2020 Officers
President Mike Graff • 248-866-0508 mike@baselinetennis.net
Innovation Competition The USPTA Innovation Committee wants to know, do you have a great idea that you think would benefit your USPTA? Then you should enter the innovation competition and submit your idea!
What is an innovation?
An innovation is an idea that has been transformed into practical reality. For a business, this is a product, process, or business concept or combinations that have been activated in the marketplace and produce new profits and/or growth for the organization. Category winners will be recognized at the USPTA World Conference in September.
How to Enter
1. Select one of the innovation categories below, Technology, Facility Operations, or Growing the Game. Using your smartphone or computer video camera, create a 1 to 2 minute video “pitching” your great idea Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and copy the video link so that you can paste it in the appropriate area at https://www. cognitoforms.com/USPTA1/USPTAInnovationCompetition. 2. Complete the entry form by filling in the form fields and then submit your idea. The USPTA Innovation Committee will review all submissions and look for the best ideas to implement. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m., Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Innovation Categories
Technology - Implementation and incorporation of solutions to create advances that lead to positive changes in the racquet sports industry. Facility Operations - Incorporate actions and decisions implemented by staff that impacts the overall direction of a club/facility/organization to successfully operate and thrive. Growing the Game - Embraces ideas, behaviors, programs, and initiatives that influence the growth and evolution of racquet sports. Questions? Contact USPTA staff Jim Burke. james.burke@uspta.org or Mike Calendrillo, mike.calendrillo@uspta.org
Want to have a pickleball certification at your club? The Midwest Division is looking for sites to have pickleball certification. Needed are a minimum of four tennis courts or 8 pickleball courts and a meeting space for 1.5 hours that is large enough to accommodate the number of participants while being socially distant. We only allow 4 players per court so with 4 courts maximum would be 16 participants for 5 hours. A hopper, net, paddles and 50 balls are also needed. The cost of the workshop is $240/person and players need to sign up at the iptpa management software system: members.iptpa.com. Contact USPTA Director of Certification, Sid Newcomb, sid.newcomb@uspta.com or call 407 634 3050 ext 149.
Regional Vice President Matt Davis • 224-247-2483 tenace4@gmail.com Second Vice President John Frausto • 920-860-0751 johnfrausto@gmail.com Third Vice President Cathy Thomas • 513-218-0782 cthomas6@cinci.rr.com Treasurer-Secretary Matt Boughton • 715-559-3168 mboughton@ymca-cv.org Past President Scott Ansay • 262-241-4250 scottansay@hotmail.com Executive Director Carol L. Anderson - 503.941.5137 carol.anderson@uspta.org
State Presidents
Ohio Nick Bennett • 703-995-5057 nick@matchpoint10s.us Wisconsin Dan Oliver • 920-227-7005 danonhgb@aol.com Illinois Lindsay L. Geiger • 773-960-4117 lindsaygeiger@sbcglobal.net Michigan Chip Fazio • 313-670-3277 chipfazio@gmail.com Indiana Umang Chadda • 309-255-3224 umangrk@hotmail.com Head Tester Mike Lange • 630-978-6746 mike.lange@rushcopley.com
USPTA World Headquarters 800-USPTA-4U uspta@uspta.org
Spring 2021 Midwest Connection 3
