SVGLS SPRING 2023 ELECTIONS
SPRING ELECTIONS ARE HERE!
Want to make a difference and help maintain the positive community SVGLS provides to all of those that play and support our league? Sign up and submit a letter of intent for one of our many positions that are open!
All position descriptions can be found in the SVGLS Bylaws under the Rules/Forms heading on the website.
All letters of intent need to be submitted to Steph Gil, current Membership Coordinator at membershipcoordinator@svgls.org by 11:59 pm on May 30th. All candidate letters will be posted to the SVGLS website June 1st.
Elections will take place on Monday June 12th!
LETTERS OF INTENT
Candidate: David Ramos
Position: Commissioner
Hello SVGLS family! My name is David Ramos, and I am submitting my letter of intent to continue my service as SVGLS Commissioner. It has been a privilege to serve all these years and I hope you’ll consider allowing me to continue in that role. I have been a member of SVGLS since its founding in 2010. I have served as the SVGLS Commissioner since 2018. When I was elected our League had 6 dedicated teams in one division. Today we have 16 teams across 3 divisions. It was a core tenet of mine to rebuild trust with our membership through open communication, transparency, and respect. I recognized we needed to repair our Board culture and work on rebuilding our softball community. That had to start with me. I have an open-door policy and have made myself available to our members whenever possible. My goals are to continue to improve membership engagement and improve the overall quality and enjoyment of our program.
I’m immensely proud of our membership growth and its diversity. I hope that I have been a welcoming part of your time with our League. Nothing brings me greater joy than our opening hour every Monday where I get to walk freshly prepared fields, greet the staff and umpires, and then welcome our players as they arrive. It’s the magic hour of Monday. It should go without saying that I have a lot of love for this League and its members. I do my best to work with integrity and do the best that I can. Being human I sometimes have fallen short. That is the human side of anyone. I won’t get everything right, but I along with the rest of our Board, will always do my best to balance the needs of our membership and League. We have had our challenges, but we should never let those challenges separate us from coming together as a community. I hope that each of you knows you can consider me a friend. I’m here to support you.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David Ramos
Candidate: Rian Troth
Position: Treasurer
Dear Election Committee Members:
It is with great enthusiasm and humility that I announce my intent seek a second term for the position of Treasurer for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Softball League.
For those who do not know me, I joined the SVGLS family in 2010, and have been a fan, player, fundraiser, scorekeeper, Coach and Manager for many teams over the years including, The Don’t Care Bears, In Your Faces, Glitters, Sin Cara and many more. I have put together countless traveling teams representing SVGLS in many western state’s tournaments, participated in multiple NAGAAA World Series and was the founder of Sacramento’s SVGLS softball tournaments Gold Rush and the Camellia Classic. Over the years I have had the opportunity to build lifelong friendships, develop relationships, learn the inside and outside of league dynamics and how a league should operate. One of the things I love best about SVGLS are the fun times we share, sportsmanship, social events, and sense of family we have when we come together. Certainly, over the years, those of us involved with SVGLS have had our differences, disagreements and I have made my own mistakes and errors in judgement, which I fully acknowledge and learned from, but the one thing I have never strayed from was my love for the league, making it welcoming to all, listening to our membership, and wanting SVGLS to be a continued success.
In keeping with the league founding principles of making SVGLS transparent, welcoming, fun, and safe for all of us involved I would like to seek another term to the SVGLS Board of Directors and be honored to be re-elected as the SVGLS Treasurer. The role of Treasurer is one I have successfully managed currently and many times in the past for SVGLS, in addition to having the privilege to serve as Commissioner, Membership Coordinator, NAGAAA Representative as well as Vice-Commissioner. During my time as SVGLS Treasurer our books were always balanced, all reporting was done on time and league monthly reports were available for all to see for complete transparency. In my professional and volunteer experience I have served as the role of treasury, contract, and budget manager, served on multiple non-profit boards, and have extensive experience with both Federal, California State Tax and non-profit status reporting requirements.
I truly hope you will give me your consideration and entrust me with you vote. I pledge to always allow for full league financial transparency, communication and seek continual input from SVGLS members.
Help me continue to make SVGLS the best it can be.
Yours in Service,
Rian Troth
No Candidates
Candidate: Daniel Gomez-Edwards
Position: Membership Coordinator
SVGLS,
I would like to submit my name for consideration for the open position of Membership Coordinator. This season is my first in SVGLS after relocating to Sacramento from the East Coast and adopting our two wonderful kids (now 4 and 5). While I am new to SVGLS I am no stranger to NAGAAA ball, having played in the Hotlanta Softball League (HSL) in Atlanta, Georgia for many years managing both C and D division teams, I also spent 2 years in the Long Beach, CA league. In addition to league play, I've traveled to many NAGAAA sanctioned tournaments; Atlanta, Birmingham, DC, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Nashville, Knoxville, New Orleans, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and many others.
