USPTA Southern Division: Where Excellence is STANDARD The USPTA Southern Division Volume 19 Issue 1: January 2018 INSIDE: 4 Conventions in 2018 ............................ pg 2 Transform Your Biggest Weakness ................... pg 3 Awards Nominations are Open ..................... pg 4 Pigskin Classic – Super Fun Event ................... pg 5 The Volley Challenge ............................ pg 12 Page 2 Volume 19 Issue 1 President’s Message By Lane Evans-USPTA Southern President Happy January Everyone! are going to try a ‘virtual conference’ with a better use the funds and time spent to bring I hope this note finds you well and braving 4-part webinar series and select video semi- the entire board into Atlanta in better ways this cold weather we have had to endure of late. nars for our members. Since we are not going that will benefit the states and the USPTA I have recently been in Louisiana, Mississippi, back to Memphis this year we decided that Southern organization. This is contingent Georgia, North and South Carolina and have we would offer some educational opportuni- on a returning board this year. Don’t worry, seen snow in all those states at the same time. ties for our members. our USPTA financial health is great. We just Hopefully, it will not last too much longer and We are already well into the planning stages want to continue that trend and being fiscally we can get back to the business of tennis. for our May convention at the Atlanta Athletic responsible with your money is as always of I want to thank those state presidents who Club. USPTA Vice-president, Keven Theos is the utmost importance. We hope you agree. have hosted workshops in 2017 and most working hard to put that event together. We As always, thank you all for your continued recently this winter. Our workshops were well- look forward to having you there. support of the USPTA and of USPTA Southern. attended, and we are truly leading the way here Finally, in leu of our January Board meeting We value your support. If I can be of service in the south in education. Thank you all for your in Atlanta, we are going to hold the January to anyone in our division, please reach out to participation and let’s keep that trend going. meeting via conference webinar. Pat has me. I am always glad to listen and help where We have a few goals on the horizon for done a great job organizing this event. The I can. our division going forward. In February, we management committee felt that we could Stay Warm and Well, Lane Virtual Convention to Replace Memphis Convention The Memphis tournament has moved to Video webinar every Tuesday - 1:30-2:30 et. will be able to watch New York, removing the big draw to Memphis Speakers will be Sean Drake (new RacquetFit them at any time (still BBQ though). For this year, we are plan- program director), Doug Cash (former Tennis during February ning a Virtual Convention during the month of Corp of America director), Kirk Anderson, and and receive credit February, which will allow you to earn at least 5 Feisal Hassan. Additionally, 6 videos from our automatically education points. Full details will be released by USPTA Southern YouTube channel will be through the USPTA the last week of January. Current plans include: featured on the USPTA Tennis Resources. You National system. May Convention Returns to the Prestigious Atlanta Athletic Club We are proud to announce that our May Convention Chairman Kevin Theos has 17-19 convention will be returning to the already confirmed Gigi Fernandez and AAC. This is one of the top clubs in the country, Emilio Sanchez as our keynote speakers. and we are most fortunate to be guests at Cari Buck will be our national board rep. this world class host. The Marriott Peachtree She is a master of marketing and commu- Corners will be our hotel (same that we used nications, recently with the Tennis Channel. last time at the AAC). They have undergone a A new and exciting addition will be Tennis major refurbishment over the last 2 years, so Ted Talks. These will be 15 minute talks. It’s we are getting a new hotel. Rates are $109, a first for us, and probably for the country, which will include the full breakfast. (conven- and will allow you to absorb ‘the best’ of tion and hotel registrations details posted information in short bursts. Do you have soon on Setteo) a great topic you would like to present?? SPEAKERS - we will have a few new ones. Reach out to Kevin at [email protected]. Summer and Fall Conventions But wait - there’s more!! Since we missed year. First will be the Summer Convention at Stone Creek Club in Covington, LA. 2017 the Memphis Convention, we had to find in Nashville, TN at the beautiful Richland was the first year, and it was highly success- alternates. In order to bring first class Country Club, the first weekend in August. ful with an amazing selection of speakers programs closer to each member, the board Next we will team up with the Tennis Haus and topics. We are already working with has opted to hold two additional events this Convention the weekend of November 10th Davor to top last year. Standard Page 3 How to Transform Your Biggest OUTSIDE Weaknesses into Incredible theLINES Strengths by Embracing the Shake The TED Talk guide that will change your limitations. By Elle Kaplan hen famous artist and TED Talk treadmill together, there’s two things: You’re to harness those upsides today, and let in snow- Star Phil Hansen was in art school, he getting off first, or I’m going to die. It’s really that ball from there. You’ll be amazed at how those W developed a tremor in his hand that simple, right?” flaws suddenly become your biggest allies. inhibited him from drawing a straight line and We often look at our flaws and assume seemingly brought his dreams to a screeching “perfect” people that lack those weaknesses Find your creativity through limitations halt. He was only able to produce squiggles are on the fast track to success. But success is Theodor Geisel — better known as Dr. and as an aspiring artist, this seemed like an a marathon, not a sprint. Even Will Smith has Seuss — wrote “Green Eggs & Ham” after betting enormous bridge to have to cross. better looking and more talented actors to that he couldn’t produce a story using less than It became so troublesome and painful compete with, so like him, make a determi- 50 words. He produced a timeless classic. and that Hansen eventually left art school. When nation to never get off that treadmill. Shed research shows that he was onto something leaving art behind became too emotionally the myth of overnight success, and realize more than just a lifetime of royalty checks. difficult, Hansen went to see a neurologist, that it’s not your weakness that will hold you O.C. Tanner studied the award winning work who gave him the best advice he could have back — it’s your determination that will take of 1.7 million creatives, and what they found received: you to the top. was pretty surprising: “Why don’t you just embrace the shake?” “Awards are frequently given because people Hansen returned home and did just this. He You have to know what your weaknesses are, performed Great Work within their constraints. embraced a limitation that he initially thought and accept them They solved problems. They overcame hurdles. would handicap his ability to make art, and Hansen finally went to a neurologist because And, they made a difference that someone turned his biggest weakness into his greatest avoiding the problem was causing him so much loved.” strength. pain, and by actually confronting his problem, Just like Hansen or Dr. Seuss, instead of Hansen was able to transform his limitation into shying away from your weakness, embrace the How can you harness what Phil Hansen did, a real strength. This allowed him to produce art hidden well for creativity it presents. Sometimes and also transform your limitations into like never before, and he found himself inspired when we need to harness creativity, it is better strengths? by his limitation instead of encumbered by it. to think inside the box rather than outside it. Sometimes we hit a wall with what we per- As Micheal Jordan says, “My attitude is that ceive to be weaknesses, and assume they are if you push me towards a weakness, I will turn Seek help and advice when you need it. insurmountable. We let these weakness become that weakness into a strength.” While you need to push yourself, and trans- the elephant in the room that holds back our Embrace the weakness, discover it and love forming a weakness to strength is never easy, lives instead of addressing it head-on. it. Aggravation is the mother of invention. Take sometimes you may need help when deciding Here’s how Hansen and other success what aggravates you, or what you see as your the right path. Having people in your corner stories made the massive 180-degree turn to weakness, and make an effort to create real who are there to support you is not a weakness change these weaknesses into strengths, and change instead of ignoring it. in itself, but rather a mechanism that will help you can too: you achieve your goals. No massive success story Find the hidden upside happened overnight, or involved one individual.