umpire Organization. The BBF membership also agreed to £1000 for Umpire Development. the ABUA GB has always said the will provide Umpire Development regardless of the BBF or BSUk agreeing to the Umpire Development Plan.
I agree there should be some sort of agreement between the 2 organisations and the BBF should have some say in what they require in the way of Umpire Development, but the BBF or BSUK should not have a right to dictate who can teach these courses. The ABUA GB have always provided a professional service and decision like this is only bad for the sport. I would also like to add that James Pearce had promised that the Umpire Development funding agreed upon by the membership would be given to the ABUA GB so that training courses could be arranged.
The ABUA GB assisted Bristol Baseball Club in an Umpire Development Course yesterday and we will be at Menwith Hill on the 10th of April teaching another course. We are also in the process of confirming at least 1 other clinic prior to the new season, regardless of any support from the BBF or BSUK.
I am glad to see that the BBF have once again got their priorities straight. Once again the BBF have proved that BSUK and personal agenda's out weigh the needs of the membership.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
Sent from my iPad
On 13 Mar 2011, at 13:53, Daniel Lally <lally_daniel@hotmail.com> wrote:
Darrin,
Apologies for the delay. I needed to discuss this with the rest of the board to clarify the situation. ABUA-GB has removed itself from the Umpire Development Programme so we need to identify other tutors who can deliver the programme. The funding needs to be used for that purpose. This means that any clinics ABUA-GB decide to run are at their own financial risk. The board agreed to reimburse ABUA-GB for the badges you had purchased. In future, the two organisations need to set up a proper contractual arrangement. If the BBF is paying a supplier to deliver services, they need to be delivered under the conditions set out by the BBF.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 13 March 2011 3:37 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
I am writing reference Dan's earlier email reference the BBF's refusal
to give umpire development funding to the ABUA GB.
Ray and I spoke with you after the ABUA GB Board meeting, where the
ABUA GB decided they could not accept the terms laid down by BSUK.
There were 2 things that were agreed in this meeting, firstly the ABUA
GB would receive the funding that was agreed by the BBF Membership,
which the BBF Board have now said will not happen. Secondly, you
promised that the ABUA GB would not be blamed for The failure of the
Umpire Development Plan not succeeding, but now the BBF are putting in
print that the ABUA GB pulled out of the Umpire Development Plan, which
you know is not the truth.
The plan failed at the last hurdle, regardless of the reasons, and the
ABUA GB made it clear at the time that they would provide umpire
clinics with the monies you promised would be forth coming from the
BBF, as it was approved by the membership.
The situation has Gotten completely out of hand! And it is really time
for the BBF and BSUK to grow up and start putting the membership first,
they are the ones that voted the board into place and are providing the
funding.
The ABUA GB has always provided a professional service and the BBF and
BSUK need to take their personal agenda out of the equation. You are
the Development Officer, so it is your responsibility to ensure this
takes place, and we would expect you to honour your word and provide
the funding you promised. Clinics have been arranged on your promises
and the ABUA GB, have started delivering these clinics. We were at
Bristol yesterday and we will be at Menwith Hill on the 10th of April.
We have a couple others in the pipeline that we hope to confirm in the
next few days.
The ABUA GB will deliver this clinics regardless of the BBF or BSUK as
we have always honoured any commitment we make, and we believe the
membership deserve a lot more than the BBF have delivered.
The ABUA GB have very qualified trainers that are here in the UK and
are ready to deliver a very professional plan, so can you tell me does
it make sence to bring in out side help at a greater cost just because
someone doesn't like someone else, surely the money can be better spent.
This is about the membership and not about individuals, and until such
time as everyone grows up and stop believing they are more important
than they are, nothing will ever get done and the membership will
continue
I am available to discuss these issues at your convenience, so please
feel free to contact me. I would also ask that you instruct the BBF
Board from putting further lies in printing when it comes to the ABUA
GB pulling out of the Umpire Development Programme, because we all know
the ABUA GB were the only group of the 3 that acted professionally and
put the membership before it's own personal agenda.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 16 March 2011 1:10 PM
To: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; board2011@britishbaseball.org; brownlie_37@abuagb.com
Subject: Re: Communications
Mr Salter,
There are alot of emails flying around from all different directions and it appears this is causing some confusion, on all sides, and I do not believe that all the emails are being read in the true meaning of how they are intended. Can I suggest that to start you and I have a call between the 2 of us, to discuss the current state of affairs between the BBF and the ABUA GB. Both organizations have worked closely together for many years and there is no reason we can't continue down this path. I will make myself available to speak with you via skype at your convenience, so if you would like to take this call can you please let me know a couple of times that would suit you and then I can get back to you, and we can make this happen. If you do not wish to talk then please let me know and we will leave it at that. This is just the head of one organization talking to the head of another. I would also like to suggest that each group designate 1 person to feed information through, as we are receiving conflicting information from different people. This is not meant as a dig at anyone, I just want to make sure that we get clear and precise information between the 2 groups.
This is a trying time for all sides and I hope that we can not let personal opinions from all sides reflect what is important, and that is the BBF Membership. As both Boards are copied into this email I ask all ABUA GB Board members not to contact the BBF Board until such time as Mr Salter and myself have had a chance to speak. I kindly ask that you request the same from your board solely for the purpose of getting things back on track.
I look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
This email is written in a true attempt to get both the ABUA GB and BBF Boards talking and in no way is meant as a dig at any person or organization and I hope it is taken in this manner.
-----Original Message-----
From: Darrin Muller [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 27 March 2011 9:44 PM
To: bodron@aol.com; geoffhare@btconnect.com; talk talk; Sandra Brownlie; Ray Brownlie
Subject: BBF
All,
I have had talks with the BBF President this evening concerning Umpire Development and other issues concerning the two organisations. To ensure we keep things on the right track I ask everyone to send anything concerning the BBF to me and I will work directly with the BBF. The BBF President Mark Salter will act in the same role for the BBF. If you receive emails from any member of the BBF can you please let me know, and I will deal directly with Mr Salter. We can discuss all at our next meeting which I believe is Monday the 4th.
