30 June 2009

ISF HOSTED MEETINGS AND RECEPTION
The International Softball Federation’s Commission on Legislation met in Plant City, Florida, June 26-27 to review and discuss changes in the current ISF Code that would bring the governing body more in line with current trends, including governance and competition structure, plus provide for future development and growth of the sport. The meeting had representation from all six current ISF regions as selected by each regional confederation. ISF President Don Porter said he was “very pleased with the deliberation and discussion on a wide range of issues that at the closing brought forth a very strong, positive, and progressive document to bring before the ISF Congress later this year."

A meeting of the ISF Executive Council was held to review and discuss a number of items, including preparations for the ISF Congress to be held in October. Reports from a number of commissions were among the agenda items as well as updates on the upcoming major ISF competitions and new federation members. ISF 1st Vice President Clovis Lodewijks (AHO) returned to an active state following a medical leave, attending the Council meeting in Plant City.

A BackSoftball reception was also held and an update on the presentation made recently to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board was given to the attendees, who also took part in a silent auction of Olympic softball memorabilia. Rubilena Rojas, a 2008 softball Olympian (Venezuela) was among those on-hand.

Several international softball officials gather in front of the BackSoftball display at the ISF world headquarters in Plant City, Florida, following the recent commission and ISF Executive Council meetings.

BACKSOFTBALL STILL GOING STRONG
Activities for the Olympic reinstatement campaign, BackSoftball, continue with the ISF having presence at a number of coming events including the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, and the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Singapore. As pictured below, Ms. Rojas, a BackSoftball Athlete Ambassador, recently met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who expressed his support for the reinstatement of Olympic softball.

WORLD SOFTBALL DAY 2009
An article presently appearing on the website homepage reports on some activities that took place for the fifth consecutive year’s celebration of World Softball Day (June 13). Information and photos are still being gathered from national softball federations around the globe for a longer report in World Softball magazine (September-December). The photo below shows a young boy participating in one such event at the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing, China.