OTA WEST REGION WINTER NEWSLETTER 2020

who will forget it !!!

We wanted to take a moment and congratulate all the regional volunteers, professionals and tennis organizers throughout the OTA WEST REGION for their efforts in keeping tennis a viable fitness option during a year, none of us could have imagined a year ago. 

Did any of you have “global pandemic” as a threat on your clubs’ SWOT analysis?

Most clubs had to add new terms to their procedure manuals such as “PPE” and “social distancing”. Many clubs did not open their clubhouses to their members, staggered court times, cancelled tournaments and limited group lessons. Throughout though there was a spirit of analyze, adapt and implement that allowed tennis to continue.

Although the pandemic is projected to rage on over the winter, there should be an expectation of a light at the end of the tunnel as a results of targeted lock downs and vaccines being rolled out. With that being said, I am sure we are all looking forward to the re-opening of the upcoming outdoor tennis season. 

As your Regional Representatives on the OTA Board, we would like to hear from you with your priorities for the 2021 tennis season and to tell us how the OTA can help support your club and local tennis in your community. I have enclosed a short survey (3 minutes) which I would ask each member club to take a few minutes to complete. Click on SURVEY please. To be completed by January 15^th.  This will assist the committee in setting our priorities. 

A little good tennis news:

• The Tennis Industry Association (TIA) reported that up to the third quarter 2020, youth racquet shipments in the US have increased by 27.4% and all racquet shipments including adult frames are up 22.3%. Despite the pandemic tennis is thriving. 
• As reported 12/11/2020, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Sport Science and Medicine Commission, the USTA Sport Science Committee & USTA Medical Advisory Group supports the conclusion that the surface of tennis balls are unlikely to harbour SARS-Co V -2 in a manner that is compatible with the risk of developing COVID-19 from handling the ball during normal play. The more we know the better we can safely re-open.

Although the OTA offices are currently closed due to the Toronto COVID lock down, staff are diligently working remotely from the safety of their homes.

Keep in mind with the cancellations of most of the instructor certification courses in 2020 attracting qualified junior instruction staff may be more competitive for 2021. If you require staff please take advantage of the OTA Jobline service by contacting jneill@tennisontario.com . Also be aware that the Ontario minimum wage increased last October.

We do hope that you will use Club Strong the online resource that was developed to help volunteer executives run successful clubs. Please direct any new Board Members to Club Strong so they can get up to speed.  There is some great information housed in one location. If you find something missing just let us know.

WEST REGION AGM Notice

Please add to your calendar the West Region Annual General Meeting on video to be held remotely 

• Thursday February 18^th, 2020 @ 7 PM.

Please RSVP by  mailto:westregion.ota@gmail.com with the name and email address of your club representative for the meeting so we can email them a WEBEX invitation to the meeting.

We are looking to fill the following West Region Committee vacant positions:

• Director Marketing & Communication
• Director West Club Representative (Windsor to London)
• Director East Club Representative (Stratford to Guelph)
• Director North Club Representative (Southampton, Kincardine, Hanover)

Ideal nominees would be former club Board members with a passion for tennis and a desire to promote the sport of tennis. They will be required to attend two virtual meetings per year. Please help us locate candidates to keep the West Region vibrant and active. 

Regional Club Representatives should be outgoing individuals with the ability to get to know local club leaders. They would be our eyes and ears when recognizing well deserving volunteers and sharing best practices.

Marketing & Communications Director would be asked to create a short quarterly regional newsletter as well as periodically creating content for our regional website.

We would be happy to answer additional questions or talk to interested candidates. 

  

Please submit any written nominations including a short bio  mailto:westregion.ota@gmail.com as soon as possible or prior to January 20^th, 2021 at the latest.

We do hope to present the survey results at the AGM so please complete this on behalf of your club.

 

Arthur Wolf & Nancy Loeffler-Caro,

Co-chairs West Region OTA