COMMISSIONER'S CORNER

Part of the WESA Dusty Bag News feature of WESA.net. Messages from WESA League Commissioner, Seán Hernández Cummings. Questions and comments always welcome.  Please send to Commissioner (at) WESA.net 

BUILDING A LEAGUE: DEFINING  VOLUNTEERING 
12 September 2024
TL/DR Summary: WESA Member Darcy Simpson was awarded the 2024 Commissioner's Award at the Awards Banquet on Sept 7th

Don Parker, Darcy Simpson, Sean C
Photo credit Justin Mui

In 2024, we recognized a member who has come to define what it means to be a league-building volunteer.   Since joining WESA in 2004, Darcy Simpson has been a scorekeeper, a Commission member, a Coach, a WESA Pageant performer, an event volunteer on many occasions, travel team organizer, and an iPride Softball delegate. 

For six years between 2013-2018 he was our League Commissioner, and when you add the seven years as Treasurer and a year as Secretary and a year as Past Commissioner, that makes 15 years on the Commission. 

Darcy has been front and centre to help WESA through tough times and been a catalyst in our growth in the community.  It is not hyperbole to say that Darcy has been instrumental in making WESA what it is today. 

Darcy has been a friend, a mentor, a coach, a teammate, a model player and has defined what it means to be a WESA Volunteer-in-Pride. 

He has contributed to every aspect of this league in immeasurable ways. 

The following is a letter from Lifetime Member Art Gullet. 

First let me say CONGRATULATIONS Darcy, well deserved.  

Through the years the Commissioner’s Award has been given to individuals who have been instrumental in the growth and development of WESA.  Just being a playing member has never been enough for Darcy, he has always been there to help, to coach, to serve on Commissions.  

I am not going to pretend to know exactly how many times Darcy has served on the Commissions over the years, but I do know he led the team as Commissioner for six years and served in other roles many, many times.  During the last 20 years or so that I have known Darcy I never played much ball on the same team, he was either playing on F212 or Coaching F212.  

I have watched him “from the sidelines” as he developed his teams and many times worked with him on different Commissions throughout the years.   

Here’s how I see it: 

DARCY 

-Stubborn–With a purpose 
-Thoughtful- with a goal in mind 
-Prepared- to engage anyone with facts and plan 
-Respectful- for those willing to share ideas 

Since I have been around for a “little while” I have always looked at the Leaders of WESA and analyzed their strengths that they have brought to the league.  Although not always in agreement on the direction they have taken WESA, there is one thing Darcy and I  ave always agreed on, the Legacy of the League.  Remembering where WESA came from, how it has grown and the people who have driven the bus over the decades,  ust always be important. The continued support WESA and its sponsors provide to its members andthe community,  have and will always be important.  Darcy is the epitome of Legacy.   

Congratulations once again Commissioner, you are a big part of the WESA Legacy. 

- Art Gullet

On behalf of WESA, thank you Darcy for your ongoing commitment and dedicated service to the spirit and values of our league.  You have re-defined what it means to be volunteer. 

Together in Pride, 
Seán C

IS IT TIME TO SPLIT T1 DIVISION?
13 July 2024
TL/DR Summary: Members are encouraged to consider that it is time to split the very large T1 division into two.

Competitive play is at the core of softball.  Of course, the entire WESA experience is more than just that but as a sports league, our constitutional goal is to provide an atmosphere of friendly competition.  When people describe how to achieve a 'friendly' atmosphere we think about being welcoming, amicable, and having goodwill.  All these are true, and I think it also involves understanding where members come from as competitors.  

Many members come from a place of experience with athletic competition.  These seasoned competitors find playing in a division that is high-paced and highly-skilled a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.  Historically, the T2 division (previously C division) has served as the place where our most advanced players and those seeking a high level of competition have found what they are looking for from WESA. 

Our T1 division (previously D division) has served as the place where our more recreational-focused membership have thrived and has acted as the mechanism where new members get their first WESA experience.  A few members migrate every year from this division to the more advance-skilled division.  But more members tend to stay and prefer to seek a happy medium experience between a competitive and recreational atmosphere.  That is what a friendly atmosphere means to many. 

Indeed, in 2004, when WESA last split the membership into two divisions, that is precisely what we were looking to do - give the more advanced players a place to thrive while preserving a welcoming place for rookie and novice players in their own division.  At the time, the team split was 4 in the Advanced division and 4 in the more Recreational division.  In 2024, we are now at 5 in T2 division and 14 in T1 division.  

Our more Recreational division is bursting with 14 teams filled with players of vastly different skill levels and comfort levels of competition.  How has that affected our efforts to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere? Are we truly serving the needs of our Rookies and Novice members? 

After 21 years in WESA, I believe it is time to look at how we structure our divisions of play.   Many insights can be found by looking at our International Pride Softball sister leagues across North America.  The vast majority of iPride Softball has a more prescribed approach to grouping like-skilled players into divisions of play. I would describe this approach as being one that reserves divisions of play for those of similar play level and prescribes the more advanced-players into a suitable grouping that is welcoming and friendly for everyone. 

I encourage the membership to engage with each other on this topic. How can the league best provide an atmosphere of friendly competition for its members? Is it time to fully adopt the iPride Softball division structure (Divisions E, D, C) that allows members the freedom to play in the two more highly advanced divisions while preserving a place for Rookies and Novice players?  Lots to consider when plotting the next course in this, our 46th year.

Together in Pride, 
Seán C

**
 JERSEYS TALK
12 July 2024
TL/DR Summary: Your sponsor jersey is an essential part of your Kit, along with your glove, cleats, cup etc.


Hi WESA players! Let's take a moment to appreciate our family of Sponsors. The link below will take you to our page on Sponsorship and lists those businesses who support our league activities. Essential to our relationship with Sponsors is our team jerseys! Visibility is at the forefront of why they support WESA. Let's show our gratitude to our Sponsors by remembering to wear a sponsor jersey each and every time we are playing. That means wearing our team jersey at every game including when sparing for another team. A Sponsor jersey on each and every player for each and every game is essential to showing our support for our WESA Family of Sponsors.

Also, its in the rules. The WESA league appendices state D24. All Members must wear the current team jersey on the field.

Consequences: not wearing a sponsor jersey may result in a member not playing.

Please do your best to treat your jersey as an essential part of your kit along with your Glove, Cleats, Cup, Cap etc.

It shows respect for our Sponsors and support for our league.  https://wesa.net/wesa/Sponsorship

Together in pride,
Seán C