ESPL League General Information

The Etobicoke 55+ Slo-Pitch League (ESPL) is organized under the auspices of the Toronto Parks and Recreation Department, and operates out of the Fairfield Seniors Centre in South Etobicoke.

The ESPL is a recreational league and exists to allow seniors, both male and female, 55 years of age and older to play slo-pitch on a regular basis from the middle of May to the middle of September each year.

The League began in 1994 and operates through an Executive and a system of committees which organize and conduct the activities of the League.

One of their main objectives is to balance all teams in strength. Although there is competitiveness among teams the main thrust is for all players to have fun and exercise.

Even though the ESPL comes under the Toronto Parks and Recreation, we remain self-supporting as sponsors for each team are obtained.

All team uniforms (sweaters), bats, balls, bases and game incidentals are supplied by the ESPL.

League Operating Guidelines

Conduct Of Executive Meetings

Meetings are conducted using Robert's Rules of Order Revised as the primary resource.

In particular the Executive Committee operates as a Committee or Board, which means among other things that the chair of meeting (the Commissioner or his/her designate) votes on motions. Motions pass if supported by a majority of the votes cast (absentions do not count); on tied votes, the motion fails. The chair can not vote twice (e.g. to break a tie vote).

Quorum For Executive Meetings

All members of the Executive are entitled to attend all meetings, and all members have a vote.

Both of these conditions must be satisfied to conduct business:

2/3 of the members of the Executive must be present.
5 or more team captains, or their representative(s), must be present.

Election of Executive Members

If there is more than one candidate for a position, two disinterested Tellers are selected from the Executive who will count the votes.

All candidates will be invited to the Executive Meeting where they will be given maximum two minutes to speak to the Committee about their candidacy.

A vote of all Executive members will be taken by secret ballot. If one candidate has a majority of the votes, that candidate is elected.

If no candidate has a majority, the candidate(s) with the lowest number of votes is/are dropped from the ballot.

All Executive members vote again on the reduced slate of candidates.

Normally, after the vote is complete, a motion is made that the ballots be destroyed at end of meeting.

This page created and maintained by Mike Peterson, mikep@rubberchickencult.ca.
Created September 27, 2018. Last updated March 13, 2021.