ATLANTIC SOUTH PICKLEBALL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
August 15, 2011
This 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 Ambassadors:
George Catalano is our newest ASR Ambassador representing Jacksonville, Fl. His community of Sweetwater is one of the only places in the area today where pickleball is played in Jacksonville, and George has been host to many pickleball players who have relocated to the area or who are visiting from outside the state. Working with his fellow ambassador from Ponte Vedra, he hopes to "continue to expand the game here in Jacksonville. Our big opportunity will be the Senior Games in October in Jacksonville. I will try to coordinate efforts with Bob Dean to optimise this opportunity for pickleball and also try to have a similar event in St. Johns County, just south of us which incorporates St. Augustine."
Also joining our Ambassador Family from the State of Florida is Anita Rimler, who will be representing the Daytona Beach Shores area. She and her husband George just returned from Steamboat Springs, CO, where our USAPA "places to play" found them a pickleball court and got George on the sports page of the local newspaper. Anita retired five years ago as the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Virginia and is now ready to get the Board of Supervisors in the Daytona area involved in the game of pickleball. She, with the help of her husband George, are already working to get the county to build courts. Plans are to hold free workshops and build an ever growing player list.
John Allevi is a recently appointed At-Large Ambassador assigned to our ASR. John's home is wherever he parks it: he travels full time in his RV. Right now he's in Kanab, Utah trying to introduce the game before he heads south to Florida for the winter months. He's a former coach for little league, tee ball, quick start tennis and softball and now he'll add pickleball to that list. "I always volunteer to help teach kids sports, middle age, and older folks to play.... I would advertise in the local papers to work with families or anyone interested in learning to have fun and get exercise...."
The Atlantic South Region extends a warm welcome to all of you.
Recently in the Atlantic South News:
"The groups came in school buses from day camps.....for the most part the kids enjoyed the activity and many came back a second and third time. If nothing else they were enthusiastic. There were dozens of things to do that I thought were more appropriate for them and they wouldn't have to wait either. So, I was surprised by their persistence." CLICK HERE to read more.....
AIKEN, SC PLAYERS PART OF KROC CENTER's GRAND OPENING IN AUGUSTA, GA
This 100,000 square-foot complex held it's grand opening on Saturday August 6th and thanks to the hard work and dedication of Aiken SC Ambassadors Mike and Loretta Beckner, pickleball was one of the featured sports at the grand opening celebration. Several thousand people visited the center on Saturday. Mike and Loretta addressed and welcomed the group and talked about the history of pickleball and general rules of the game. Six other players from Aiken helped them to demonstrate the game, and then visitors of all ages joined the group on the three courts
A very special THANK YOU to these eight players from Aiken, SC who travelled to Augusta to share the game they love to play. Pictured - back row, left to right: Dick Keeler, Rob Bromley, Ron Nelson, Rich Dezelon, Mike Beckner. Front row: Maggie Ward, Loretta Beckner, Stacey Dezelon.
CLICK HERE for story and pictures submitted by Mike and Lorretta.
Upcoming Tournaments/Events:
Visit our ASR website for links to additional/registration information.
- Advanced Round Robin, (4.0 - 4.5) August 22-25, 2011, Truman Rec Center, The Villages, Fl (residents only)
- Kissimmee/St Cloud Senior Games, Solivita (Poinciana, Fl) September 12. 2011.
- Open Pickleball Tournament Sept. 19-22, 2011, Mulberry Grove Rec Center, The Villages, Fl (resident only)
- Pensacola Senior Games, September 24, 2011, Pensacola, Fl.
- National Senior Games Championship (NSGA) Winter Games, Sept, 28 - Oct 2, 2011, Rochester, NY.
- Pre Huntsman - Party 4 Life Pickleball Tournament, Sun City Mesquite, UT, Oct. 4-5, 2011. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4).
- Tampa Bay Senior Games, Oct. 5, 2011 Sun City Center, Fl.
- Forever Fit and Beyond, Senior Games, Jacksonville, Fl October 8, 2011.
- Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, UT., Oct. 10-14, 2011. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 2)
- Halloween Pickleball Tournament, October 29-30, 2011, North Georgia Pickleball Club, Canton, GA.
- USAPA National Tournament, November 6-14, 2011,Sun City Festival, Buckeye, AZ.(Sanctioned Tier 1).
- Florida Senior Games State Championships and International Pickleball Games, December 3-4, 2011, Lakeland, Fl.
- Collier County Senior Games, February 10,11 and 12, 2012, Naples, Fl. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4)
- Lee County Senior Games, February 24, 25 and 26, 2012, Ft. Myers, Fl. (USAPA Sanctioned Tier 4)
Do you have a tournament/round robin or fun social event that should be listed here?
Reporting in from the Region:
Georgia
The North Georgia Pickleball Club plays every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. This month, two tennis pros from Marietta - Mark Morneau and Pete Christian came to play. David and Nancy Jordan, USAPA National Board Members stopped to play with the group, took to the courts with the tennis pros and even stayed to celebrate Tom's Birthday. The club welcomed David Barron who recently moved to Cherokee County from Phoenix, AZ, who also brought along his daughter to play.
Jessie Romito, Sports Director for The Summit at All Tournament Players Park came to learn more about the game, and now pickleball will be introduced at The Summit with an upcoming lecture and demonstration by Tom Earley and a group from the club.
North Carolina-" The Franklin, NC (Macon County) group started play outdoors the 1st of June on our 2 newly resurfaced, painted and fenced courts.... with the return of our summer folks, we have had about 16-18 players each Monday and Wednesday mornings. Since we are so "dry" we haven't had to use our indoor facility at the Armory. The level of play has improved steadily since we began PB about 3 years ago... not to mention the social aspects. It is definitely great for everyone! We have had several new folks join the play and though it takes some practice for folks who have never played a paddle sport, event the newest player enjoys our group! Our participants range from mid twenties to mid eighties in age!
We welcome anyone who might be coming to Western North Carolina to join us. We play at the Macon County Recreation park on US 441 each Monday and Wednesday morning from 8:30 am to 11 or later!"
South Carolina
Richard Skovran, Myrtle Beach, A reminder to our Myrtle Beach Players: On August 22, 2011 the Pepper Geddings Rec Center will resume Pickleball at its regular times of 9:00 am to 12:00. While it's been a wonderful summer for the kids, we, the die hard players of pickleball,will be glad to have our gym back. This week, I and a few workers at the gym will redo the floors and relay the markings for the courts. I want to also mention that two new courts will be ready for play at the end of August here at Pepper Geddings.
We are hoping to have a round robin between Pepper Geddings and Crabtree Rec Centers sometime during this reopening.
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
