October Newsletter

ATA Newsletter October 2009

Court Status: The city is beginning to show signs of moving forward on the courts. Steve and Grady met with city officials on Sept. 23rd and the upshot was:

The bid package will be finished by Friday, Sept. 25th. It will be advertised 10/4-11. Bids will be opened 10/27. The commission will meet and approve the winning bid on 11/4. The contractor will be notified on 11/5. A start date will be selected (within one month) and the City will start tearing out the fencing one week before that start date. All of this presumes that bids for the basics come in under budget. We are back to pouring over the existing courts with four inches of gravel between the surfaces. --Steve

ON THE CALENDAR:

Oct. 4th, 6:00 pm: Closed tourney entries due

Oct. 7th: ATA board meeting at noon; all members welcome

Oct. 10th-11th: ATA Closed Tourney

Oct. 11: ATA Annual Meeting and pot luck dinner; election of 2 new board members

Oct. 24: Roswell/Alamogordo exchange; put this date on your calendars.

Nov. 4: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

Nov. 7: November Play Day! Turkey shoot hosted by Ken Smith

ATA Newsletter October 2009

ATA / NMSU-A Mid School Tennis program will finish up on Oct. 1st. With 27 mid school players and ATA volunteers, the program was a big success. Special thanks to ATA volunteers: Carl Jones, Sabine Fahl, John & Evelyn Genta, Linda Gilliland, Diane Gutafson, Pien and Darrell Latham, Bernice McRae, Steve Schuster, John White, and Anke Witak who volunteered their time to work with these kids.

ATA closed Tourney and annual meeting, Oct. 10-11. Please get your entries in to Grady Nicholson by Sunday, Oct. 4th, 6:00 pm. (Forms were sent out with Sept. newsletter; contact Grady if you need one). Also, remember that the annual ATA meeting/potluck dinner will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 pm at Pien & Darrell Latham’s home (Maps will be available at tourney desk). Please bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. Two new board members will replace Steve Schuster and Joy Gallent whose terms have expired and thus will be going off the board. So far, candidates for the two board positions are: Diane Gustafson, Bernice McRae, John White, and Anke Witak. If you are interested in serving on the ATA board, please give your name to Steve, or any board member.

Roswell/Alamogordo Exchange will be Oct. 24 in Roswell. We need to keep the alien/White Sands plaque (that Harold designed) and not let them show it off in Roswell! Let Steve Schuster know if you can play for ATA in Roswell that Saturday.

Chihuahua: Pat Morgan is checking to see if Thanksgiving weekend would be a possibility for tennis in our sister city. Pat needs to know if there is sufficient ATA interest for a Thanksgiving trip. Contact him if you are interested.

Recovering!

Despite recent shoulder surgery, two ATA members can’t seem to stay away from the courts!

What talents ATA members have!! We’ve heard through the ATA grapevine that we have a pie maker in our midst. Dale Emmert recently took first place for his pies in the annual Pie Town Pie Contest. We’re all salivating, Dale!

Tues/Thurs Open Play: Please be reminded that Tuesday and Thursdays are open play days, for players to meet and join in play. Every 30 minutes players rotate between courts to allow a mix of play. If you do not wish to join in and switch around on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please arrange your own players and play on the northern courts.

Springer and Crouse-- Senior Champs

Jim Crouse and Tom Springer recently captured gold medals at the National Senior Games in the men's 75 division. The tournament, which brought together seniors from across the nation, was held at the Taube Tennis Center in San Francisco, August 11-14.

Crouse and Springer barely made it out of the opening round, squeaking past Washington's Jim Gard and Bruce Randall in a tight three-setter. Three matches later, the New Mexico duo saw themselves in the final opposite Hawaiian duo Benny Quiseng and Norberto Baysa. Crouse and Springer saved their best match for the final, and cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory for the title.

It was a good weekend for Springer, who also captured the Men's 75 singles crown. He received an injury walkover in the first round, then breezed through four more rounds, including a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Roger Hing (Fountain Valley, Calif.) in the final.

Springer lost just 18 games in eight total sets in singles.

October 2009 Closed Tournament Entry

Click here to download the October 2009 Closed Tournament entry form.

September Newsletter

ATA President Steve Schuster has been communicating with city personnel regarding the tennis court project. Steve reports: I spoke with Matt McNeile and Stephen Thies. Mr McNeile assured me that the courts would be bid and built before the High School season starts (late Jan). He also assured me that Mr. Balderama could put his bid package together in less than two weeks. He also stated that there was a zero chance of losing the grant money as the City can show that the funds are encumbered and the bid process is underway (they have already filled out a grant survey put out by the State). We have till 5/11 to spend the money. He did throw me a curve ball when he said that the courts would be completely torn out (by City personnel) and we would build from scratch. I asked and was assured again that that no City expenses would be charged against the grant funds.

