Newsletter of the Five One-Day Events to be Held Around the Valley The will be hosting five oneday events around the Valley over the next few months in lieu of the convention that was cancelled in Wichita. The locations will be: Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Oklahoma City Aug. 16 Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchison Kansas May 3 Kansas City TBA Missouri TBA Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa July We will be sending more information soon. These events will have great speakers, on-court drill share, and a fun social event. Come to one or come to all! Meet and share stories with your fellow USPTA Professionals! What s Inside... Valley Viewpoint 2 Certification dates 4 USPTA Mourns Heckler 5 Pro Spotlight 6 USPTA Accepting Award Nominations 7 Drills from Missouri Valley Pros 8 Baseball, Tennis Style 10 Feeling Tired? Try the Butt Burner Drill 11 2012 Missouri Valley Award Winners 12 USPTA, ThanksUSA Thank the Troops 14 Make an Upgrade A message from your Missouri Valley Certification Testers The Missouri Valley Division of the USPTA is constantly trying to find ways to reach out to its members in an effort to help them get the most out of their membership. One of the ways to accomplish this is to help our members upgrade their certification ratings. Tennis clubs, schools and country clubs are always looking for the best in tennis professionals to head up their programs, and they are always ecstatic when they can get a USPTA-certified Professional. However, there is a lot of competition for those jobs, which means the USPTA Professionals that have the highest ratings are looked at first by those that make the hiring decisions. Many clubs will not hire a tennis professional unless he/she is USPTA-certified, and a lot of those clubs require that the pro keeps upgrading until a P-1 rating is reached. That way they are assured that they are getting an employee who is at the top of his/her teaching game, and has the training to get the job done right. That is often reflected in the professional s salary. To help you in upgrading your USPTA rating, we have listed the dates and locations where testing will be held throughout 2013, as well as the cost for each area in which you may need to upgrade. To register for an upgrade exam, call the USPTA National Office at 1-800-877-8248, and either Vicky at ext. 108 or Melony at ext. 110 will get you registered. Upgrade costs: Written exam, private or group lesson - $25 each Stroke Production - $10 Feeding exam - $10 Grip exam - $10 We really hope you seriously consider upgrading your USPTA rating. It can pay big dividends in the long run. If you, or anyone you know, is not certified and would like to take the certification exam, Vicky or Melony will help you through that registration process, and get you access to your study materials. Certification dates and testers are on page 4
2 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division 2013 Board of Directors President Angie Koumaris OKC Golf and Country Club 7000 N.W. Grand Blvd. Nichols Hills, OK 73116 405-848-2994 abtwonder@yahoo.com Regional vice president Rich Slivocka 3620 E. 30th Ave. Hitchinson, KS 67502 620-662-1140 richs@prairiedunes.com 1st vice president Kent Womack 431 Gobbler Court Beaufort, MO 63013 573-484-3144 kent0992@hotmail.com 2nd vice president Kevin Braun 5209 Cedar St. Roeland Park, KS 66205 913-262-0445 kevinmichaelbraun@gmail.com Treasurer Rod Zerni 8901 W. 125th Terrace Overland Park, KS 66213 913-831-0322 woodsidetennis@hotmail.com Secretary Tom Jennings 308 3rd Ave. Hiawatha, IA 52233 319-396-7060 tomtennis101@gmail.com Member-at-large René Vidal 5620 Grand Dr. St. Louis, MO 63112 314-452-1870 renev@foresthillscc.net Past president Kendell Hale 2205 N.W. 81st St. Kansas City, MO 64151-3738 816-436-1608 halekl@umkc.edu Valley V iewpoint Angie Koumaris USPTA Missouri Valley President Hi everyone, What a bummer! It was such a hard decision to make to cancel the convention. I know many of you were looking forward to attending, and we were looking forward to seeing you all. We apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. We had to take into consideration the safety of our members, speakers and vendors. Even though the convention in February was cancelled due to the snow storm, the Missouri Valley has