USTA Northern March Highlights

Membership Numbers

USTA Northern Individual Memberships Juniors Adults Total USTA National Membership February 2011 4,710 7,776 12,486 748,563

USTA Northern Organization Memberships Clubs CTAs Park & Recs Schools Service Orgs Total February 2011 37 54 53 60 21 231

USTA Northern News & Notes

Save The Date: South Dakota CTDW Is March 19 in Sioux Falls The first ever South Dakota Community Tennis Development Workshop is scheduled for March 18-19 at Westward Ho Country Club in Sioux Falls. There will be a tennis mixer Friday night from 6:30-9:30 p.m., followed by the workshop Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Topics to be covered include: Strategies For Growing Tennis In Your Community: Engaging Volunteers and Building Partnerships; 10 and Under Tennis and After-School Program Possibilities and Funding Opportunities and Public Facility Grant Writing. Lunch will be provided. Admission is $20 at the door. You must also RSVP for Friday’s mixer. For more information, contact Chris Dummermuth.

Registration Open For US Open Qualifying At Baseline Tennis Center Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus will play host to the US Open National Playoffs Northern Section Qualifying Tournament June 23-26 for a chance to play at the 2011 US Open. Events will be men’s and women’s singles and mixed doubles in a single elimination format. Entry fees are $125 for singles and $75 per person for mixed doubles. Registration for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is open now.

Member Appreciation With The Gophers March 26 USTA Northern is partnering once again with the University of Minnesota men's and women’s tennis teams. The men will host a USTA Member Appreciation Day on March 26 when they play Denver at 5 p.m. Free food and drink and plenty of prizes will be given away throughout the match.

USTA, USPTA, PTR Joining Forces For 10 and Under Play Day May 14 At Life Time Fitness – Bloomington South USTA Northern, the USPTA and the PTR are putting on a 10 and Under Tennis Play Day on Saturday, May 14, at Life Time Fitness - Bloomington South from 12 Noon-2 p.m. Grab 4 players of any gender and form a team. 8 and Under kids will play on a 36-foot court with a red ball, while 9 & 10 year olds will play on a 60-foot court with an orange ball. Cost is $40 per team or $10 a player. For more information, or to register a team, please contact Brian McCoy at [email protected].

Mickey Maule Leads U.S. To Silver Medal At World Games Mickey Maule (Wayzata, Minn.) led the United States to a silver medal at the 31st ITF Seniors World Team Championships February 21-26, 2011, in New Zealand. France defeated the U.S. 2-0 for the gold. Maule served as captain for the Men’s 40 & Over team that played for the Tony Trabert Cup and finished with an individual record of 3-0. Maule played about 90 miles outside of Christchurch, which suffered a devastating earthquake while he was there, leading to the cancellation of four other World Cup Tournaments.

Minnesota Wins Eighth Straight Tennis On Campus Section Championship The University of Minnesota won its eighth straight Tennis on Campus Championship February 27 at Life Time Fitness – Lakeville. Minnesota B defeated Minnesota A, 28-25, for the title. North Dakota State beat South Dakota in the third-place match 27-15. Because only one team per institution is allowed to compete at Nationals, Minnesota and North Dakota State will represent Northern April 7-10 at the Tennis on Campus National Championships in Cary, N.C.

Congratulations To Patricia Egart and Jeff Nelson Patricia Egart (Andover, Minn.) was named 2010 PTR Member of the Year for the state of Minnesota, while Jeff Nelson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won the same award for South Dakota.