Regards,
Darrin
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 21 October 2010 4:03 AM
To: Ray Brownlie
Cc: <mullerfam4@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Emailing: MECHANICS ABUAGB RB
Guys,
Thanks for the meeting on Monday, i thought it was a good and productive call. As i said when we chatted, i think you've put together a good foundational document for umpire development.
I have to apologise for taking so long to follow up but i've been slammed at work. Our postseason is a very busy time. Anyway, i wanted to type up my follow-up suggestions from the meeting but i've managed to leave my notes in the office. So, i'll type something up first thing in the morning and get it off to you guys. Sorry for the delay.
James
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 21 October 2010 5:28 PM
To: Ray Brownlie
Cc: mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: RE: Umpire Development - Targets
Darrin/Ray,
Further to our call, here are a few things that I think we should look to include in the umpire development plan.
1) Umpire Service Levels.
Determine ‘umpire service level’ targets for 2011, 2012 and 2013. I have put together a chart and attached it for your review but it’s my first thoughts on how we might present and format the targets for your plan. I’ve also included some examples of what the targets could be…but these are very much up for discussion and are meant as a starting point only. I’m looking to you guys to determine where you think these should be, and what you think we can achieve moving forward.
2) Umpire training targets
Based on the target service levels (and the number of games played each week), we’ll need to determine how many umpires we need to recruit and train at each level. The second table that I’ve drawn up in the attached document is meant to lay out these targets. In turn, these target numbers will drive how many clinics you think we need to schedule and operate to meet the umpire numbers we want to reach.
3) Umpire Instructional clinics.
You have a lot of good material you have put together. I would recommend adding to it by drawing up some additional documents:
- 1-day clinic schedule (1 page outlining the day’s timing & content)
- 2-day clinic schedule (1 page outlining the day’s timing & content)
- If the clinic schedule & content is different for different certification levels, I would develop a separate 1-pager for each certification course.
- Finally, I would draw up a tentative clinic schedule for the spring of 2011. How many clinics do we need, when and where would they be scheduled, and how many participants are we looking to attend each clinic. Once we have those numbers we need to activate a recruitment and communications plan to ensure we get the participants to the clinics.
4) Recruitment.
Finding new people is obviously not going to be easy. So, I think we need to develop up a strong recruitment and communications strategy for attracting new ABUA-GB umpires and ensuring that Clubs send their own participants to get trained.
- I suggest you guys draw up a list of ideas, I can do the same, and we can make this a focus of another meeting. From that we can define a clear strategy and a list of actions we can follow up on.
- One thing that we all already agree on is that we need to work with the Board to ensure that the existing bye-laws around training and providing Club umpires is enforced. In fact I would suggest, for the first year only, that we bump up the requirement to two people per team (as opposed to one) so we can really get a head start in building a good trainee base in 2011. Combined with that, we discussed trying to implement some kind of discount or penalty system tied into Club affiliation fees so that there are incentives for Clubs to adherence to the club umpire policy.
I liked a lot of the ideas you talked about regarding protecting umpires on game days (e.g. different coloured shirts for trainees) and enforcing stiffer discipline on participants for poor conduct/respect at games. I’d like to see you draw up a more defined list of recommendations that we can act upon for 2011.
6) Programme Budget.
Can you provide a detailed budget breakdown for the umpire activities? I would suggest that this is divided between fixed costs (development of instructional materials, equipment purchase, recruitment marketing, etc.) and per clinic costs (e.g. facility rental, equipment rental, instructor fees, instructor travel, etc.).
7) Next meeting.
It’s going to be difficult for me to schedule another meeting next week, so perhaps we can look for a date during the week of November 1st (although I might be on the road on Monday/Tuesday). Anyway, let me know your availability and we’ll try and lock something in.
My best,
James
-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Brownlie [mailto:raybrownlie@btinternet.com]
Sent: 21 October 2010 5:11 PM
To: 'James Pearce (BBF)'
Cc: '<mullerfam4@aol.com>'
Subject: RE: Emailing: MECHANICS ABUAGB RB
Hi James,
I have started on the documents you requested and just to show you the potential I looked at the total number of adult and youth baseball teams including Clubs with more than one adult and youth set up The 2009 voting Members consisted of 45 Adult and 30 Youth Members If the BBF enforced the bye-laws and made each voting team send 2 players or volunteers each , it would give us a 150 people starting point to work with.
Over three years would give us 450 level 1 umpires.
Every team in the federation has new players staring every year, most clubs do not have the time to teach all the rules and this is where we could recruit our umpires pool from because they all will not become players either.
I look forward to getting the requested documents to you after I have received your list.
Regards
Ray
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 04 November 2010 3:37 PM
To: James.Pearce@mlb.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Meeting
James,
Thank you. I will speak with you on Tuesday
Darrin
-----Original Message-----
From: Pearce, James <James.Pearce@mlb.com>
To: 'mullerfam4@aol.com' <mullerfam4@aol.com>; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 4, 2010 3:34 pm
Subject: RE: Meeting
Darrin/Ray,
Sorry for the delay, I’ve been traveling in Asia and only just returned back to my office. I think that Tue, Nov 9th would be best for me. 8pm is fine. Thanks for the revised documents and notes you have sent through. I haven’t had a chance to review them yet, but will look through them on the weekend.
James
James,
I want to thank you for taking the time to go over the Umpire Development Plan with Ray and myself last night. I feel we have prepared a very good document and appreciate the help you have provided.
The ABUA GB have spent a lot of time preparing this document and believe that after a final edit it will be ready for presentation to BSUK. Ray has provide you with a copy of the plan in “Word” form to allow you to make any recommendations, which will be implemented prior to the final edit. We hope for the final edit to be done within the next week.
