`titanic' Sailed Sea Of Doubts To Triumph

Alfred Lencoski 
January 25, 1998 
Alfred A. Lencoski, 86, Of South Bound Brook, N.j., Died Sunday In The 
Greenbrook Manor Nursing Home.

Tuesday, January 27, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Little League background checks absolve parents of their responsibility &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I would like to congratulate Fred DeSanto, District 16 Little League &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Administrator, for his decision to mandate that all District 16 Little
League coaches, assistants, and managers have criminal and child abuse
background checks before they can volunteer to coach our childrenI would also
like to commend Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom McGroarty for almost offering to pay
for these checks. It is heartening to know that we have people in these
positions who put our children's welfare well above other Little League
decisions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What is bothering me, though, is where do the coaches' responsibilities
begin and end? I feel that a written "Code of Responsibilities" should
accompany this mandate. For example: Can I allow a parent who does not get his
background checked drive some of the players to an out-of-town game, or do I
have to pack all 12 players into my compact car? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What if I'm the only coach at the game and one of my players has to go to
the bathroom? Should I let him go alone and risk having someone "abuse" him,
or do I call time-out and have the whole team go to the bathroom en masse? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unfortunately, the "volunteer" umpires wouldn't get paid, because whose
child would I allow to venture out into the bleachers to collect their
stipends? You never know if one of the parents who didn't pass the child abuse
check is sitting in the bleachers waiting for his or her prey. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Parents, please don't let your child go to the concession stand for food
or, even worse, help inside the stand because the volunteers there don't have
their backgrounds checked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I could go on with many more examples. I hope you get my point. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I have been coaching for five years in the Exeter Little League. There is
no "reasonable cause" for me to have a criminal or child abuse background
check. If there had been a problem during the past five years, I'm sure I
wouldn't be coaching. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I feel the only

Little League Background Checks Absolve Parents Of Their Responsibility 
I Would Like To Congratulate Fred Desanto, District 16 Little League 
Administrator, For His Decision To Mandate That All District 16 Little League 
Coaches, Assistants, And Managers Have Criminal And Child Abuse Background 
Checks Before They Can Volunteer To Coach Our Children.