FROM THE USAPA
NEW USAPA AMBASSADORS
NEW AMBASSADORS: Nancy Bartusch....... Olympic Valley CA Diane Baumgartner.... At-Large Bill Barbuto........... Peoria AZ Justin Baxter.......... Belvidere IL Linda Cappello........ The Hamptons NY Marcia Dalton......... Peoria AZ Norma Davidson...... Rabun County GA Phil Davidson......... Salem-Keizer OR Louis DeGreef........ Quincy IL
Rick Dula............. Cuyahoga County East OH
Brien Galon........... San Antonio TX Bill Hunt............. Ria Arriba County NM Betty Kenniston....... Toledo OH George Lee........... Colorado Springs CO Tracy Gavin........... New Aurora NY Phil Hall.............. New Smyrna Beach FL Denise Izatt........... Elmhurst I Andrea Jones......... Orefield PA Helen Jordan.......... Brenham TX Rich Kalich............ Spofford NH Don & Carol Kolenda... Lilue HI Leann Land........... Austin TX Babs Lester........... Chandler AZ Helen McChesney..... Colorado Springs CO Debby Magenheimer.. Palmetto Bay FL Susan Manolis........ Phoenix AZ Eddie McDonald....... NW Montana Lisa Meenan.......... Hermosa Beach CA Carla Norris-Hopkins... Little Elm TX David Pike............ At-Large Bill Ries.............. Cincinnati OH Bob & Irene Romagosa Denton TX Ashley Schandel....... Riverhead NY Mike & Nancy Sechrist. Monte Vista CO Tyler Skea............ Traverse City MI Greg Smith........... Haiku HI Scott Smith........... Grand Haven MI Jim Stapleton......... Morganton NC Floyd Warren......... Hollywood MD David Weston......... The Villages FL Peggy Whitlow........ Elmhurst IL
Donna Zukas......... Natrona Hts- Vandergrift PA
FROM THE PRESIDENT
It was in April when Nancy and I were visiting my sister in Ft. Myers, Fla., that we had an opportunity to drive to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to visit the Club Med at Sandpiper Bay, the site for the 2016 Ambassador Retreat. It was a great visit and we knew that it would be a super location for the retreat. With over 200 ambassadors and friends registered, this second annual ambassador retreat was set to be another great pickleball event. That it was— as participants
DAVID JORDAN began to arrive at the resort on September 11, it was obvious that they were impressed and ready to have a great pickleball week, full of pickleball, educational opportunities and a great network of folks to socialize with and learn from.
The first item of business was to get together with everyone at our first cocktail party on Sunday evening. Our hostess with the mostest, Audrey Phillips, was ready to greet and introduce all in attendance. From the first sessions on Monday morning to the farewell party on Thursday evening it was a week full of fun, learning and laughter with great food and entertainment. Since this was an all-inclusive resort, everything was provided and the buffet was great. From team pickleball to just casual play on the 16 courts that Regional Director Carrie Jermstad( CJ) and crew had set up, it was a time of enjoyment and fun. These are the kind of events that the founders of pickleball had in mind when they envisioned a sport for all.
See additional information and pictures in Audrey’ s article in this issue of Pickleball Magazine and watch for the announcement of the 2017 Ambassador Retreat soon. Also, go to our website for a recap of all the sessions and presentations that took place during the retreat.
From our courts to yours.
If you are interested in being an ambassador to help promote pickleball in your region, visit usapa. org.
DECEMBER 2016 | MAGAZINE 7