COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT
JUNE 2013
It was great to see everyone at this year’s State Closed Championship Tournament at Clearwater. Thanks to Chuck Johnston and his team for an outstanding job! Clearwater is an old pro when it comes to hosting a State Tournament and it showed by the daily preparation in seeing that the name paddles, score sheets etc. were ready to go prior to each shift. Lunch was great with different selections each day and if you went hungry it’s your own fault. The Friday night cocktail party and Saturday’s banquet were outstanding. Having all the activities at the same venue was a plus for all the out of town pitchers. I would like to thank the Executive Council for their dedication before and during the tournament especially Marcy Santoyo for doing an outstanding job setting up the tournament classes. She seems to find time to get the job done along with having a full time job and I am grateful that she is our Sec/Treas.
Congratulations to our champions Shalee Cason in the Women’s, Ron Deckard in the Men’s, and new Elders Champion Dave Jagers. Junior Champions were Megan Polski Girl’s and Dylan Holmberg for the Boy’s and all of the Class Champions for a job well done.
The challenge ahead for our Association this year is to increase membership and I would like to see the larger clubs increase their membership by 10 percent and the smaller clubs 25 percent. It is important that each club partner with their City or County Recreation Department as well as their local Chamber of Commerce. If you haven’t already, create a Charter Brochure that lists your basic charter contact information and what your club is all about. It can be a simple tri-fold print that can be displayed at the Chamber of Commerce and can be handed out just about anywhere. Since we do not have a Promotional Chairman at this time I am asking each club to take my challenge serious. Can I count on you!
All of you are aware that Clearwater is the home of the FSHPA Hall of Fame. Last year they had to replace the A/C and they ask the Association for help (since the city of Clearwater no longer supports the club monetarily) in defraying some of the expense. At our Annual meeting we were determining how much monies Clearwater would like the Association to contribute and how we will fund this additional expense that was not in the budget when Louise Robison from Beverly Hills said that she and her husband Robert would donate $1000.00. Needless to say this is a very generous donation and I want to thank the Robison’s. Bob Lemon did an outstanding job selling the Florida lapel pins and the profits of ($300.00) will go towards the A/C repair. In order to fund future expenses a By Law change was approved at our annual meeting to increase the dues by $1.00 to be effective with your dues renewal for 2014.
At this year’s annual awards banquet I had the distinct honor on being inducted in the FSHPA Hall of Fame. I want to thank Jim Smith and John Peplinski for submitting me and the Hall of Fame committee chaired by Ron Deckard for voting me in. I join an elite group of members of our association and will cherish this for the rest of my life. Having my wife Pat, daughter’s Joann, Patty and her husband Todd and my two sons Ron and Mike present for my induction made it extra special.
Congratulations to Ron Deckard on being inducted into the NHPA Hall of Fame.
Welcome to Tom Flaherty who has assumed the position of 3rd VP. I am looking forward working with Tom and other EC members and I can assure you we will continue to do what is best for all members.
In closing I wish all of you a safe summer with family and friends.
Bob Hilpertshauser