EASTERN 2009 I N R E V I E W EASTERN.USTA.COM 00 USTA EASTERN 2009 Message from our Executive Director In 2009, the staff and volunteers ships. It is through their careful atten- of USTA Eastern helped grow ten- tion to details and their passion for the nis with outstanding programs that game, that thousands of people, of all attracted players of all ages and ages and abilities, are able to compete. abilities. From tennis block parties For those who can’t commit to and QuickStart clinics, to Junior League Play, USTA Eastern has had Team Tennis and Adult League tremendous success in partnering with Championships, thousands of peo- tournament promoters to develop and ple were able to learn and com- sanction tournaments. From compe- pete on the courts because of Team titions at local tennis clubs to inter- Eastern’s dedication and hard work. sectional events like the Church Cup, As Executive Director, I offer all of Team Eastern has continued to help you my deepest gratitude. provide opportunities for players to We measure our success at USTA compete with their friends. by benchmarks known as the “Big Of course, none of these events Six.” Every year, we strive to achieve would be possible without a team of these goals in individual membership, organizational dedicated volunteers, up 25 percent from 2008. It is membership, adult leagues, Junior Team Tennis, tour- the volunteers, who often work behind the scenes, nament competition and volunteers. This year, I am that allow us to grow tennis throughout our section. proud to say that we exceeded most of them. As we continue in 2010, I am confident that Eastern But first, I will share the not so great news. While will remain successful. Like the rest of the sections, we our individual membership rose by more than 300 to will be placing a greater emphasis on QuickStart, as we 48,475, we ended up about 180 members short of our aim to get children learning and enjoying tennis at a goal. The struggling economy was likely a factor. But young age. We will be focusing on our JTT and Adult we also know from a survey released in 2009 that more leagues, expanding competitive programs for players of than 30 million people are playing tennis across the all ages and abilities. Most importantly, we will be look- country, of which the vast majority are not USTA mem- ing to attract more members, and create more opportu- bers. In 2010, we will all be focused on reaching these nities to play USTA Eastern tennis all year round. players in our section, and making them a part of the We all know there are challenges ahead. But as the Eastern community. late Arthur Ashe once said: “Success is a journey, not On the positive side, I am pleased to report that we a destination.” exceeded our five other annual goals. By the end of 2009, USTA Eastern had the participation See you on the courts! of 23,516 in Adult Leagues and 6,786 JTT participants. I’d like to think that these popular programs sell themselves. But the truth is that it comes down to the captains and coaches who lead the teams, the league D.A. Abrams coordinators who organize the local matches, and the Executive Director talented Eastern staff who run our sectional champion- USTA Eastern 2 USTA EASTERN Message from our President I am fortunate to serve as President From a financial perspective, the of USTA Eastern, and I am extremely section is as healthy as it has ever fortunate that I have a great team been. The majority of our funding behind me. My primary mission in comes from the USTA National office taking office was to increase the through revenue generated at the transparency of how the section func- US Open and through membership. tions and to focus on pushing more The US Open is the primary revenue dollars out into our six regions in stream for the USTA and they are order that we can provide increased thankful for the support that USTA resources to our core programs at Eastern has provided to this mar- the regional level. quee event throughout its illustri- I am pleased to report, that due ous history. to the dedicated commitment of the As the pages of the yearbook illus- volunteer leadership team and pro- trate, 2009 was an excellent year for fessional staff, we have made quan- tennis in our section. I am fortunate tifiable progress in the areas noted to be supported by such a strong above. It is important to understand that USTA group of volunteer leaders and by a professional staff Eastern is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that is working more closely with the leadership team and run operationally by a paid professional staff led to continue to increase the focus on our mission at all by the Executive Director, D.A. Abrams. levels of the game. It is imperative that the volunteers and staff work In closing, it is