You made a comment last evening that BSUK had reservations about working with Ray and myself. I would like to point out that this plan is about Umpire Development and not about BSUK or any person.
We have prepared a very professional document to improve baseball umpire development. We have then presented the document to you in your role as the BBF Development Officer. It is your responsibility to take this to BSUK for the proper development funding that it deserves. You were elected by the BBF Membership to improve baseball development and it is your responsibility to ensure this happens. You need to ensure that baseball development is the top priority and not individuals. What the individuals at BSUK feel about Ray and myself should not even be a consideration, neither should how Ray and I feel about the individuals at BSUK.
This is a professional document for a good cause and should be treated for it’s merits and nothing else.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 23 November 2010 4:09 AM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: RE: Umpire Development
Guys,
I’m haven’t found the document that Ray emailed through very easy to work with. So, rather than delay this further, I am going to forward the document as it is to the Board this week as you requested and outline a number of action points for them.
As discussed, I am going to push for the following:
- Board approval to enforce the pre-existing bye-laws regarding club provision of umpires.
- Board approval and adoption of the umpire service level goals and certification targets that we have discussed
- BSUK support for umpire clinics as per our discussed clinic schedule
Also, I will engage both the board and BSUK on ideas regarding umpire recruitment. Of course, if you guys have any ideas I would be interested to hear them as effective recruitment is going to be critical if we are to grow the umpire ranks in a meaningful way.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 5:58 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
We are still waiting for the edits of the Umpire Development Plan that you promised. We would appreciate it if you could please send forthwith.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 December 2010 10:11 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
Is there any update on the Umpire Development Program that you were going to present to the BBF Board and BSUK.
Regards
Darrin Muller
ABUA-GB Umpire Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 20 December 2010 1:58 PM
To: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; mark.mullins@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: CEB
Mr President,
again I ask if you could please let me know what is going on with CEB for the 2011 season, as in relation to the BBF and National Teams. I have explained on numerous occassions the reasons for needing this information.
If you have no intention of answering my question then please just respond telling me this and I will not bother you any further.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA-GB Commissioner
BBF Officials Rep.
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 20 December 2010 10:27 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Development
Darrin,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been trying to get a lot done at work and personally over the last ten days.
To update you, I have presented your plan verbally (and provided an electronic copy) to the BBF Board and discussed BSUK's support of the Umpire clinics with John Boyd and Geof Ellingham.
While I have not received back any formal feedback from any of the Board members by email, it was received positively during our last board meeting. They were in favour of looking to enforce the Club requirement to send attendees and also were open to the idea of pushing for at least 2 people instead of just 1 as per the bye-laws.
BSUK has agreed to fund actual incurred expenses in 2011 in relation to the clinics but we are still going to need to nail down exactly what these will be. Justifiably they have also requested that their support of the clinics be clearly communicated to participants at the sessions and on related materials.
As a general principle, which is usually employed by BSUK and pushed by Sport England across all sports, they typically require participants to pay a fee for attending a development course. This is to ensure sustainability of training courses and it also places a value on the course itself especially if the individual is receiving certification. However, for next year I have strongly requested that they waive this requirement as it will obviously only limit the numbers of people that will attend. But this will be reviewed ahead of 2012.
So, in moving forward, can you send through your proposed dates/locations for the clinics and who will be involved on the instruction side of things for each one? Also, if you have materials you wish to distribute to each participant that you would like copied and prepared for each session, we should get a master copy to BSUK as soon as you have something available.
Regards,
James
From: Geof Ellingham [mailto:geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com]
Sent: 20 January 2011 11:09 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: john.boyd@bsukmail.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: RE: Development
Darrin
I’m pleased to say that I have now received a copy of the UDP, and BSUK’s Development Strategy Committee will be reviewing it in detail next week, and will I’m sure feedback any comments we have.
I would like to make it clear that what I said to you (on what I understood to be a private phone conversation between us) was that some of my colleagues on the BSUK Board had concerns about you and Ray teaching the courses, and that I shared those concerns. The BSUK Board as a body has not considered the question, nor taken any decision on it.
Regards
Geof
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 27 January 2011 7:15 PM
To: Sandra Brownlie
Cc: geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com; jenny.fromer@bsukmail.com; john.boyd@bsukmail.com; geoffhare@btconnect.com; Bodron@aol.com; darrin muller; delorenzo@talktalk.net; board2010@britishbaseball.org; brownlie_37@abuagb.com
Subject: Re: Emailing: ABUA GB Sec BBF BSUK Letter Jan 26 2011
Dear Sandra,
Thank you for your email.
There was a BSUK Development Strategy Committee on Tuesday where the UDP was discussed further. Due to unexpected work commitments, I was unable to participate in this meeting but I hope to follow up with John Boyd to discuss updates as it pertains to BSUK’s support of the ABUA-GB’s proposed development initiatives.
In response to a few of your questions and comments in your letter I have put down a few notes below:
1) Distribution of UDP plan
Contrary to what you state in your letter, the ABUA-GB development plan was distributed to the BBF Board at the beginning of December for their review and has been discussed at least two different meetings. As for distribution to BSUK, you are correct that this was not done until recently and was a poor oversight on my behalf. However, while that it is the case, the content of the document has been thoroughly discussed at length with BSUK staff and representatives for a couple months now.
2) Proposed Clinics
I am encouraged to see that you have set some initial dates for clinics, however, I noticed that seven are currently scheduled which is two more than I had previously discussed with Ray and Darrin. In terms of seeking financial support I have only discussed the operation of five clinics to this date with BSUK or the BBF board. Nevertheless, if seven can be successfully operated, attended and supported then that can obviously only be a positive thing for the baseball community.
It would be extremely helpful if you could provide the proposed locations (cities/towns and the proposed facilities) for each of these clinics so that we can see how they will be able to geographically cover BBF members from clubs across the country.
