Minutes for the July Leadership Team meeting held at Gregg Park on July 10th. Members present Faith Loeb, Dean Cheatham, Joyce Noland, George Carr, Marian Garcia, Brian Eberhard, Cindy Ogden, Kiss Gunther, Bernice Rogers, Heidi Abele, Marcia Stivanson, Jay Wilson, Lisa Barrett-Johnson, Lori King, and Mo Garcia.. Non member Beth Eberhard also attended.
Dalyn Farr, the Director of Gregg Park spoke on the status of the air conditioning in the gym. There have been a few AP Members that have complained at front desk/phone calls about AC not working. GP is well aware of the problem. It goes beyond just hardware repairs. There are software issues as well, so there are two companies which are involved. GP is doing everything possible to remedy the problem and is at the mercy of the repair companies. Article posted on website updating members of the progress.
Brian asked when conversion of computer system would be done. Dalyn said that they hoped August 1 would be the date. Mo wanted to know if we could send an eblast from their system explaining the AC updates to members. Dalyn responded that they are unable to send eblast with this current software. The new software will allow them to do so though. Joyce stated that AP can send out an eblast. She will also get the GP personal information form from Dalyn and send out to AP members. This will help in expediting member sign in with the use of the new computer software. Dalyn also stated that during the round robin players were stretching/warming up in designated rooms for non-pickleball reserved activities. AP will try to inform participants to only use designated areas for warm up activities during future round robin tournaments.
1. Players Representatives: .
Kiss-Muddy entries are still present at OW outdoor courts. Mo stated that cement pads will be installed. Better lighting will also be installed.
Lori King-She stated that there is confusion for times of the court reservations. Joyce explained that this information is on the calendar. Members can see the availability a whole month ahead of time.
2. Palmetto Doubles
A. Sponsorship- Going well.
B. Volunteers -still needed. Sunday afternoon volunteers are especially needed.
C. Players. Players wont know when they are playing until the Monday before the tourney. 132 currently signed up. Jay Wilson. Suggested perhaps breakfast was needed for volunteers. It was stated that lunch was already provided and should be sufficient.
3. Gregg Park Round Robin Many could not open the survey summary. Joyce will resend. Most feedback was good. There were very positive comments about volunteers. Most complaints were about heat/AC, which we could not do anything about as explained earlier by Dalyn. Afternoon events behind 1 hour in the afternoon. The cause of this was in the waiting for the computer program to assign courts. In the future we will just get players on the courts as soon as one is open….just like we have done in the past. There were some comments about people sandbagging. There is nothing we can do about it. Lori King stated that perhaps a response email to players about the negative comments and a remedy for them would be helpful. She will put together and send out. Jay suggested that perhaps to avoid the heat is to move the RR to OW. Joyce explained that the OW gym will not let us in prior to 9am and we cannot stay after 5 pm. There is also a concern about cost to use OW gyms. These issues will be discussed with the City for possible usage for future RR.
4. Possible Outdoor Tournament in October. Joyce is working with the City to get permission to do this.
5. League-Kiss The current update is: Four outdoor courts at OW. Starting with 3.0 and 3.5 mixed doubles. Hoping at least 8 teams per division. Two players per team. RR format. Scheduled for Thursday evenings. Note - The City is allowing us to use outdoor courts on Thursday for league play.
6. Smith Hazel Floors-Cindy Ogden Dead spots have been reported. One person thinks there are dangerous spots. Mo stated that there is plan from the city to refurbish the floor. They don’t have the budget and hopefully it will be addressed when it is in the budget. It behooves the community to talk as one voice and not individuals contacting the city.
7. Calendar Schedule Update-Brian July is set up
A. OW- closed on the 20th-maintenance. Closed on 22nd/23rd-Alumni basketball. Mo will get with Brian for days of the scheduling of Palmetto tourney
B. GP-closed Tues/Thursdays due to camps for the last two weeks
C. Smith hazel-nothing
8. Ongoing/upcoming-
A. Drills with LBJ. Highly successful. Next four to be held in August to be available for sign up shortly. News article will announce when sign up will be open for registration. .
B. New Player Clinic. Two NPC in July, Saturday July 15 and Tuesday July 25, with twelve people signed up.
C. New Player Practice. Linda and Faith will have special session for these 12.
D. Rating Session. Had five now only have two as players are signing up for the tournament.
9. Financial Report- Faith/Dean The checking account is solvent. Known expenses for the Palmetto tournament include medals, snacks/drinks, shirts for volunteers and players, and volunteer lunches. The specific revenue and expense amounts for the Palmetto Tournament will be known and itemized after the tournament. If we do not get any more participants to sign up for the tournament, we would still be in the black. Jay suggested that dividers/barriers might need to be repaired. Jay and Mo will look at dividers and fix those needed repairs themselves prior to the tournament. Nets will also be checked. Some maybe retired and new nets used. We have two net standards and one new net. Three new nets are in gym 1. Lori suggested using single barriers and not hinged. There are pro/cons for this type of barrier.
10. Ambassador Report-Mo There is a local Ambassador who will put in his application. There was a free clinic held at OW from 10-11. It was moved inside due to heat and availability. Ages 8-18. Youth program will be held in July. Not doing it for publicity but for growth of pickleball. Barnwell. Has 4 courts. Blackville. Free paddles. Wants to start pickleball club. Diverse community. Honored Andre, who lost his battle with depression a couple of years ago. New Ellenton is starting pickleball program. Growth rate of 10 players/month. Lots of interest. City recognizes this, with the plan to add additional gates, paved sidewalks, and improve lighting. Overall plan is to knock down the handball courts. There was a discussion of shooting at Virginia Acres. No one was hurt. Discussion of lack of play at OW. It was stated that players are choosing to play on other courts due to the increase of the annual fee to $150/year. Some people don’t even like waiting in line to pay the $2/daily fee. It was stated that it was much easier with a reasonable annual fee and being able to quick scan individual barcode passes.
11. Closing Comments. None
12. Next Meeting- Monday, August 14 at Odell Weeks