Board Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, February 6 2018, Room 4, Odell Weeks at 6:00PM
In attendance were Jim Kabel, Nancy Vermilye, Ron Nelson, Joyce Noland, Loretta, Mike Beckner, Chuck Wright, Linda Blake, Beverly Shaver, Marian Garcia, Dick Diemar, Beverly Edwards, Faith Loeb, Sandy Rowder, Lisa Sanderson, Sally Fuller and Nancy Racki.
Jim Kabel called the meeting to order and promptly addressed issues slated on the agenda.
Reserve Court
- Issues with taking advantage of reserving courts were addressed with Nancy Vermilye and Joyce Noland formulated new changes (see italicized below; sent by e-blast 2/8/18) for reserving courts to ensure that everyone wishing to reserve will have an equal opportunity for reserve play.
Changes - Court Reservation Play;2) Social - Friday, February 16
In our regular effort to tweak our extremely popular court reservation system to best accommodate the majority of interested players and keep courts fairly reserved, the leadership team is making the following changes, effective with the sign-up period through February 15. You do not need to make any changes to courts reserved through February 16.
When you reserve a court, place at least a first initial and full last name in the comments block.
1. When you reserve a court, place at least a first initial and full last name in the comments block.
2. Any one person can reserve only 2 courts in a time block, even if you have 12 or more players.
3. Note that during the Thursday process of bringing the courts online for player sign-up, there will be a short period of time when the sign-up screen will not be accessible. Players attempting to go to the sign-up site will reach a screen stating that you need a security code to display it. Do not attempt to get a security code. This is part of the built-in process and is an automated message. Please check back a short while later for the opening of the normal sign-up process.
4. As always, do not reserve a court until you have at least 4 people committed to playing at that particular date and time. Since we instituted court-reservation play almost 2 years ago, courts were not to be "held" by anyone in the hope of finding four players. It is extremely unfair to those who have a group committed to play but might be blocked from doing so by a held court.
- For a period of three weeks, Nancy Vermilye will be monitoring court reservations in an effort to see if there continues to be abuse in the reservation process.
Beginners Rating
- Nancy Vermilye stated that there has been some confusion as to whether or not new players had to go through an official ratings process to be initially rated at the 2.5 level. The answer to this is NO. The 2.5 rating is an automatic level placed on players who have not been officially rated.
- Ron Nelson, head of the Ratings Committee, needs to be contacted with the date that non-rated players were initially placed on the 2.5 players list. Ron will then keep track of the “three month period” that these new players are given before becoming officially rated.
Out of Town Guests & Part-time Residents
- It is known that the Aiken Pickledillys have numerous out of town visitors. These visitors may play a game on any court with their host(s). Marion Garcia suggested that player reps play with or observe these guests to assess their ability or rating thus assigning them to proper courts during court designation play.
- Winter Visitors
We have some winter visitors, who is anyone staying in Aiken more than a few days, who have been rated in other states, we will accept their rating while here in Aiken once the following has been done.Have a players rep from that level play with or observe these players to assess their ability or rating thus assigning them to proper courts during court designation play.
Committee to Assess and Plan a City Pickleball Night
- Jim Kabel suggested that the Aiken Pickledillys invite all City of Aiken employees and staff members for a City Pickleball Night to thank the City for supporting our pickleball program. If the City agrees, we would demonstrate the game of pickleball to those unfamiliar in hopes of sparking an interest and learn to play.
- Jim Kabel and Mike Beckner will head the committee and they would like player reps to ask for committee volunteers.
- We will receive feedback of their findings at our next board meeting.
Spring Fund Raiser Tournament
- Plans to hold an internal Fund Raiser Tournament continue with the possible date to be in May or June. The fees to participate in this tournament will be a direct donation to a cause yet to be determined.
- Nancy Vermilye, Dick Diemar and Lisa Sanderson have volunteered to form the committee to check into a potential charity.
Reserve Level Up Play Update
- Dick Diemar presented an update on the Reserve Level Up Play. He stated that there has been a great response and it has exceeded his expectations.
- The Gym 1 schedule for the Level Up Play is 3.0/3.0H play every Wednesdays, 3.5/3.5H play every other Thursday.
- The only drawback at this point in time that Dick found was that 3.0H players do not have level up players to play with. In March, more courts should become available in Gym 1 and 3.0H/3.5 level play will be incorporated into the schedule.
Social Update
- The next Pickledillys Social is scheduled for February 16 from 6:00-9:00PM in Room 4. Six courts will be available for those wishing to play.
- We will be recognizing all players 80 years and over and would encourage these players to attend.
- An announcement will be placed on our website.
Ron Nelson’s Rating Program
- Ron Nelson expressed that he would like additional help due to the increase in the number of ratings that need to be performed. In particular, he would like someone to be “Head Coordinator” to take care of the scheduling of players requesting to be rated.
Faith Loeb had a person in mind to contact that might be willing to help Ron.
(Side note:Nancy Rogers agreed to help Ron as the Head Coordinator)
- Ron has used up to fourteen volunteers to assist in evaluating players during his rating sessions.
- Ron suggested that player reps sit in on and observe rating sessions for players being rated at their prospective levels. Volunteers who came forward were: Chuck Wright, 3.5, Beverly Edwards and Lisa Sanderson 3.0H.
Brie – New Position
- Brie Campbell has been promoted to Director and will not be working the front desk any longer in the future. The city has promised to hire a very capable replacement.
League Play to Begin in March
- An e-blast has been sent out announcing a meeting for the upcoming spring season.
Additional Remarks:
- Registration for our September tournament is now open. Sally Fuller and Lisa Miner are currently working to obtain sponsors for the tournament in addition to pros to conduct clinics.
- Balls for the tournament might be the new Onyx Indoor FUSE II balls. There are also Onyx Outdoor FUSE ball available.
Next Meeting
The meeting was adjourned at 7:42PM. The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Odell Weeks.