Junior News

20 Kids Selected To Northern Lights Program Congratulations to the following kids who were named to the 2011 Northern Lights (10 and Under) and Northern Stars (12 and Under) High Performance teams. Northern Lights: Anna Beaty, Regan Dolezal, Lauren Ferg, Emily Norman, Samantha Nichols, Monterey Knewtson, Nicole Copeland, Samantha Stephenson, Evann Welty, Anna Letto, Zach Evans, Isaac Cheruiyot, Ryne Reger, Garrett Springer, Spencer Adam, Caleb Fridinger, Tanner Parr, Cooper Anderson, Kevin Turlington, Hunter Heck, Parker Law, Nisal Liyanage, Michael Tang, Matteus Schmidt. Northern Stars: Francesca Trella, Meagan Brown, Catherine Lindsay, Libby Rickeman, Olivia Paradise, Zoe Klass-Warch, Steffi Tetzloff, Jose Williamson, Carter Mason, Anuraag Bukkuri, Sebastian Vile, Maxim Zagrebelny, Tanner Lundberg, North Knewtson, Joseph Tarvestad, Sam Morgenthaler.

Jessie Aney Presents At Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards Jessie Aney (Rochester, Minn.) was a presenter at the 2011 Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards hosted by skater Tony Hawk February 26. Aney presented the Sickest Showdown Award with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Ingrid Neel Featured In New York Times Ingrid Neel (Rochester, Minn.) was featured in the March 7 edition of the New York Times in an article about John McEnroe’s new tennis academy.

Adults/Seniors News

Twin Cities Summer League Registration Going On Now; Team Deadline April 1 Registration is open for Twin Cities summer Adult, Senior and Mixed Leagues. Team minimum roster deadline is April 1. Matches begin in mid-May and end the first week of August. Registration for summer Super Senior Leagues opens May 15 and for the NEW Senior Combo Mixed League June 1. For more information, contact Kelley Okerman.

Create Your Personalized Tennis Page Just in time for the spring and summer league season, the USTA has made several enhancements to the TennisLink system designed to improve your overall experience including: • Members now have one single sign on (email address and password protected) enabling easier navigation between your TennisLink and Membership data. • Creating a USTA Account provides access to new, enhanced features within TennisLink, including a personalized "My Tennis Page.” • Personalized "My Tennis Page" displays your current player record for USTA programs and events and highlights upcoming play opportunities in your area. Note: You must have a USTA account to access ‘My Tennis Page". • USTA Members can self-rate (NTRP rating) without joining a team. • Easy access to stats and standings. Creating your USTA Account will only take a few minutes. Log on to www.Tennislink.usta.com. Download The New USTA League IPhone App Visit the iTunes store and download the new FREE USTA League iPhone app. This app allows you to see your roster, record and schedule, while also allowing you to enter your League match scores all from your iPhone, iPad or iPod. To download the app, click here.

USTA Northern At Tri-Level National Championships The USTA Northern Tri-Level champions are competing at the 2011 National Championships in Indian Wells, Calif. Representing Northern are Renee Schneider, Amy Babcock & Patrice Meger (3.5 Women); Laurie White & Nikki Johnson (4.0 Women); Karen Neis, Sara Campbell, Barbara White & Dana Beck (4.5 Women); Richard Lassow, Jin- Young Han & Rohit Agarwala (3.5 Men); Dennis Labajo & Chad Flynn (4.0 Men) and Steve Fridinger & Sean Kangrga (4.5 Men).

North Dakota State and Jenessa Demers Win Tennis On Campus Awards Congratulations to North Dakota State, who was named the 2010 TOC Club of the Year, while Jenessa Demers of UW- Superior was named the 2010 TOC Organizer of the Year. Both are now eligible for their respective National awards.

2011 Corporate Tennis Challenge April 7-10 at Baseline Tennis Center Get your work buddies together and enter the 2011 Corporate Tennis Challenge April 7-10 at the Baseline Tennis Center. For more information or to register, click here.

Registration Going On Now For Summer Corporate World TeamTennis Registration is going on now for Summer Corporate World Team Tennis. For more information, click here.

Community Tennis News

2011 Community Tennis Guide Available The 2011 USTA Northern Community Tennis Guide is now available. All Organizational Members receive a free copy of this helpful information guide so check your mail. The contents of the guide are also available at www.northern.usta.com.

