Western Region Little League Umpire Alumni Association

January 30, 2007

Dear Members:

Hopefully this letter finds you all well and in the thick of getting ready
for the coming season. It seems just yesterday that we were at the Regional
Headquarters crowning a new West and Northwest Regional Champion. But I
guess as I get older time seems to go that much faster.

I wanted to take an opportunity to bring you up to speed on some exciting
new developments related to the Alumni Association. First, welcome to all
our new members. We thank you for your participation as we, as an
Association, seek to continue our efforts to make the opportunities better
for Western Regional Umpires and students and the experience at the Western
Region facility the best one can imagine.

We have recently completed our two-weeklong sessions and again they were
great successes. Each student had an opportunity to utilize and appreciate
the improvements that this Association has provided during our short
existence. Batting cages, video equipment, and lockers were in full use as
120 students ventured from all over the country to participate in what
remains the best umpire training Little League has to offer.

As your President I take each opportunity at the schools and the weekend
clinics to address the students and impress upon them the importance of
continuing to improve aspects of the experience for them and fellow umpires
through donations to the Alumni Association.

In December we held a revamped UIC Clinic, which was attended by 40 students,
and we were able to collect donations of approximately $600. The recently
completed two weeklong schools collected donations totaling approximately
$5,100 in cash donations and products. These students requested that the
funds be earmarked for certain improvements. The second weeklong school
donated four new cameras and wireless microphones to be used in the cages.
They also donated funds to establish a DSL line and wireless access for
students to use during their stay at the schools and for umpires to use
during the tournament. In this day and age where the need to balance work
and play is so vital, this access will be invaluable while umpires and
students are able to participate in the clinics and the tournaments while
also keeping a close eye on the real job they have left behind for one or
two weeks.

I also took the opportunity to promote the Cy Livoti Junior School
Scholarship where again we will provide, at least, 10 full scholarships to
Junior Umpire School participants.

I am both thrilled and honored at the participation of the students from all
the clinics and the way each class has grasped the understanding of what we
as an Association preach when we say; "BY Umpires-For Umpires."

On another front I have been in contact with the local Elks Lodge in San
Bernardino to see if we can utilize their facility for our Alumni Breakfast
as well as our Annual Meeting. Luckily we have outgrown our room at the
Western Region Headquarters for our breakfast. We need more space and the
Elk's can provide us not only the additional space but breakfast and service
at the same price as that which we are now paying at the Region. Again we
thank NV2 and CA31 for sponsoring the Alumni Breakfast. I was also concerned
with the fact that during the tournament the room we were using must be
shared by a host of different entities (i.e. ESPN) and as such does not
afford us the time we need to properly hold our Annual Meeting. With
elections to be held at the next meeting in 2007 I felt it important to find
a location where we would not be rushed and where we could properly conduct
our business. I believe the Elk's Lodge affords us the best of both worlds
and I am currently working with them to solidify our relationship with them.
Please stay tuned for additional information.

Finally, I am in the process of establishing a Committee to further develop
a plan and compile additional information to determine if, as discussed in
our last meeting, opening up membership to all Western Region umpires to the
Alumni Association is a viable option. I am hoping that the Committee will
be able to report out at the Annual Meeting.

It has been an unbelievable two years as we watched this Association grow
from a dream of a few to a viable entity that has now made improvements and
additions to the Western Region and to the umpires at the Region and the
students who benefit to the tune of approximately $25,000. Our balance
sheet continues to be strong and we continue to impress upon non-members to
get on board and become a part of something that is both prideful and
tangible.

Please keep you eye on the website and your emails as additional information
about upcoming events take shape. I look forward to another fantastic Little
League season and to seeing each and everyone of you in August.

Yours Truly,
Mark Bernstein
President-WRLLUAA

The Western Region Little League Umpire Alumni Association (WRLLUAA) Board of Directors met recently and voted to change the bylaws. It is now possible for any umpire who umpired any Western Region Tournament, baseball or softball, to become a member of the association. Mark Bernstein, president of the association has addressed this in a letter below. If you would like to become a member, please click here.