some fun events in the making. The convention will not be rescheduled this year, but we will be running five one-day events starting this spring through the summer. The details for these events will be out soon so be looking for them. Since we were not able to hold the convention in 2013, start getting geared up for the 2014 convention! We hope to have the dates for next year convention soon! Angie Koumaris Missouri Valley President Head tester Bunny Bruning 27836 Meadowview Lane Adel, IA 50003 bunnybfs@aol.com Executive administrator Christiana Johns 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 888-877-8232 divisionea@uspta.org Associate State Board Members Joel Reckewey Nebraska 139 N. 11th #1103 Lincoln, NE 68508 (402) 730-6070 joelrex25@gmail.com Melissa McCorkle Oklahoma 8114 S 71st E Ave. Tulsa, OK 74133 mmtennis@cox.net 918-830-0526 Steve Henry Oklahoma OKC Tennis Center 3400 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112 okctenniscenter@att.net Tylor Schlader Iowa 2781 NW 155th St. Clive, IA 50325 tschlader@7flags.com tylor.schlader@gmail.com 641-330-6277 Ben Loeb Missouri 1104 Elsdon Dr. Columbia, MO 65203 573-268-8750 bloeb@columbia.k12.mo.us
3 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division
4 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Certification Testers Our certification testers are spread throughout the Missouri Valley Division. Here is a list of our testers, their contact information, and the cities where they conduct most of their tests. HEAD TESTER Bunny Bruning Des Moines, IA bunnybfs@aol.com Kent Womack St. Louis, MO kent0992@hotmail.com Gary Trost Oklahoma City, OK tennis@okcgcc.com Kendell Hale Kansas City, MO halekl@umkc.edu Angie Koumaris Oklahoma City, OK abtwonder@yahoo.com Missouri Valley 2013 Testing Dates and Locations LOCATION DATES TESTERS Wakonda Club Des Moines, IA 4/20/13 5/18/13 7/14/13 9/14/13 Bunny Bruning Country Club Plaza Kansas City, MO Oklahoma City Country Club Oklahoma City, OK 5/18/13 7/27/13 10/19/13 7/15/13 10/15/13 Kendell Hale Gary Trost, Angie Koumaris Frontenac Racquet Club St. Louis, MO 5/5/13 7/21/13 Kent Womack
5 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division USPTA Mourns the Death of Former CEO Tim Heckler Tim Heckler, former chief executive officer of the United States Professional Tennis Association, passed away Feb. 4 in Houston after suffering a heart attack. He was 71 years old. "We are shocked and saddened by this loss," said Tom Daglis, USPTA President. "He will be sorely missed in the industry as the single largest contributor to the USPTA in its entire history. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Renee, his children, and the rest of his family. They are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time." Heckler retired from his position as chief executive officer of the USPTA in December 2012, after 30 years in the position. When Heckler was tapped as USPTA CEO in 1982, the organization had approximately 2,400 members and an annual budget of $700,000. He grew the association to the world's oldest and largest organization of its kind, serving more than 15,000 members in 66 countries, and operating on an annual budget of $6.5 million. Heckler, who began playing tennis at age 3, started his tennis-teaching career in 1970, the same year he joined USPTA. He was elected president of the USPTA Texas Division in 1974 and served as national president of the organization from 1980 to 1982. With Heckler's guidance, USPTA became one of the first tennis organizations to embrace technology, first through the computerization of the business itself as early as 1982, and then later through its use of the Internet and email-based communications and education. USPTA introduced its first website in 1995. The USPTA honored Heckler in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association's Hall of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Tennis Educational Merit Award in 2002 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008 he received the highest honor awarded by the United States Professional Tennis Association, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award. Former USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship and played on the international circuit, including Wimbledon in 1959 and 1961, and the U.S. Open in 1960.
