Board Meeting — 9/8/25
Call to Order/Welcome:
President Mike Null called the Board Meeting to order at 5:32 pm and thanked the group for attending. He welcomed Board members in attendance: Michael Sexton, Eshu Xi Amaru, Laura Hunter-Null, Michael Ammundsen, and Linda Williams.
Guest:
George English, USTA FL Representative
Approval of Minutes:
L. Null made a motion to approve the Minutes of the June 9 th Board Meeting; seconded by M. Ammundsen, and the motion carried unanimously.
President M. Null reported he contacted local city elected officials, requesting City assistance for landscaping necessary around the tennis facility, and Coach Mark Mansbach followed up to ensure a City maintenance team was sent. (M. Sexton offered landscaping equipment assistance, if needed)
In addition, M. Null asked for tennis court lighting to be changed back to the on/off manual switch; the timer has not been working properly, and electricity is staying on beyond playing times.
M. Ammundsen suggested that a governor be placed on the lights to prevent them from coming on after 10:00 PM.
M. Null sent another concern to the assistant city manager regarding electrical outlets that were supposed to be installed at the time the new courts were completed in Dec. 2020.
Having electricity available on the courts will allow use of an electric tennis ball machine, offered to LCCCTA through youth tennis grant funding.
Both items will be followed up by President Null within a week, and M. Sexton plans to follow up with the City, as well. If electricity is installed, M. Ammundsen suggested having a vending machine available for players.
VP/Secretary L. Williams provided LCCCTA’s Board of Directors and Officers with a contact list to review for accuracy. She added that Bobbi Brannon is interested in becoming a Board Member and would be a great addition to the Board. President M. Null will determine if she can begin this term as an Ex-Officio member, and in February 2026 be nominated as a Board Member during the Annual Meeting.
M. Null answered M. Sexton’s question regarding an ideal number of Board Members. 8-15 members, including officers. President Null also said the rotation of board members/officers is healthy; we need to have new members with fresh ideas.
L. Williams, who serves as an officer and board member on The Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) announced they approved a $3,000 award to LCCCTA at the annual meeting in July. This annual funding is specifically dedicated to costs associated with youth tennis activities and youth tennis camps between July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. President Null said he will write and mail a letter of gratitude to YTF’s president, on behalf of LCCCTA.
L. Williams said the one-hour after-school Fall Youth Camp will be three weeks in duration, to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning October 7th and ending with a Tennis Challenge party on October 23rd.
M. Sexton offered to provide Chick Fil-A cards for the camp player’s refreshment bags. The cost is $20 per player and USTA tennis racquets are available. Already, there are 20 participants who have registered for the camp, and this is due to the wide publicity and online registration links on both social media and the website.
Coach Mark Mansbach will direct the tennis youth camp, and volunteers from LCCCTA, along with two top high school tennis players, will assist in coaching the three ability level groups.
President Null would like to see more involvement from minority groups, and he plans to contact the assistant director at Richardson Community Center (RCC) to see if we can distribute registration forms and information. LCCCTA scholarships are available as fee waivers for any LCCCTA youth camps offered, and those forms are available on the LCCCTA website.
L. Hunter-Null believes the available scholarships may help increase participation in the youth camps.
Linda Williams created a one page, “Tennis Courtesy & Etiquette” summary to post on the tennis facility communication board as a reminder for all players to be respectful of others, and of the facility. It was also sent out in an email by Debbi Carter to the evening Tennis Social groups.
Treasurer Report:
M. Null reported on behalf of J. Hinkle, who provided a current financial report showing a total bank balance of $3,395.83. The general account has a balance of $2,080.66, the YTF account contains $1,747,94, and the Adult League account has a $167.23 balance.
L. Null made a motion to approve the Financial Report; L. Williams seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.
M. Null said the court divider net was returned to the tennis equipment distributor for full credit, to also include the cost of shipping. LCCCTA has used a portion of the credit to purchase a tennis net and some tennis wraps.
Guest George English:
G. English submitted Young’s Park to be highlighted during USTA FL’s Parks & Recreation Month in July. A special tennis article was posted in USTA FL ‘Community Tennis News’ and L. Williams shared a copy of the article with photos.
G. English let the group know that a new USTA FL Adult Coordinator will be available to help with the adult program, ‘Love to Learn/Love to Play’, and he plans to invite Beth Dellovade to attend LCCCTAs November 10th meeting. Mr. English said that she was a participant in the adult tennis program, and now holds a position with USTA FL in which she trains and helps other tennis associations.
M. Null said because the adult program is 12 weeks in duration, LCCCTA will need to look at dates in 2026 to conduct it and we look forward to having an adult coordinator assist us.
G. English mentioned that a Wheelchair Clinic will be held at the Ft. King location in Ocala and he will email the flyer for those interested in the training necessary to work with wheelchair players.
M. Null reminded everyone that E. Xi Amaru is continuing to assist Coach/Volunteer Mark Mansbach with the Veteran’s Program, which meets twice a month, and has wheelchair players.
George English told M. Null that USTA lesson plans are available for certified Special Olympic coaches.
New Business:
L. Williams let the Board know that Tennis Social Coordinator, Debbi Carter, requested the Tennis Social Mixed Doubles times be moved from 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM to 6:00 PM on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Discussion from board members determined that having a range of playing time will be best, as players arrive at different times. M. Sexton suggested the time span of 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, and board members agreed.
L. Williams will contact our Tennis Social Coordinator for input, and if agreed, will create and post flyers to reserve the tennis courts during those specific times.
President M. Null thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting at 7:06 PM.
Next tentative meeting scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
