80TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

80TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING

Five AZ ASA Executive Board Members attended the 80th Annual National Council Meeting for the ASA. The Council was held in Myrtle Beach, SC, 5-11 November 2011.

Attendees were, Don Fishel, Commissioner, Rick Hormann, JO Commissioner, Tom Carle, Deputy JO Commissioner, Mike Davidson, At-Large Player Rep Proxy for Bill Vaughn, Wally Latall, Umpire-in-Chief and Andy Williams, Deputy Umpire-in-Chief

Arizona ASA can be extremely proud of their efforts this past year and it showed during the ASA Council Meeting.

Arizona ASA walked away with five (5) James Farrell Awards of Excellence. The James Farrell Award of Excellence is named in honor of the late former St. Louis Commissioner and National Office Staff Member, James Farrell. The James Farrell Award of Excellence is for the cities that do an outstanding job at hosting ASA National Championship Tournaments. To receive the award, cities must attain an overall tournament rating of 95 percent or greater from the ASA Representative, Umpire-In-Chief and National Office.

One of the highest rated Tournaments was presented to both Glendale, AZ and Phoenix, AZ.

Glendale hosted the Men's Slow Pitch Class E/Rec Western and received a perfect 100% Rating. The ASA Rep was Sean Melvin, Territorial Chair of the Slow Pitch Classification Committee and the UIC was T. J. Brewster, AZ ASA Central District UIC. Hats off to the Tournament Director, Bill Vaughn and Assistant Tournament Director, Leon Rodriguez and a hearty congratulations.

Phoenix hosted the Girls' Fast Pitch 18U Gold Western National Championship and received a 97% Rating. The ASA Rep was John Gouveia, Oakland ASA Commissioner and the UIC was Joe Robinson, Rocky Mountain Region 13 UIC. Hats off to the Tournament Director, Tom Carle and a hearty congratulations.

Three of the highest rated tournaments was presented to he City of Prescott. Three (3) Tournament; three (3) James Farrell Awards of Excellence. WOW!

The Tournaments were as follows:

Girls' Fast Pitch 16U Class B Western National Championship which received a 98% Rating. The ASA Rep was Mike Wells, Commissioner of Oregon ASA and the UIC was Wally Latall, AZ ASA State UIC. Hats off to the Tournament Director, Don Fishel and a hearty congratulations.

Girls' Fast Pitch 18U Class B Western National Championship which received a 98% Rating. The ASA Rep was Mike Wells, Commissioner of Oregon ASA and the UIC was Wally Latall, AZ ASA State UIC. Hats off to the Tournament Director, Don Fishel and a hearty congratulations.

Men's Fast Pitch Class C Western National Championship which received a 97% Rating. The ASA Rep was John Gouveia, Oakland ASA Commissioner and the UIC was Dave Maudsley, Pacific Coast Region 14 UIC. Hats off to the Tournament Director, Don Fishel and a hearty congratulations.

At he Luncheon, AZ ASA Commissioner Don Fishel also received his 5 year Service Award as an ASA Council Member.

Though Arizona ASA Umpires were not officially recognized with the presentation of a Benchmark Award, because the Award is based on an average of 10% over the past 5 years, it was made known in several Committee Meetings, especially the Umpire Committee Meeting what a great job Arizona ASA did in increasing Umpire Registrations during 2011. The Rocky Mountain Region 13 was was of only three Regions whose Umpire Registrations were not showing a decrease, but an increase and the Regional UIC, Joe Robinson singled out AZ ASA for their great efforts. Arizona had a record setting year in registering 466 Umpires, an 80% increase in Youth Registrations and a 17.27% increase in Adult Registrations. We had a Grand total increase in Umpire Registrations of 74 for an 18.87% increase. A great job was done in this area by all the District UIC's; T.J. Brewster, Mike Alexander and Tee Acuna and the Deputy UIC, Andy Williams.

