The Sports Association of Oakland suffered the wrath of Frank Monoco who, during the June 24th town council meeting, derided the inability of the organization to open the Rec Stand for this year’s baseball season. The 2008 season provided enough volunteers to keep the stand open on a semi-regular basis, and even show a modest profit, but this year yielded less than a handful of volunteers to operate the stand. This resulted in it going out to bid for a local business to assume operation.
Mr. Monaco called for the town council to remove all the members of the SAO, which is a private non-profit organization, and replace them. He also castigated the members for failing to entice volunteers by imposing a surcharge on recreational fees. He explained the additional fee could be waived for those fulfilling a Rec Stand shift.
This is an idea used to encourage volunteers in numerous municipalities across the state and across the nation, but not in Oakland. As America faces the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and many parents are working multiple jobs in order to afford the privilege of paying the highest taxes in the nation while simultaneously avoiding foreclosure and/or bankruptcy, an economic incentive to volunteer would most likely produce positive results from parents.
Unfortunately, the recreational activities provided by Oakland are a municipal service. The Sports Association of Oakland, as a private non-profit organization, has no authority under the law to impose municipal fees on residents; this is probably a good thing. If the Sports Association of Oakland did have the authority to impose municipal fees, they could simply charge all residents who wish to speak at a town council meeting…and then return the money if the speaker volunteers something worthwhile.