ATLANTIC SOUTH PICKLEBALL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
May 15, 2011
The newsletter is distributed on the 15th of each month to all ASR Ambassadors. This newsletter is intended to keep all of you apprised of what is happening in your Region, and to consolidate news into a once/monthly communication. Please forward this information to all USAPA members, all pickleball players/clubs in your regions and post to your local pickleball Blogs or Websites.
Welcome New Ambassador:
Please extend a warm Atlantic South welcome to Richard Skovran,our newest Ambassador, representing Myrtle Beach, SC. Richard is retired from General Motors Corp. Whether working or not - he is definitely an organizer, leader and great promoter of anything he undertakes. He played a key role in starting the local Booster Club, was an avid fundraiser for the school, an active volunteer for both the PA Dept of Forestry and the Fire Department in PA, where his dedication earned him the Community Volunteer of the Year in 2004. He is an avid hiker and tennis player and participated multiple times in the Race Across America. Now he adds pickleball to his active lifestyle. He has already played a key role in working with the other Ambassadors to introduce pickleball in Myrtle Beach, but has a few of his own marketing ideas. "Tourism is an important part of this area. While it is important to aim at the area as a whole, it is equally as important to include it in the tourism program as a tool to attract vacationers and winter visitors. Much can be done in this area..."
Likewise, we welcome Ambassador-at-Large, Morris Wheat to our Atlantic South ambassador family. A 36 year employee of IBM, Morris retired in 1993 and was introduced to pickleball in 2004 and has been promoting the game ever sense. As an RV'er, he divides his time between Warrenton, VA and Fort Myers Beach in Florida. He has been the leader of Pickleball at the Indian Creek Resort in Florida for the past six years, obtaining two tournament level courts for the community and working on getting two more for the over 100 pickleball players that reside there He has been just as active in VA, working with county Parks and Recreation and with some of the county schools to introduce pickleball to PE programs. "I send the USAPA monthly newsletter to over 30 persons monthly. A number of players at Florida have started pickleball in-their home locations and I encourage all players at the resort in Florida to take the game home with them."
Recently in the Atlantic South News:
First Annual Pickleball Tournament, Key West, Florida. - Florida Ambassador, Coleen Blakley has worked hard to bring the first pickleball tournament to the Konch Republic. It was a well run and competitive event. Coleen tells us that next year she hopes to make this a USAPA Sanctioned Event CLICK HERE for story and photos.
Macon County Senior Games - Ambassadors Mike and Nancy Falkenstein wrote to us about the Macon County Games that took place in Franklin, NC. Hats off to Larry Noyes, who was the tournament director this year. The games were played over three days and included a double elimination tournament for singles, doubles and mixed doubles play. CLICK HERE for photos and all the WINNERS.
Greater High Point Senior Games - The games, open to the residents of
the tri-city area only, took place on May 5th at the Cutler Senior Center in High Point, NC. Ambassador, Laura Patterson introduced a small group of people to pickleball here back in November, including the director and his assistant; pickleball is now played regularly each week. With the help of her "softball team" friend, Tina, pickleball was added as one of the sports in this year's Senior Games. Seven teams signed up for the single elimination tournament. Each team played the best two out of three games to 11 points to determine the medal winners. Plenty of laughs and lots of fun!!! Pickleball was such a success there that the group is tyring hard to get the tennis center to give up a couple of courts for pickleball - stay tuned!!!
CLICK HERE for complete story and more photos.
In House Pickleball Tournament - The Seminole Recreation Center (Seminole, FL) Hosted an In-House Plus neighbors Pickleball Tournament on April 26, 2011. The Tournament Director/ Senior Coordinator was Kristyn Sabbag. Recreation Center members, and guests from other communities in Pinellas County, got together for an exciting day of play.
CLICK HERE to check out the winners!
CLICK HERE to check out the winners!
International Pickleball Week
At Sun City Carolina Lakes, SC. Ambassadors Jane Harvey and Frank Kinder along with the SCCL Pickleball Club enjoyed their first annual Pickleball Fun Festival. It was a day long celebration of fun , food and pickleball. They had their biggest pickleball game EVER, a pickleball Minithon, a pickleball Petathon, and they had 16 new pickleball 102 graduates.
