By Marilyn Kelley, STPC President


 

Happy New Year!

As I reflect on the past year, I am grateful for your continued support of STPC. 2020 hasn’t been an easy year by any means, but I’m proud that the STPC Board has continued to move forward with offering tennis opportunities despite the considerable challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic caused.

What can we celebrate about 2020?

1) Group Play Captains are our core "front-liners" and they have provided STPC members with continued opportunities to play tennis during the summer and winter seasons. The Board thanks all captains for their tireless efforts!

2) Summer Drills were held throughout the summer despite changing COVID-19 guidelines and different implementations of them at the various court venues. Thanks to Drills Coordinator Katie Grove and Board VP Jim Handy for finding solutions to the issues, one of which was to develop a new online registration and payment system for Drills, using Ticketbud. Due to their efforts, together with the help of you members, 700+ members were able to participate in Drills this past summer!

3) New "one-doubles" and singles leagues were formed this year, as the 20-year-old Team Tennis league became unfeasible under COVID-19 group-size restrictions. The new leagues were popular, and may well become regular STPC tennis opportunities. Thanks to Board members Mike Woolsey, Nancy Tarbox, Mike Dalton, and Sheila Bjore for stepping up to coordinate these new leagues.

4) Growing volunteer participation. Pop-ups would not be happening this winter without the commitment of Mark Thompson, David Mark, Carol Rothe, Mike Dalton, and Wanda Davies! And Pop-Ups continue to a great way for all to meet new members!

As we usher in 2021, the board reconfirmed that STPC will continue to expand tennis opportunities, expand our metro footprint, develop non-board volunteers, and support the growth of tennis in the community. The Board looks forward to working with our members in these efforts! If you are into making New Year’s resolutions, think about  becoming a Board member, a non-Board volunteer, or captaining either an existing or new group!

Expect the next Tennis Times newsletter to arrive in April. Until then, monthly eUpdates will continue to be our main communication vehicle. The input deadline for the April newsletter is March 15; and by that date all summer captains should communicate any changes in location, days/time and/or names of captains to Group Play Coordinator Bonnie Niles (the.c.niles@mchsi.com).

In Memoriam (of members who died this past year):

George Burbie
Barbara Joe Hagen
Gregory James Headrick
Fred Jurewicz
Caryl Minetti
Barbara Grace 'Buzzy' (Wackerman) Perry
Felix Anthony Perry

Celebrations of their lives are also accessible on the STPC website.