02/25/82 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 010 The MRPA has the organizational structure in place to provide a solid recreational 111, sports delivery system. That system centers on our Athletic Section and our professional members responsible to deliver a recreational sports program in Minnesota. One of the main reasons MRPA reorganized itself a few years ago was to assure that those individuals best equipped to address special interests ( like athletics) within our organization are responsible to implement those programs and services. In my mind, this has been the strength of our professional organization and will continue to be our strength. Allow me to address a few specific charges recently made against the MRPA relative to our softball program and MRPA's future ability to provide recreational sports programs in the months ahead: WILL MRPA JOIN THE NEWLY CREATED FEDERATION? Recently, representatives of the federation requested affiliation with the MRPA. No action was taken on this request because the MRPA has for over 30 years provided a renowned recreational sports program of its own with its members charged by MRPA By-laws for the "administration, supervision, planning, conduct and leadership of athletic program services". Obviously, an affiliation with an organization conducting similar programs would abridge the MRPA's purposes and be counter productive to our overall professional delivery of recreational sports programs. WHY CAN'T THERE BE A SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT BOARD TO GOVERN A RECREATIONAL SPORTS PROGRAM? A proposal to establish two divisions of 111/1 th e e MRPA (a membership services division and recreational sports division) each with a separate board of directors was also proposed to the MRPA. No action was taken on this proposal . Separate and distinct boards within the organizational framework of the MRPA is certainly not in MRPA's best interest in overseeing a true professional organization that represents, among others , therapeutic interests , recreation and parks personnel , students , etc. The existing Athletic Section is governed by its own Executive Committee and other elected leadership and charged with the primary purpose of planning, organizing, conducting and supervising recreational sports programs. MRPA' s organization with special interest sections works well . However, as is typical of many organizations , if the existing structure merits change and improve- ment to better address athletic organizational needs , we must be responsive to such change. WILL MRPA BE OFFERING A SOFTBALL PROGRAM THIS YEAR? Yes, MRPA most definitely will provide a softball program this year. Comprehensive informational packets will be mailed on February 23, 1982. WHAT ABOUT THE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION? Many of you are well aware of a close ASA affiliation with MRPA for the past 30 years. ASA national officials have told me personally last month at its national meeting in San Antonio that they cherished MRPA' s involvement for so many years and desired to continue a close working relationship. However, the success of our "close working relationship" was directly dependent on ASA's commissionership to the MRPA. After so many years the MRPA's heading the commissionership, ASA did not elect to retain the MR and its staff with our state's softball commissionship. Certainly, this is unfortunat and potentially will disrupt the softball balance we have enjoyed for so many years. ASA has much to offer to those teams desirous of advancing to regional and national competition, I would encourage you to register those teams with either ASA or USSSA and to register the balance of your teams with the MRPA.