MEDBOURNE TENNIS CLUB FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

The new committee that was appointed at the AGM in January met this week and formulated outline plans for 2017.

Our overall aim is to offer as much internal club tennis and coaching as possible and to increase the level of social activities following the successful quiz last November. We will also continue to improve communication with members now that we are fully integrated with Club Spark . More will be posted on our Website, Facebook Page and we will introduce twitter.

MEMBERSHIP

You will need to renew your membership

There has been a small increase in the cost of membership and we have introduced a new country membership with very specific criteria.

Details will be sent to you shortly but this year you will have the option of renewing on line. You will still receive a discount if payment is made before 1st April.

If you know anyone whom wants to join then please encourage them. The committee has also agreed a strategy for externally seeking out new members.

WIMBLEDON DRAW

This will take place on 6th April [ Club Night ] in the Clubhouse. If you are eligible please ensure that you bring your diaries.

INTERNAL TENNIS

We have brought forward the first club night to Thursday 2nd March starting at 7pm. All members and prospective members are welcome. Club Nights will continue every Thursday through the year .The first 7 will be run by committee members but we are looking for volunteers from the membership thereafter.

Internal tournaments will be organised by Sue Gardiner and Bruce Tarran – details will follow

It would be great to incorporate BBQ’s in the Summer months, something we will be looking in to.

COMPETITIVE TENNIS

The Club will continue to run 2 ladies, 2 men’s and 1 mixed team this Summer. If you want to play please come along to the training sessions which will be announced shortly. For more details please see the website.

Much less competitive, and therefore we hope appealing to a broader number of members will be the friendly matches which once again will take place after the season in August / September.

COACHING

The Club now has four coaches including our new head coach Bruce Tarran. He is communicating regularly with all members regarding sessions and future plans - the numbers at all sessions are increasing. Details of all the options for Private and Group coaching are on the website.

RACKET STRINGING

As last year Mike Rickman is offering a 10% discount on all racquet stringing and re grips until the end of April. He was directly responsible for looking after many Wimbledon champions racquets for many years so you can be assured of the right advice. You can contact him on 01858 565377 or pop round to see him and discuss what tension is right for your game.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

We are investigating the possibility of running a film and supper evening at the Club on either 21st or 28th April. We will need to establish how many we can accommodate [ probably no more than 45 people ] and also the viability but will let you know as soon as possible.

We are also planning a further social event in November

The Aegon tennis tournament in Nottingham takes place from 10th to 18th June and we are thinking of organising a group to go along. We have not decided on a date so if this is of interest please let a committee member know and which dates suit.

COMMUNICATION TO MEMBERS

Aside from information on the website and the notice board we will over the coming weeks introduce a closed Facebook Group for Medbourne Tennis Club Members. There will be some members not on Facebook or even understanding it so when this is introduced we will let you have details of how to join and the benefits. Suffice it to say that this will allow you to receive any communications from the Club or your fellow members straight onto your computers, tablets or phones. For instance it opens up the opportunity for immediacy eg cancellation of an event, telling other members that you need another person for a four etc etc.

REMINDERS

Whilst we do have a regular gardener keeping the environment around the courts and patio tidy, please remember to take all rubbish away . Let any committee member know if there are issues – yes we know about the light bulb, staining on the patio, required pruning of trees – that need attending to.

Please also abide by the new Club clothing rules which were agreed at the AGM. They are published on the website

I hope that you are all pleased with the forthcoming plans. As ever if you have any issues please let them be known to a committee member. I will ensure that these are taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

PETER OPPENHEIMER

CHAIRMAN