Annual Meeting — 2/13/23
Call to Order: President Dolly Robinson called the Annual meeting to order at 5:46 PM.
Members in attendance included the following: Dolly Robinson, Mike Null, Laura Null, Joe Hinkle, and Linda Williams.
President Robinson welcomed special guests, George English, of USTA Florida, and Anjan Viplav and Debbi Carter.
Approval of Annual Minutes: Minutes of February 14, 2022 meeting were reviewed; containing the Election of Officers and Board of Directors for 2023. Motion was made by M. Null to approve the February 14, 2022 Minutes; seconded by J. Hinkle.
The motion carried unanimously.
President Robinson provided LCCCTA’s 2022 ‘Year in Review’:
In summing up 2022, President Robinson’s first mentioned her gratitude to the Board for serving our community through LCCCTA. She recognized Joe Hinkle for being the quiet board member who is always ‘working behind the scenes’.
President Robinson thanked all the Board members who served and volunteered in 2022: Tara Bell, Liza Viplav, Laura Hunter-Null, Joe Hinkle, Mike Null, Dolly Robinson, Linda Williams, Nelson Rivera, Marcia Kazmierski, Richard Johnson, Brandi O’Neal, and Glenn Hunter.
She said LCCCTA will miss five directors who will not be serving in 2023; however, LCCCTA is very grateful for their contributions: Glenn Hunter, Richard Johnson, Marcia Kazmierski, Brandi O’Neal, and Nelson Rivera.
*George English of USTA Florida continues to keep LCCCTA informed of important USTA opportunities, enrich us with his tennis knowledge, and provide good advice to the Board.
*Mike Null secured Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance to supplement the master liability insurance.
*Guy Williams continues to allow LCCCTA to meet in Suite 183 at Duval Place, 971 West Duval Street, Lake City.
*Youth Tennis Foundation (YTF) awarded LCCCTA $1,000 for youth tennis programs conducted between July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.
*George English provided dates for the USTA FL Equipment Grant Cycle; CHS Boy’s Tennis Coach, Liza Viplav, applied and received tennis rackets and tennis balls for CHS Boy’s & Girl’s Tennis Teams.
The 2022 monthly summary is as follows:
*In March, Mark Mansbach began a successful Veteran’s Tennis Program through USTA Florida’s partnership with Veteran’s Affairs. The program is held twice a month and Coach Mark Mansbach is donating his time to do this.
*In April, the 2022 Annual Report was filed with FL Department of State / Corporation Renewals.
LCCCTA’s Court Sponsorship fundraiser began with both Dolly Robinson and Linda Williams sponsoring a tennis court for an annual cost of $250.
Liza Viplav, with the assistance of Dolly Robinson and Linda Williams, conducted the Spring Youth Tennis Camp April 19-May 12, 2022 with 18 young participants. They played two afternoons per week for six weeks.
Linda Williams prepared participant registration forms, publicity flyers, and advertised program events via social media and the newspaper. Joe Hinkle collected fees for tennis camp registration.
*In May, USTA Florida Adult Coordinator, Leigh Chak, retired, but continues to instruct tennis at the Fort King Tennis facility in Ocala. Ms. Chak contributed valuable information to LCCCTA, to include the ‘Love to Learn’ adult program.
George English reported the Special Olympics Program in Orlando, as well as the Veteran’s Program at Young’s Park, have been very successful.
Linda Williams provided information for a bleacher shade structure. Dolly Robinson submitted the funding request to First Federal Bank and the request is ongoing.
Mike Null researched shade structures and submitted a design appropriate grant application for a bleacher shade structure to Suwannee Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) for January 2023. Dolly Robinson submitted an application to First Federal Bank to supplement the $17,000 funding request. At this time, the request is on hold.
*In June, Linda Williams directed LCCCTA’s Youth Summer Tennis Camp for four weeks on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Instructors and volunteers included: Adrienne Foreman, Yolanda Wormely, and Dolly Robinson. The 17 participants were divided into groups by ability level, rather than age.
The Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida (YTF) provided $1,000 funding for the youth summer camp.
Erin Weiffenbach and Linda Williams actively increased LCCCTA visibility on social media and the website.
*In September, Liza and Anjan Viplav’s daughter, LizAnne, won the gold medal in the USTA Special Olympics Games held in South Carolina.
A reminder to the group was given by L. Williams regarding the importance of our volunteer’s certification/renewal for USTA SAFE PLAY.
The Tourist Development Council (TDC) presented Columbia County’s 500-acre Regional Park ‘Master Plan’. Tennis courts for LCCCTA are included in the long-range plan.
Courts 1 and 2 have name placards mounted on the fence; court 1 has been sponsored by Dolly Robinson and court 2 has sponsored by Linda Williams. Sponsorships cost $250 per year. LCCCTA is looking for sponsorships of court 3 and court 4.
Linda Williams announced The Youth Tennis Foundation of Florida (YTF) has approved $1,000 funding to LCCCTA for July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023.
*In October, Tara Bell received tennis equipment to begin a Net Generation Program at Belmont Academy. It was a 7-week afterschool program for 2nd-5th grade students on Wednesday afternoons. Ms. Bell completed the USTA SAFE PLAY certification prior to directing the program.
USTA Florida Adult Local Play Coordinator, Ty Wolter, attended LCCCTA’s October Board meeting to provide information for adult team tennis competitions. The information was forwarded to LCCCTA Partner and LCCCTA Adult League Play Coordinator, Debbi Carter.
The 2022 Fall Youth Tennis Camp was held on Tuesday afternoons during the month of October. Liza Viplav conduced the one-hour 4-week program and Mike Null, Dolly Robinson, Tara Bell, Mark Mansbach, and Linda Williams volunteered to assist the 15 participants.
The “Fall Back into Tennis” Social event had participants (ages 12 and up) who used low-compression tennis balls to equalize play. The event was led by Tennis Pro, Liza Viplav and it followed after the conclusion of the Fall Youth Tennis Camp.
Linda Williams was named USTA Florida’s Volunteer of the Month in October 2022. In past years, George English, USTA FL nominated other LCCCTA Board members as Volunteer of the Month--to include Dolly Robinson (2018) and Mike Null (2020).
The interior of LCCCTA’s pro shop was completed by Rudy Howell. Donations from Board members funded the pro shop project.
*In November, Pierce Kelley, Founding Board Member of YTF, was inducted into the USTA Florida Hall of Fame for many years of volunteering and contributing to Youth Tennis in Florida. LCCCTA sent a congratulatory gift to Mr. Kelley.
*In December, the “Mistletoe Tennis” Social event was held with both youth and adult participation. The Social was publicized by Linda Williams, and it was a one-hour tennis event with refreshments provided by Board members. Tennis Pro, Liza Viplav, led the special tennis event.
J. Hinkle provided the Financial Report as of February 13, 2023. The account balance is $1,071.70, including the $1,000 funding from YTF allocated to LCCCTA’s Spring Youth Tennis Camp to begin in April.
Nomination & Election of Board Members: L. Hunter-Null, Chair of the Nomination Committee, presented a slate of ten (10) names for consideration to serve as Board of Directors of the LCCCTA for the new year starting immediately at the conclusion of the Annual meeting of 2023.
The proposed slate of directors included: Dolly Robinson, Mike Null, Linda Williams, Joe Hinkle, Anjan Viplav, Liza Viplav, Laura Hunter-Null, Tara Bell, Mark Mansbach, and Debbi Carter.
Motion was made by L. Null to approve the slate of proposed Board of Directors for the new year; seconded by M. Null. The motion carried unanimously. M. Null expressed his appreciation to new members, Anjan Viplav and Debbi Carter, for joining the LCCCTA Board of Directors.
President Robinson adjourned the Annual meeting at 6:26 PM.
