[Striker991]

Mr. Greene:

I still take exception to your use of "trained" vs "volunteer". Paid does not equal trained. Little League, through district, state, and regional programs provides a great deal of training for their umpires. In addition, local volunteer associations, like the one mentioned above, provide a great deal of training, and insist their umpires are trained before being sent out.

I apologize for sounding demeaning. It gets to be irritating when I hear this concept. And, it still sounds like you think that volunteer umpires are not "trained." I would make a wager with you, that for every incompetent volunteer umpire you point out, I can point out an equal number of incompetent paid ones. But where does this get us? Nowhere. It seems to be the best for all, is, rather than drawing this line, is to promote competent umpiring everywhere. Be an example. Be of assistance. Help with training. Maybe your association could run an annual clinic for all the volunteer umpires in your area? If you brought the level of the volunteer umpire up, you wouldn't have to have a bake sale to hire an umpire.