The Offseason By Matt Drewes, Thomsen & Nybeck, P.A., Attorneys
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hose of you who have read each copy of this magazine in 2014 (thank you) have hopefully noticed that we on the CAI-MN Communications Committee implemented a baseball theme this year. This was inspired by our fair state’s hosting Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in July. Now, as we reach the end of calendar year 2014, we will have closed out another baseball season. And while the Twins lost more than 90 games for the fourth season in a row, baseball has still played a significant role in our lives, and we’ve recognized that throughout the year in the pages of Minnesota Community Living. This (you may be sad to know) will be the last baseball-themed issue in our series.
In November and December, MLB teams are already making decisions about their rosters for next season. Some players’ contracts provided the team with just a short time after the end of the World Series to exercise clauses allowing them the option of securing the players’ services for another season. Baseball’s winter general manager meetings are held in December, when team management will also meet with the agents for players looking to sign new contracts.
“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”
— A. Bartlett Giamatti an evaluation of leadership, of budgets, of service providers, of infrastructure, or of people and their attitudes and behavior. Now is the time to gather any negative — or positive — feedback (if you haven’t already). But some may need some encouragement to start. Seasonal contracts often are best renewed in or by the start of November to cover the upcoming winter season as well as the following summer. That way you avoid changing groundskeeping contractors in the spring, when a new contractor would be faced with damage caused by someone else the preceding winter, and the outgoing contractor may be much less motivated to address any damage done. Other kinds of contractors for various projects you may wish to complete next year are likely looking to sign new contracts, as well. They may be more flexible in order to book projects for the upcoming season. Consider how these and other contracts or relationships from the prior year may have influenced the community, or how contracts or relationships may be implemented, changed, or enhanced for next year.
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Those of us who live in and work with community associations will hope to share some stories with you about how communities can evaluate their past “season” and how they may plan for the future. As with baseball teams, now may be a time to plan for next year’s roster of contractors or personnel who will help with the year. Steve Hovley said: “To a pitcher, a base hit is the perfect example of negative feedback.” Many of you may already have begun or completed 6
Minnesota Communit y Living
We hope you’ve appreciated the direction we’ve taken the magazine this year. It has presented an interesting set of challenges and opportunities. Ultimately, we want to provide a resource that helps to generate discussion and bring new ideas to your communities, while keeping things interesting and engaging in the process.
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