6 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Pro Spotlight - Myron Pushyk Myron Pushyk, Associate Tennis Professional Pushyk -- originally from Perth, Australia -- came to the United States in 1977 on a tennis scholarship to Wichita State University. Pushyk had an outstanding career for the Shockers, playing the No. 2 singles position on multiple nationally ranked teams. At WSU, Pushyk received a master s degree in physical education. Pushyk and his wife, Lynn, have been married for 24 years. Pushyk is currently an Associate Tennis Professional at Genesis Health & Tennis Club in Wichita, Kan., where he has been for the past 24 years. Pushyk has served in many capacities at the club such as Junior Director and Adult Director, and he is currently serving as the USTA Executive Director of the Kansas District. As well an outstanding tennis professional Pushyk has continued his success as a great player. In 2008, he won second place at the 50s National Hard Courts tournament, and in 2012 he finished in third at the 55s National Hard Courts tournament. Pushyk also enjoys playing golf and watching NASCAR. US Open National Playoffs Missouri Valley Sectional Qualifying Tournament Set For June 27-30 Playing in the US Open is a big dream for many and now your dreams can come true. Registration is open for the US Open National Playoffs. Compete in Singles or Mixed Doubles for your chance to qualify for and compete in the 2013 US Open. Homestead Country Club in Prairie Village, Kan., will host the US Open National Playoffs Missouri Valley Sectional Qualifying Tournament, June 27-30. Registration deadline is June 21. ID# is 400016813. Many of the past champions of the US Open National Playoffs have Missouri Valley ties: Year Men s Singles Women s Singles Mixed Doubles 2012 Clement Reix Alexandra Mueller Brian Battistone/ Nicole Melichar 2011 Blake Strode Robin Anderson David Martin/Christina Fusano 2010 Blake Strode Alexandra Mueller Not held Online entry and additional information for each of the 13 sectional qualifying tournaments are available for any player 14 years of age and older at www.usopen.org/nationalplayoffs. The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $100 for singles and $120 for each mixed doubles team ($60 per player). All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through Aug. 26, 2013. The US Open National Playoffs begin as a series of sectional qualifying tournaments and will be held in 13 USTA Sections throughout the country. The 13 men s, women s and mixed doubles champions or top available finishers from each sectional qualifying tournament will advance to the US Open National Playoffs Men s and Women s Singles and Mixed Doubles Championship. All three championships will be held in conjunction with the New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara, an Emirates Airline US Open Series event. The US Open National Playoffs men s and women s singles champions earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament, held the week prior to the US Open. The US Open National Playoffs mixed doubles champions receive a wild card into the main draw of the 2013 US Open. Additional information on the US Open National Playoffs is available now at www. USOpen.org/NationalPlayoffs.
7 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division USPTA Accepting Nominations For Annual Awards Deadline for nominating is July 2 The United States Professional Tennis Association is now accepting nominations for its 2013 National Awards Program. Each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as tennis teachers and as ambassadors using tennis to impact people and communities. The USPTA is accepting nominations until July 2. All Professionallevel members are eligible. Recipients will be recognized during the USPTA World Conference Sept. 23-27 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla. The award categories are: USPTA Stars are members who have dedicated many years to volunteering in grassroots tennis, and through initiatives incorporating multicultural and other aspects, bring the sport and sportsmanship to the players they touch. Their giving spirits have made them stars in their own communities. We may not have heard of the people who receive this award, but their stories are inspiring, and almost all of us know at least one person who deserves a nomination. The USPTA Industry Excellence Award is given to teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing a tennis business. The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 grant from the Tennis Industry Association and a Tennis Tutor ball machine from Sports Tutor for use in his or her grassroots programs. The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions. individual hosting an event raising the most money will not necessarily receive this award. The USPTA Tennis Across America Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to get people to play tennis. Established in 1990, TAA is the original, free, grassroots lesson program. It also has a multicultural segment that targets various communities and potential players who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. While the award does look at individuals who have held the most free clinics with the greatest number of participants, it also looks at individuals hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event to get people to play the game. The USPTA Diversity Award recognizes those USPTA members who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within their community through tennis. Award nomination forms and guidelines are available online on the USPTA site (click here) by calling 800-877-8248 or by sending a request to pr@uspta.org. Since changes have been made to some individual categories, as well as Division of the Year criteria, please be sure to read the general rules and requirements for each award carefully. Also, there are changes to the awards format and presentation at the World Conference, so please note that while all awards will be announced in writing at the conference not all awards may be presented formally as they have in the past. The Manager of the Year, Large and Small Facility is the only USPTA award available to nonmembers. Applicants/nominees