As in all organizations, ultimately, money is required.....
I continuously tell the boys that "I can't run this club on just air and water----wish I could!" The reality is that we spend a fairly substantial sum every year on club activities, supplies and equipment. The city of Virginia Beach provides next to nothing for the overall field and baseball program at OLHS. Almost all their support is provided for the actual spring season. Since club activities are throughout the year, we simply are not funded by the city or school system and rightly so, since we are not an "official" Virginia Beach School's organization.
Typically, the club will spend over $3000 a year on grass seed, fertilizer, chemicals, and other field support items (everything from lawn tractor repairs to new rakes, hoses, sprinkler heads, sand bags, tarps, batting nets, etc., you name it!
The club also purchases umpires for our scrimmages / Intersquad games which costs the club approx $100 per game.
The club also provides a new hat and scrimmage jerseys to all new members (existing members---we replace worn out hats and jerseys if needed). At Christmas time----the club purchases a present for EVERY boy in the club.
There are also misc. day to day expenses such as new padlocks, various nuts and bolts, parts, cans of paint, again, you name it!
The bottom line is that it just plain costs money to have a nice field and facilities----and to be able to constantly offer a solid program to young baseball players.
Instead of continuously hitting parents up with "fund raisers," the club does a schedule of "dues" instead----(Although from time to time, the club may be forced to do a fundraiser). For the year 2009-2010 our dues will be $85 Summer, $50 Fall and $50 Winter. In an age where a single weekend showcase or camp will cost a boy $500 or more, I just don't feel that $185 spread over almost the entire year is too much to ask from a family. Especially when a typical boy receives the below club benefits on a yearly basis:
Over 100 organized and coached workouts / practices / scrimmages
Over 300 hours of quality Instruction and coaching
Free slow-motion video analysis
Access to all facilities, hitting cages, bullpens etc.----throughout the year
Access to free Sunday "Hitting Academies"
Constant access to quality coaching and advice
Hat
Jerseys
Christmas present
And----probably most importantly----the opportunity to belong to a great group of boys, a TEAM of young men, bonded with a common goal, and willing to work hard to get there.
We also offer any boy who is in a tight financial situation the opportunity to "work off" their dues doing field maintenance and jobs for the club. We NEVER turn anyone away because of money!!!
All coaches and anyone involved with the Dolphin Baseball Club are volunteers. No person receives ANY kind of remuneration except the satisfaction of watching young men work hard and develop.
We are listed with the Federal Government as a tax exempt, non profit, public charity organization and have recently acquired full tax exempt status from the IRS. The club has a Federal EIN and complies completely with United States Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) which deals with tax exempt, non-profit, public charity organizations. We have an official charter and our books are always open to any parent who wants to take the time.
Finally, I want to add that as President of the Dolphin Baseball Club, I receive NO financial renumeration from the club in any way. Indeed, (and I hope my wife doesn't read this) there are many (probably far too many) occasions where I simply purchase something out of my own pocket for the club and never ask for reimbursement. Call it my contributions to the club......
Hope you have a clear indication of where the money goes.
Questions?----call or email me 343-3151.
John Risney
