GCTA Board Meeting
9/18/03
In Attendance: Jake Will, Jr., Gary Alexander, Brooks Naffziger, Denica Bruce, Kelly Hoffman, Harvey Beahm, Bud Petersen, Jim Hendrix, Les Varnado, Rita Brown, Terri Jones, Shirley Neibauer, Jane McMeekin, David Young, Doug Snapp
Annual Meeting
Harvey Beahm called the meeting to order and welcomed all.
1. Nominating Committee Report
Doug Snapp reported that the nominating committee had met and made the following recommendations as to Board Members: Connie Everhart should be replaced by Denica Bruce, Fran McCabe should be replaced by Paul Kobelt, Paul Schlegel should be replaced by Shawn Walton, Frank Polito should be replaced by Jack Warren, Wayne Wookey should be replaced by Deena Snapp. The following recommendation was made regarding the Executive Board: Les Varnado should be replaced as Vice President by Janet Craycraft. Harvey asked if there was discussion. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to approve the recommendations. Brooks Naffziger made such a motion, Bud Petersen seconded it, and it passed.
2. Budget Committee Report
Harvey asked Gary Alexander to give the budget report. Gary thanked members of the committee. He highlighted a few changes. He commented at the money that we receive back from the USTA is somewhat unknown. He believes that the actual amount is greater than what is indicated on the budget sheet. This will be checked into. The Men's League budget was increased to where it was a few years back. We have given Upper Arlington High School a "gift" of $400 for the use of their courts for the Girls' District 16's. The committee suggested that we buy something that would benefit the Upper Arlington tennis program directly. As it is, the money goes into a general fund at Upper Arlington. It was also suggested that we provide the endorsed players from our Area Qualifier a sweatshirt or long sleeved shirt that indicates they are representing the GCTA Area. This would involve about 100 players. Harvey asked for further discussion; he then asked for a motion to accept the report. Rita Brown made such a motion, Shirley Neibauer seconded, the motion passed.
3. Adjournment of the Annual Meeting
Harvey asked for a motion to adjourn the annual meeting. Jim Hendrix did so, Jane McMeekin seconded, and the motion passed.
Regular Meeting
Harvey called the regular meeting to order.
1. Approval of Minutes
He asked that the members take a moment to review the minutes from the July meeting. He noted that they had been placed on the web site, emailed, and mailed to members without email accounts. Hearing no additions and/or corrections, he asked for a motion to approve. Jim Hendrix moved, Bud Petersen seconded, and the motion passed.
2. Treasurer’s Report
Jake Will, Jr., gave the report. The checking account has $354, the flex fund has $79,257, the junior fund has $5,335 and the Mansfield fund has $1,444. After all outstanding bills are paid, he believes we will have about $71,000 in the checking and flex fund accounts. Harvey called for a motion to accept the report. Gary Alexander moved, Brooks Naffziger seconded, and the vote passed.
3. Women’s Leagues
Harvey asked Rita Brown to give a report on the Women's Leagues. She reported that the season ended with the Champ of Champs tournament. The finals were held at New Albany Country Club. There were no protests on the season and despite the weather, things had gone well. Next up, the club chairs can suggest rule changes. There will be a meeting October 10th to discuss any suggested changes, if need be. Rita added that she will be the league chair for another year. There were questions about the USTA incentive money for the entries of the women's and men's rosters that Rita and Doug had made on the USTA web site. This money is part of what Gary was referring to. It is not known the exact amount of money that we have received. Jake will check on this and Doug will check with Dave Engle of the OVTA. Doug did say that the USTA is now putting a cap on the amount that we can receive for such entries. He also thought that only new participants could be used in the future. Jane McMeekin said she could provide a list of such new members for the women. Doug said that he had not received the roster sheets from Bob Hilborn; if he did, he could also make a list of new participants for the men. Harvey thanked Rita for her work.
4. Men’s Leagues
Doug Snapp said that the leagues were finished with their regular seasons and that all playoffs were complete. Some of the men's leagues run almost to the end of August. There had been some confusion at the beginning of the season. Some teams were placed in the wrong leagues. The scorekeepers were not as informed as to who their captains were. Contacts were difficult to make. Doug had hope to get the roster sheets from Bob Hilborn so that the men's participation list could be updated. He said he still doesn't have those rosters. Harvey said the running of the Men's League would be shored up so that it would be smoother next summer.
