Board Meeting — 3/8/21
Call to Order: President Dolly Robinson called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM.
Members present included: Dolly Robinson, Mike Null, Liza Viplav, Recie Davis, Joe Hinkle, Mark Mansbach, Laura Hunter, Glenn Hunter, and Linda Williams.
Welcome Special Guest: Marci McAdams, Columbia County Special Olympics Games Management and Volunteer. Ms. McAdams was invited to the meeting by L. Viplav because of her role and knowledge during the past 18 years in recruiting, arranging training, and providing equipment for Special Olympic athletes in all sports.
Participants must have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) on file with the school system and could also have a physical disability as criteria to qualify for the competition.
One tennis athlete will represent Columbia County and participate in the Area event in Alachua County in April; the State Tournament will be held in Orlando in May with 641 tennis players competing in the Special Olympics Summer Games.
D. Robinson asked Ms. McAdams to email L. Williams special needs information that can be posted on the LCCCTA website and Facebook page.
L. Williams provided her email address to Ms. McAdams.
L. Hunter emphasized the need for board members to encourage high school team players to hit with special needs students on the resurfaced high school courts. Required volunteer hours can be earned by the high school tennis players while they are working with special needs students.
President Robinson announced USTA Florida representatives, George English and Leigh Chak, are unable to attend the meeting; USTA travel continues to be restricted.
The Minutes of the February 8, 2021 Board Meeting were reviewed.
A motion was made by G. Hunter to approve the 2/8/21 minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by M. Null, and the motion carried unanimously.
M. Null provided an equipment update; equipment has arrived that was ordered using the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) $10,000 grant for tennis equipment.
M. Null will meet with the City’s director of public works to install the 16’ X 8’ fiberglass backboard on the fence of court #4 on March 10, 2021.
At the same meeting, M. Null will request the status of the keycard access system, and also the status of the shelter to be placed adjacent to the tennis courts.
M. Null said no tennis equipment will be left on the courts until the security system has been installed and is working.
L. Williams said the applicants who submitted their tennis facility usage form, along with a copy of their driver’s license, may pick up their keycards from City Hall once the installation is complete.
M. Null said George English of USTA FL inquired as to when LCCCTA would begin the Junior Team Tennis, as the USTA FL Foundation grant will be open until early May;
D. Robinson asked M. Null to submit a grant request on behalf of LCCCTA for adult size tennis rackets, tennis balls, and a ball machine. M. Null will put that together in time to meet the deadline.
Board member M. Mansbach already donated a total of 13 tennis rackets to be used as loaners for the Junior Team Tennis Program—eight junior rackets and 5 adult rackets.
Mr. English also inquired of M. Null when Love to Learn/Love to Play might begin; D. Robinson suggested we obtain support for that program from Leigh Chak of USTA Florida.
J. Hinkle provided the Treasurer’s Report for March.
The current balance in the bank account is $2,298.32, with a $500 check for the upgrade to LCCCTA’s website platform not clearing, at this time.
President D. Robinson expressed her excitement in beginning the Spring Youth Team Tennis (YTT) Program on April 5th.
Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) provided LCCCTA generous funding of $1500 for this program last year.
L. Williams reported the YTF sponsorship will be publicized/displayed on YTT participant tennis shirts, LCCCTA’s social media outlets, and has already been publicized in the Lake City Reporter.
D. Robinson said she’s already receiving registration forms for participants to begin the afterschool junior tennis clinics. Since there will be a limit on participants, completed registration forms must be dropped off in the Pro Shop lock box as soon as possible, scanned and sent to our email address — lcccta@gmail.com, or brought to the clinic on April 5th.
M. Mansbach, professional tennis instructor and LCCCTA board member, will be teaching YTT registered participants techniques in serve, forehand, backhand, and volley.
Note: Parents/volunteers will need to complete the CCSD background screening forms and be approved prior to assisting with the program.
L. Williams provided the group copies of the YTT Registration form, the LCCCTA Participant Waiver & Release form, the YTT Spring Schedule, LCCCTA Partner Form, and Columbia County Sheriff’s Dept. Background Check form. These forms are available on www.lcccta.org under the RESOURCES tab.
M. Null wanted to be sure the tennis courts will have the YTT Calendar posted during the Tuesday / Thursday afternoons and Sat. mornings for the six-week spring program (4/5 - 5/22) so the public will know the courts are reserved.
L. Williams will ensure copies the YTT schedules are laminated and posted; visible on the fences and near the gates.
L. Williams reported that LCCCTA board members, Tennis Partners, and anyone following LCCCTA on social media can now make contact with others interested in playing tennis.
A TENNIS CONNECTIONS link is on both Facebook and the LCCCTA website. Players will be able to go to the link to provide their first name and an email address; this special link was created when LCCCTA’s website platform changed.
LCCCTA Tennis Partner, Pierce Kelley, requested additional funding of $1500 from Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida to assist in an upgrade to the interior of LCCCTA’s pro shop.
The pro shop was previously purchased with $5,000 donated by Youth Tennis Foundation.
Insulation, electrical wiring, door lock, and obtaining an air conditioner will be addressed by D. Robinson and M. Null with this funding.
Possibly, the addition of plexiglass windows, dependent upon available money.
D. Robinson asked the members to look at setting tentative summer dates for LCCCTA’s Summer Program, which will begin after the Spring YTT Program ends on May 22nd.
It appears 2 three-week summer clinics could be held during the months of June and July, each meeting twice a week.
D. Robinson will look at specific dates for the next meeting and ask for volunteers to help with the Summer Program.
President Robinson announced the next Board meeting is set for April 12, 2021.
G. Hunter said the newly constructed front /south area of Duval Place will be complete and the LCCCTA board meeting can be held in the new conference room.
There being no further formal business, President Robinson adjourned the meeting at 6:35 PM.
