When news first broke in March about an investigation into the finances of Stony Point Little League, The Editorial Board examined the issue, with an eye toward a disturbing trend of ripoffs to nonprofits, sports organizations and fund-raisers during times of recession. Below is a March 10 editorial. It seems relevant again, after reading Sunday’s article, “Little League thefts on rise,” and earlier coverage, including “Ex-official arrested in Stony Point Little League theft” and “Little League ex-treasurer’s arrest a shock.”

The original March 10 editorial follows, with time elements added in italics.

Step up to the plate

A Journal News editorial

It’s hardly a unique story, especially these days – the numbers don’t add up, and it seems that money’s gone missing. Money of neighbors, of friends, gone. It’s happened in hedge funds, where lax oversight and investors willing to believe a deal that’s “too good to be true” find out much too late that it was. It’s happening in nonprofit groups, where a few volunteers manage sometimes thousands of dollars with little training and less oversight. And now, it appears, it’s happened in Stony Point Little League.

At some point – no one has been exactly clear – it became apparent that Stony Point Little League’s books didn’t add up. Funds were missing from the nonprofit league that lets kids in the northern Rockland town play ball. League officials have declined to put an amount on the missing money, but talk around town ranges from $25,000 to $80,000.

Tough thing to do

So, the local board that runs the Stony Point Little League did likely the hardest thing a group of friendly volunteers could do: It went to the police. An ongoing investigation, now in the hands of town police but possibly heading to the Rockland District Attorney’s office, means we know few details about the Little League situation. But here’s what we do know: These types of crimes, stealing from fund-raisers, taking from neighbors, swiping money intended to help children, aren’t rare. And they tend to spike when the economy tanks.

In Washingtonville, the president of the local soccer club was charged (in February) with embezzling more than $130,000 from the club’s bank account. Four years ago, a Philipstown Little League treasurer was accused of taking $15,000 in league funds. And in 1992, the PTA treasurer of Hempstead Elementary in the East Ramapo school district, a needy school in a needy district, admitted embezzling $35,000 from the organization. Her lawyer at the time blamed the pressure of that recession.

What’s important now is ensuring kids in town can still play ball. Certainly, many in town are stung by the revelations, and even feel betrayed by a league that promised safe, healthy fun for kids but was reckless with their hard-earned money. And this comes on the heels of former resident James Nicholson being charged with securities fraud and bank fraud (in February), with many of his former Stony Point neighbors falling victim.

Earning back trust

The league must work hard to gain back confidence. The fact that this much money could go missing in the first place should deeply disturb every board member. And it’s come to light that the organization did not file taxes for the past three years, another embarrassing fact for board of directors. Steps have been made in the right direction. The league has formed a finance committee. Computerized record-keeping is being instituted. Other committees have been formed to help with other tasks, and national and regional Little League officials have been contacted for legal and administrative support.

Stony Point Little League is far from alone in their lax oversight. Little League Baseball and Softball Treasurer Elissa Singer last month used her column on Little League International’s Web site to tackle the issue of financial problems in Little Leagues. Her column lists tips for protecting a league from financial problems, and many suggestions match the action already taken in Stony Point.

What next

Stony Point Little League, like many sports organizations, has grown in recent years. It has needed to raise more fees to cover costs for things that used to be the purview of volunteers, from umpiring games to staffing the snack shack. That’s meant more cash and less elbow grease.

Now, though, Stony Point Little League needs that volunteer spirit back. “This is a very challenging time for the Stony Point Little League, but the Board of Directors is committed to sustaining the level of baseball and softball that we’ve delivered for decades,” a March 2 letter from the League to parents states. “More so than ever before, we will need your support and enthusiasm to help us navigate this difficult situation.”

Yes, mistakes were made. Now it’s time to help fix them. The league – and every other nonprofit organization struggling with fewer volunteers, higher operating costs and a tight economy – needs people willing to pitch in and offer their skills and talent, and their elbow grease. And more people willing to help watch the store. The lesson’s been learned.

A Journal News editorial

Find out more

Little League Online, the Web site for Little League Baseball & Softball, offers “Tips from the Treasurer: Protect Your League, and Yourself, from Financial Problems,” with Little League Treasurer Melissa Singer, former controller of Little League International.

Go to www.littleleague.org and search for “Tips from the treasurer.”