This is an e-mail I received from David Black, president of Toronto Baseball Association.  If there is any interest from any of my fellow Leslievillers, please contact him  (dbblack@rogers.com)  I think it would be great to have our own Leslieville baseball league for our children and I know there are plenty of children in our neighbourhood that would love to participate in this.  This is a great opportunity that we shouldn't miss.  Other neighbourhoods have been running baseball leagues for quite sometime eg. East York, Birchmount, North Toronto, West Hill.  Just to name a few. 

See below.

"I believe this is a bit premature.  As President of the Toronto Baseball Association, President of Select Baseball of Ontario and a board member for Baseball Ontario, I see the opportunities for baseball in the Leslieville area.

 I was at Jimmy Simpson.  I raced from a meeting for SOBA & OBA in Mississauga to attend.  I have power point presentation, budgets, forms and explanations that I was anticipating a discussion about.  I believed in this group.  Living in Leslieville, you are stakeholders in the community. The benefits from the children in the community participating in positive, constructive activities such as team sports like baseball re-invest in your community. 

You all expressed interest to help.  It is important for all of you and more to help to whatever extent that you can so that this does not fall onto the shoulders of the few.  The shoulders of the few will not allow this to be a sustainable league.  With the help of many, none of the tasks are overwhelming. 

While you may all be new at being involved in an endeavour such as this, there is knowledge in the group.  If there is a genuine willingness to push this forward, we can do this together.  As President of Toronto Baseball, I can bring knowledge on running a league and the support of neighbouring leagues to help make this a success.

In 2009, we were able to bring 90 kids together for a great season with me, as a non-Leslieviller, driving the ship.  With this many community champions, I was very optimistic that we had a group that could make this a compelling organization with as sustainable volunteer base. 

Permit requests have already gone into Parks and Recreation and the Toronto District School Board.

I see the email below and understand why people did not attend.  If there is interest, we need to know.  Please forward a response to both Radcliffe & I, by Wednesday to indicate that you are still interested to move forward, or at least attend a meeting on Sunday to see what will be involved.  If there is sufficient interest, I believe we may have one last opportunity to book a meeting room at Jimmy Simpson.  If there is not sufficient interest, I will contact the manager Thursday morning to let him know we will not need it and contact both Parks and the Toronto School Board to let them know we will no longer require the permits.

I look forward to hearing from each of you.

Regards,

Dave Black,

Treasurer, & Past President

Leslieville Baseball Association

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Hi all,

Due to the unfortunate circumstance of not having enough board members to carry out house          league operations I am withdrawing any further plans to continue with Leslieville Baseball Association. 

President of Leslieville Baseball

Radcliffe D. Andrews