Dear West Milford Little League Parents and Players,
The Little League Baseball Season is just around the corner. I want to extend a warm welcome on
behalf of the entire Board of Directors to our returning baseball families, as well as to all new families
to our League and our community.
At a time when children have many sports and activities to choose from, we are thrilled that a large
number of boys and girls between the ages of four and fifteen have chosen to play baseball in West
Milford Little League. WM Little League is the only official Little League baseball organization in West
Milford and has exclusively served the community of West Milford for decades, providing a positive
environment for the development of spotsmanship, character, and athletic skill among our baseball
youth. Our program puts an emphasis on fundamentals, participation, development, teamwork,
safety, family involvement, and fun, all while developing an appreciation and love for the game of
baseball. As a parent myself, I know what a thrill it is to see your child play for the first time and
watch them grow and improve through the years. These are memories that we will all cherish and I
am pleased that you too will enjoy watching your children learn baseball and grow as part of the WM
Little League family.
The Board is constantly working to improve our league and make it the best it can be for the kids in
our community. As such, one of our goals is to always improve on communication, and with that in
mind, hopefully this welcome letter will address questions we have received about the league,
financials, and volunteer commitments.
Board Membership
First, I would like to extend a warm thank you to our 2023-2024 Board Members. I applaud each of
you for the time you have given so freely and the sacrifices each of you made to help make WM
Little League one of the best, well respected youth baseball leagues in Northern NJ. With that said,
I’d also like to welcome our 2023-2024 WM Little League Board Members, some of whom are new,
and some who are past board members, as we continue the precedence of professionalism and
excellence. The sacrifices of everyone’s time and efforts, including your unwavering dedication to
this league, are greatly appreciated.
Board Positions
Do you want to get your feet wet and be more involved with our League? Help make our League
even better and show your support? Would you like to be involved and be part of the Board? There
are still a few committee positions available, if you would like to assist in the running of our great
League. We welcome everyone, as it is our volunteers that make us such a great League and the
more members we have will be paramount to the strength of our League. Please contact me
at [email protected] if you are interested.
Why do I have to volunteer?
WM Little League is 100% self-funded and 100% run by volunteers. None of the board members,
managers, or other volunteers receive any compensation for their countless hours of work. It is our
volunteers that make our League great and we call upon everyone to help out. Volunteering your
time only goes to further the betterment of the players within our League, so please don’t be shy --
just ask any Board member or coach, “How can I help?”, as help comes in many forms, from very
small roles to much larger ones. No matter how you volunteer, I am confident you will find it is one
of the most satisfying things you can do for your kids.
Our income comes entirely from registration fees, fundraisers and sponsorships. Our expenses
include uniforms, equipment (catchers gear, baseballs, etc), utilities, taxes & insurance, field
maintenance, and umpire fees. So it comes down to our parents, Board and volunteers to put in the
effort, like those in the past, to continue to raise funds for the League’s financial needs.
How can you help?
DONATE
WM Little League is a 501(c)3 organization and your donation may be tax deductible. Donations of
cash or check are always welcome. You can also sponsor a player whose family cannot afford the
registration fee.
Donations also come in the form of our fundraisers. Participate in our fundraisers, whether they be
League-wide events (i.e. our Senior Night), or restaurant nights or other events. Please come to all
the fundraising events and participate. Also pass along information regarding fundraising to family
and friends who may not be part of the League but are willing to support your player. Every little bit
helps and many of the fundraising events are opportunities build upon player comradery.
SPONSORSHIPS
We are still in need of sponsors for our 2023-2024 season to help bridge the gap in funding from our
normal revenue generating streams. Do you know a local business owner who is interested in
supporting their community and/or our players within the League? What about a restaurant your
family visits regularly, a salon you have been visiting for years, a local mechanic, realtor, or that
contractor/repair man you recommend to all of your neighbors?
Take a look at our sponsorship letter (Sponsor Letter) and pass it along to anyone who may be
interested in becoming a sponsor. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
VOLUNTEER
WM Little League would not exist without volunteers. It takes good people throughout this area to
make this League work and come together. Please consider becoming part of the team and
volunteer when and where you can. Lend a hand and get involved. It truly takes a community. We
just ask that you have a heart for kids and are open-minded and have a good perspective on what
we are trying to accomplish. The only way to keep our registration fees among the lowest in the city
is with everyone’s participation in fundraising, including raffle tickets, carnival booths, and working on
little league night. We are extremely grateful to the parents who take on additional volunteer jobs
beyond these commitments.
Volunteering saves us money, especially for jobs that we otherwise need to pay for, like umpires and
repair services (field maintenance, etc.) Have time and want to help, but not sure how? Please
contact [email protected] .
Closing
Our League is truly a one-of-a-kind place to make and share memories with kids, families and friends. I am constantly reminded by members of this great community of the numerous memories and friendships that have been created in and around West Milford Little League. Constantly I hear people tell stories about their time at WMLL. This is also evident by the past players who are now parents coming back to volunteer or coach in WMLL, or those that no longer have players in WMLL that still volunteer for this League. It is this commitment by the members of this community that have made WMLL truly one of the best places for our youth to learn and play baseball.
We are set for another fun and exciting baseball season and there is no better place for a family to watch a baseball game. Your children will always remember their time and experiences at WMLL and I look forward to seeing you all out there on the field or in the bleachers being a part of WEST MILFORD LITTLE LEAGUE!!
Sincerely,
Matt LaNeve
President, West Milford Little League