Each year at about this time of year the current president of the Utah Tennis Association has the chance and privilege to report on the state of the Utah Tennis Association. As I reflect on the past year, I am pleased to note that there have been no major changes, no issues requiring departure from our normal practices, in fact I’m pleased to report that the state of Utah Tennis is extremely good.When one reports there is a tendency to focus on major changes that have been made and problems that had to be addressed, but by doing so they are acknowledging that significant problems and issues exist. I do not see that with the Utah Tennis Association as it relates to the 2009 operating year.
Tennis participation through Utah Tennis Association sponsored activities continues to thrive, junior programs continue to increase, and the participation in the league play remain at a very high level. Through the efforts of Jane Waterstradt, our current Tennis Service Representative, we have started programs involving college players and many people that have played tennis before and have stopped for one reason or another and have started playing again in our tennis leagues. This is an especially good sign since many players who played tennis through high school never play the game again in any organized manner. We thank Jane and give her the proper credit due for this effort.
Several years ago the Utah Tennis Association purchased our office space in the Hillside Business Center located at 2469 E. Fort Union Blvd. This space houses the Utah Tennis Association operation and has proven to be not only a financially prudent move but very convenient as well. That is not to say that there have not been issues with acquiring ownership of real property which include the maintenance issues and cost increases for those services associated with ownership. Several major renovations will be required in the upcoming years including roofing and parking issues, these have been planned for and will be addressed as they arise. Special note of gratitude should be given to the individuals who have been involved in the acquisition of this property and the Utah Tennis Association staff who have kept the property in good operating condition.
We have continued the Utah Junior Tennis Foundation fund raiser. This was again a successful event raising over $12,000. Another very successful area in which the Utah Tennis Association is a leader throughout the nation is its activity in sponsoring, supporting, and working with wheelchair tennis. Our constitution by-laws have been amended in a way to make wheelchair tennis an equal area of tennis effort throughout the state of Utah, and a new Utah Wheelchair Tennis Committee was established to help support the growth and success we have experienced over the past few years.
As usual Utah again had several league teams advancing to a National Championships at their various locations. We anticipate Utah to continue being competitive and wish to thank the team captains and those who work with the various leagues at all levels of participation. We thank them for the consistently great tennis in the league programs.
I feel it would be remiss to discuss the state of Utah Tennis without noting that volunteers are one of the major keys to our success in this organization. This includes all the volunteers working at the tournaments in various capacities and those who sponsor teams, captain teams, etc. These individuals devote much time and are a major factor in the growth of the game of tennis in Utah. I would be equally remiss without noting that the Utah Tennis Association is extremely fortunate to have the staff and members we do, this is led up by our Executive Director Linda Vincent. Having viewed many of the state organizations throughout the country it is easy for me to say that Linda Vincent is one of the most accomplished and best- functioning executive directors in all of the USTA. The staff includes: Fritz Heinecke, Adult League Coordinator; Robin Wise, Tournament & Jr Competition Coordinator; Liz Grayston, Junior Recreation Coordinator; Teresa Knudsen, Office & Program Assistant; Shanda Stoner, Data Entry, Web Admin & Program Assistant.I wish to thank each of them for the dedication that they shown in supporting tennis in Utah.
As a final note of appreciation and thanks I express my gratitude to the entire Board of Directors of the Utah Tennis Association. This organization cannot function without an active, involved and caring Board of Directors, which we have. Without naming each one I would like to thank them for their help. As we look to the future it is my wish that we should continue playing tennis, we should continue promoting tennis, and we should look toward growing tennis throughout the state of Utah.
