Need suggestions for building up a working membership in our league

I have been in your exact position with a similar size league and here is what I did. First I sat down and made list of all areas and tasks that are needed for a youth baseball league. Make sure as was stated earlier that you cover everything; you will soon have a list of major job areas or comittees that looks something like this (may be a few more):

Umpires
Registration
Player Agent(s) (organizes tryouts and drafts)
Concession Stand
Uniforms
Trophies/Awards
Pictures
Coaches (recruits, screens, monitors coaches)
Field Maintenance
Equipment
Fundraising (sponsors, fundraisers, etc.)
Scheduling
Player Development (organizes player clinics, etc.)
Special Events (orgainizes special days such as Opening Day, Awards Day, etc.)
Team Parent Coordinator
Division Coordinator

This will give you 12-20 major job areas. For each of these major job areas write up a draft of a job description as best you can. Ideally you should have as many Board of Directors positions as you do major jobs and each of your board members will take one of these major jobs as a Director or Chairperson. If a person is willing to take on a major task such as one listed above then that person should be entitled to have a vote in league activities.

What you want to do is recruit the best people possible to become directors or chairpersons of each of the major job areas listed above. Then let them recruit people to be on their committees.

To find the volunteers for these big tasks is no easy matter. Use the 6-8 people you have on board now to help recruit people for these jobs. Place an article in the local newspaper about your league and its volunteer needs. Talk to everyone you can (calling last year's coaches as you have suggested), target good candidates and ask them. Some people are will to help but have never been asked. Each new person that you recruit will probably have 2-3 new people in mind that could help out. Basically you need to have all of these positions filled at least 4-5 months ahead of opening day so that things can be as organized as possible as far ahead of time as possible.

One of the first things you will want to do is put together a "working" budget for the next season. This is a necessity in order for you to have a good idea (your best estimate)of what you think your income will be from registration, sponsors, fundraising, concessions, etc. and what you will budget for expenses (and cover all expenses as best you can). Draft a budget with the league treasurer (and other key people as needed). Propose,debate, and modify the budget at an early Board Meeting and approve a final working budget for the next season.

I could go on and on. As you know you have significant task ahead of you and it will be frustrating at times but do your best to have fun with it. Good Luck

Gary