All, Well, we have made it past the Regional Tournaments and the World Series starts today! Try to catch some of it on ESPN when you can. Keep in mind the idea to have "Fall Ball" - a non-competitive short season to help kids develop for next year and have some fun. We have a short break before Little League starts all over again. In a couple of weeks we will start sending announcements about the Fall meeting for both District 5 and District 13. This year we will do it differently, cover more material, and prepare better for the 2023 season. This year we will work through MANY topics. the current plan is to meet the last couple of weekends in October. One weekend for Dist 5 and the other for Dist 13. I think we have it set for Dist 5 to be the 3rd Saturday in October and Dist 13 to be the 5th Saturday in October. Some of the things we will talk about are the big changes coming to Little League, what passed and what didn't. How to grow your league volunteers Season tournaments Interleague play We have a presentation from a couple of vendors scheduled How to better manage and work the Local Board Better District Tournaments New Resources from Little League And more. EVERY Board member from every league will be invited. the presidents should plan on being there at the very least, but we want to open it up to all board members who want to improve their leagues. Both Districts have ADAs now and I am trying to get District UICs to start training and recruiting more umpires for the league. I'd also like to put in place the boards we talked about late last season, and activate some of those volunteers to sit on District Guidance boards. Thanks to Stacy Ashcroft and Brennan Moore - the ADAs for Dist 13 and 5. I appreciate the work the ADAs did this year. Their contributions were amazing, helpful, and much needed. Without them I probably would have collapsed from exhaustion. They took a good portion of the work load on their shoulders and their help was appreciated. We need more ADAs so the District can grow and improve so I am looking for volunteers.. We need two more ADAs in 5 and in 13, so step on up, we got things for you to do! I was pleased that both Districts made a good effort with their tournaments. We want to improve that cycle, get more participation from the leagues, and more divisions in the District level play. this is a good thing if we can get it done. I talked to some of the managers that were at a District tournament for the first time in both Districts. one of them said "This is very eye opening. it gives me ideas of how to improve for next year". I like the fact they were already thinking about next year. and they saw something for the first time . and light bulbs came on. I appreciate all of you that worked all season making baseball happen for your players and families. I know I probably don't say it enough, but "Thank you".. You are doing a good thing by making your leagues the best they can be. why? Because it makes a big difference in a kid's life which in turn makes a better future both in the near and short term for your communities, families, and everyone that comes in contact with your programs. So keep an eye out for the location and times of the Fall meetings.we are going to try and hold them in a centralized location (or as much as we can) so everyone has to drive the same amount. it's important we be prepared early and act on good plans. and if all the boards, leagues, teams, parents, coaches, and players work with a goal in mind of improvement, then everyone benefits! Regards JP DA WA5/13