Ralphs Tavern

Attention players, spouses, fans, managers and sponsors, don’t miss your chance to attend this year’s awards banquet, which will take place on Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00-9:30 p.m. at Fendley Farmstead, 1287 Sardis Road in Canton, Georgia. Ray DeLuca, CSSAs special projects director and banquet coordinator has a very special event planned for us this year. Not only does he make all arrangements for this annual event down to every detail, he serves as Master of Ceremonies and always does a fantastic job.

This year’s menu will feature delicious Southern classics like chicken fried steak and fried chicken, as well as vegetables, dessert and drinks.

Tickets are only $25.00 per person for an evening of great food, celebration and fellowship. Tickets MUST be purchased by November 6th at the CSSA payment portal: https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/ .

No paper tickets will be issued, and tickets will not be sold at the door.

All those attending are requested to bring at least one new unwrapped toy for our holiday toy drive, “Every Child Deserves a Christmas.” And be sure to have some cash on hand for the 50/50 raffle/fundraiser too!

As always, player-sponsors receive free tickets–just be sure to contact Ray DeLuca ASAP (by November 6th) at (770) 355-3911 to secure your reservation. Sponsors who are not players will receive their ticket information by mail.

You don’t want to miss this year’s awards banquet. Only 200 tickets are available, so get them early!
p=. Buy yours now at https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/

We can always use a few volunteers to check people in at the door and assist with the toy drive, 50/50 raffle, etc. so please reach out to Ray DeLuca (770) 355-3911 if you can help out!

Hey golfers, it’s almost time to put on those fall golf duds and tee off for a good cause! Sign up and pay your fees now at https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/ and be part of this awesome golf outing benefiting Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, and Women Veteran Social Justice Network
on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022 at Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, 1003 Towne Lake Hills East in Woodstock, Georgia.

The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. The fee is $90 per person, and includes green fees, cart, range balls, box lunch, one raffle ticket, and all contests, so take your best shot at the putting contest, long drives (3), and closest to the pin competitions. Six prizes will be awarded for lowest scores.

Our spring 2022 tournament raised $5,200 for the Cherokee Family Violence Center, so please spread the word, bring a foursome to have a great time and raise money for a deserving cause! Veterans participating will receive a small token of our appreciation, too.

The deadline to sign up is October 26th, so click below to secure your spot and pay your fees online here: https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/

For further information, contact: Tom Cameron (404) 918 0500 or Norm Thiem (770) 757-8467

CSSA BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 12, 2022
The monthly meeting of the CSSA Board of Directors was held September 12, 2022, at Wicked Wings, Kennesaw, and called to order by Norman Thiem at 6:40 P.M.
Members Present: Norman Thiem, Dick O’Connor, Dan Bonham, Mike Maguire, Dewey Hom, Maria Burden, Bob Werner, Mike Parson, Leland Brown, Robbie Crider and Ray DeLuca.
Board Members John Humeston, James Bauch, Randy Bergman and Steve Fleming were absent.

