Newsletter, January 8, 2007

Hi all (soggy) tennis players,

We’ve made it past the shortest day of the winter, so at least that’s good weather news!

A few things are going on that I want to let people know about.

Our current fundraising total for Erickson Park is $22,231.  We are still looking for 2 additional Grand Slam sponsors at the $2500 level.  We have met our obligation to the city, but we need to keep raising additional funds, as the actual construction costs may be higher than our estimates, and also things like sound barrier, donor display, and, most importantly, lighting were not included in the estimate.  I hope you all saw our ¼ page advertisement in the Peninsula Daily News on Christmas Day thanking all our donors.  If you missed it, thank you, again! We’ll run another ad later in the spring.

On Tuesday January 16^th, the Peninsula Tennis Club will present the Port Angeles City Council with a check for $15,600.  That check and a $5000 in-kind donation of asphalt from Lakeside Industries make up our commitment to the city.   Several of the PTC officers and club members will be making the presentation; we would like to have other tennis players in the audience, to show the strength of support for the project.  The presentation should be on the agenda for 6pm, I’ll send a reminder out closer to the date. Come if you can make it.

In talking to players, especially those who work during the day, it is apparent to me how important installing lighting on the Erickson courts is.  If all goes well, the club will be enjoying playing on rebuilt courts in June, but for working players, having those courts lit would make a huge difference in their amount of play starting next fall.  We were hoping to raise funds to install lighting in 2008, but what would be excellent is to get lighting on 2 courts during construction in 2007.  We estimate lighting for all 4 courts will cost $50,000.   I am applying to various foundations for grants, but if anyone has any idea of other sources of funding for lights, please contact me.  Most companies want to select projects they support based on what their employees are involved in.  If you work for a company, or have other ties to a company, that you think might contribute to the Erickson Project, please contact me for sponsorship details. 

The Peninsula Tennis Club is planning a Big-Screen social event during the Australian Open finals again.  That will be sometime around January 28^th, we’ll send out more details closer to the date.  If you have ideas for that event, send email to peninsulatennisclub@olypen.com.   (If you are starved for tennis viewing this time of year, The Tennis Channel really does a great job covering tournaments and showing classic matches – they have had a steady diet of matches on since the US Open in September.   TTC is available on DISH Network, channel 400, with the Top 150 package.)

Players over in Port Townsend are forming a Jefferson County Community Tennis Association, and are making up their event calendar.  They have a doubles mixer scheduled indoors at Lakewood (Tacoma) on January 28^th from 12 to 2:30, and have space available if players from here want to go.  The cost is free, and if people need transportation, there may be a transit van going from PT, or carpools available from the Visitor Center on Hwy 104.  If you are interested in playing, contact Julie Jablonski at (360) 385-5373 or  wurdenja@hotmail.com to sign up or get more details.

In a local viewing event: The U of W Men’s tennis team hosts the “Great Northwest Shootout” at the Nordstrom Tennis Center from Feb 9 to 11.  It’s an opportunity to see some of the best college players in the nation for a couple bucks entry fee.  Last year we didn’t manage to get a group together to go watch, but if anyone is interested in trying to get a group together this year, send email to peninsulatennisclub@olypen.com.

The next PTC monthly business meeting is Monday, January 15^th at 6:30 pm at the Port Angeles Library.  That is MLK day, and the library may be closed, but we will be having the meeting anyway.  Anyone interested is welcome to attend the meeting.  If you have items for the agenda, please email them to me at ljcripe@hotmail.com.

Thanks and hope to see you on the courts!

Laurel Cripe

President, Peninsula Tennis Club

Ljcripe@hotmail.com

(360) 452-9058