must be the general manager (in function, if not in title) of a club or tennis facility. College Coach of the Year and High School Coach of the Year award recipients are usually selected based on their results as team coaches, however individual coaches may be considered. The Touring Coach of the Year is selected on the basis of his or her work with a playing professional on the ATP World Tour or the WTA Tour and/or touring juniors. All Player of the Year awards will now be awarded to the No.1-ranked player for each category (listed below) in singles and doubles, or combined when applicable, based on year-end USPTA rankings and not current USPTA rankings. There will no longer be an application process for Player of the Year Awards in every category. The categories for this award are: men s open, women s open, men s 35-and-over, women s 35-and-over, men s 45-and-over, women s 45-and-over, and men s 55-and-over and women s 55-and-over. The George Bacso Tester of the Year award recognizes the USPTA tester who does the most to advance certification opportunities and the certification process. The USPTA Lessons for Life Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money for charities. An
8 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Drills from USPTA Missouri Valley Pros Drill: Two-on-One Corner Purpose: Consistency, Placement, & Cardio Description: Two players are at the net volleying to one player on the baseline who covers the deuce court only. Each player strives to keep the ball in play (consistency), yet may put away sitters (placement). For three minutes, the baseline player hustles and runs down every ball (cardio). Variations: Practice to the ad side; play games to seven to each side and rotate players. Rene Vidal, M.Sc., is a USPTA Missouri Valley Board Member and the Director of Tennis at Forest Hills Country Club in Chesterfield, Mo. Drill: Team Crosscourt, down the line (alternating) Purpose: Singles drill Description: Two lines of 3 and 3. Pro feeds a ball to Player A, who hits a forehand crosscourt to Player B, who hits a forehand down the line. Player A then hits a backhand crosscourt to Player B, who hits a backhand down the line to Player C. Players repeat the pattern through the lines. If any player misses the shot, pro feeds another ball. The speed of the shots should be at a pace to sustain the rally. Once a player has hit a forehand and backhand he/she then rotates to the end of the line. Variation: Keep score as a team and play to 10. Tom Jennings is a USPTA P-1 and the head tennis professional at the Westfield Tennis Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also serves on the USPTA Missouri Valley Board.
9 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Welcome to the Valley! Welcome to new members: Joshua Cobble - Arkansas City, Kan. Michael Kapsemalis - Kansas City, Mo. Carlos Acosta - Leawood, Kan. Emily Conway - Lees Summit, Mo. Rodrigo Puebla - Ames, Iowa Jack Zdvorak - Defiance, Mo. Find-a-Pro. Visit USPTA s free job listing service, Find-a-Pro, at www.find-a-pro.com, to find a job, list a job or find other USPTA Pros near you. Dates to Remember Testing Dates If you would like to place a job listing in the newsletter, please contact Christiana at divisionea@uspta.org or 888-877-8232. April 20 May 5 May 18 May 18 July 14 July 15 July 21 July 27 Sept. 14 Oct. 15 Oct. 19 Des Moines, Iowa Wakonda Club St. Louis, Mo. Frontenac Racquet Club Des Moines, Iowa Wakonda Club Kansas City, Mo. The Plaza Des Moines, Iowa Wakonda Club Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club St. Louis, Mo. Frontenac Racquet Club Kansas City, Mo. Country Club Plaza Des Moines, Iowa Wakonda Club Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club Kansas City, Mo. Country Club Plaza Meet your Missouri Valley HEAD Penn Rep! Jason Thoerner District Sales Manager (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Southern Illinois) 328 E. Glendale Street Manito, IL 61546 Office: 309-265-0488 Cell: 309-840-5485 Email: JThoerner@us.head.com
10 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Baseball, Tennis Style Using a baseball field setup to hit winners by Kent Womack, USPTA Pro 1 In baseball, there are certain areas on the field the batter tries to put the ball in order to get a hit: down the third base line, down the first base line, or up the middle. Practiced Shots: Volleys and groundstrokes Objective: Hit winners Skill Level: Advanced beginner and up There are two additional areas, which are in the holes between first and second base, and between second and third base. The student stands at home plate (at the net, in the middle), with the instructor or feeder standing behind second base (the center mark on the baseline). Feed a series of balls to the student, who volleys (bunts) toward all three bases. (In my games, the student has to volley to each target area before repeating a volley to any area.) I have found students of all ages, regardless of skill level, respond enthusiastically to this drill. Have the student volley crosscourt to first and third bases this increases the angle of the shot and makes it harder for an opponent to make a successful reply. Every time the student makes a good shot, he gets a runner on base. Every time he misses the target area, he makes an out. (The instructor will be the umpire, and judge whether the ball is close enough to the base to be a hit or an out.) Runners can only advance one base at a time. Three outs and you change batters. Play however many innings you want, or play to a predetermined number of runs. You can add target areas in the holes as the students advance. For more advanced students, you can add a shortstop and second baseman, who will try to return the volleys for winners. I have found students of all ages, regardless of skill level, respond enthusiastically to this drill. If you have large groups, they can divide into teams and compete against each other. This is one drill where a team can actually compete against another of a different skill level. Variations: Move home plate to mid-court for long volleys, and to the baseline for groundstrokes. Kent Womack is the 1st Vice President of the USPTA Missouri Valley Division and resides in Beaufort, Mo.
