Board Meeting — 11/8/21

Call to Order: Vice President Mike Null opened the meeting at 5:29 PM with a special prayer for our community and also for President Dolly Robinson’s healing. The board meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM.

M. Null filled in for President Dolly Robinson who has been recovering from medical issues.

Members present included: Mike Null, Joe Hinkle, Laura Hunter-Null, Nelson Rivera, and Linda Williams.

There were no guests in attendance. However, LCCCTA officers received emails from USTA Florida Representative, George English, and USTA Florida Local Adult Play Coordinator, Leigh Chak. They were unable to attend this meeting, but anticipate to attend future LCCCTA board meetings.

Both contacts are always available to our CTA for obtaining resources and guidance from USTA Florida.

The Minutes of the October 11th Board Meeting were reviewed.

A motion was made by J. Hinkle to approve the 10/11/21 minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by L. Hunter-Null, and the motion carried unanimously.

Since President Dolly Robinson was not in attendance, Vice President M. Null provided general updates to the group.

Tennis Pro, Mark Mansbach, has been giving tennis lessons on Young’s Park tennis courts on a daily basis, and as late as 7pm. He has a presence at the pro shop and LCCCTA is very fortunate to have an available tennis professional.

Mark Mansbach also assists with coaching the CHS Boys Tennis Team.

LCCCTA’s Facebook page has provided current tennis clinic information to our community, which has assisted new tennis players making contact with Mark Mansbach for tennis lessons.

On behalf of LCCCTA, M. Null submitted an online application to USTA for insurance renewal and it has been accepted. The next step is USTA approval, and then M. Null will begin the General Liability Insurance renewal process. The cost is $225 per year.

A motion to renew the general liability insurance through USTA was made by N. Rivera and seconded by J. Hinkle.

The motion carried unanimously and a check for $225 was issued and provided to M. Null by Treasurer J. Hinkle.

M. Null suggested deferring group discussion regarding the renewal of our Director and Officer professional insurance until the next meeting, December 13th, 2021.

LCCCTA does not have employees and has not had any claims.

L. Williams said she contacted the Lake City Reporter and asked if they could interview and take pictures of the senior ladies who play tennis three mornings per week.

LCR Sports Reporter, Mr. Kroeger, said he would consider this request after fall sports are complete; they are extremely busy at this time and they have a limited number of staff.

L. Williams expressed her appreciation to him for adding our story to their sports calendar when time permits it.

L. Williams reported that Marcia Kazmierski provided an email to President Dolly Robinson giving her resignation as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

D. Robinson responded with an email letting Marcia Kazmierski know that her input will be missed and how very grateful LCCCTA is for what she has done for the organization.

M. Null stated that since LCCCTA’s Annual meeting will be held in February 2022, President Robinson has time to appoint a new Chair of the Nominating Committee.

L. Williams attended Columbia County TDC’s 500-acre Regional Park Community Engagement Meeting and provided two important links in a summary to all board members and partners regarding the Oct. 21st meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAtMzvK306flC7dEPhAJjQ

The Austin, TX planning team believes it will take approximately 3-4 months to develop ideas from community feedback into a framework plan with TDC. The planning team expects to return to Columbia County with a project in five months. It was confirmed that “tennis has a home”

The link below allows community feedback to help the planning team move forward:

https://www.menti.com/7izn9pmji5/0

L. Williams asked if board members would like to wait before publicizing future adult social events when more people are involved in the adult tennis clinics. Social events would immediately follow the clinics when players are already at the courts.

M. Null agreed we should wait a little longer; and at that time, L. Williams will publicize information in the Lake City Reporter’s, ‘Community Calendar’, as well as LCCCTA’s website and Facebook page.

Also, a colorful flyer will be designed and posted on LCCCTA’s information board by the pro shop.

It was previously decided by Tennis Professional, Mark Mansbach. that Thursdays from 7-8pm would be ideal for adult social events. There will be no cost associated with those social events.

Both President Dolly Robinson and L. Williams spoke with LCCCTA Board Member and Tennis Professional, Liza Viplav. She is interested in leading LCCCTA’s Youth Team Tennis program in the spring.

Beginning on March 29th the program will be held from 4:30-5:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for four weeks, ending on April 21st. Possibly, a Youth Team Tennis ‘Challenge’ could be held on the final day.

Liza Viplav suggested the Youth Team Tennis Program include 7th -12th grade students, on a first come first served basis. The participant cost was set at $20 by LCCCTA board members for the YTT 4-week spring program.

L. Williams will publicize the youth team tennis program with colorful flyer via Facebook, Instagram, LC Reporter/Community Calendar, and promote to principals and PE teachers at public and private schools.

L. Williams will create a YTT registration form for the Spring Program participants and have a link so copies can be downloaded on social media. Hard copies will be available at the pro shop.

LCCCTA Treasurer Joe Hinkle will be available to accept completed registration forms and payments.

In addition, L. Williams will request Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) $1,000 allocated funding for LCCCTA’s Spring YTT Program.

J. Hinkle provided the November Treasurer’s Report to LCCCTA board members. The current balance in the bank account is $1,906.62, with an outstanding check for $225.

M. Null reported he followed up with an email to city officials regarding his concern to serious security issues at Young’s Park. He only received one response—from the police chief.

In the email, M. Null stated parents and children have expressed they no longer feel safe coming to Young’s Park to participate in activities.

M. Null recommended placing security cameras at the park, as he is aware there are security cameras available for community parks around the nation, and they have helped deter criminal acts.

At this time, LCCCTA has not been made aware of any resources provided by the City of Lake City to address serious security concerns at Young’s Park.

M. Null said that although, the City Public Works Dept. placed a water line next to the tennis pro shop, the following items remain to be completed: (1) electrical line needs to be run to the tennis courts (2) Backboard needs to be installed on the fence of court #4 (3) aluminum shelter/pavilion needs to be replaced adjacent to the tennis courts.

M. Null asked the board members if there was anything else to report.

L. Hunter-Null mentioned it would be nice to have a LCCCTA Social for the December 13th meeting.

L. Williams suggested postponing the social event to after LCCCTA’s Spring YTT Program, and when the weather was better for tennis. At this time, it was agreed by board members to wait until that time.

The next LCCCTA Board meeting is tentatively set for December 13th, 2021.

There being no further formal business, a motion was made by L. Williams to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by L. Hunter-Null.

Vice President Mike Null adjourned the meeting at 6:43 PM.