Many Youth Registration Nights Being Held Around The Section Many Youth Registration Night events are being held around the Section. To find one near you, visit www.youthregistration.com.

Adopt-A-Court Grant Deadline is March 18 This grant supports tennis court renovation and construction at parks, schools, and college campuses throughout the Section. Priority consideration is given to organizations that wish to incorporate permanent QuickStart tennis courts into the facility. The deadline is March 18. Contact Becky Cantellano for more information.

Get Your Donation Request Forms Completed For Spring Events Planning a spring tennis event and need some funding, prizes or a visiting pro? Please submit your Donation Request Form to Becky Cantellano six weeks prior to your event so we can better assist you. Prize packs may be provided for summer programming kick off events, 10 & Under Tennis Play Days, facility grand openings or other tennis celebrations.

QuickStart Equipment Grants Available USTA Northern offers a buy one-get-one-free program on QuickStart Tennis Equipment for CTA’s, Parks and NJTL programs. Maximum grant allowed is $300/$300 split between USTA Northern and the organization. Organization coaches must attend a Recreational Coach or QuickStart Tennis Workshop. Contact Becky Cantellano for more information.

USTA and USTA Northern Now Offering QuickStart Tennis Court Conversion Grants Did you know USTA and USTA Northern will finance 75 percent of the costs to convert your existing tennis courts to QuickStart courts or paint permanent lines? For more information, please contact Becky Cantellano.

Next Community Tennis Grant Deadline April 15 The next Community Tennis Grant deadline for starting or expanding community based tennis programs and activities is April 15 – the last one before summer programming begins! Two grant types are available in 2011: Project/Program Support and Organizational Capacity Building. Funding amounts range from $250 - $3,000. For more information, contact Becky Cantellano.

USPTA Offering Certification Exam April 4 At Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center The USPTA will be offering a certification exam on Monday April 4 at the Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis. Contact USPTA at 800-877-8248 or e-mail [email protected] to register for an upcoming exam, or for further details. Advance registration is required. The total fee for the exam and application is $175, plus prorated USPTA membership dues.

CTA Spotlight: Cook County Tennis Association The Cook County CTA is centered in Grand Marais, Minn., which is a town of about 1,500 people located on the north shore of Lake Superior, 120 miles north of Duluth. Geography, climate and location all point to the fact that tennis is a sport totally unsuited for this area, but according to the original members of the Cook County CTA. With a lot of legwork, combined with USTA support, this group turned Cook County into a tennis hotbed. What this group has accomplished in the last 15 years is truly amazing: • Combining city and county money, private donations and USTA National and Section grants, they have redone their tennis facility, adding two courts and a viewing area. • They have convinced Cook County High School to add boys and girls high school tennis to its athletic program • They host over a half dozen USTA sanctioned tournaments every summer and provide leagues for both adults and juniors. • They provide the opportunity for everyone in the area to learn and play tennis.

Cook County CTA president John Muus credits the USTA Schools Program for establishing a high level of interest that could be built upon by a group of organized and dedicated CTA board members. What has been accomplished in Cook County is something that every USTA member can be proud of.

Other USTA Northern Notes, Special Offers and Promotions

Hey Parents: Take Advantage Of March’s Junior Membership Offer When you purchase or renew a 1-year Junior membership for only $19, we’ll include something extra…For ages 10 and under, you’ll receive a 21-, 23- or 25-inch racquet and the appropriate red foam, red felt or orange low compression ball in line with the USTA’s revolutionary 10 and Under Tennis initiative. For ages 11-18, we’ll include a USTA Jr. Team Tennis sling bag, the perfect accessory to take on court. For additional details and to take advantage of this special offer, go to www.youthregistration.com/playnow.

Make a Donation When You Renew Your Membership USTA Serves has disbursed over $10M to fund at-risk youth in 186 programs nationwide, including $385,000 to programs for people with disabilities. More than 170,000 children have received mentoring, tutoring, and health & nutrition support in tennis & education programs. In addition, $3 million in scholarships have been awarded to over 600 college- bound students.

