USTA Metro Region Update: November/December 2013
A Message From USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark
As the summer winds down and we approach my favorite season (Autumn), I think of getting outside as much as possible to enjoy the calm and slightly cooler weather and the trees bursting with color.
What better way to enjoy the outdoors then to take my nephew Jack out to hit a few balls for a while at his local park using a low compression ball and small racquets. He is about two-and-a-half, and I think he's got some pretty good skills so far if I do say so myself. More importantly, we are having a blast and smiling and laughing and getting some good exercise. It's quality time with Jack and quality time with the sport that I cannot live without. I cannot wait until he starts to play USTA Metro Jr. Team Tennis. Jr. Team Tennis is about to start and we are looking forward to a great season.
Climb on board!
Jackie Clark, President ♦ USTA Eastern Metro Region
Jack getting his start in the sport of a lifetime
MTG Celebrates “Diversity” at Annual Matthew Shepard Fundraiser
It is astonishing to believe that 15 years have transpired since the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a college student who was tortured and murdered in Casper Wyoming in 1998. What happened to Matt remains one of the most heinous and notorious anti-gay hate crimes ever committed in U.S. history.
But Matthew’s legacy lives on, by way of a non-profit organization founded by his mother Judy Shepard. The Matthew Shepard Foundation promotes, on the national level, messages of tolerance and acceptance. It further encourages the celebration of and pride in diversity. On a grassroots and local level, Judy Shepard speaks in schools and religious institutions, and imparts her message of embracing and accepting people who are “different.”
In early October, Metropolitan Tennis Group (MTG) helped raise money for the Matthew Shepard Foundation by way of its annual Matthew Shepard Tennis Jam held at the 119th Street tennis courts in Manhattan’s Riverside Park.
“The story of Matthew Shepard is still as relevant today as it was 15 years ago,” said Daniel Arzuaga, one of the principal organizers of the event and commissioner of MTG. “Despite the advent of gay marriage laws and the advancement of human rights, there still exists much resistance and ignorance, caused principally by lack of exposure and lack of understanding of those people that are ‘different.’ This year saw a significant spike in gay hate crimes here in New York City. Fifteen years later, the struggles that Matthew Shepard faced are still a reality. The need for universal acceptance, tolerance and understanding is just as great today as when the foundation first formed in 1998.”
More than 60 people attended the event, which featured “scrambled” doubles play: All participants in the event were assigned a number and were instructed to play on the courts assigned to that number.
“You never knew who you would be playing with until you actually stepped on the court,” said Arzuaga. “Numbers were assigned irrespective of playing level, so 4.5s played with 2.5s … young played with old … the random combinations were endless.”
During breaks, all the players socialized and enjoyed catered food and fun desserts. The event culminated with a moment of reflection led by Arzuaga and ended with a raffle that included restaurant certificates, free Pilates sessions, free tennis lessons, cosmetic gift baskets and USTA sweatshirts, bags and caps. Between raffle tickets and donations, close to $6,000 was raised for the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
“Our Matthew Shepard Tennis Jam is a great way for players of all different abilities and backgrounds to come together, have fun, and celebrate their differences in a tennis setting,” said Arzuaga. “Simultaneously, we all collectively support an important cause, while playing the sport that we all love and have in common.”
Calling All Tennis Fans … Become a Metro Jr. Team Tennis Coach/Captain
This year, we will have more than 300 kids, ages eight to 18, playing with our Metro Jr. Team Tennis program. We are looking for volunteers that want to make a difference in the lives of young people to get involved as captains/coaches. The 2013 USTA Metro Jr. Team Tennis program runs from December 2013 through March, 2014. Match play is on Saturdays, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Harlem Tennis Center.
The role of the team captain/coach
The team captain or coach's role is to assist the program coordinator or league coordinator in the delivery of the USTA Jr. Team Tennis program. Coaching or tennis experience is not necessary. Below is a list of general duties:
►Assist in player registration by making sure your team members register themselves using the team ID you have provided.
►Gather uniform size information and contact information.
►Assist with scoring and monitoring team matches.
►Assist in recruiting volunteers/parents to help with team duties such as driving players to matches
►Read and know the rules of the league in which the team is competing. The captain is responsible for the team to play and act in accordance to the rules and code.
►Report scores on TennisLink within 48 hours of completed match. Home team records match scores.
►Keep in contact with the Jr. Team Tennis Metro League Coordinator and Committee
►Complete a USTA Safe Play background screening
You can help develop the next generation of tennis champions in the Metro area! Join our group today. For more information, contact Joani Akpan at (718) 258-4730 or e-mail metrojtt@gmail.com.
“SBTA Participates in “Pushin’ With Purpose”
The South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) participated in The Legacy Center’s Second Annual Health Fair called “Pushin’ With Purpose” in alliance with the American Diabetes Association at the Bushwick High School Campus. The focus of the event was on targeting today’s youth by providing information and advice on healthy eating and exercise to help combat diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stress. The best way to prevent problems in the future is to begin preventative measures during the early years.
As the “Pushin’ With Purpose” event progressed, the kids arrived, and before long, they were lined up to “Take a Swing.” It is always great seeing their eyes light up and smiles form on their faces.
The SBTA is a registered CTA/NJTL of the USTA that promotes the game of tennis to kids ages 10 and under through programs and special events throughout the City of New York.
USTA Eastern Metro Section Committee members
Adult Competition Committee
►Nelson Kier Committee Chair
►Ray Krueger Committee Member
►Paul Moss Committee Member
►Raj Vaswani Committee Member
Adult League Committee
►Deborah-Rose Andrews Committee Vice Chair
Awards Committee
►Mark McIntyre Committee Chair
►Jackie Clark Committee Member
Budget & Finance Committee
►John Klenner Committee Chair
►Richard Gordon Committee Member
►Jim Rosenthal Committee Member
Charter & Bylaws Committee
►Allon Lifshitz Committee Member
►Ari Selman Committee Member
Community Development Committee
►Joan Apkan Committee Member
►Jackie Clark Committee Member
►Ron Nano Committee Member
►Daisy Schwartz Committee Member
Community Development-Advocacy Committee
►Michael McCasland Subcommittee Chair
►Elena Bantovska Committee Member
►Allon Lifshitz Committee Member
►James O'Neill Committee Member
Community Development-Wheelchair Committee
►John Hamre Subcommittee Chair
►Cheri Peterson Committee MemberDiversity & Inclusion Committee
►Daniel Arzuaga Committee Member
►Jeffrey Fairbanks Committee Member
Junior Competition Committee
►Elena Bantovska Committee Member
►Jason Speirs Committee Member
Volunteer Committee
►Daisy Schwartz Committee Chair
►Charlotte Ganberg Committee Member
►Rufaro Makanda Committee Member
►Emilia Robinson Committee Member
►Pablo Sierra Committee Member
►Hadassah Silberstein Committee Member