May, 2008

On behalf of your Los Altos BOD I want to thank all the volunteers who have helped to make our 2008 Spring Season such a huge success.  It is all the Managers, Coaches, Team Parents, Auxiliary (Snack Shack), Board of Directors and all the generous parents and friends of Los Altos who donated either their time or money to help the kids have a great time.  It is all of you who have contributed to the culture that has grown our Registration to 800 boys and girls this season. 

With tremendous growth, comes growing pains and compromises.  Next season we plan to coordinate “off-site” practice times to allow those divisions who received less than optimal field time an opportunity to practice more.  In addition, we continue to work with the City of LB to free up surrounding fields that are being either underutilized or shared with Adult SB programs.  We are also hoping to gain approval from the city to build an additional “Rookie/8u SB” field in the surrounding park space.

In addition to the tremendous and unprecedented growth, we continue to see improvements to our facilities and equipment.  This season we replaced the nets in the batting cages, re-seeded our infields on 1 & 2, installed a new sprinkler system on fields 3 & 4, installed bleachers at the T-Ball Field and replaced all the equipment for all divisions of Baseball & Softball.  This is all a result of the generosity and support the parents and Sponsors have provided through our Fundraisers and Team/League Sponsorship this year, THANK YOU!

The regular season will be ending on June 7^th at our 12 noon Closing Day Ceremony.  This will be when trophies and yearbooks are distributed to all the kids.  After the season comes to a close, Los Altos BB will be hosting tournaments for our top 2 Major Teams on June 21/22^nd.  We are also sending our top 3 Minor B and top 3 Minor Teams to compete that same weekend in Simi Valley.  We will also be hosting BB All Stars for the 9u and 12u levels the weekend of July 12/13 and the 8u, 10u and 11u will be hosted in Simi Valley on the same weekend.  Our ASA Softball Program will be sending 8u, 10u and 12u teams to compete with area programs representing Los Altos beginning in June through July.  Please check our web-site for specific dates and locations and results for both BB & SB during the Post Season.

As we finish the season I will be stepping down as President for my son’s last Season at Los Altos in 2009.  My intent is to remain on the Board and work closely with the new President and Board to help the program transition as myself and other Board members kids “age out” of the program in the next few seasons.  I’m appealing to parents who have the time to volunteer for our BOD with younger kids.  Some of us are interested in finding new co-Directors to help and eventually take over some of the positions when their kids “age out”.  Please e-mail me directly at councilman@aol.com if you are interested.  Our next BOD meeting is Thursday, June 5^th in our Board room at 6:30 pm.

It has been my honor to represent so many great families as your President and member of the BOD for the past 8 years.  As a native of Long Beach, I’m grateful for all the wonderful friendships created as we enjoy the next generation of our children together in Long Beach.

Ben Goldberg
President-Los Altos Youth Baseball & Softball of Long Beach
Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball & ASA Softball of El Dorado Park