ON THE CALENDAR:

Oct 7: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome

No Oct play day

Oct. 3-4: SENM Open Tourney, Roswell. Contact ATA board member or Faye Stokes for more info.

Oct. 10th-11th: ATA Closed Tourney

Oct. 24: Roswell/Alamogordo exchange; put this date on your calendars. Details are forthcoming.

September Play Day was hosted by Diane and Lee Gustafson. Perhaps a record number of players turned out, filling seven courts in a team tennis format. “Team Roger Federer and Serina Williams” composed of Tom Roll, Judie Francis, Cameron Emmert, and Pien Latham, was the winning team taking home Diane’s homemade prizes (check out Cameron’s boxers). Thanks for a super play day, Diane and Lee!

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A special ATA Board sponsored play day was held on Aug. 13th to discuss Tuesday & Thurs. Open Play. It was decided to set a timer and rotate play every 30 minutes to insure mixing of players. System seems to be well liked and running smoothly, but players are reminded to please rotate immediately when time is called.

Mid School Tennis program is up and running. ATA has teamed with NMUS-A again, offering a middle school tennis program from Aug. 25^th to Oct 1^st. Sessions are on Tues. & Thurs. from 5:00-6:30. Carl Jones is the lead instructor with a dozen ATA members also volunteering to assist with instruction. Twenty-seven mid school players have signed up and the enthusiasm on the courts is beyond description. One parent said, “I can’t believe how these kids are out there hitting and playing, and having a blast, after only a few sessions!”

New Member: Please welcome new ATA member, Dub Brown. Dub splits his time between Cloudcroft and Huntsville, TX, (Contrary to rumor, Dub was NOT the warden there). Welcome Dub!

Chihuahua exchange is a no-go for September. Pat Morgan is checking to see if Thanksgiving weekend would be a possibility. Pat needs to know if there is sufficient ATA interest for a Thanksgiving trip. Contact him if you are interested.

ATA closed Tourney, Oct. 10-11. Forms are attached with pertinent information. Please get your entries in to Grady Nicholson by Sunday, Oct. 4th, 6:00 pm.

Also, remember that the annual ATA meeting will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11 and two new board members will be elected. Steve Schuster and Joy Gallent will be going off the board. If you are interested in serving on the ATA board, please give your name to Steve, or any board member. More info on the annual meeting in the Oct. newsletter.

Please note the attached article on the 2009 National Senior games. ATA members Tom Springer and Jim Crouse won the 75 doubles title. Congratulations Tom and Jim!

Check out the ATA web page: http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Dale Emmert for keeping this up and running.

August Newsletter

Court Status: We continue to see no progress. Please call or write your city commissioner and ask them to move forward on our tennis complex!

ON THE CALENDAR:
Thursday, Aug. 13: Special ATA board sponsored Thursday Play Day. Come on out by 9:00. We’ve got something special planned to help promote T/Th open play. Be there!
Aug. 22: Mid school training session for volunteers, 9:00 Oregon Courts
Sept 2: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome
Sept. 5 Play Day, hosted by Diane and Lee Gustafson. Play starts at 9:00 at Oregon Courts
Oct. 3-4: SENM Open Tourney, Roswell. Contact ATA board member or Faye Stokes for more info.
Oct. 17th-18th: ATA Closed Tourney: Get this date on your calendar; more later.
Oct. 24: tentative Roswell/Alamogordo exchange















August Play Day was hosted by Robert and Marita Meints. Six courts of players played HOT tennis on a hot Aug. day. Robert put together an INTERNATIONAL Play Day where players played for a country. Italy took first, and Great Britain took second, with John & Evelyn Genta representing Italy, and Anke Witak and John White representing Gr. Britain. Mients hosted a bratwurst luncheon following play. Thanks for a wonderful time, Marita and Robert!


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Mid School Tennis program is planned again this fall. ATA will team with NMUS-A again to offer a middle school tennis program from Aug. 25th to Oct 1st with instruction for the first 3-4 weeks and organized play to follow. Sessions will be on Tues. & Thurs. from 5:00-6:30. Carl Jones has volunteered to be the lead instructor. ATA volunteers will be needed, so if you are interested in donating some time to youth tennis in Alamogordo, please give your name to either Carl Jones or Evelyn Genta by Aug. 20th. Carl will offer a training session for volunteer coaches and helpers on Sat. Aug. 22nd. Interested mid school players can sign up with NMSU-A community ed. Ph. 439-3842. Cost to students will be only $40 which includes a t-shirt.