A. Minutes of the August 8, 2022 meeting, having been emailed to all, were Board approved.
B. 2022 Sponsors: Leaf Cremations, Beckett’s and Door to Door are no longer sponsors. Team jerseys with those company names will be replaced in the spring 2023 season. Rather than reprint jerseys and rename teams at this late date, it was decided that the fees would come out of our charity fund and new sponsors and new jerseys would replace them in the 2023 season. Mellow Mushroom would like to return as a sponsor, and Wicked Wings, Kennesaw will be approached as a new sponsor.
C. Treasurer/Financial Report: Norman Thiem presented a complete profit/loss report showing that after all financial commitments are met, CSSA will be in good shape as we enter the last quarter of the year. Dan Bonham reported that the online payment portal he set up at www.cssasoftbal.org for player fees worked very well, collecting about 90% of the player fees for the Fall 2022 season. This resulted in a vastly more streamlined payment collection process, and less for the managers and league directors to keep track of, etc. This payment portal will be used for future player registration fees and events like the banquet and golf tournament, etc.
D. Rule Clarification: The Board voted to add a few words to the language of Rule 15 (Mercy Rule), subsection c. to more clearly state its original intent.
E. 2022 Banquet: Ray DeLuca discussed plans for this year’s banquet, which will take place November 15th at Fendley Farmstead in Canton. The event will be catered by Sidelines Prestige Catering and ticket cost will likely be $25.00 depending on prevailing cost of products. The menu and details will be finalized in the next few weeks. Player-sponsors will receive 2 free tickets as usual. Tickets can be purchased on the payment portal at https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/ , and paper tickets will not be issued. All those attending are requested to bring a new unwrapped toy for the holiday toy drive, and there will be a 50/50 fundraiser at the event. There was a discussion of trophies/medals and future ideas for player achievement awards.
F. Arnold Fowler Award: All are encouraged to participate in nominations for this award, and the cutoff for nominations will be October 7th. Here are details on the Arnold Fowler Award: In 1997, the Board of Directors recognized that there was more to softball than batting averages, home runs and RBIs. It was decided that one player should be chosen, who demonstrates the qualities of sportsmanship, integrity, dedication, teamwork and other intangibles to the highest degree. The Arnold Fowler Award is the most special award issued through the CSSA, because the winning player is chosen by his or her peers.
If you would like to nominate someone for the 2022 Arnold Fowler award, please do so by submitting a written detailed reason as to why you think this person deserves this prestigious award. Please include your name and phone number
Address your nominations to Ray DeLuca via email Djray351@aol.com or postal service: 105 Rock Creek Drive, Canton, GA 30114 (770) 355-3911
Nominations must be received NO LATER than October 7, 2022. Past winners of this award are not eligible. To view the list of previous recipients, click here: https://www.teampages.com/organizations/2042/pages/85742
G. Championship Shirts: Norman Thiem shared the design for the 2022 championship shirts, which will be produced by DeWayne Logan of Misfit Sports Apparel.
H. Hardship Funds: The board voted to assist a CSSA player in need from the charity fund.
I. Fall Charity Golf Tournament: This popular fundraiser will take place on November 2nd. Fees will be $90 per player and participants should bring a new unwrapped toy for the kickoff of our annual toy drive. Fees should be paid as soon as possible at: https://cssasoftball.org/product-category/events/ An article will be posted on TeamPages with full details.
J. Celebrating Lee Molway and Les Taylor: Dick O’Connor announced that Wednesday, September 14th during morning games at Hobgood Park, Lee Molway would be brought with his wife to the park in a limousine (ride donated by a CSSA friend) to spend some time watching games and visiting with friends. Lee has entered hospice. Les Taylor turned 90 years old this week and he will be celebrated for this landmark birthday. It goes without saying that both men are treasured friends and invaluable contributors to the CSSA organization.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. The next BOD meeting will be Monday, October 3rd, 2022 at 6:30 p.m., location to be determined.

The Arnold Fowler Award
In 1997, the Board of Directors recognized that there was more to softball than batting averages, home runs and RBIs. It was decided that one player should be chosen, who demonstrates the qualities of sportsmanship, integrity, dedication, teamwork and other intangibles to the highest degree. The Arnold Fowler Award is the most special award issued through the CSSA, because the winning player is chosen by his or her peers.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please do so by submitting a written detailed reason as to why you think this person deserves this prestigious award. Please include your name and phone number
Address your nominations to Ray DeLuca via email Djray351@aol.com or postal service: 105 Rock Creek Drive, Canton, GA 30114 (770) 355-3911

Nominations must be received NO LATER than October 7, 2022. Past winners of this award are not eligible. To view the list of previous recipients, click here: https://www.teampages.com/organizations/2042/pages/85742

First Ride Friday, October 7th!
We will meet at Hobgood Park at 9:30 a.m., and after a safety briefing, it’s kickstands up as we head for Dahlonega and Dawsonville where we’ll have lunch at the Dawsonville Pool Room http://www.dawsonvillepoolroom.com/
Call Jerry King if you’d like to join us! (404) 317-9199 or email Jerry at coolbreaze@bellsouth.net