In this city, Oviedo Babe Ruth serves as a beacon of community spirit, providing young athletes with a platform to grow and compete. The governing bylaws are designed to protect member voting rights and ensure leadership is selected through a transparent and properly noticed election process. However, the recent board election process has been marred by a lack of transparency, casting doubt on the integrity of the process and compromising the fair representation of the league members interests. On January 8, a 15-year league member submitted her candidacy for VP of Softball. She was disqualified by a small group of board members without documented authority under the bylaws. Shortly thereafter, this same group held a closed meeting without the full Board of Directors and voted to restructure the board, converting the VP of Softball position from an elected position to an appointed one. We should not support leadership where positions are maintained by eliminating competition. League leadership should be earned through an open, transparent election process.

Additionally, two other league members expressed in writing that they would like to run for the open President position and open Softball Parent rep position. One was told at a board meeting, for the first time, that a deadline had already passed despite this deadline never appearing in any email, document, meeting minutes or most importantly - any communication to league families. The other candidate never even received a response to her email inquiry. 

Subsequent to the election concerns, it was identified that between 2022-2026, under the current president, at least 11 significant changes were made to the league's governing bylaws. Every single one of those changes required a vote by the full membership (league families). There is no evidence that any such vote ever occurred. Each bylaw revision consolidated power by a small subset of the board. This is the exact opposite of why a Board of Directors exists. 

OBR operates under governing bylaws designed to protect member voting rights and ensure leadership is chosen through a transparent and consistent process. The procedures surrounding this election lacked transparency, leaving many questions unanswered about the decision-making processes and the accountability of certain board members. Transparent and fair elections are crucial in maintaining trust and ensuring that the board accurately reflects the needs and desires of the community it serves. We believe that every parent, coach, and community member who has a stake in the Oviedo Babe Ruth League deserves an opportunity to have their voice heard.

To rectify this situation, we call for the Oviedo Babe Ruth Board to re-open the election process and ensure that proper notice is given to all eligible participants. We propose the following actionable steps:

1. The Board formally re-open the election process for the positions of President, VP of Softball, and Softball Parent Rep positions

2. Clear and written notice be sent to all league families outlining:

• eligible positions
• candidacy requirements
• a defined submission timeline
• a defined voting timeline

3. Restoration of the memberships right to vote on bylaw changes 

4. Immediate release of all meeting minutes and voting records 

5. An independent audit of every bylaw change made since 2022 

By taking these steps, we can restore faith in the election process and reaffirm our commitment to an accountable governance structure. We urge all league members to sign this petition to safeguard the integrity of OBR.