New Member: Please welcome new ATA member, Brian Grace. Brian comes most recently from Albuquerque. See you on the courts Brian!
http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/

July Newsletter

Court Status: On June 12 ATA new court committee members (Steve, Grady and Linda) met with Ed Balderama, development project leader, regarding plans for the Oregon courts.
First the good news. We will have courts, however this is City priority number three behind the ninth street bridge and the water treatment plant so it will be fall before it goes out for bid. We will have the old courts until at least Nov 1. This means no interference with the fall tournament or the middle school program. The courts will be laid on top of the old and as a consequence transitions will have to be made on courts 1-4 where you exit, which means the bleachers will have to be brought up to ADA standards (no cost estimate). In an effort to defray costs the City will tear down the old fence and do as much prep work as possible. The City is not allowed to charge any of their expense against the grant money. All of this will be bid in an ala carte way to allow us to go as far down the list as $475,000 will take us. Priorities are:
1. Eight courts rebuilt in post tension concrete.
2. New fencing, the posts will be a total loss as they are set in concrete but the cross pieces and fabric have some value (reuse any of the old that is in good shape)
3. On the Oregon street side of courts 5-8 cut away the fence between light poles, about 60', move the bleachers into that gap. Similar to what we have now on courts 1-4.
4. Widen courts 5-8 by 10' to allow 24' between courts, this would leave the possibility of a low fence between courts, also means relocating the 4 eastern light posts. Courts 1-4 can not be widened because of parking on one side and water/sewer lines on the other.
5. New lights.
6. Shade over the on court benches.
7. A lockable storage building for all our stuff. Tom Springer has a lead on two 10 x 20 buildings from the Forest Service.
8. A concrete pad to be used by the tournament Directors so they don't have to stand in mud. Submitted by Steve Schuster, ATA president

ON THE CALENDAR:
August 1: Don’t miss Aug. Play Day, hosted by Marita & Robert Meints at 9:00. Robert has an INTERNATIONAL play day planned. Tennis will be followed by Bratwurst and German Potato salad lunch at their home. Their pool will be open and ready to use so bring your swim suit.
Aug. 5: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome

Las Cruces Exchange in Las Cruces on June 27th was geat fun for the sixteen ATA players who attended. LCTPA provided lunch. ATA won lots of door prizes, but unfortunately Las Cruces players prevailed and took the trophy. Current record now is:
ATA-11, LCTPA 11, so next year will be a tie breaker.

LCTPA president takes the trophy from ATA president











Fourth of July Play Day was hosted by Anke & Carsten Witak. Players filled 6 courts and enjoyed good play and fabulous food. Thanks Anke and Carsten!!









Winners were Diane Gustafson, Pien Latham, John Genta, and Steve Schuster.
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Also thanks to Joy and Darryl Gallant for hosting an ATA swim/dinner/karaoke party. If you’ve not been to a party at the Gallant’s, you don’t know what you’re missing. ATA members like to “ham it up” and their karaoke provides a stage for everyone. With Joy’s cooking and Darryl singing Elvis, this was a party to remember.














Mid School Tennis program is planned again this fall. ATA will team with NMUS-A again to offer a middle school tennis program from Aug. 25th to Oct 1st with instruction for the first 3-4 weeks and organized play to follow. Sessions will be on Tues. & Thurs. from 5:00-6:30. Carl Jones has volunteered to be the lead instructor. ATA volunteers will be needed, so if you are interested in donating some time to youth tennis in Alamogordo, please give your name to either Carl Jones or Evelyn Genta by Aug. 20th. Carl will offer a training session for volunteer coaches and helpers on Sat. Aug. 22nd. Interested mid school players can sign up with NMSU-A community ed. Ph. 439-3842. Cost to students will be only $40 which includes a t-shirt.

ATA DVD’s are still available for purchase. This DVD is a superb presentation of ATA history and activities. Thanks to Harold Waggoner for putting this together. It’s a real buy for only $5. See Neil Bottger if you are interested in purchasing one.


Ladies: Are you interested in a singles ladder?? If enough ladies express interest, a ladder may be organized beginning in Aug. Give your name to either Bernice McRae or Evelyn Genta by the end of July if interested.

Don’t forget about the ATA web site!! http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/
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