11 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Feeling Tired? Try the Butt Burner Drill by Kevin KB Braun, USPTA Pro 1 Have you ever had a player come up to you and tell you that he is getting tired quickly in matches? If so, here is a drill that you can do at any level that works on fitness, volleys and passing shots. I use this drill all of the time in my Cardio classes and my members know this drill by its name alone, the Butt Burner. This drill is designed for three to five players. Pro: When feeding this drill, make sure that you stand just behind the service line. You will be feeding to the baseline players a running passing shot. This passing shot can either be hit down the line or crosscourt but make sure to decide and communicate what direction the passing shot should go before hand. Players at baseline: Players at the baseline will be receiving a fed ball from the pro. The players at the baseline should be alternating from one side of the court to the other. So if there are three players on the baseline, two will be on the Deuce side and one will be on the Advantage side of the court. Feed a ball to the side with more players first. So in this case, a ball will be fed to the Advantage side of the court, while a player from the Deuce side of the court runs it down to hit a running passing shot. Once the player has struck the ball, the pro should immediately feed a ball to the Deuce side of the court to the player starting out on the Advantage side of the court and so on and so on. You can quickly see how this drill works as the players on the baseline will be taking turns running down passing shots, while the net player is defending the net. Player at net: There should be one player at the net working on his volleys. If the passing shot is trying to be hit down the line, then the net player will be moving side to side with the direction of the player at the baseline across the net from him. If the passing shot is trying to go crosscourt, the net player will be moving in the opposite direction of the player at the net, who should be working on his shuffling footwork. This is a footwork drill as well as a volley drill. The player at the net should try to volley the ball in the same direction as the ball is being hit from. This will help the drill run smoothly as once the baseline player strikes the ball, the pro should be ready to feed the next ball to the next baseline player. Depending on who your clientele is, the pro can decide whether or not to go based on time, passing shots made or errors made. Remember, this is a DEAD BALL drill meaning that once the net player hits a volley the baseline players DO NOT play that ball. They are only concerned with the ball that is fed to them by the pro. If you are looking for a drill to use in any class that works on a multitude of shots then look no further than the Butt Burner. Once you have mastered the timing of this drill, this can be used in your already great bag of drills. Kevin "KB" Braun is a USPTA Pro 1 head tennis professional at Homestead Country Club in Prairie Village, Kan. THE KEY TO BUILDING YOUTH TENNIS IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Host a Play Day and see your participation and revenue increase! Getting more kids on your courts and keeping them coming back translates into big growth for your programs. Host a Play Day and give kids in your community the chance to have fun, get active and learn new skills. Play Days are designed for various levels of players to participate in a fun, low pressure, yet competitive setting. A 2-3 hour Play Day allows kids to have multiple matches with and against a variety of players in an informal atmosphere without the threat of elimination. Register your Play Day today at 10andUnderTennis.com/organizers to receive complimentary materials and resources to make your event a success! 2013 USTA. All rights reserved.
