BEACH BUMS SEARCHING FOR HOST FAMILIES

4/10/2012 - TRAVERSE CITY, MI — The Traverse City Beach Bums are on the hunt for some new host families for the 2012 season. We will need generous and willing families to open their homes to players, coaches, and other Beach Bums personnel. Our current host families are fantastic but we are always interested in hearing from potential new families for the 2012 season. The host family program is a vital part of every minor league team, and we at the Beach Bums believe the quality of people who live in the Grand Traverse area will set our host family program apart from the rest of the league.

There is some background information every potential host family needs to know before they sign up. We, as an organization, offer this information to you in order to ensure the best possible experience for our players and employees, as well as you and your family. Host families invite a player into their home for the duration of spring training, regular season, and through the playoffs. Minor league ballplayers are paid on a seasonal basis, and unlike players in the Major Leagues they earn very little for their hard work and dedication. As a host family, it would be your responsibility to provide your Beach Bums with a stable, clean, and healthy environment. Additionally, because the players will be stretched financially to follow their dreams, host families with the ability, means, and thoughtfulness to provide meals to their players during home stands will be given first priority.

• We will pair together players without cars to host families as close to Wuerfel Park as possible
• With the possible exception of spring training, it is the team policy to place one player, only, per host family
• At this time we are looking for host families willing to commit to the entire season (mid-May through early September)
• Host families need to be within a ten minute drive radius to Wuerfel Park
• The most desirable host families are those that will take full advantage of their season tickets
• Light sleepers be warned - players will be leaving early in the morning and return very late at night
• Keep in mind these will be grown men from the ages of 22-26

Host families are not financially compensated, but the chance to experience the day to day trials and tribulations of a minor league ballplayer is an opportunity few people will get to witness. Minor league players are rising stars, falling stars, shooting stars, and athletes with stars in their eyes. You, as a host family, will be a big part of their success in Traverse City and in their career as a baseball player. The better the 'home' environment, the better the player's performance.

Again, we want to stress our commitment to our host family program. We did not get in this business to be second best. Therefore, we will make our players and our host families as compatible as possible to avoid potential problems, and that requires an application process. Before applying to our program, please carefully consider the information provided. Then, if you are willing to proceed, please contact Joe Reeder at joe@tcbeachbums.com or call us at (231) 943-0100. Thank you again for your interest!

Keep tabs on the Beach Bums and the latest news this off season by following on Twitter @beachbumstc, find us on Facebook or sign up to receive the Beach Bums newsletter right to your inbox! Season tickets are still available so join the Beach Bums Nation and be a part of our 2012 Lucky Seven Season. The Beach Bums will open up the home schedule on May 25 when they take on the Windy City ThunderBolts. For tickets, promotional information or sales opportunities, call 231-943-0100.

Beach Bums pitcher Scott Dunn pictured here with his host family. Photo by: Traverse City Beach Bums official photographer, Pete Walters.