By making a voluntary donation when you renew your USTA Membership, 50% of your donation goes to your local USTA Section to help fund programs in your area. Visit www.ustaserves.com to learn more.

Great Tennis Book Available For Kids And Parents Let’s Play Tennis! A Guide for Parents and Kids by Andy Ace is a new book about getting parents and their children started playing tennis together. To learn more about the book or to order, please visit http://www.andyacetennis.com or contact author Patty Egart at (763) 438-8466 or at [email protected].

Remember To Register Your Programs Remember to register your programs with the following two web sites: • 10 and Under Tennis http://10andundertennis.com/ • Growingtennis.com http://www.growingtennis.com/

These websites will give you increased exposure and provide resources to help you with your business. The 10 and Under Tennis web site focuses on the Quickstart Tennis play format and the growingtennis.com website focuses on both Junior and Adult programs. Please note that if you register your facility on one site it will not automatically update your facility on the other. You must register on both sites. These sites are free!!

Become A Founding Member Of The Northern Tennis Foundation Become a Founding Member of the Northern Tennis Foundation today. To earn Founding Member status, you must contribute $1,000 by July 31, 2011. To become a Founding Member, click here. For more information, please contact Becky Cantellano.

Upgrade To A Five-Year USTA Membership Looking for a way to save money? Upgrade your USTA membership to a five-year membership today and receive the fifth year free, in addition to USTA League Players getting a backpack and juniors receiving a US Open sports bag. For more information, visit www.usta.com/membership.

Organizational Member Referral Program Take advantage of the USTA Northern Organizational Member Referral Program. All Organization Members will receive $5 back for each new USTA member (adult or junior) they register. For more information, please contact Sandy Smith. This applies to high school coaches as well.

Organizational Member T-Shirt Program Back For 2011 The USTA Northern Org Member T-Shirt Program is back for 2011. Member Organizations can do a bulk order and pay only $4 a shirt. We are offering three deadline dates in 2011: April 1, May 20 and June 10. T-shirts are customizable on the back. For an order form, click here. For more information, contact Sandy Smith.

Learn More About Adopting A School Today The Adopt-A-School program utilizes the talent and energy of tennis enthusiasts to become advocates for promoting tennis in schools. Tennis advocates can target local school associations such as PTA’s and PTO’s in coordination with NJTL Chapters, CTA’s, Parks, and Jr. Team Tennis providers to help institute tennis into the following areas: Tennis in Physical Education, After School Programs featuring the QuickStart Tennis play format and No-Cut School Tennis Teams. For more information, contact [email protected]. Upcoming Tournaments and Events

Mar. 26 RAC Spring Championships, Rochester, MN (Level 4, Girls 12-18) Mar. 26-27 Baseline Winter 10 and Under Classic, Minneapolis, MN (Boys/Girls 10s) Apr. 7-10 Baseline Corporate Tennis Challenge, Minneapolis, MN (NTRP S, D, X) Apr. 8 LTF Jr. Spring Classic, Lakeville, MN (Level 7, Boys 12/Girls 12-18) Apr. 15 Apple Valley Jr. Spring Tournament, Apple Valley, MN (Level 7, Boys 12-14/Girls 12-18) April 15 USPTA National Indoors, LTF-Fridley (Open to USPTA Members Only) Apr. 15 Pine Tree NTRP Doubles, LTF Oakdale (Combo Mixed 6.0, 8.0) Apr. 16 Pine Tree NTRP Doubles, LTF Oakdale (Combo Mixed 7.0, 9.0) Apr. 22 LTF Eden Prairie Tune Up, Eden Prairie, MN (Level 6, Boys 12/Girls 12, 16) Apr. 22 Eastview Spring Classic, Apple Valley, MN (Level 7, Boys 12, 14/Girls 12-18)

For more information about USTA Northern happenings, contact Lisa Mushett.