Annual Meeting — 2/10/25
Call to Order:
President Mike Null called the Annual Meeting to order at 5:34 PM.
Members in attendance included the following: Mike Null, Laura Null, Joe Hinkle, Eshu Xi Amaru, Linda Williams, as well as Ex-Officio Board member and Immediate Past President, Dolly Robinson.
Approval of Annual Minutes:
Minutes of February 12, 2024 meeting were reviewed; containing the Election of Officers and Board of Directors for 2024. Motion was made by E. Xi-Amaru to approve the February 12, 2024 Minutes; seconded by J. Hinkle.
The motion carried unanimously.
Proposed Amendments to By-Laws:
President Mike Null provided a proposed amendment to the By-laws of Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association (LCCCTA), Inc. on February 10, 2025:
ARTICLE V.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 3. MEETINGS
Amend the following paragraph: “The Board of Directors may hold its meetings either within or outside the State of Florida. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at such a time and place within ten (10) fourteen (14) days of the first week in February each year, or such other date be designated by the Board of Directors, for the purpose set forth in these Bylaws…
President Null explained how the amendment proposes allowing the Annual meeting to be held within the first two weeks of February; ten (10) days not allowing enough time.
A motion was made by L. Hunter-Null to approve the proposed amendment to the By-laws; seconded by L. Williams. The motion carried unanimously.
President Mike Null reported LCCCTA’s 2025 Annual Report for the Divisions of Corporations was filed on February 10, 2025.
In addition, he reported the USTA Master Liability Insurance Plan was renewed for LCCCTA with term coverage 12/31/24-12/31/25.
VP/Secretary Report:
L. Williams provided the Board with an updated list of all LCCCTA program activities in chronological order since Fall 2016. The document was created as a resource to be amended and distributed to Board members, and also used when LCCCTA is applying for donations and grant funding opportunities.
Treasurer Report:
J. Hinkle provided the Financial Report as of February 10, 2025. The account balance is $5,096.46, to include funding from Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) of FL , allocated to LCCCTA’s Youth Tennis Camps ($2,994.18), General expenses ($1,837.42), and Adult leagues ($167.23).
E. Xi Amaru made a motion to approve the Financial Report. L. Hunter-Null seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.
2024 Year-End Report:
President Null provided a comprehensive report of LCCCTA activities for the past year via email, and also hard copy to Board members at the meeting:
On behalf of the LCCCTA Board, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2025 brings you good health, joy, peace and prosperity, and a lot of tennis playing.
LCCCTA has benefited from numerous USTA-Florida Foundation grants. These are all funded through the “Play Tennis” License Plates. I urge you to consider at renewal time, to purchase a Play Tennis specialty license plate to support future grants.
2024 saw a lot of activity at Youngs Park. We hosted youth camps and clinics in the spring, summer and fall. In addition to youth programs, Debbie Carter and Eshu Amaru have done an amazing job in promoting adult tennis on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Often times, all four courts are full. New players are showing up to participate in social playing. Adult tennis has grown exponentially over the last few months.
In June, we dedicated the new Shade Structure funded entirely by the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners. Parents and spectators thoroughly appreciate the new shade. (By the way, there was no damage to the shade structure during Hurricanes Debby and Helene).
We are so fortunate to have Coach Mark Mansbach, PTR, at the courts 7 days a week. While he is coaching youth and adults alike, he is keeping the courts clean and dried off. He has rehung the windscreens numerous times following major windstorms. Speaking of which, we only lost two of the bench shades during the last major hurricane, so I believe the courts and facilities were spared of major devastation.
Coach Mark continues to provide free coaching twice a month with a group of veterans. The program is sponsored by the VA Hospital and USTA Florida. Eshu is now assisting Coach Mark in this program.
Speaking of programs, our own Vice President/Secretary, Linda Williams has successfully completed and been admitted into the Professional Tennis Registry. No small feat in passing written exams along with on-site demonstrations. Coach Linda, PTR, is now available to provide coaching. There is much to be said of receiving instruction from a certified PTR. Congratulations Linda.
We are so appreciative of our Board members and the volunteers that have participated in the camps, clinics, adult programs as well as maintenance and improvements to the courts and facilities. If you haven’t hit on the backboard, come try to beat it. Our own Rudy Howell has relocated the board to the north elevation of Court 4 and added an additional panel. The backboard will still likely wear you down, but its worth the workout.
