| WOW, WHAT A MONTH ! July was a wonderfully hectic month at ATFC with many activities and a gazillion volunteer hours contributed. We want to thank Bonnie, Bari, Steve, Jane, Carolyn, Dune & Darin who joined Leo and Ari in running a great Community Celebration of Tennis on July 11th. You all represented ATFC smashingly! Thanks to Gail & Ari and Board Members Bonnie, Kelly & John who participated in the Newcomers' Social with Donna, Dune, Darin, Gary, Stephanie, Dick & Vivian. Much laughter and fun tennis took place! When it comes to Big Al's, there is a group of truly dedicated folks without whom this great tournament wouldn't happen: Big Ed Laskos, the President of STAY, and volunteer extraordinaire gave his usual all. Thanks to Laura Vaughn, STAY treasurer, for all of her work. It was fun to see first-hand how the draw is done - with lots of finesse - by Leo with help from Steve & Victoria. You rock, Leo! Thanks to Lori for her help behind the scenes. A slew of Club members manned desks. Thanks to Andy, Ed & Sammy who seemed to be Leo's right-hand men much of the time! Gary, Coralie, Michael, Barbara, John, Tillie, Rhonda, Carolyn, Sharon, Dale, Konny, Sally, Nigel, Dan, Marilyn, Tom, Mark, Alex, & Jeff also put in many hours selling t-shirts and assisting the tournament participants. Gary was the official photographer (move over, Annie Liebowitz!). Kudos to you all! We held our first barbecue at the Club in conjunction with Big Al's. The parking lot was festive with tents, tables, chairs & decorations. Tom & Lisa Beam cooked up a storm under a giant tent contributed & set up by Adam! The Havurah generously lent us tables and chairs. At precisely 4:30, Tom & Carolyn pulled up with their trailer, loaded with tables & chairs. Immediately they were joined by Andy & Max, Tilly, Nigel & Mischa, John, Donna, Terry, Susan and Jo & Alan and their houseguests. Tilly deserves a special pat on the back for many things including table décor and tons of other help. Carolyn provided the magic for preventing all the tablecloths from flying away. Dana & Sharon donated beautiful floral arrangements. Special thanks to Katy for arranging for the loan of several great tents from Providence Medical Center. K.G. also lent a tent. (We have all learned exactly how many people it takes to move a canopy!! ) Without a doubt, the event was a great success, thoroughly enjoyed by 100 folks! PAINTING PARTY We'll be painting the exterior of the Club on September 12. Lots of fun! First 12 to sign up get to wield a brush! BIG AL’S RESULTS ATFC was well-represented at Big Al's and Club members came home with a lot of the coveted pottery! Congrats to Ari & Evan for winning the Open Doubles, to Evan for winning the Open Singles, to Dave & Jesse Hodges who won the Men's 4.5 division, to Dana Yearsley & Javier del Rio who won the Mixed 9.0. Congratulations also to Allen Baker's daughter, Dana, who won the 3.0 Singles Title in an amazing 3 and 1/2 hour match! Finalists included Liz Pischel and Barbara Jacquat in 3.0 Doubles, Sue Medway & her partner in 3.5 Doubles, Shannon Kasiah in Men’s 3.0 Singles, Charlie Hamilton & Steve Sacks in 4.0 Doubles, Katy & Kelly in 4.0 Doubles and Dana & Sharon in 4.5 Doubles! Visit our website www.ashlandtennis.com for pictures! AUGUST EVENTS August 5 — Women’s Mentor Tennis & Brunch, 10-12n We’ll mix it up with our highest level women playing with some of our 3.0 women led by Leo. Brunch will follow. $5/person. August 12— Calcutta Evening, 6-9p Leo will run a little betting tennis event for a lucky group of sixteen! Four W3.5, W4.0 & above, M3.5 & M4.0 & above will compete. Food & drinks provided. $12/person. Better hurry to sign up… August 28-30—Dennis Ralston 3-Day Camp held at the club. Come join for 1, 2 or 3 days and learn new drills & skills! This is a rare opportunity for Southern Oregonians to meet a Hall of Fame inductee and former Davis player & coach. Dennis has some amazing tales that will surely enthrall campers! Pick up a brochure at the club board & tell all your friends near and far not to miss this chance!! CLUB DOUBLES TOURNAMENT Find a partner and save the dates: September 25-27! More details to follow. AUCTION CENTRAL We're so grateful to have Tilly at the helm again for our next auction, January 30. We're holding a pizza & beer party on Monday, August 3 here at the Club to begin the brainstorming process for next January's auction. All are invited! Please take note of the "Name Game" jar at the Front Desk: contribute your auction name idea. The winning name will be decided at the August 3rd party and the winner will receive a free ticket to the auction and dinner. Put on your thinking caps, knowing that the word "green" will receive special attention. EMAIL - SAVING TREES, TIME & MONEY! If you would like to start receiving your statement & newsletter via email send your info to: billing@ashlandtennis.com. Sign up for auto debit at the Front Desk; it’s one more way to help ATFC! NEW MEMBERS Please give a warm ATFC welcome to our newest members: Dick Hogue, Gayle Frye, Maureen Slack, Betty & Dieter Heycke, Jennifer & Michael Sallee, Talia Sherr, Nancy Keim, Haley & Ursula Petersen, Sharon Dvora, Hector Meletich and Bill Schuerman. SPOTLIGHT ON FRONT DESK VOLUNTEERS Susan Fernlund is Ms. August. She volunteers on Thursday afternoons and is one great Front Desk person! She and Karl joined ATFC shortly after they moved to Ashland from Amelia Island, Florida in October. At one point Susan was the highest-paid female in the North American Division of Mobil Oil! Her favorite career, though, was running her own quick-printing business. Now she keeps busy with hiking, biking, and playing bridge (aside: she's a great player!). Susan's one of 3 left-handed siblings! Loves Dragonfly and also loves to cook. We're lucky to have her at the Club and are glad that she'll be helping plan this year's auction! Thanks, Susan. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Guenther Knoblich would be happy to see ATFC members for any orthopedic concern that may require immediate care. A Board-certified and Stanford-trained orthopedic surgeon, he joined Ashland Orthopedic Associates in 2007. Website: http://orthodoc.aaos.org/knoblich. Call 482-4533 for an appointment. Drop-ins welcome on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-5. 269 Maple St., across from Ashland Community Hospital. ANNUAL CLUB CLOSURE A reminder that the Club will be closed beginning at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2 and will re-open on Tuesday, September 8 at 5:45. During this time period we will be doing thorough cleaning and maintenance. PAIN IN TENNIS (AND LIFE) Have you felt the acute pain of a sure win - three match points - slip away in a few unbelievable moments and turn into devastating loss? (Feeling my loved one ripped from my life) Have you felt the helpless pain of trying every shot in your arsenal, putting up every defense and still being crushed in the end? (Seeing the swollen river/the tornado/the hurricane sweep through my home) Have you felt the frustrating pain of a body that gives out in the middle of a match - or a season- so even the next step is a challenge? (Feeling age steal my youthful vigor and movement) Have you noticed the worst pain of all is not the loss or the challenge itself, but in reliving it - over and over and over...? Have you noticed that you have a choice - To relive or to rebuild (My love, my home, my life) in every moment? ~ Peter Finkle, April 19, 2009 Peter is the official poet of the ATFC Men's 4.0 Team. |
| August 2009 ATFC Newsletter |