January 2007 -- While many of you have already renewed your USPTA membership for 2007 by paying your annual dues, it’s important to consider my question - if not for this year then for next.
Who paid your USPTA dues? Was it you or your employer?
And, have you ever thought of asking your employer to budget educational expenses such as conference registrations or specialty course fees? Statistics demonstrate that most club managers include their own trade association dues and educational activities in their annual budgets. Many managers also budget the same expenses for their golf professionals and other department heads. Why do the same statistics show that only 15 percent to 20 percent of tennis professionals receive the same support from their clubs? Could it be our own fault for not asking that these expenses be included in the tennis budget?
While you may be hesitant to ask for the added perk of employer-paid dues and education, it’s an easy case to make, since employers reap the many rewards available through your membership in the world’s largest, oldest and most respected trade association for tennis-teaching professionals.
So, how do you approach your employer about building dues and educational fees into the budget for USPTA Professionals on the staff? Either directly tell your employer about all the ways the club or facility could benefit from your USPTA membership or prepare a written proposal from the following points. Here’s how:
- Start by explaining that your USPTA certification demonstrates your commitment to tennis and your profession.
- Mention that facilities that hire USPTA members also benefit from the certification because it ensures a high quality of instruction through its employment of teachers who are committed to continuing education.
- Tell your employers that you’re protected by $9 million in on-court liability/bodily injury and property damage insurance while practicing, playing, teaching or officiating tennis. USPTA members may also purchase additional coverage for their nonmember assistants. It’s also true that individual members and clubs can’t purchase similar insurance for the same low cost of USPTA’s annual dues.
- Explain that because of your experience, certification and education, your club profits from a tennis teacher who performs many duties, including the management of the overall tennis program, court maintenance, personnel management, customer service, equipment consultation, pro shop management and more. (All these areas are covered within USPTA’s certification and continuing education programs.)
- Discuss the fact that facilities benefit from the most extensive education offerings in tennis, which more than justify the cost of dues and education. Educational resources include distance learning through online or DVD options, educational TV (through USPTA’s TV series "On Court with USPTA™" on The Tennis Channel), live events sponsored by the World Headquarters or its 17 divisions, including specialty courses, certification upgrades and special events, such as the USPTA World Conference on Tennis, Competitive Player Development Conferences, and division conventions and workshops.
- Employers need to know about the value of USPTA’s numerous resources for tennis programming, including program guides, lesson plans and ideas, special events and the promotional strategies to help you advertise and receive publicity from them. Programs include:
• USPTA Little Tennis®
• USPTA’s Tennis Across America™
• USPTA Adult Tennis LeagueSM
• USPTA Junior Circuit™
• Tennis Welcome Centers
• Cardio Tennis
- Tell your employers about the publicity you and your club can generate by not only participating in USPTA programs, but also using specific PR tools provided by USPTA to promote any club activity to your members, the local community or even wider audiences.
These represent just some of the issues you may discuss with your employer when making your case for employer-paid dues and education benefits. In summary, USPTA dues and education are great investments for employers. After all, I know from personal experience that one great idea from a World Conference is worth a lot more than the conference registration and yearly dues. I’ve had many members tell me about the numerous ideas they take back to their respective clubs and implement with great success.
If you’re still hesitant about approaching your employer, remember that unless you ask you’ll never know if he or she is willing to pay for dues and education. We think you’ve got some great points to work with.
Good luck.