important to recognize USTA in sync to set common goals and develop a mutu- Eastern’s most important asset, and that is our 48,475 ally agreeable operating plan that allows all to work members. Thank you to all of you for everything that together to achieve our mission to promote and you do for Eastern. We all look forward to team- develop the growth of tennis from the professional ing with you to make 2010 another banner year for level to the grassroots level. Eastern tennis on all fronts. I was fortunate to come into office at a good time for the section. Our prior president, Dale Caldwell, Warmest personal regards, had worked with his Board and the Staff to put six key benchmarks in place that the section now employs to measure our progress. These benchmarks are knows as the “Big Six” and they are defined as followed: Tim Heath 1. Membership President 2. USTA Adult Leagues USTA Eastern 3. Junior Team Tennis 4. Tournaments 5. Membership Organizations 6.Volunteers USTA EASTERN 3 USTA EASTERN 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Tim Heath USTA EASTERN STAFF Vice President: Jeff Williams D.A. Abrams Executive Director & CSE Treasurer: John Klenner Michelle Blake Wilson Managing Director, Secretary: Roberta Feldman Marketing & Communications Member at Large: Gemma Alexander-Mozeak Julie Bliss Director, Jr. Competition & Member at Large: Gerry Cuva Player Development Member at Large: Claude Okin Lauren Bull Assistant, Jr. Competition & Player Regional President – Long Island: Scott Axler Development/Receptionist Regional President – Metro: Mark McIntyre Darcy Cobb Manager, Adult Leagues Regional President – New Jersey: Lou Wiggs Jocelyn Cruz Community Outreach Specialist Regional President – Northern: Sue Wold – Metro/New Jersey Regional President – Southern: Fran Osei Larry Dillon Tennis Service Representative – New Jersey Regional President – Western: Steve Pekich Sandy Hoffman Community Outreach Specialist – JTF Delegate: Elaine Viebranz Long Island/Southern USTA Delegate: Dale Caldwell Tom Hutcherson Managing Director, Finance & Information Technology EXECUTIVE BOARD Jenny Irwin Tennis Service Representative – Northern Alex Aitchison Past President Abby Lerner Manager, Advanced Media Julian Barnes Chair, Multicultural Maria Lirio Tennis Service Representative Participation Committee – Western Steve Cobb Past President Linda Mann Managing Director – Steve Diamond Chair, Jr. Competition Community Outreach & Advocacy and Ranking Committee Bill Mecca Tennis Service Representative – Louis Dimock Past President Long Island Dan Dwyer Past President David Novich Manager, Communications Michael Gordon Past President Sarahdia Pierre-Philippe Assistant, Finance & Information Bob Ingersole Past President Technology Lex Kessler Chair,Nominating Committee Jose Rodriguez Tennis Service Representative – Metro Sonia Sader Director, Adult Programs Ray Krueger Chair, Adult Competition Jenny Schnitzer Managing Director, Player & and Ranking Committee Network Services Maria Nudo Past President Vicki Schoell Office Manager & Executive Assistant Lois Prince Past President Joe Steger Community Outreach Specialist - Richard Scheer Past President Western Robert Schmitz Past President EASTERN PAST PRESIDENTS Dale G. Caldwell 2006-2007 Harry A. Marmion* 1980-1981 Charles E. Hall* 1943-1947 Stephen B. Cobb 2004-2005 Barbara S. Williams* 1978-1979 Lt. Richard M. Hurd, Jr.* 1942 Louis C. Dimock 2002-2003 Julius Larkin Hoyt* 1976-1977 Anton E. Von Bernuth* 1939-1941 Michael N. Gordon 2000-2001 George Dartt 1974-1975 Maskell E. Fox* 1936-1938 Robert W. Ingersole 1998-1999 Eugene L. Scott* 1972-1973 Russell B. Kingman* 1934-1935 Marina Nudo 1996-1997 Ernest J. Oberlander* 1970-1972 Holcombe Ward* 1932-1933 Lois Prince 1994-1995 Leslie J. Fitz Gibbon* 1968-1969 P. Schuyler Van Bloem* 1929-1931 Louis C. Dimock 1992-1993 Henry Benisch* 1966-1967 Louis P. Dailey* 1927-1928 Daniel B. Dwyer 1990-1991 Alastair B. Martin* 1964-1965 Walter L. Pate* 1925-1926 Elaine F. Viebranz 1988-1989 Clifford Sutter* 1962-1963 Jones W. Mersereau* 1923-1924 Robert A. Schmitz 1986-1987 Donald O. Hobart* 1960-1961 Charles S. Landers* 1921-1922 Richard A. Scheer 1984-1985 James B. Dickey* 1953-1959 *Deceased Alex B. Aitchison 1982-1983 W. Dickinson Cunningham* 1948-1952 4 USTA EASTERN USTA EASTERN ExecuTIve BOARD Back Row: (left to right) Daniel Dwyer, Past President; D.A. Abrams, Executive Director; Gerry Cuva, Member at Large; Julian Barnes, Multicultural Participation Chair; Steve Pekich, Regional President – Western; Alex Aitchison, Past President; Bob Ingersole, Past President Middle Row (left to right) John Klenner, Treasurer; Jeff Williams, Vice President; Dale Caldwell, USTA Delegate; Mark McIntyre, Regional President – Metro; Tim Heath, President; Louis Wiggs,