Our CTA (Community Tennis Association) has received generous gifts from The Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida (YTF), (Pierce Kelley), USTA Florida, Suwannee Valley Community Foundation and Columbia County Board of County Commissioners. We have been generating funds through the sale of banners to corporate sponsors, businesses and individual supporters. As a 501(c)(3), we are most happy to accept donations. Our esteemed Treasurer, Joe Hinkle, has done a marvelous job in keeping the books. Richard Johnson continues to provide invaluable assistance.
We cannot say enough about the support USTA Florida provides to our organization. George English, USTA-Florida Tennis Service Representative, attends most of our CTA Board meetings. He has organized a number of Volunteer Coach Training Sessions, and Red Ball Training; he’s made numerous presentations to our public and private schools with regard to tennis PE curricula and after- school programs. Upon receiving his invitation on December 5th, I attended an all-day workshop for the 75th Celebration of USTA Florida, “Florida Tennis is the Best Investment” as they shared ways to advocate for more tennis facilities.
Upon attending the 75th Celebration, it was very humbling to hear from colleagues around the state that have heard of the wonderful success of our little CTA. That success comes from our volunteers, supporters and Board members, who continue to promote the game of tennis.
As a 501(c)(3), our CTA is required to hold periodic meetings, elect officers and file annual reports and maintain our corporate status. We purchase General Liability Insurance through a program sponsored by USTA. While we did not meet in December, we did conduct business via email. We will also forgo the January 13th meeting. However, the next meeting set for February 10th, 5:30 PM is our required annual meeting when we elect Board Members and Officers.
Let me appeal to you to consider becoming a Board member. We need all your help to continue to advocate for tennis facilities and tennis court improvements. It takes a VOICE to make an impact with our local elected officials in providing Quality of Life Facilities within our community. Laura Hunter-Null will be sending out emails to see who would like to serve or continue on our Board. Please consider responding to this email, expressing an interest in serving. We do not meet monthly, but only as needed, and meetings are kept brief to only conduct the business needed. Many of you have heard me express before, that we would not have these facilities or future facilities if it were not for the Youth Programs. That’s what gets funded and generates support. As adults, we just get the privilege of using the facilities. A well-rounded CTA is one that supports Youth, Adults, Veterans, and Persons of Disabilities. Please consider stepping up to serve, not just a tennis ball, but on our Board.
Merry Christmas to all. I look forward to seeing everyone on the courts. And I hope to see a good attendance at our next meeting on Feb 10th.
For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Facebook at Lake City Columbia Community Tennis Association.
Let’s make a huge impact on the game of tennis for Columbia County in 2025. Should you want further information regarding our CTA, you can contact me directly at (386) 344-0305.
For the Love of Tennis
Mike Null, President
Nomination & Election of Board Members:
L. Hunter-Null, Chair of the Nomination Committee, presented a slate of nine (9) names for consideration to serve as Board of Directors of LCCCTA for the new year starting immediately at the conclusion of the 2025 Annual meeting.
The proposed slate of directors included: Mike Null, Linda Williams, Joe Hinkle, Eshu Xi Amaru, Michael Ammundsen, Michael Sexton, Laura Hunter-Null, Nelson Rivera, and John Batlle, III, D.M.D.
Motion was made by L. Null to approve the slate of proposed Board of Directors for the new year; seconded by J. Hinkle.
L. Hunter-Null, Chair of the Nomination Committee, presented a slate of seven (7) names for consideration to serve as (non-voting) Ex-Officio Members of LCCCTA for the new year starting immediately at the conclusion of the 2025 Annual meeting.
The proposed slate of Ex-Officio members included: George English, (USTA-Florida representative), Mark Mansbach, (local PTR Certified Tennis Instructor), Dolly Robinson (Immediate Past President), Anjan Viplav, Liza Viplav, Erin Weiffenbach, and Dennis Lumpkin.
Motion was made by L. Hunter-Null to approve the slate of proposed Ex-Officio members for the new year; seconded by L. Williams. The motion carried unanimously.
L. Hunter-Null, Chair of the Nomination Committee, presented a slate of three (3) names for consideration to serve as Officers of LCCCTA for the new year starting immediately at the conclusion of the 2025 Annual meeting.
The proposed slate of Officers included: Mike Null, President; Linda Williams, Vice President/Secretary; and Joe Hinkle, Treasurer.
Motion was made by L. Hunter-Null to approve the slate of proposed Officers for the new year; seconded by E. Xi Amaru. The motion carried unanimously.
President M. Null expressed appreciation to all 2025 LCCCTA members.
President Null adjourned the Annual meeting at 5:55 PM.