CLICK HERE for story and pictures.
CLICK HERE for story and pictures.
It all started when Mayor John Rhodes presented Rena (pictured here with her daughter) a plaque officially proclaiming Pickleball Week in Myrtle Beach. She invited the Adult Special needs Consumers from Horry County to play pickleball, planned pickleball for all the managers and staff at the local recreation centers,and held a friendly competition between Crabtree Gym and Pepper Geddings Rec Center. They closed the week with a fun day of pickleball at the outdoor-courts.
CLICK HERE for story and more pictures.
In Two Lakes Area, NC Ambassador Sylvia Fletcher invited all pickleball players to come out and celebrate from 10:00 am to 1:00pm at the John Graham Gym in Warrenton, NC. Sylvia has introduced a lot of new players to the game over the past few months, and it looks like these folks in NC are really enjoying their new game!!
CLICK HERE to see more pictures.
In Winston-Salem, NC - Laura Patterson did a demonstration at the Georgia E Taylor Recreation Center during International Pickleball Week. She was only given one hour, and had about 12-15 people in attendance, most of whom tried pickleball. They loved the game so much they asked her to come back on May 17th and dedicate three whole hours to playing. They want to to purchase equipment so that pickleball can be provided as a weekly activity to the members. CLICK HERE for story and pictures.
Upcoming Tournaments/Events:
Visit our ASR website for links to additional/registration information.
- Pickleball Skill Development - Video- Question/Answer Session with Coach Mo, May 13th, 2011, The Villages, Fl
- Solivita Smashers Beginner/Intermediate Tournament, Poinciana, Fl May 14, 2011.
- Pickleball Workshop, May 17, 2011, Georgia E. Taylor Recreation Center, Winston-Salem, NC
- Pickleball Demonstration/Workshop, May 18, 2011- Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, SC
- Beginner Workshop, Odell Weeks Center, May 20, 2011, Aiken, SC.
- Scott Green Tournament, Plantation Pickleball Club, May 20, 22, 2011, Leesburg, FL.
- South Carolina Senior Sports Classics, May 21, 2011, Francis Marion Campus, Florence, SC.
- Pickleball Clinic, June 5, 2011, Tangle Oaks, Wilmington, NC
- Kissimmee/St. Cloud Senior Games, Solivita (Poinciana) Fl, September 12-13, 2011.
- Pensacola Senior Games, September 24, 2011, Pensacola, Fl
- Pre Huntsman - Party 4 Life Pickleball Tournament, Sun City Mesquite, UT, Oct. 4-5, 2011. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4).
- Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, UT., Oct. 10=14, 2011. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 2)
- Tampa Bay Senior Games, Sun City Center, Fl. Oct. 2011.
- Florida Senior Games State Championships and International Pickleball Games, December 3-4, 2011, Lakeland, Fl.
- National Senior Games Championships (NSGA) Sept. 28 - Oct 3, 2011, Rochester, NY.
- USAPA National Tournament, November 6-14, 2011 Buckeye, AZ.
Do you have a tournament/round robin or fun social event that should be listed here?
Reporting in from the Region:
AL
Jerry and Virginia Corker
Pickleball airs on FOX TV in Mobile! - Ambassadors from Mobile, AL invited the hosts of Studio 10, a daily program that airs on WALA Fox 10 in Mobile. AL, to join a few of their players for pickleball. They did ! Click on the video link below to see Fox hosts Cherish and Joe learning to play pickleball at the VIA Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center. Following the airing of the program, Jerry and Virginia will host pickleball introductory clinics at the center on three consecutive Thursdays during the month of May from 4-7 pm. GREAT PUBLICITY FOR OUR GAME - GREAT JOB!!
FL
Rich and Donna Donald - Back in January we got a call from John and Pam Sterns who had never played pickleball , but were interested in knowing more about the game. They didn't live too far from the Meadow Pointe Picklers in Wesley Chapel so we put them in touch with one of the players there. In April, pickleball at The Groves in Land O'Lakes, Fl drew the attention of the local newspaper, the Land O'Lakes Patch. We got a very nice note from John and Pam. This is what being an ambassador is all about.