(On a side note, I know that the club in Bristol is keen to host something for their club in their area but that ABUA-GB are concerned about the number of likely participants. As a result, it would be good to know whether one of the proposed clinics will be close enough for their members to attend without traveling too great a distance.)
Further, it would be helpful to know who your proposed clinicians are for each clinic. As you note in your letter there are very strong concerns and reservations from within BSUK and the BBF over supporting Ray and Darrin in the role of a clinician. Given their prior conduct and behavior towards BSUK and its staff, I can thoroughly appreciate their reluctance to support these two individuals directly. Unfortunately, I think Ray and Darrin need to realize that their negative behavior does have, and will have, consequences that they do not like.
3) Funding for three years
While I understand that the UDP calls for a funding commitment of three years, it is not an uncommon situation for a funder to wish to evaluate the execution and success of the initial year’s activities before committing to further support. I believe we have ample time to conduct such an evaluation without it impacting on year 2 or 3 activities if the clinics are deemed to be a success and are achieving the objectives of developing umpires within British baseball over the long term.
What are obviously critical to the overall plan are the continued involvement, education, supervision and evaluation of individuals who participate in the umpire development clinics. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways in which this can be achieved during the 2011 season and beyond.
I also would like to make note of the fact that these clinics are an ideal opportunity for ABUA-GB to recruit many new umpires to the ranks of its own organization. Something that is quite clearly of great benefit to the ABUA-GB organisation.
4) Board Motion, recognition of ABUA-GB
You have written with concern over the Board proposed motion regarding the Umpire representative on the BBF Board. One of your specific concerns is that if this motion is approved by the membership, and a new Technical Commissioner replaces the existing Umpire Commissioner position, then your ABUA-GB members will cease to be members of the BBF. According to the current constitution (section 4.8), I do not believe that this is the case. As long as the BBF continues to recognize ABUA-GB as its official umpiring association then, through this recognition, its members will continue to be considered members of the BBF. Further, the recognized umpire’s association will continue to be a BBF voting member.
The motion that has been proposed by the BBF board seeks to elect an individual who is specifically tasked to represent the BBF members’ interests in defining and managing the BBF’s relationship with its recognized umpire’s and scorer’s associations. Right now there is little formal definition of what the exact relationship should be between the BBF and either of our recognized associations – i.e. what each party’s specific responsibilities and rights are in relation to one another. The Board strongly believes that electing an individual who is tasked with representing the BBF in the management of both of these relationships is critical to defining stronger and more productive relationships with both associations.
As I have said to both Ray and Darrin on numerous occasions, I am committed to pushing umpire development forward with BSUK and the BBF and have been actively supporting the ABUA-GB plan. I have sought and received agreement for earmarking financial support this year for umpire clinics from BSUK. I have also received support from the BBF board for enforcing the bye-law provision that requires clubs to send representatives to these umpire clinics and also an agreement to push and enforce a strict code of conduct in relation to player and coach interaction with umpires during the regular season.
I see that you have placed a deadline of tomorrow evening at 6pm for a decision. This obviously is a very tight time frame. Unfortunately I have been unable to turn my attention to your letter until now but I will seek fast track a decision with regards to funding support. While I appreciate your urgency on this issue, I am not sure I will be able to meet your deadline of tomorrow evening. However, I will make every effort to push the process along. In support of that, is it possible for us to schedule a call over the weekend so that I can discuss the specific details (costs, schedule, location) of each proposed clinic? This would be invaluable for finalizing any specific support with BSUK. Therefore, given where we are right now, I would kindly ask for a few more days to finalise the situation so that I can talk with ABUA-GB representatives and the staff at BSUK.
Kind regards,
James Pearce
BBF Development Official
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 03 February 2011 9:47 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
Can you please let me know what is going on with the letters to the clubs reference the UDP. We would like our logo to be on any correspondence. I understand that Ray has provided you with the information you requested and that a letter to the clubs is due out today. I would also appriate it if you could inform us of when you will be available for another meeting, as you said you would like to meet this week.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 04 February 2011 4:41 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: UDP
Darrin,
I can be available for another meeting on Sunday any time from 2pm onwards.
Here is an update on what I have done:
1) I have sent through a list to BSUK of the equipment/resources that ABUA-GB is interested in utilising at UDP clinics. John Boyd is checking what they have and what the euqipment/resource availability is on the proposed clinic dates.
2) I have ordered 3 sets of the 'Champ Pro' starter packs from the outlet recommended to me by Ray. I will bring these over with me next weekend for the AGM meeting.
3) John staff is reviewing and compiling possible venues for the southern UDP clinics.
4) I have discussed with the John the logistics around establishing a payment/registration system through BSUK. He is discussing with his operations colleagues and hopefully I will hear back early next week.
5) On a BBF board call last night I briefly explained the proposed payment system for the clinics - £20 per participant and the additional BSUK commitment to sponsor 2 places per team per club. Because we were short on time, I was not able to get a final decision on a penalty fee of £20 for non-attendance but the Board agreed to return to this issue on our next board call which is scheduled for next Thursday evening.
6) I am currently drafting the email to clubs but I am concerned that I do not have all the final pieces in place to finalise this until I can get closure on the penalty fee noted above. Given the time constraints we are under I recommend that we distribute the Club email and individual member 'promo' email in close succession so that we catch up time.
Further to Ray's email on facilities, I am still hoping for more substantial information. I would be grateful if I could be provided the following for each proposed venue:
- Facility Name & Address
- City/Town Name where the facility is
- Rental Cost for the Day
- Facility availability on each of the proposed clinic dates
I will look to finalise this information with BSUK for possible Southern venues. I think it's critical that we have this information no later than Wednesday of next week.
