Barbershop and baseball
Here’s how they compare

Summer is over but this summer as usual my thoughts turned to baseball. I know I should be thinking about barbershop and PROBE, but I can’t help wanting to go to a baseball game for just a little relaxation. Baseball is a slow enough game that you can do just that — relax — well, almost. Have you ever been to one of those games, where it was the bottom of the ninth and the home team was trailing by just one run? The bases are loaded, two men out and the count on the batter is three balls and two strikes. The pitcher winds up and pitches the ball. The batter swings and — —. Well, I will let you fill in the rest depending on your love of the game and also if you are the home team or the visitors.

PROBE right now is a lot like that baseball team. We are the home team, we have all the bases loaded and the pitch is on the way. Our out-going president, Grady Kerr, has developed numerous committees (loaded the bases) to help both bulletin editors and public relations men throughout the Society. We have a mentor committee to help new and current bulletin editors improve their bulletins. One success story from Grant Carson reads: "Bob Rancilio, editor of the Grosse Pointe, Michigan, The Pitch-Pipe, won the PIO BETY. Bob was ably coached by Jade Walker with a little assist in L&R by (ahem) yours truly." This committee has worked very hard and is to be commended. Other committees such as Membership, COTS, Be a Judge, On-Line Publications and New Bulletins – How To, are up and running. They just need a little more emphasis (the batter at the plate) to be a success.

Unfortunately, this past year we have not added any new judges to the team. We still do have several in the on-deck circle and we are searching for more who are will to step up to bat. We have had a couple of judges decide to sit out for awhile and, of course, this puts more burdens on the current judges. Judging is perhaps one of the most fun projects that there is. Not only do you have the opportunity to see what others are doing in the Society but you have a chance to make a good bulletin even better.

The public relations officers of our chapters need some help, also. This past year I became a Marketing and Public Relations COTS instructor. I have learned a tremendous amount about marketing and promoting our hobby. I would hope that from time to time we can all gain this information. I also know what the curriculum for COTS Marketing and PR will be and encourage every PR person in PROBE to go to COTS and glean the information from the instructors.

If you really want to get involved with your district/chapter, volunteer to help the public relations officer. On a district level volunteer to teach a class such as Bulletins or Web Pages. The rewards will be great.

Our PROBE membership is ever growing, even if very slowly. I am sure that once we get over the growing pains like a rookie in the big leagues we will finally hit the ball and drive in all the runs needed to really make the home fans proud.

At the series in Portland (Bulletin Editors Forum in Portland), we looked at several of the committees that pertain to bulletins and editors and discuss where we should be going.

I am excited at the prospects for next year and know that a GRAND SLAM HOME RUN can be made just by all the TEAM pulling together.

GO PROBE.

In parting I want to thank Grady Kerr, out-going president for all his work in getting PROBE out on its own and starting a new era. Also a big thanks goes to John Sugg, as out-going VP for Public Relations. He has done a great job of working with PR of our Society and what we do.