June 2007 -- Your Association is in good hands. The USPTA Executive Committee recently met in Houston for its semiannual meeting. In addition to the regular business this group addresses during its two meetings a year, it participates in a workshop each April. It’s during these workshops that division and national officers ask themselves the hard questions about membership, the services we provide to you and how we can improve on the job we’re doing. This year’s Division Leaders Training Workshop was led by Cathy Nicoloff, Hawaii Division president.
Cathy asked the national Board of Directors, division presidents and regional vice presidents of each division, past national presidents, and the executive directors/administrators of the 17 divisions to focus on "How the USPTA can be promoted at the local level by members, and on the divisional and national levels by divisions and our World Headquarters."
To initiate a livelier and perhaps more productive discussion, she broke the larger group into smaller groups based on the facilities at which we work - private clubs, resorts, public parks or commercial facilities. The groups generated some great ideas for promoting you and your Association and guiding us through the various levels of promotion that might be used now and in the future. Board member Randy Mattingley and CEO Tim Heckler both were major contributors, particularly in the area of technology.
Prior to the Division Leaders Training Workshop, the USPTA national board met. This group of people, including Harry Gilbert, Tom Daglis, Randy Mattingley, Paula Scheb, Mark Fairchilds, Tom McGraw, David Porter and me, is responsible for interpreting the bylaws and managing and directing the affairs of the USPTA between meetings of the USPTA Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for the establishment of general policy and having all powers outlined in the bylaws of the Association.
During both the board and Executive Committee meetings, there is general discussion of a wide variety of issues and reports from officers, committee chairs and staff on the current state and future of the Association. It is during this time that members of these groups take part in healthy debate, help formulate new ideas or programs, create action items, consider bylaw amendments, vote on various issues, and select the Nominating Committee. This is your Association in action at the highest level of leadership and that same type of governance takes place at the divisional level. Your Executive Committee representative is responsible for passing on to the membership information from these meetings that is pertinent to you.
These meetings sometimes go long and are pretty intense at times, but we do still take time to have some fun. One of the reasons I am a member of the USPTA is because of all the friendly people involved with our Association - among the general membership, Executive Committee, Board of Directors and staff. This was evident at this past meeting during the annual Will Hoag Invitational Tennis outing conducted by Will Hoag and Joe Thompson, both USPTA past presidents. After an evening of fun tennis, the group gathered at a local pizza joint for some food, drink and bad jokes. Everyone had a great time and this gave the group a chance to relax and get to know each other better before the next day’s meetings.
This democratic process is what sets our Association apart from other tennis-teaching groups. You have representation at the highest level of your Association to mold the policies and direction of the USPTA. All of the people who traveled to the USPTA World Headquarters in April have a passion for making USPTA the best organization in the world. They all take time out of their busy schedules to volunteer for your benefit. And that is being a part of a process that represents you as a trade association in our industry. You are represented by an entire Association and not just one or two people who make policy and decisions when it comes to your livelihood or issues in the tennis industry.
I encourage each and every one of you to become a part of the USPTA governing process. Contact your divisional leaders and ask how you can become involved in your Association. As I’ve mentioned in previous messages, there is a need for member participation at the divisional level and especially related to newsletters, awards, committees, conferences, workshops and board service. If you have time, please volunteer your time to help move your Association forward and make it the best it can be. Each of us has some great talent that can serve the USPTA and our peers.
Also, remember that USPTA board and staff members are accessible if you have any questions or concerns. So, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail any of us.
I also want to encourage each of you to attend your divisional conferences and the USPTA World Conference on Tennis this September at the beautiful Saddlebrook Resort outside of Tampa, Fla.
Summer is here and I wish you all a successful season with your camps and programs.
