Managers, as most of you know I was a high school teacher and love to do research on historical issues.  Even the 'weather' demands we look at the past and certainly the future, as it pertains to us, and softball lovers all over Florida and the Gulf States.  Here is the latest that I have read just in the past few days:

 

Whether you believe in global warning or not we have been going through some rough summers and falls in the past few years.  I am not here to debate that.  But, here is what the experts say about this year:

 

According to the National Climate Adaption Center for weather across the country this will be a rough summer and fall for Hurricanes and Tropical Storms.  The Atlantic Ocean water temperature is already above 75 degrees F which is warm enough to have at least Tropical Storms appear even now.  I am not an expert of course but knowing that it appears to me that the Gulf will be warmer than usual as well, which will bring a greater opportunity for Hurricanes.

 

According to the Center there could be as many as 24 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes with at least 3-4 hitting the Florida peninsula.  

 

The average for the past several years is 14 Tropical Storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.  

 

Why am I taking the time to educate you?  You 'Florida crackers' like me understand and deal with it but we have a large population that does not understand.  You should not fear the weather but respect it, and do what is necessary to protect you and your family.  For many of you softball is a way of life and you want to play no matter what.  Guess what?  Do you not think that every single Board Member feels the way you do?  Of course they do but the difference is that we are responsible for making it as safe as we can for you and your Players anytime that we can.  

 

I know it sounds like a recording but we really do care about all of you.  We check the weather starting at least a month out for all tournaments all the way until days before the tournament.  If it storms several days in front of a tournament we may have to cancel because the fields are too wet to play. That normally is a Site maintenance decision.  Once we start a tournament we still depend on the local maintenance people to tell us if we can get back on the fields or are we done for the weekend.  These are blue collar guys that want extra hours for extra pay.  They do not want to cancel the tournament unless it is necessary.

 

We will continue to do what we have always done and that is to do what is best for you and the Association.  I suggest you talk to your Players and let them know that all remarks should come from you, the Manager.  I have already told you about the misappropriate comments made earlier this year.  Those people were warned but going forward it may lead to automatic suspensions.  

 

I want to repeat one of my favorite lines that you have heard on many occasions since I have been your Chairman.  "We are happy to have you, but we do not have to have you."  I would remind your new Players especially.

 

Coach Mike Knowles
FHC Chairman