Can I ask one of you to provide me with a draft of what you would like to include in the email 'promo' mailing. Obviously dates and venues can be left blank for now but we need to draft the body of the text. I think you need to describe what the clinic will consist of, why people should do it, or why people might want to be umpires, etc. We need a good up beat sales message that gets people interested. Also, if you have a couple of photos that we could incorporate I think that would help dress it up. As per your request, please forward your logo file as well.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 February 2011 9:49 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development Plan
James,
can you please give us an update on the Email Shout (Ezine). Ray sent all the requested information on Monday as per your request. Also have you had a chance to look into the indicators?
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 14 February 2011 6:37 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
Can you please up date us on where we are with the clinics. Ray has sent you details of 2 confirmed bookings, and we haven't heard anything back from you or BSUK. Also can you up date us on what is happening with the clinics in the South, we need to plan and we can't do this without confirmation. I look forward to any information you can provide.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 14 February 2011 11:17 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: Umpire Development
Darrin,
My apologies for the delay, it has been a busy week for BBF-related work as I am sure you can appreciate.
Here's the information related to venues in the South that I received from BSUK. Please see the email below and the two attachments.
Also..
- At the AGM I provided Ed with the three sets of umpires equipment that I had purchased and brought over with me.
- I ordered the 50 indicators last week but these did not arrive before I left for the UK. I expect those to have arrived at my house today and I can forward those by UPS this week.
Regards,
James
-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
Re: Fwd: Umpire Clinic dates / Facilities
Date:
Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:30:15 +0100
From:
Patrick Knock <patrick.knock@bsukmail.com>
To:
john.boyd@bsukmail.com
CC:
'John Mills' <john.mills@bsukmail.com>, Liam Carroll <liam.carroll@bsukmail.com>, Stanley Doney <stanley.doney@bsukmail.com>
Hi John
As discussed attached is a list of venues - this is what has come through so far and a couple more Pro-Actives/CSPs will get back. Second attachment accompanies the document and is sports centres in West London. They actually offer a 20% discount for NGBs - on the basis that NGBs can offer a discounted place on the course being delivered. This might be a good way to get a discount and have an individual upskilled as an umpire. West London is also where we have an FE project and Brunel AU programme so an umpire in this area would be good!
The others are from South East. What is prob best is if you have look at location and cherry pick the best ones, then we can check availability/confirm prices. Any more that come through I'll add to this and send on.
Patrick
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 12:03 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: Umpire Development
James,
Thank you for getting back to me. I appreciate it has been very hectic the past week with the AGM and all. We will get right on booking clinics for the South and up date you as soon as things start happening. I would like to thank you on behalf of the ABUA GB for your support at the BBF AGM at the weekend, it is great to see that the BBF are serious about umpire development. Thanks for the umpire equipment and the indicators, which I see Ray has contacted you with an address to get them to the UK even cheaper.
The ABUA GB Board are meeting this evening on skype around 2000 hours, if there is anything you would like to discuss please feel free to contact us and we will invite you in to our group.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 3:12 PM
To: john.boyd@bsukmail.com; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Umpire Clinic
John,
I have a hold on a venue for an Umpire Training Clinic for Sunday the 10th of April.
The fees for the venue are £16-50 for 4 hours for a class/conference room and £ 36-00 for 4 hours Sporthall w/nets, a total of £210 + Vat = £252
The Venue is Academy Sports Leisure Centre
Northumberland Avenue
Reading
RG2 8DF
0118 937 0270
Is it alright to confirm this booking? They will hold it until Friday for me. If it is alright can I ask them to invoice BSUK? What details do I need to give them.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: John Boyd [mailto:john.boyd@bsukmail.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 6:03 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Umpire Clinic
Darrin
Thanks for checking.
It sounds suitable and appropriate. If they're going to hold until Friday, can I have a bit more time to sort out our systems and budgeting, please? I'd like to sort out the exact details before we incur further costs - and I'm sure we can do much of this in the next couple of days to provide you with the yes or no for the venue.
When will they need payment?
John
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 15 February 2011 10:00 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; raybrownlie@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: Clinics
James,
Thanks for the quick reply. Fair enough about the facilities in the South, I was just stating how I took the information, thus the reason for the email. We are extremely tight on time, and we don't all appear to be reading from the same hymn sheet.
If you contact Ray and I at 1045 we can have a quick chat.
Thanks
Darrin
-----Original Message-----
From: James Pearce (BBF) <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
To: Darrin Muller <MULLERFAM4@aol.com>
CC: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Sent: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:53
Subject: Re: Clinics
Darrin,
I am in the middle of things at work right now. However, I could to do a call in an hour or so.
However, in response to your question, we had agreed on a previous call that I would get southern facility options through BSUK for you guys. That it is what I have done. I was not under the impression that I, or they, were meant to be specifically booking anything.
I am happy to discuss this further on a quick call. How about 10.45pm your time.
Regards,
James
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: mullerfam4@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:37:08 -0500
To: <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Cc: <Bodron@aol.com>; <delorenzo@talktalk.net>; <geoffhare@btconnect.com>; <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>; <abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com>; <umpire89@aol.co.uk>; <mullerfam4@aol.com>
Subject: Clinics
James,
we need an urgent skype call. After speaking with John Boyd this afternoon it appears the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. We were led to believe that BSUK were booking the Southern Clinics and that all scheduling would be done through BSUK. It appears now that this is not the case. The teams have not even been informed as of yet. Please send us a current list of those that are attending the clinics.
It appears the ABUA GB are doing all the work. This will only work if all 3 organizations work together.
Can you please let us know what the BBF and BSUK are doing to make sure the UDP is a success. We need detailed information please, as time is running out fast.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
-----Original Message-----
From: James Pearce (BBF) [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 16 February 2011 1:44 AM
To: Ray Brownlie
Subject: Re: Emailing: ABUA GB GAME MANAGEMENT
Thanks, will get these to BSUK to print and get copies.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: "Ray Brownlie" <raybrownlie@btinternet.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:29:38
To: <james.pearce@britishbaseball.org>
Subject: FW: Emailing: ABUA GB GAME MANAGEMENT
James
These are the documents we need printing for the clinics
We need 30 copies of each document
Ray
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 17 February 2011 8:16 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
I would like to start by asking you to please read this email in the same tone as our recent skype calls, as this is how it is intended.
