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Happy New Year!!!

I’d like to be one of the first to wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year. Here’s hoping 2021 brings back some degree of normalcy, including more tennis opportunities. Towards that end I’d ask you to Save The Date for the first ever virtual NJTC Annual Meeting, Tuesday evening January 26th at 5:30 pm.

We’ll be providing answers to:

  • Are NJTC membership fees changing?
  • What will USTA and CTA league play look like in 2021?
  • Will we be doing IntraClub?
  • Will there be a fundraiser this year? If, so when?
  • Will the Keystone trip run this year? If, so when?
  • Is Tennis Palooza happening in September?
  • Who will be on the NJTC Board this year?

These and other topics will be discussed as you tune in from the comfort of your own home. Information and instructions for the meeting will be sent on January 19th.  Those in attendance will be entered into a drawing for one of three complimentary Full NJTC memberships.

Please mark you calendars. I look forward to chatting with you on the 26th.

Until then, stay healthy and safe,

Jen Stiebeling

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July News and Status

Hello NJTC Family,

Yes…..it’s me again!

Who would have thought at the beginning of the year we would become so familiar with the words masks, virus, quarantine, incubation, cough, social, distancing, Fauci, spike, handwashing, fever, pandemic, isolation, curve, sanitizer, antibodies, and the measurement of six feet…..but here we are.  Until NJTC tennis gets a little closer to normal we won’t be publishing monthly Magazines. Instead you’ll just receive email blasts from me with pertinent information.

At this time I need to pass on a recent decision regarding Keystone. After much discussion we find it necessary to cancel this years annual mountain getaway weekend.  We did look at modifying the trip by adding precautions for everyones health and safety.  However, in the end the trip was going to look too different from what we have come to know and love. This event is just as much about socializing as it is tennis. What made it harder to plan is the fact that operations at the Keystone Resort are in a constant state of flux given the ever changing landscape of COVID-19.  Cancelling the trip this year seems like the safest most responsible move to ensure everyones well being.  We’ll make it twice as fun next year!!!

Our sights are now set on Tennis Palooza 2020, September 25 – 27. We have pushed the decision whether or not to hold this event back another month.  We will continue to monitor State and City health guidelines, and will look for what restrictions the ATC has in place at that time.  Proactively we are discussing how we can modify this tournament so that it can take place in a safe environment.  More to follow as we see what happens with the spread of COVID through the summer.

In the meantime, I hope that everyone playing in our first ever Intra Club League is having a great time!!!  Personally, having Home matches every week is fine by me!  I also think it’s pretty cool that all Intra Club teams have decided to participate in the Mini Tourney we set up for the last two weeks of play. It’s not Districts…..but it keeps our competitive juices flowing 🙂

I understand USTA will most likely run a Season 2 after Season 1 concludes in mid August. Season 2 would include Twilight, ITA Mixed, 65+(?) and Summer Daytime.  I have to assume COUSTA will be monitoring the situation to ensure safe play can continue from Mid August into September.  If something should preclude USTA from running a Season 2, know that we can run another Intra Club session now that we have the hang of it!

Also, if you are playing 18+ Intra Club but have already paid for USTA 18+, remember you can move those USTA fee’s to another league or ask for a refund by the deadline of August 20th.

That’s the state of the union for now. Know that my email inbox is always open should you have questions or comments. And remember…….

Do what you can to stay active while doing what you must to stay safe.

Jen Stiebeling

PS    We have a NJTC member who is looking to sell their Fall PCT time on Monday mornings, 9-11am. Let me know if you are interested.
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Update on reopening tennis courts

Update regarding reopening of Arvada City Tennis Courts and the Apex Tennis Center

With the ATC reopening on Saturday, many have asked me when the city courts will be unlocked and open for play.  Knowing that the City of Arvada has extended their facility closure till May 30th, I sent an email asking for clarification regarding the reopening of tennis courts specifically.  Their response is as follows:

Hi, Jennifer. While our facilities closure is currently in place until May 30, our City recovery team is currently exploring ways to lift the restrictions on some recreational activities, including tennis courts, sooner. We will provide updates here: https://arvada.org/residents/resilient-arvada/coronavirus-covid-19/city-services-update-covid-19. I will include your request in the citizen request log, which helps leadership consider the needs of our residents. Thanks for reaching out. If we can be of further assistance, let us know. Be well. Cindy  

I responded back to Cindy with a plea, on behalf of all tennis players in Arvada, that the courts be opened sooner than later. After sending that plea I received very good news from the ATC regarding their position on masked play, which I know has been a concern for some players. Apex has amended their language on this subject to read:

To help ensure the safety of ATC staff and the community, masks are required when entering or exiting the facility.  All players are encouraged to wear a face mask (including while playing) on the indoor and outdoor courts.
 

It should be expected that we all wear masks when entering or exiting the facility for the safety of the staff. However the language has now softened regarding masks while playing.  If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask while playing, please do so!!!, but it is no longer “required”.  

Hope to see you all out on the court soon. I’m booking my court for next week shortly!!!

Do what you can to stay active while doing what you must to stay safe,

Jen

Arvada Citizen Website
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Summer Kickoff Pictures

We had a super fun time kicking off the summer and enjoying the APEX Tennis Center. There were lot’s of drills with the pros, a high-level tennis exhibition match, silent auction, and food/beverages.

Click the button below to see a gallery of the day’s events.

Photos and Videos
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Teaching tennis in Guatemala

Did you know it only costs $13 for a child to play tennis for an entire year in Guatemala?

Yes, you read that correctly—only $13 for a year’s worth of lessons with a local tennis pro in Antigua. After the introduction of tennis last summer, many of the children at Escuela Integrada want to continue learning the sport.
Support tennis in Guatemala today by sponsoring a student’s lessons.
Visit https://graces.reachapp.co/campaigns/tenis-for-middle-school

Donate

To read more about Teaching Tennis in Guatemala, read our March 2019 club newsletter (pages 7-8).