I would love to bring my experience and knowledge of the game to SVGLS in a leadership capacity. I understand the value of membership coordination, accountability amongst the teams, while also continuing to bring on new players and ensuring that we retain those new players to continue growing our league.
Over these next few weeks if you have any questions for me please do not hesitate to reach out to me or say hi at the fields. I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of the league.
Thanks,
Daniel Gomez-Edwards
Candidate: Teal Gonsolis
Position: DEIB Rep
Dear Election Committee Members,
I would like to formally announce my interest in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Representative position within SVGLS. I am a firm believer that softball is a sport for all body types and I hope to bring this mentality into this role.
I was introduced to softball three seasons ago and SVGLS has wholeheartedly changed my perspective on what it means to be a softball player. I have found a tight knit community that fosters a culture of not only acceptance, but celebrates people of all identities. Beyond the LGTBQ umbrella that this league already represents, SVGLS has proven to be a place for people of all ages, races, body types, abilities, and backgrounds to come and feel welcome, encouraged, and supported. As a softball player with a disability and proud owner of a larger body, I feel at home Monday nights on the field. This league has empowered me to seek this position to impact other players looking for their sense of home. I intend on maintaining the core values of SVGLS to ensure everyone is welcome in our incredible organization.
It is my hope to continue nurturing this kind of celebratory culture in the next year serving as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Representative by being an accessible source of support for all players.
Thank you all for your time and consideration,
Teal Gonsolis
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Candidate: Erin Lund
Position: DEIB Rep
Hey, Y’all
I’m Erin (She/Her/JuicyFruit). I am a sexually fluid, able bodied, multi-ethnic cis woman who has an incredible partner (“Ball Krusher Kelly”) and one of the cutest pups around (“Os/Oso/Osito/BananaBoi”). I am Pro Queer. Pro Trans. Pro BLM. Pro Reproductive Freedom and Body Autonomy. Pro Love.
I served as the SVGLS Secretary during the most recent term and I hope to continue supporting the evolution of the league as the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Representative. I understand the significance of creating (and maintaining) safe, joyful spaces for queer people and I aim to help the league reflect more of this by establishing a healthier balance between community and competition.
In Queer Joy,
Erin Lund
No Candidates
Candidate: Steph Gil
Position: D Rep
Dear Election Committee Members and SVGLS Membership:
Hello everyone! My name is Steph Gil and I am running for the open position of D Representative. I started playing in SVGLS in 2011 as a mid-20’s, recently out of the closet lesbian looking to find community and get reacquainted with a sport I love. SVGLS has been a gateway to several friendships and provided an accepting, friendly and open community that I have been privileged to be a part of for over a decade. I have played on several teams over the years: Mitsfits, Sac Sliders, Taste My Rainbow, Cherry Bombs and am the current coach/player for Sit on My Base in the D Division. I have also been the active Membership Coordinator for the past 1.5 years.
I recently moved to the East Bay which has limited the time I am able to commit to the role of membership coordinator with its vast responsibilities and I am stepping down from that role after this season. I have enjoyed my time on the board and the accomplishments the board collectively has made in a short time. We have increased membership size and number of teams, have taken our antiquated registration process digital and tried to increase our opportunities to give back to our membership but there is always room for improvement. I would love to continue being part of the positive changes this league has made, and will continue to make, by staying an active role on the board as the D Division Representative.
Thank you for your consideration,
Steph Gil
Candidate: Courtney Couch
Position: E Rep
Dear SVGLS Elections Committee,
I would like to enthusiastically express my interest in the vacant position of E Division Representative. As a lifelong softball player with a mission to make this incredible sport accessible to all I am eager to have a larger role in SVGLS.
The relationships I’ve developed along the way have fueled my interest in representing the E Division. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible individuals since I’ve joined SVGLS, some of which have become my closest friends. This season specifically has shown me the sense of community and belonging I want every player to experience. I have played on nearly every team in the E division where I’ve been welcomed with open arms. I’ve been given the unique opportunity to hear questions, comments, and concerns from a diverse group of players. I plan on channeling the support of my fellow E division players to make a positive contribution to SVGLS.
I am grateful for your consideration and hope I have earned the opportunity to represent my peers in the E Division. I take immense pride in being a part of SVGLS and I look forward to serving the amazing members who are the heart of the organization!
With Gratitude,
Courtney Couch
SVGLS - Who Are We?
Sacramento Valley Gay and Lesbian Softball is a non-profit recreation softball league that serves all ages 18+ living in and around the Greater Sacramento Valley Area. We are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, whose purpose is to assemble and maintain a program which stresses responsibility, sportsmanship, inclusivity, teamwork, and friendship.
Players of all skill levels are welcome in every division and we welcome players from all the surrounding areas to join our league – you don’t have to live in the Sacramento Area to play.