It is getting very late in the day for the Umpire Development Plan, and the ABUA GB Believe that if we don’t get the venues booked by tomorrow, Friday the 18th of February there will not be time to get everything in place in time, and the UDP will be under threat for the 2011 season.
The ABUA GB has spent hundreds of hours designing and writing a very professional Umpire Development Plan. We have been told by both the BBF and BSUK that it is a great plan and that both organizations would back the plan. However when all is said and done it appears the ABUA GB are the only group that are actually doing anything to ensure the success of the plan. A plan I remind you will not succeed unless all parties play their parts.
If the BBF and BSUK are serious then it is time they step up to the plate. It’s too late to be talking about supporting the plan; the time for action is now.
I would also like to say that in order for this to work all parties need to put the membership first and not let personal opinions destroy a golden opportunity.
I hope we can get the UDP back on line as I truly believe it great plan that will benefit baseball, which we can all agree is the most important thing.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your time.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 20 February 2011 3:30 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
I was hoping that you were going to get back to us this weekend as you suggested on our last call, especially as you were talking with BSUK on Saturday.
I have had a conversation with Geof Ellingham this afternoon, and was surprised that he wasn’t up to date with what is going on concerning the UDP. He wasn’t filled in on the bookings we lost due to them not being confirmed, he actually seemed surprised when I told him.
The first clinic in Bolton is scheduled for 2 weeks time, and the ABUA GB still have not had confirmation that BSUK have dealt with paying for the booking. The ABUA GB have put in a lot of work and this is all going to be for nothing if the BBF and BSUK do not do their part.
I wrote to Geof Ellingham after our earlier telephone conversation asking him that if they were serious about the UDP then they should cut a cheque for £3520 (176 x £20). The ABUA GB will then book all the clinics and ensure they take place, all that will be left for the BBF to do is ensure the clubs are aware when and where the clinics will take place.
I genuinely hope the past 6 months and hundreds of hours invested by the ABUA GB have not been done for nothing. This is a great project that will be a big benefit to the baseball community, but will only work if all 3 parties are serious and do their parts.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: James Pearce [mailto:james.pearce@britishbaseball.org]
Sent: 22 February 2011 11:20 PM
To: mullerfam4@aol.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Subject: Re: UDP
Darrin,
My apologies for not responding sooner. I am very frustrated and disappointed as I do not have any definitive news for you, even at this late stage.
I have spent many hours over the last few days discussing the current UDP situation with BSUK and BBF board members and staff. At the heart of the discussions has been the application of various conditions in connection with their support of the clinics. My efforts over these last few days have focused specifically on adjusting these conditions to a point where I feel that we can still have an effective and successful series of clinics prior to the start of the season.
I know this is a somewhat cryptic message but I am not willing to go into the specifics surrounding these conditions right now. I have made a final series of calls today on the subject and will communicate the final outcome tomorrow to you once I have heard back.
Irrespective of the outcome, I feel we will need to review the current proposed clinic schedule to see what we think is still realistic given the timing we are faced with, and in light of whatever finalised conditions we are presented with.
Regards,
James
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 24 February 2011 8:18 AM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; geoffhare@btconnect.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; umpire89@aol.co.uk
Cc: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; geof.ellingham@bsukmail.com; john.boyd@bsukmail.com
Subject: Re: Umpire Instructional Clinics
James,
Please read this email in the same tone as our previous skype calls as it is intended.
To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. The BBF and BSUK have both been very unprofessional from the very beginning. You were presented a very professional document back in October 2010 and it has taken you until 9 days prior to the first scheduled clinic to reply, and to reply in the manner you have and with conditions that are totally unacceptable.
However the ABUA GB is an organization that is run by a democratically elected board and it's members, so I will arrange an emergency meeting of the executive board to discuss the issues and the ultimatums handed down by BSUK and then we will get back to you.
Today is a black day for British Baseball, when people’s personal opinions and agendas take priority over what is right.
I would also like to point out that the actions taken by the BBF have shown that they have already decide that both myself and Ray Brownlie are guilty of offences and that this decision has been reached before all avenues provided under the BBF Constitution and Codes of Conduct have been exhausted.
Regards
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 24 February 2011 8:49 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: UDP
James,
Thank you for the Skype call this evening. I am sorry that the Umpire Development has failed, but even more for the reason it failed. This was a professional program and should have been treated as one, and people’s personal opinions should have been left at home. The ABUA GB will provide a formal response in the next couple of days.
As per our conversation I ask that you instruct Dan Lally to send the ABUA GB Treasurer, Geof Hare, a cheque for £1000 as agreed by the BBF Membership, so the ABUA GB can arrange some clinics before the start of the season.
I also attach a proforma for £409-15 for badges purchased by the ABUA GB for the Clinics. I kindly ask that these be paid to the ABUA GB as we have already paid the bill.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
Ref: Umpire Development Plan (UDP)
27th February, 2011
Dear James,
We are writing to inform you that the ABUA GB Executive Board held a meeting, via a Skype Call, on Thursday the 24th of February to discuss your email in reference to the conditions imposed by BSUK concerning the funding of the Umpire Development Plan.
We would like to start by saying that the ABUA GB spent over 400 man hours on an Umpire Development Plan that would have been hugely beneficial to the British Baseball Federation, with no direct cost implications to the BBF.
The UDP was presented to you in October 2010, to ensure that ample preparation time was available to implement the plan in a timely fashion for the commencement of 2011 season. After consultation with you, the ABUA GB made the recommended changes to improve the plan and make it more acceptable to the BBF. The plan was then approved by the BBF Board and presented to BSUK for funding.