12 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division 2012 Missouri Valley Award Winners Congratulations to our 2012 Missouri Valley Division Award Winners! Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the annual convention was cancelled. However, we would like to acknowledge this year s winners. If you have a chance to catch up with them please congratulate them on their deserving awards. Suzanne LaBelle Lessons for Life Award Suzanne LaBelle Professional of the Year Suzanne is a USPTA P-1 and a member of the USPTA since 1993. Currently Suzanne is the Director of Tennis at the Greens Country Club. Suzanne has been credited with club improvements all courts resurfaced and a new fitness facility. Suzanne believes in the USPTA and what the organization stands for. She encourages her staff to continue education, stay involved, as well as to stay up to date with all of the latest teaching techniques. Suzanne s love of tennis can be seen thru the eyes of her staff with her charitable work, teaching on court, the working environment that she creates and the camaraderie at work between all of her employees. As said by her Head Tennis Professional Tim Shanahan, the best characteristic of Suzanne is she doesn t have to have the spotlight, but she is always willing to help and find ways to get the job done. She is the ultimate tennis professional. Paul Smith Player of the Year Paul has been a USPTA member for 23 years. Paul currently is the Director of Tennis at Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison, Wis. Paul s playing achievements have taken him around the world competing in ITF events where he took Bronze at the 50s World Championships and a Silver at the Asian Open in Thailand. Paul s ITF World Doubles ranking for 2012 was No. 49 in the Men s 50s age group. At the USTA level Paul took Gold in the Men s 50s Doubles at the National Fiesta Bowl and National Grasscourt Championships. Paul also took Bronze at the Men s 50s National Claycourt Doubles Championships. Paul finished the USTA National rankings for Men s 50s Doubles ranked No. 14. Suzanne has gone above and beyond when it comes to giving. In 2012, Suzanne orchestrated 11 charitable tennis tournaments with the sole purpose to give back. Whether it was awareness, items or dollars, Suzanne was a part and a big part of the success of these programs through developing sponsorship opportunities that raised the contribution level and community awareness for each charity. Charities such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Food Bank of Oklahoma, Helping Oklahomans Conquer Cancer, Infant Crisis Center and Humane Society of Central Oklahoma. Recently Suzanne was named to the Board of Advocates for the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the OU Medical Center. Congratulations to Suzanne LaBelle. Greens Country Club Community Service Award Ken Veney 45s Player of the Year Ken has been a USPTA member for 20 years. Ken currently is the Director of Tennis at Hallbrook Country Club in Leawood, Kan. Ken s playing achievements for 2012 include USTA Missouri Valley 45s singles champion and finalist of the USTA Heart of America Open singles. Ken finished 2012 ranked as the number player for the USTA Men s 45s singles ranking. The Greens Country Club is definitely a leader when it comes to community service. Through its work with local charities the Greens Country Club raised more than $30,000, collected infant items, collected pet items, accepted monetary donations through sponsorships, collected can goods and collected toys for the 11 charity tennis events that they hosted for 2012. Their work did not stop there however. The Greens Country Club also donated courts, used nets, used tennis balls and ran a tennis drive to collect new and used tennis equipment for needy programs. The Greens Country Club strives to bring awareness to its community with its mission statement to the forefront, which proves that through tennis each of us makes a difference on and off the court. Congratulations to the Greens Country Club.