5. USTA Leagues
Terri Jones reported that the league had a great year. It is up to 39 teams. There were no protests, locally. There were some teams that didn't show up for the Districts in Charleston. This was unfortunate because other teams could have stepped in. Terri reported that fall, winter, or summer USTA teams can now qualify for district play. Harvey commented that the possibility exists that three potential qualifiers in each level would be asking for money to go to the districts. It was explained that this money is given to the OVTA and is distributed evenly. There was discussion about the number of players that participated in the summer league as well as what teams were added.
6. Ohio Valley Tennis Association
Doug Snapp reported that the GCTA had made a nomination for the OVTA awards, other nominations could be accepted. He also said that there is significant grant money available. The Annual Meeting of the OVTA is November 2nd at the Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati. Doug asked that those wishing to attend let him know so he can give a count to Dave Engle of the OVTA.
7. Columbus Parks and Recreation
Denica Bruce brought summary sheets for program. Most areas did increase in numbers. The advertising for the USTA 6-12 Columbus Project was significant for the increase in their programs. It put the tennis programs into the minds of the public. The Jr. Team participation was not good. Denica feels that this can be increased for next summer. She reported that the facility at Champions and the operation of that facility will be reorganized. They will no longer be using the person who ran that site. Renovation is planned, but cuts in the department have hurt the project. She hopes to be able to resolve the water and ice problems that they have experienced at the Champions site. Denica will be going to Dayton to get some indication of how they handle their courts. It was suggested that more be done to indicate to the public that the city has a clay court facility. Denica also indicated that the Central Ohio Tennis Tournament may be reorganized. Kelly Hoffman gave a summary of what was done this summer in the adult programs. The best numbers were at the Woodward Park site. Harvey had a number of questions for Denica and Kelly. He stressed the need for accountability. The GCTA provides nearly $12,000 to the CRPD programs. The GCTA needs to know how that money is being spent and exactly what kinds of programs are being offered. Gary Alexander said that the accounting has been much better than in previous years. Denica said, at present, they are not asking for the full amount of their budgeted money, but they likely will need that amount eventually. Denica stressed that without the GCTA support, the CRPD tennis programs would be cut, perhaps even done away with.
8. USTA Junior Team Tennis
Shirley Neibauer reported that about 600 players participated. She indicated that getting rosters from teams has been a problem. She was very happy to announce that two of our teams went from Springfield to Indianapolis; and from there, they are going on to Oklahoma City.
9. Champion of Champions
Shirley Neibauer said every thing went well; there were 124 participants. Worthington Hills Country Club, The Lakes Country Club, and New Albany Country Club provided courts. Rita Brow indicated that she had sent thank you notes to each of the clubs for helping out. Doug Snapp reported that the men will have their Champ of Champs at Northam Park on the 4th and 5th of October.
10. Awards Ceremony
The ceremony is scheduled for September 28th at 4:00 PM at the Upper Arlington Municipal Building. Invitations have been sent. There was comment as to how nice the invitations looked.
11. Umpires
Bud Petersen indicated that there is still a shortage. Bud said that training possibilities in the area are not good. Harvey made a plea for pros and clubs to get involved in the training. Bud added that he feels players and parents need to be involved. Jim Hendrix said that he has been trying for years to get his pros involved but the timing of the training has not been conducive to their teaching schedules. He has been in contact with Dave Engle of the OVTA with regard to this. Harvey will coordinate with Jim Hendrix on getting more involvement and training of umpires.
12. Old Business
No old business at this time.
13. New Business
Harvey gave the dates for the 2004 Board meetings: 1/15/04, 4/15/04, 7/15/04, and 9/16/04.
Harvey asked if there was other new business. David Young, from the 4.0 Reynoldsburg GCTA team, reported that they had won the District's in Charleston, the State in Toledo, and the Midwest in Indianapolis. They are going to play in the National's in Tucson, Arizona, in October. He said that there would be a fund raiser at Scarborough. Scarborough has donated the time and was providing items to be auctioned. He asked that the GCTA support their trip. He knew that the line item with regard to the national tournament had been taken from our budget several years ago. He asked that we reinstate that item. Harvey indicated that we have steadily increased our support to the District tournament; the money that was spent for the national level has been exceeded in that District support. Harvey said that the GCTA Executive Board and additional Board Members, Gary Alexander and Jim Hendrix, will discuss the issue and make a recommendation; Harvey will then pass that along to David. Harvey congratulated David and his team and wished them luck in Tucson.
14. Adjournment
Harvey asked for a motion for adjournment; Rita Brown made such a motion, Brooks Naffziger seconded, the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Doug Snapp
GCTA Secretary