You wrote to us informing the ABUA GB that BSUK were going to back the plan. Upon receiving your notification the ABUA GB spent time and money arranging clinics to ensure the UDP got off to a successful start. We were instructed to send invoices to BSUK for payment for the clinic venues, we were also asked by BSUK Co-Chair John Boyd to clear all clinics through him prior to final booking. When we forwarded the relevant information, Mr Boyd promised to look into the matter on several occasions and agree the clinic venues and funding, but failed to do so. Due to his lack of commitment to the project the venues were no longer available. This is due to BSUK failing at the outset to hold up their end of the agreement.
When the clinic venues were no longer available we wrote to you explaining our concerns regarding the clinics actually being able to take place due to BSUK not holding up it’s end of the agreement. We also expressed our concerns with your failure to notify the BBF clubs that they would be required to send 2 members from each team to attend the clinic. In fact, the ABUA GB was the only group of the three that was actually doing anything positive to move the UDP forward.
Your email of the 24th February, with ultimatums from BSUK that you were fully aware, was unacceptable to the ABUA GB, but we believe this was only done as an excuse for BSUK to pull out of the agreement to provide funding for Umpire Development. This isn’t the first occasion that BSUK have promised funding for Umpire Development only for them to pull out at the last minute when they were actually expected to provide monies. As disappointing as this is, it really comes as no surprise to the ABUA GB, but the fact that they waited until 9 days before the first clinic was due is extremely insulting.
The worst part of this saga is that, once again, the BBF and BSUK have allowed personal opinions towards individuals take priority over what is actually in the best interest for the sport of baseball. I am led to believe that BSUK are a development agency jointly owned by the BBF and the BSF, but it appears that once again BSUK have dictated to the BBF how the development monies will be spent.
BSUK have been provided monies from Sport England and in return BSUK must deliver 7,000 new members over a 4 year period. How will the BBF and BSUK achieve on delivering 7,000 new members with out developing suitably trained and qualified officials? This is a complete mystery.
The ABUA GB Executive Board has voted unanimously to not accept the ultimatums laid out by BSUK in return for funding for the UDP. The ABUA GB has survived for many years with no support from BSUK and we will continue to do so in the future. This is not an ideal situation, but it is one we are used to, and as such will endeavour to address ourselves.
The ABUA GB is an Independent Service Provider who provides a very professional service to several different Baseball Organizations and Federations across the UK and Europe. The ABUA GB Instructors are professionally trained to a very high standard, many of whom are recruited to umpire prestigious tournaments across the globe. It is the ABUA GB who will decide which Instructors will teach at its clinics, and it is extremely unprofessional for BSUK to deny development funding based solely on who is delivering the clinics. It should be expected that BSUK is capable of acting in both a professional and business like manner
The ABUA GB will make every effort to offer some type of Umpire Training Clinics to those individuals prior to the 2011 season, but will unfortunately this will be limited due to time and financial constraints. It is a very regrettable situation that we find ourselves in but our organisation will continue to provide a professional approach and assist in maintaining the highest standards achievable.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 06 March 2011 8:38 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Development Funding
James,
Could you please let me know what the status of the £1000 development funding is. During our last conversation you said you would ask Dan Lally to arrange the monies be sent to our Treasurer, Geoff Hare. We have started arranging clinics, so the funding is needed to ensure we can pay our bills.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 09 March 2011 6:21 PM
To: daniel.lally@britishbaseball.org; james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
Dan,
I spoke with James Pearce a few weeks ago and he said he was going to speak with you and ask for you to forward the Umpire Development monies to the ABUA GB. I would appreciate it if you could forward these monies to our Treasurer Geoff Hare as the ABUA GB really need it to pay for the clinics we have arranged.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 11 March 2011 9:51 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org; daniel.lally@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Development Funding
James / Dan,
I am writing again reference the Umpire Development Funding for 2011. I appreciate you both have full time jobs and are very busy, but i would appreciate it if one of you can confirm you have received my emails and that you are making the neccessary arrangements to get the cheque to our Treasurer Geoff Hare. We are doing our first clinic tomorrow, so an urgent reply would be appreciated.
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: Darrin Muller [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 13 March 2011 2:43 PM
To: Daniel Lally
Cc: <board2011@britishbaseball.org>
Subject: Re: Development Funding
Dan,
Thank you for getting back to me. The ABUA GB did not back out of the Umpire Development Programme and to say so is not truthful in the least. The ABUA GB have acted professionally through the whole process which is more than can be said for the BBF or BSUK, and I would suggest that the BBF gets it's facts straight before putting them in print as you have in this email.
The ABUA GB wrote the Umpire Development Plan and presented it to the BBF, who approved it and then sent it to BSUK for support. BSUK refused to support the plan unless certain conditions were met. The ABUA GB could not accept the conditions BSUK insisted in, so in short the Umpire Development Plan was never agreed. The ABUA GB have never backed out of providing Umpire Development, nor have they refused to do so, we simply refused the conditions imposed by BSUK. We also came to an agreement with James Pearce that we would provide training with the monies from the membership, so that some training would take place prior to the season, as was confirmed in an email to James on 24 February.
At the BBF AGM the Membership recognised the ABUA GB as the officially recognised Umpire Organization. The BBF membership also agreed to £1000 for Umpire Development. the ABUA GB has always said the will provide Umpire Development regardless of the BBF or BSUk agreeing to the Umpire Development Plan.
I agree there should be some sort of agreement between the 2 organisations and the BBF should have some say in what they require in the way of Umpire Development, but the BBF or BSUK should not have a right to dictate who can teach these courses. The ABUA GB have always provided a professional service and decision like this is only bad for the sport. I would also like to add that James Pearce had promised that the Umpire Development funding agreed upon by the membership would be given to the ABUA GB so that training courses could be arranged.
The ABUA GB assisted Bristol Baseball Club in an Umpire Development Course yesterday and we will be at Menwith Hill on the 10th of April teaching another course. We are also in the process of confirming at least 1 other clinic prior to the new season, regardless of any support from the BBF or BSUK.
