| 2008 Jamestown BRWS Board of Directors | |
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| Front Row L to R: Sam Teresi, Larry Maisto, Kathy McMaster, Russ Diethrick (President), Ralph D'Angelo Back Row L to R: Keith Ecklund, C.J. Kelley, Russ Payne, Lee Johnson (Treasurer), Pat Ohl, Kim Ecklund, Bonnie Magers (Secretary), Toni Bellitto, Jeff Lehman, John Bauer, Felix Muzza (Vice President), Chuck Telford Missing: Chuck Strand, Al Spunaugle, Lee Harkness |
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| Board of Director's Biographies | |
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Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. - President Russ has been the Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series Committee's Host President for 12 series, including the first six and the last seven. He has been the director of a mid-Atlantic Regional. He also worked for Babe Ruth League Inc., from 1991 to 1993 as its director of development and is currently a member of its International Board of Director's. On August, 9 1997 Russ was inducted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame. On the same night the former College Stadium of Jamestown was officially changed to Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park. Russ is affectionately referred to as Jamestown's 'Mr. Baseball' and has been a key contributor and supporter of professional and youth baseball in the city of Jamestown since the 1940s. |
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Felix Muzza - Vice President/Stadium Division Co-Director Felix has been a member of the Babe Ruth World Series Committee since 1980 when he served as a ticket taker. He has also served as Personnel Committee Chairman and has been a host parent seven times and this will be his 14th World Series. Felix had this to say about his Babe Ruth experiences: "It has provided many hours of enjoyment and also given us the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships both here in Jamestown and throughout the country. We are very thankful for the leadership of our Host President Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. His compassion, vision and genuine love of baseball has elevated Jamestown as a role model for implementing successful Babe Ruth World Series. I will always remember, and live by his powerful quote, "The more you give; the more you receive." |
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Bonnie Magers - Secretary Bonnie is the Secretary to the Board and is also the co-chair of both the Decorations committee and the Activities committee. She has also served as the Hostess Chairman for 13 World Series as well as the co-chair of the souvenirs committee. Bonnie began volunteering in 1979 for the planning stages of the first World Series and has been involved in every single one hosted in Jamestown. Bonnie says, "Being a committee member has been a great experience over the years, and I have met many wonderful people from across the country and in the surrounding area." |
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Russ Payne - Administration Division Director Russ has been a member of the Babe Ruth World Series Committee since 1980 and has been on the Board of Director's since 1987. Over his 28 years of volunteering he has also been a host parent for nine World Series. He has also serves as Vice-President, Operations Division Director and a Host Family Regional Chairperson. The Payne's have hosted many players from all over the nation, including Ben Kayser, all-tournament team selection of the 1995 16-Year-Old World Series Champions out of Columbia Basin, Washington. |
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John Bauer - Finance Division Director John currently serves as the Director of the Finance Division. He has previously held the position of Advertising chairman and has also served as a general volunteer. John has been a Babe Ruth World Series for 27 years, being a part of every series since the inaugural 1980 13-Year-Old Babe Ruth World Series. |
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Chuck Telford - Public Relations Division Director Chuck has volunteered for every Babe Ruth World Series hosted in Jamestown and began in 1979 as a volunteer who assisted in planning for the first ever series in Jamestown in 1980. He has previously held the position of Finance Division Director. Chuck's son Rob played on the Host Team in the 1980 World Series. |
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Larry Maisto - Manpower Division Director Larry is the Director of the Manpower Division. He has previously served as an usher for the manpower division. Larry was a host parent in 2005 and has been volunteered for four World Series over the last 10 years. |
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Ralph D'Angelo - Stadium Division Co-Director Ralph's involvement in the Babe Ruth World Series began in 1987 when he helped his father sell tickets, which he also did in 1990 and 1992. The upcoming BRWS will be Ralph's 10th as a volunteer and seventh as the Co-Director of the Stadium Division. Ralph's daughter Rachel works with Bonnie Magers and son Joseph works in the press box for the BRWS as well. |
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Keith Ecklund - Board Member Keith is currently a Board Member as well as the chairman of the Banquet committee. He has also served on the Advertising committee. Keith first got involved in the World Series in 2003 and has volunteered for the past three series. |
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Kimberly Ecklund - Board Member Kim is the currently a Board Member and works on the Hostess and Advertising committees. Her first involvement in the World Series came in 1981 when she served as a Host Princess (now referred to as hostesses) and has been active in every Babe Ruth World Series held in Jamestown since. |
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CJ Kelly - Board Member CJ is a Board Member and the current Chairperson of Souvenirs. He first volunteered for the Babe Ruth World Series in 2000 and this will be his fourth series. CJ went to Texas to assist with the clean-up efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and was able to meet some of the parents of the Jamestown-hosted 2000 13-Year-Old World Series championship team from Nederland, Texas. |
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Kathy McMaster - Board Member Kathy is currently the co-chairperson of the Host Family Committee and has hosted players herself five times. Kathy has volunteered for every single Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown since 1980. Kathy says, "After hosting boys for the first series we held in Jamestown and seeing the friendships we developed, it is something you want to stay involved with forever." |
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Pat Ohl - Board Member Pat is currently the co-chairperson of the Host Family Committee. She has been involved in the host family department for many years and has also helped with tickets. She has been a host parent herself and has been involved in every Babe Ruth World Series hosted in Jamestown for the past 28 years. Pat says, "I love working with the great committee people and meeting all the players and folks from all over the United States. Our host families are the greatest and make our job easy." |
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Al Spunaugle - Board Member Al is a Board Member as well as the Transportation Committee Chairman. Al has been involved with Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series for five years and has been a part of seven total World Series. |
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Chuck Strand - Board Member Aside from being a Board Member, Chuck is also a P.A. announcer for the World Series and Host Family Support Chairperson and has also been a host parent four times. Chuck has volunteered for every World Series since 1981. |
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Toni Ann Bellitto - Board Member Toni is a co-chairman of the Hostess committee and a member of the Publicity Committee. She also is a volunteer for the World Series of Cars where she is responsible for the raffle. She first volunteered for the World Series in 1997 and joined the board in 1998. She has been involved in every World Series since. |
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Sam Teresi - Board Member Sam Teresi has been the Mayor of Jamestown since 1999. He was re-elected in 2003 and 2007 to four-year terms. Teresi also serves on the Babe Ruth World Series Board of Directors, and the Executive Board of Jamestown Professional Baseball, Inc. Prior to being elected Mayor, he was the Director of Development of the City of Jamestown for 12 years. |
Lee Johnson - Treasurer Lee has been a Babe Ruth volunteer for 30 years and has been at every World Series hosted in Jamestown. Lee planned the first ever Home Run Derby at the Icebreaker picnic and is still involved in the event to this day. |
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| Jeff Lehman - Operations Division Director | |
| Lee Harkness - Board Member | |
| Chuck DeAngelo - Board Member | |
| James Abdella - Board Member | |
