A good showing of dedicated members — 16 in all — turned out to discuss a 2009 season that comes with high hopes and high expectations. Presiding over the meeting, Commissioner Matt Veto began by filling the seats of a brand new VLB Board of Directors. For the first time, Board members have been assigned specific duties. Each member will be given a vote on VLB matters.
VLB board members Ryan Barton and Jason Nunn pretend to have a conversation after the actual meeting since we forgot to take a picture. (Photo: Matt Veto)
Veto will continue to serve as Commissioner, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the league. He also carries the title of Web maintainer and Equipment Manager, while also serving as the main public relations contact for the league.
Josh Paul, a VLB member since 2003, has assumed the position of vice president, and will serve as the top advisor to the commissioner. In addition to right-hand man duties, Paul has taken on the title of Chief Financial and Statistics Officer (CFSO) and Director of Merchandise. Paul will be in charge of maintaining the VLB account and will compile statistics. He will also fill merchandise orders.
Working closely with Paul is Bob Zerull, who joins the Board as Associate Director of Finance/Statistics and Assistant Director of Merchandise. Zerull will oversee the books alongside Paul and will be placing our merchandise orders.
Travis Swanson will be a name all members will soon grow to know. Swanson, a rookie in 2008, stepped into the role of Director of Communications. He will be in touch with VLB members, maintaining contact information, and will serve as the primary contact each game. Swanson will email roll calls and place phone calls to ensure attendance. He will also maintain our presence in social networking Web sites.
When Swanson is out, Ryan Barton is in. The ever-smiling VLB slugger has taken the title of Assistant Director of Communications.
Howard Zimmerle is the new Director of Special Events. Zimmerle is the figurehead and main contact during the night game. He will be in charge of organizing a volunteer staff for the game, and will oversee the setup of our night-game greeting station.
Another night-game focused job title will be filled by longtime Veto Leaguer, Jeff Kilgard. The 10-year veteran will serve as night-game Concessions Manager. His duties include arranging for food donation and ensuring the proper assembly of the concession area.
Jason Nunn’s wheels were turning hours after taking on the title of Director of Promotions. The Rock Island native will be in charge of fundraising and organization VLB gatherings outside of the ballpark. An idea already suggested includes a group trip to take in a River Bandits game this season. In addition to those duties, Nunn will obtain night-game raffle prizes.
As a group, these eight men comprise the VLB Board of Directors and will vote on topics ranging from game play, equipment purchases and league structure.
The next key topic of discussion centered on the Veto League Web site. Jon Weber is a VLB rookie with an eye for Web design and a brain that can make it happen. Weber will soon be working with the VLB Board to develop an improved Web design. All members are encouraged to submit ideas for the site — what they would like it too look like, to Veto at vetoleague@yahoo.com by March 30.
Ideas will be collected and translated into a WordPress-based site that, with some luck, will go online by opening day, which is tentatively slated for Saturday, May 2.
The league also voted to expand to six captains, similar to the structure seen in previous seasons, though this season comes with a theme of sorts — old versus new.
The Saukie Division will be comprised of three long-time captains, and a substitute captain with previous coaching experience. Matt Veto will again lead the Meteors, joined by Josh Paul’s Goonies and Scott Ellefritz’s Talons. Jeff Kilgard, formerly the captain of the SNK Crushers will sub in any of the previous captain’s absence.
The Black Hawk Division will be made up of first-year captain — each with teams to be named at a later date. Ryan Barton, Adam Chard and Howard Zimmerle will each head up a team, while Jason Nunn will serve as sub captain in their absence.
Kiel Engstrom, stepping away from the helm for the first time since consistent captains were employed in 2003, will serve as a wild card captain. Should the case arise where captain and division sub captain are both missing, Engstrom will stand in.
Veto divvied many thanks to those in attendance during the 2009 meetings — Jesus Apodaca, Barton, Adam Chard, Josh Francque, Scott Ellefritz, Kiel Engstrom, Kilgard, Nunn, Paul, Kelly Sullivan, Swanson, Weber, Zerull, Tony Zier and Zimmerle.