Alumni Association Set to Grow
 
As we near another great Little League season the Western Region Little League Umpire Alumni Association (WRLLUAA) has some exciting news.
 
I would first like to thank each and every one of you who have made donations or support the Alumni Association. With your assistance we will continue to improve the umpiring experience for all Western Region Volunteer Umpires.
 
At the most recent annual meeting the WRLLUAA voted to expand it's membership and open it's doors to ANY volunteer Little League Umpire who has umpired a Regional tournament at any level of baseball and softball. While this was always the ultimate goal, the membership as well as the elected Board of Directors for the Alumni Association now believe, after two years in existence, that the time is right to honor and recognize each volunteer Regional Little League umpire.
 
This of course does not just happen. We are asking for your assistance to help us identify and get the word out to all those in your Districts and Sections who might qualify for this inclusion. While there are some records, due to the volume of umpires and the different sites of different tournaments we are asking you to assist in getting the word out.
 
Applications for membership to the Alumni Association can be found on the Western Region Website as can a more formal announcement of this expansion. We thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide in identifying those that qualify.
 
Thank you-
Mark Bernstein
President-WRLLUAA

December 26, 2007

As we near the end of the year I want to take the opportunity to thank each of our members for another great year. We continue to be excited about the Alumni Association as we watch the membership grow. We thank all of you for your generous donations as well as donations we have received from local leagues, non-members, Western Region Clinic participants and District Administrators. It is only through these donations and memberships that we can continue to achieve our goal of improving the Western Region for umpires by umpires. We recently welcomed our 100th alum into our group and we are so very proud of what has been accomplished in just two short years.
 
In August 2007 we had our largest attendance ever for our Alumni Breakfast. We thank CA Districts 31 and Nevada 2 for again sponsoring the Breakfast. After breakfast we held our second Annual Membership Meeting where the membership elected a new Board of Directors to lead the group for the next two years. I was humbled by the support I received and knowing there still is much work to be done, accepted another term as your President. I am excited to work with Board Members, Bill Beebe (Vice President), Tony Cooper (Treasurer), Bruce Marcellus (Secretary) and Lee Batterman (Member At Large). We are also pleased to have Bill Carter remain on as the Association's Webmaster.
 
During the meeting members voted and approved a very important, new provision that will take this Association to the next level. It was presented and approved that beginning immediately membership in the Western Region Little League Umpire Alumni Association (WRLLUAA) will be open to any volunteer umpire who has umpired any Western Region Tournament, both Baseball and Softball. As an Association that seeks to be inclusive rather than exclusive this is an important step in our growth. While many of us always felt that this was the appropriate step to take we wanted to make absolutely certain that the Association was well grounded, had a specific vision and could properly handle and administer such a large undertaking. It was decided, after listening to the membership, that the time was right to expand opportunities. The membership discussed how we would assure that membership would only be for those who had received the honor of working a Western Region Tournament. It was agreed that since no viable documentation existed for the many Western Region Tournaments, that the honor system and peer pressure would be the guiding force. So, for those volunteer umpires who have umpired in a Western Region Tournament the Alumni Association looks forward to receiving your membership application which can be found on this website.
 
We are excited about this expansion and believe that with expanded membership we will continue to meet our vision of improving the instruction, opportunities and the amenities for volunteer umpires all around the Western Region.
 
I am also pleased to announce that the Cy Livoti Junior School Scholarship continues to grow and we look forward to receiving applications for the coming 2008 class.
 
The Board will be looking at possible improvements and expenditures as the new season progresses and we will keep you informed of developments. If there is something you would like to see the Association do, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at LMBERN@HOTMAIL.com.
 
Here is to a healthy and happy New Year. Believe it or not it is time again to get the bones moving and get ready for another exciting and unpredictable Little League season.
 
Looking forward to seeing you on the field.
 
Mark Bernstein
President-WRLLUAA