It was announced that AZ ASA Umpires will participate as one of four Associations in the Country to be a Pilot Test for the taking of the 2012 ASA Umpire Exam on Line. AZ ASA UIC, Wally Latall, also delivered a Power Point Presentation and a DVD of the 2011 Softball Tournament at the Special Olympics Fall Games, held in Surprise, AZ 14 and 15 October. AZ ASA continues their Partnership with SOAZ and Wally serves as a Games Management Team (GMT) Member for SOAZ for Softball. Included in the photos below are a few from that Event.

Don Fishel, AZ ASA Commissioner is being Presented a 5 Year Service Award by Henry Pollard, Chairman of the
Membership Services Committee.

Malcolm Boyles, Western Territory Deputy Supervisors of Umpires with Andy Williams, DUIC, AZ ASA and
AZ ASA State UIC Wally Latall are enjoying Cocktail Hour prior to the Hall of Fame Banquet.

Don Fishel, AZ ASA Commissioner Receiving a 10 Year Service Award for Loree Swope, Colorado Commissioner from
Henry Pollard, Chairman of Membership Services Committee.

Don Fishel AZ ASA Commissioner with Rick Hormann State JO Commissioner receiving an Award of Excellence Plaque
for the Girl's FP 16U and 18U B Western Fast Pitch National Championship Tournaments and Men's FP Class C Western,
National Championships held in Prescott, AZ. Henry Pollard is presenting he Award.

Mike Davidson, At-Large Player Rep Proxy receiving from Henry Pollard a 5 Year Service Award on behalf of
Bill Vaughn from Yuma, AZ

Devin Hubble, Rocky Mountain Region - Region 13 At-Large Player Rep from Wyoming ASA is being presented
by Henry Pollard his 10 Years of Service Award.

Henry Pollard presenting an Award of Excellence to AZ ASA Commissioner Don Fishel and Wally Latall, AZ ASA UIC
for a 100% Rating for the Men's SP Class E/Rec National Championship held in Glendale, AZ.

Henry Pollard presenting an Award of Excellence to Don Fishel AZ ASA Commissioner and Tom Carle, AS ASA Deputy
JO Commissioner for the Girls' 18U Gold Western National Championship held in Phoenix, AZ

Mike Davidson, AZ ASA At-Large Player Rep Proxy at the Exhibit Hall.

The 4th Annual Tuesday Morning Fun Walk Sponsored by Missouri ASA. Tom Carle, AZ ASA Deputy JO Commissioner
and Wally Latall, AZ ASA State UIC participated in a Mile and a Half Walk along the Beach of the Atlantic Ocean. A nippy
50 degrees at 6:45 in the AM! It was FUN!

Joe Robinson, Rocky Mountain Region 13 Umpire-In-Chief and Wally Latall, AZ ASA State UIC enjoying lunch at
The Wilson Sporting Goods sponsored Awards Luncheon.

Lloyd Galbreath, Wyoming ASA State UIC along with Devin Hubble, Region 13 At-Large Player Rep from Wyoming and
Tom Carle, AZ ASA Deputy State JO Commissioner at the Awards Luncheon sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods.

Wally Latall, AZ ASA UIC and SOAZ GMT Softball is pictured with one of the Northwest Tucson Teams Coaches who
was presented by AZ ASA an Outstanding Softball Athlete Award.

Don Fishel, AZ ASA Commissioner and Pinal County Sheriff Detention Officer are pictured with the Northwest Tucson
Wildcats after they captured the Bronze Medal in the "C" Division. Also pictured is the Special Athlete who was selected as
the Outstanding Softball Athlete.

The Special Athlete from the Case Grande Tornados who was awarded the Outstanding Softball Athlete Award is pictured
with AZ ASA Central District UIC, T. J. Brewster who served the Fall Games Softball Competition as the UIC.

Wally Latall, AZ ASA State UIC and SOAZ GMT Softball, pictured with those Special Athletes and their Coach who
captured the Gold Medal in the Fall Games Softball Competition. The Plaque that Wally is helping hold with the Coach was
presented by the AZ ASA and AZSO to the Sluggers for their achievement in taking the Silver Medal in the Inaugural
Regional Invitational Championships, held in Elgin, Illinois this past August. Wally along with SOAZ CEO, Tim Martin
presented the Plaque at the Opening Ceremonies at Surprise Stadium.