I am glad to see that the BBF have once again got their priorities straight. Once again the BBF have proved that BSUK and personal agenda's out weigh the needs of the membership.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
Sent from my iPad
On 13 Mar 2011, at 13:53, Daniel Lally <lally_daniel@hotmail.com> wrote:
Darrin,
Apologies for the delay. I needed to discuss this with the rest of the board to clarify the situation. ABUA-GB has removed itself from the Umpire Development Programme so we need to identify other tutors who can deliver the programme. The funding needs to be used for that purpose. This means that any clinics ABUA-GB decide to run are at their own financial risk. The board agreed to reimburse ABUA-GB for the badges you had purchased. In future, the two organisations need to set up a proper contractual arrangement. If the BBF is paying a supplier to deliver services, they need to be delivered under the conditions set out by the BBF.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 13 March 2011 3:37 PM
To: james.pearce@britishbaseball.org
Cc: Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; geoffhare@btconnect.com; raybrownlie@btinternet.com; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com; umpire89@aol.co.uk; mullerfam4@aol.com
Subject: Umpire Development
James,
I am writing reference Dan's earlier email reference the BBF's refusal
to give umpire development funding to the ABUA GB.
Ray and I spoke with you after the ABUA GB Board meeting, where the
ABUA GB decided they could not accept the terms laid down by BSUK.
There were 2 things that were agreed in this meeting, firstly the ABUA
GB would receive the funding that was agreed by the BBF Membership,
which the BBF Board have now said will not happen. Secondly, you
promised that the ABUA GB would not be blamed for The failure of the
Umpire Development Plan not succeeding, but now the BBF are putting in
print that the ABUA GB pulled out of the Umpire Development Plan, which
you know is not the truth.
The plan failed at the last hurdle, regardless of the reasons, and the
ABUA GB made it clear at the time that they would provide umpire
clinics with the monies you promised would be forth coming from the
BBF, as it was approved by the membership.
The situation has Gotten completely out of hand! And it is really time
for the BBF and BSUK to grow up and start putting the membership first,
they are the ones that voted the board into place and are providing the
funding.
The ABUA GB has always provided a professional service and the BBF and
BSUK need to take their personal agenda out of the equation. You are
the Development Officer, so it is your responsibility to ensure this
takes place, and we would expect you to honour your word and provide
the funding you promised. Clinics have been arranged on your promises
and the ABUA GB, have started delivering these clinics. We were at
Bristol yesterday and we will be at Menwith Hill on the 10th of April.
We have a couple others in the pipeline that we hope to confirm in the
next few days.
The ABUA GB will deliver this clinics regardless of the BBF or BSUK as
we have always honoured any commitment we make, and we believe the
membership deserve a lot more than the BBF have delivered.
The ABUA GB have very qualified trainers that are here in the UK and
are ready to deliver a very professional plan, so can you tell me does
it make sence to bring in out side help at a greater cost just because
someone doesn't like someone else, surely the money can be better spent.
This is about the membership and not about individuals, and until such
time as everyone grows up and stop believing they are more important
than they are, nothing will ever get done and the membership will
continue
I am available to discuss these issues at your convenience, so please
feel free to contact me. I would also ask that you instruct the BBF
Board from putting further lies in printing when it comes to the ABUA
GB pulling out of the Umpire Development Programme, because we all know
the ABUA GB were the only group of the 3 that acted professionally and
put the membership before it's own personal agenda.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
From: mullerfam4@aol.com [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 16 March 2011 1:10 PM
To: mark.salter@britishbaseball.org; abuagbsecretary@btinternet.com
Cc: geoffhare@btconnect.com; Bodron@aol.com; delorenzo@talktalk.net; board2011@britishbaseball.org; brownlie_37@abuagb.com
Subject: Re: Communications
Mr Salter,
There are alot of emails flying around from all different directions and it appears this is causing some confusion, on all sides, and I do not believe that all the emails are being read in the true meaning of how they are intended. Can I suggest that to start you and I have a call between the 2 of us, to discuss the current state of affairs between the BBF and the ABUA GB. Both organizations have worked closely together for many years and there is no reason we can't continue down this path. I will make myself available to speak with you via skype at your convenience, so if you would like to take this call can you please let me know a couple of times that would suit you and then I can get back to you, and we can make this happen. If you do not wish to talk then please let me know and we will leave it at that. This is just the head of one organization talking to the head of another. I would also like to suggest that each group designate 1 person to feed information through, as we are receiving conflicting information from different people. This is not meant as a dig at anyone, I just want to make sure that we get clear and precise information between the 2 groups.
This is a trying time for all sides and I hope that we can not let personal opinions from all sides reflect what is important, and that is the BBF Membership. As both Boards are copied into this email I ask all ABUA GB Board members not to contact the BBF Board until such time as Mr Salter and myself have had a chance to speak. I kindly ask that you request the same from your board solely for the purpose of getting things back on track.
I look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Darrin Muller
ABUA GB Commissioner
This email is written in a true attempt to get both the ABUA GB and BBF Boards talking and in no way is meant as a dig at any person or organization and I hope it is taken in this manner.
-----Original Message-----
From: Darrin Muller [mailto:mullerfam4@aol.com]
Sent: 27 March 2011 9:44 PM
To: bodron@aol.com; geoffhare@btconnect.com; talk talk; Sandra Brownlie; Ray Brownlie
Subject: BBF
All,
I have had talks with the BBF President this evening concerning Umpire Development and other issues concerning the two organisations. To ensure we keep things on the right track I ask everyone to send anything concerning the BBF to me and I will work directly with the BBF. The BBF President Mark Salter will act in the same role for the BBF. If you receive emails from any member of the BBF can you please let me know, and I will deal directly with Mr Salter. We can discuss all at our next meeting which I believe is Monday the 4th.
Regards,
Darrin