13 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division 2012 Missouri Valley Award Winners Rich Slivocka 35s Player of the Year Rich has been a USPTA member for 12 years. Rich currently is the Director of Tennis at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchison, Kan. Rich s playing achievements for 2012 include reaching the semi-finals of the USPTA World Championships in Monterey, Calif., as well as winning the Gold Ball for the USTA National Husband/Wife Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Rich also volunteers his time with the as Regional Vice President. Rich helps with his time and donating equipment to local programs such as Trinity Catholic High School and McPherson Advantage Tennis Program. Congratulations Rich Slivocka Ben Loeb High School of the Year Ben has been a USPTA member now for 18 years and has been coaching Rock Bridge High School tennis teams for 19 years. In those years his teams have won the Missouri State High School Championship nine times. His boys and girls teams are the current 2012 State team Champions. Also at the 2012 Missouri High School Championships, Ben s Boys won the individual singles title as well as the doubles title and the girls won the doubles title. Outside of High School tennis Ben promotes the game of tennis through summer camps and this year he donated a bench at Bethel Park where his high school teams play to honor players that have played on the Rock Bridge tennis team. Steve Henry Large Facility Manager of the Year Steve has been a USPTA member now for seven years. Steve is the Director of Tennis for two public tennis facilities in Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Tennis Center and Earlywine Tennis Center. Steve s responsibilities include giving lessons and programming, and is also Tournament Director for both facilities where in 2012 he oversaw the Oklahoma State High School Championships for both boys and girls that saw 7,000 spectators in attendance. He also ran USTA junior and adult tournaments at the local, Missouri Valley and national level. In addition Steve was also the Tournament Director for the Oklahoma City Men s Pro Circuit. His two facilities hosted 28 high school tournaments, three College tournaments and the USTA District League Championships. Steve also volunteers his time on the Board of Directors for the USTA Oklahoma District and in the summer of 2012 Steve volunteered to help run the Jim Thorpe National Indian tournament. Kyle Markham Small Facility Manager of the Year Kyle has been a USPTA member now for four years. Kyle is the General Manager at the Jayhawk Tennis Center in Lawrence, Kan. Through Kyle s direction the Jayhawk Tennis Center has doubled its membership, implemented a very successful 10-and-under program, hired a Head Tennis Professional, reduced rates for its membership and created scholarships for those in need. Kyle has also donated his and the Jayhawk tennis Center time and effort to local schools and social events. Kyle also was instrumental in getting the Jayhawk Tennis Center new indoor lights, ceiling and insulation, backdrops and outdoor fencing. Kyle s volunteer work has been to host Block Parties, Free Tennis Days for Lawrence Youth and Adults, a fundraiser for Trinity Home Health Care and a Kansas Kids Fitness Day that saw over 700 third graders participate. Kyle, with the help of the Jayhawk tennis Center membership, helped bring over 50 Christmas presents for a family of six who were dealing with major medical costs and procedures for one of their own children. Greens Country Club Facility of the Year The Greens Country Club exemplifies what a facility can do for its members, community and staff. The Greens Country Club has resurfaced its 6 outdoor courts, lining two of them for 10 and Under Tennis as well as adding a new fitness facility with state-of-the-art Nautilus equipment and free weights for its members. When it comes to the community, the Greens Country Club has been called the Club with a Cause hosting 11 tennis events that raised money for the Infant Crisis Center, Alzheimer s Association, Central Oklahoma Humane Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Helping Oklahomans Conquer Cancer, Lawyers for Children, The Down Syndrome Foundation, The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Children s Hospital and Special Care. And when it comes to its staff, training them to be certified for CPR and AED which in turn was a blessing as they were able to save the life of a player who had collapsed on court. Bunny Bruning Continued Education Award Bunny has been a USPTA member now for 26 years. Bunny is the Tennis Director at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. Bunny has been involved with the in various roles including president and is currently the divisions head tester. Bunny earned 51.5 credits which tops all other Missouri Valley USPTA tennis professionals for 2012.
