At MYAS, we continuously evaluate, review, and debrief the programming and services that we offer to ensure we are continuing to fulfill our mission of improving and enhancing the delivery of youth sports services; honor our educational foundation; provide opportunities for youth; and make a positive impact in the communities we support and serve.

For example, I think about our 20th annual Gopher State Baseball Tournament of Champions, the flagship event for community-based traveling baseball teams. Our participation numbers were at an all-time high this season.

Nearly two decades ago, we recognized a need to provide a season-ending event for youth baseball players who either don't play travel ball or don’t participate in travel leagues or tournaments. To meet that need, we launched the Rec State Baseball Championships, now known as the Gopher State Rec Baseball Championships.

A litany of challenges exists for recreational/in-house teams because different communities/associations run their in-house programs in a variety of ways. Communicating this wonderful end-of-season opportunity can be a challenge, due to changes in leadership or a reluctance to share info about opportunities that exist outside of a specific organization or association.

We're evaluating and determining how we can continue to offer this premier event for rec/in-house teams that creates great moments that people are excited to be a part of. The key is to be able to engage with the youth baseball community and see how we can all amplify and elevate that experience.

We are mindful of keeping things as affordable as possible for the Gopher State Rec Baseball Championships, even while numerous forces are driving up entry fees. We also want to be aware of the perception that kids who play community-based travel ball have more opportunities than the rec/in-house kids. We strive to create an equal opportunity for the experiences that are provided to all levels of play.

That's a challenge I present to my staff: To ensure that the experiences provided on both the travel and the rec/in-house levels are consistent.

Teams participated in the Gopher State Rec Baseball Championships during the weekend of August 9-11, and we had the opportunity to crown champions and provide plaques for teams that finished in second, third and fourth place. I received an email from a parent of one of the winning teams, saying how much she appreciated everything we did to provide that environment for her team. She added that some of the players have siblings who play travel baseball, and how much the players on her team would enjoy the same type of opportunities, like being recognized in a Parade of Champions at Target Field prior to a Minnesota Twins game.

I was very thankful that our longtime partner, the Minnesota Twins, were gracious when I asked if there was a way MYAS could still honor the Gopher State Rec Champions, and they obliged with tickets to a game. Three of the four championship teams utilized those tickets to go to the August 26 Braves vs. Twins game, complete with a parade of champions, prior to the game!

That's something I am proud of: We want to listen to feedback and address it.

Yes, we offer sports. We offer programming. We offer great services, but ultimately, we offer superior customer service. If we're not responding or are not open to feedback and input, that doesn't help our brand.

Recently, my family had a water main leak in our basement. I was going to call plumbers, but someone told me to contact the after-hours line of the city of Mounds View, where we live. That person directed us to call Ramsey County, which connected us to the Fire Department. Within five minutes, a fire truck and a police officer showed up! I wasn’t sure if all of that was necessary, but they were there, and the members of the Fire Department went inside my basement to assess the situation. He said the water line needed to be turned off. And within a few minutes, the public works director called me asking for an update on the situation. Then he promised to have the water line off shortly. Within 20 minutes, a city employee was at our home to turn off the water line.

At the city festival last month, I told the mayor about the amazing service we received in what could have been a very stressful matter, and how important it made us feel to have so many people genuinely wanting to help us. That made me very proud to be a resident!

It is sometimes a challenge when you’re not sure who to contact when something is not quite right. It's a terrible feeling. It's difficult when you feel helpless.

It's yet another reminder of how important it is to build relationships and foster trust and rapport, which is what we strive for every day at the MYAS.