" We are grateful for your help in getting started. Thank you for answering all our questions in your long emails because it gave us the vital information we needed. Also for suggesting Don (Bass) at Meadow Pointe, who was great, as he welcomed us to play and try out the game. Thanks for telling us about USAPA and their grants that are available. We used that to help defray expenses of lines and nets for our community. We are delighted that everything has worked out so well."
CLICK HERE to read the newspaper article.
James Barry
News from Lakeland Florida/Polk County
This past March we had the 19th annual Polk County Senior Games. I introduced Pickleball into the games 5 years ago. In that time it has doubled in participation. Our Senior games, the biggest and best in Florida, has 92 activities within 36 events. PB has become one of our biggest. It is hosted by the Solivita Community who, with their 7 courts, do a wonderful job.
A few months ago, the Kelly Recreation Center in Lakeland, Florida introduced Pickleball inside. After a slow start it has progressed very nicely. Play is on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
I have been consulting with a contractor who is to build PB courts in Orlando at a time share. Introducing PB at time share resorts seems to be a great opportunity.
NC
Laura Patterson, Ambassador, Winston/Salem, NC.
Pickleball at North Davidson HS
Interest in pickleball has once again picked up in the Piedmont area. We had a real treat when Jim and Yvonne Hackenberg visited their family (daughter, son-in-law and grand children) in Clemmons, North Carolina in April. They performed a 2-day demo at North Davidson High School in Davie County. I wanted to be there to help out but our Senior Games were that week and I was participating in a few events. However, I was able to help them by supplying some paddles and balls. Here's what Jim had to say about the event:
"Laura, Thank you once again for obtaining the additional pickleballs and paddles for our demonstration at North Davidson High School last week. The kids absolutely fell in love with the game. They played it every day that week and the coaches said that's all the kids talked about. Our son-in=law even bumped into one of the students at Walmart and the kid said they all loved the game. The instructors, Coach Lambros and Coach Flynn also fell in love with the game. In fact, we couldn't get Coach Flynn off the courts - he played the entire period....... Thanks again, Laura, for all your help and support. North Carolina pickleball is on the move thanks to you!"
CLICK HERE for more pictures.
Laura also held a pickleball demonstration at River Landing at Sandy Ridge. The director contacted Laura and asked her to participate in Health Week at this Continuing Care Retirement Community. They took to the outdoor courts where participation grew from the initial three people to about 15, including the director and an 87 year old gentleman, an avid tennis player, who had to be coaxed by his friend to come and try. Of course he love the game ( he won!) and then she had a hard time getting him OFF the court. We now have an "avid pickleball player" who is already asking the staff when they are going to invest in some paddles and make this a regular activity! Great Story, Laura!!
CLICK HERE for full story and photos. photo's.
John Simpson The Post Family lives in Salisbury, NC an hour or less north of Charlotte. Searching the USAPA website they happened upon the name of our ambassador John Simpson. The decided to come down and visit with John and play a little pickleball. Needless to say the loved the game so much the went home to build their very own court and sent John the picture!. John tell us: "the two brothers were very good tennis players and injuries slowed them. Now one has a court and they are (pickleball) diehards." Want to see where they play now? Click Here
SC
Rena Grant, Ambassador, Myrtle Beach Thanks to Eva Diekmann and Frank Nicollo, who did a great job coordinating the round robin tournament during International Pickleball Week and to Rich Brown who did a great job on may 6th with the "just for fun" mixed doubles tournament.
The introduction of pickleball at the Brightwater Assisted Living Home was cancelled due to weather, and is being rescheduled. Likewise the trip to Socastee High School is being rescheduled. On May 18th Rena is also scheduled to do a pickleball demonstration at the Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach.
We understand that the turnout for the first ever pickleball competition in the SC Sports Classics in Florence this month is excellent! We'll hear more about that next month!
If you have any news/information from your area that you want to share with our readers please send it to Donna Donald at: rddonald2@gmail.com