14 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division USPTA and ThanksUSA Continue Campaign to Thank the Troops As part of Tennis Thanks the Troops, the United States Professional Tennis Association and ThanksUSA will continue to team up to encourage USPTA professionals to fund scholarships for the families of military men and women. The nationwide campaign which was launched in 2012, has the support of Men s Doubles Champions and No. 1-ranked doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan and WTA Tour s previously No. 1-ranked doubles player and US Open Doubles Champion Lisa Raymond as spokespersons. Click here for a public service announcement created by the Bryan Brothers to support Tennis Thanks The Troops that was featured on Tennis Channel. USPTA members can help by donating a portion of their lessons or clinic fees taught during Memorial Day Weekend 2013 (or any other weekend/date). USPTA Professionals can provide the opportunity for their students and club members to donate $5 for the cause or they can run a simple round robin or other event with all or a portion of the proceeds being donated to ThanksUSA. The club raising the most money for the ThanksUSA charity will receive two tickets to the US Open and the opportunity to send their pro to New York, including airlines and hotel. For more information visit uspta.com or ThanksUSA.org. There s certainly lots of attention on supporting those initiatives that help our troops of late and rightfully so, said USPTA CEO John Embree. As an association, we intend to do our part using pros who are communityminded and want to show their dedication to the military by making a valuable contribution to those efforts. Through Lessons for Life, which became USPTA s national charitable program in 1999, the USPTA encourages its members to use tennis as a vehicle to help others through fundraising activities in their communities. The collaboration with ThanksUSA is an added component of the program, and one that strives to mobilize USPTA members to raise funds to help families of military personnel, specifically by providing scholarships. CEO and Chair Bob Okun. Your help gives our returning soldiers and those still in danger zones the ability to ensure that the futures of their children and spouses are made equally secure through education. In the past year alone, ThanksUSA received 1,800 applications from the spouses and children of our armed forces. While ThanksUSA was able to provide 300 scholarships valued at $3,000 each, the organization could only meet a small portion of the need among deserving applicants. In 2013, ThanksUSA seeks to award at least 500 scholarships totaling $1.5 million. ThanksUSA s scholarship program is unique in that both spouses and children of active-duty men and women can apply to the same organization for support. The scholarships are need-based enabling those who most need and deserve the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education the opportunity to do so. Since ThanksUSA s inception in 2006, it has awarded 2,800 scholarships for a total value of almost $8.5 million. Scholarship recipients represent all military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve and come from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. About the USPTA: Founded in 1927, USPTA strives to raise the standards of the tennis profession while promoting greater awareness of the sport. USPTA offers nearly 70 professional benefits to its more than 15,000 members worldwide, including certification and professional development. With more than 300 days of educational opportunities throughout the year, USPTA offers the most comprehensive continuing education program in the tennis industry. For more information, call 800-877-8248 or visit www.uspta.com. About ThanksUSA: ThanksUSA is a non-partisan, charitable effort to mobilize Americans of all ages to thank the men and women of the United States armed forces. We re doing that by providing college, technical and vocational school scholarships for their children and spouses. For more information, visit www.thanksusa.org. ThanksUSA s partnership with the USPTA is a profound example of how much Americans treasure our troops and recognize the sacrifices they and their families make to keep those of us here at home safe, said ThanksUSA
15 Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division Submit to the Scrapbook Every year each USPTA division compiles a scrapbook and sends it to the national office. The scrapbooks are used as nominations for awards such as division of the year, and most improved division among other awards. The following committees are all sections of the scrapbook: Lessons for Life, Tennis Across America, Diversity, Junior Circuit, Adult Leagues, Membership and 10 and Under Tennis. ARE YOU CONNECTED? Connect with other USPTA pros on social media Official USPTA Missouri Valley page on Facebook facebook.com/usptamissourivalley Official USPTA page on Facebook facebook.com/uspta.official Official USPTA Twitter @USPTA_Tennis Official USPTA Linked In linkedin.com/company/united-states-professional-tennis-association Each time you run an event, please send information about your event, including a copy of a sign-up sheet or draw sheet, and a picture to Kevin Braun. He will make sure it is entered into the scrapbook. The more events we have the better chance of winning a national award! If you have any questions contact Kevin: homesteadpro@gmail.com. Official USPTA YouTube Channel youtube.com/user/tennisresources Official USPTA Pinterest pinterest.com/uspta Official USPTA Google Plus tinyurl.com/usptagplus
Newsletter of USPTA s Missouri Valley Division 3535 Briarpark Drive Suite One Houston, TX 77042 888-USPTA-EA Fax: 713-978-7780 e-mail: divisionea@uspta.org Editor Contributors Christiana Johns Angie Koumaris, Kent Womack, Rod Zerni MOmentum is published quarterly by the Missouri Valley Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in MOmentum are those of the authors and not necessarily those of MOmentum or the. Copyright Missouri Valley Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the newsletter is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA Missouri Valley Division. Advertising information Ads will be in black and white. Prices are per issue. Full page... $115 2/3 page... $100 Half page... $57.50 1/3 page...$45 1/4 page...$30 Business card...$18.50 Discounts are given for ads whose frequency rate is two or more per calendar year. Contact Christiana Johns at 888-USPTA-EA for a rate card and circulation information.