Mel Bergman Award Recipient – Stephen Butzlaff
Stephen Butzlaff (Lake Bluff, Illinois) will receive the 2014 USTA/Midwest Section Mel Bergman Award, the Section’s most prestigious award. The award recognizes Butzlaff’s 15-plus years of volunteer service for the USTA on the National, Section and District levels.
Butzlaff served as the Chicago District Tennis Association President in 2003 and 2004. He also served on the Chicago Tennis Patrons Board and several Chicago District committees. Prior to his leadership roles in the District, Butzlaff co-founded the Shoreline Tennis Association, located in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1998.
Butzlaff was the USTA/Midwest Section President in 2010 and 2011, and served as President of the Midwest Youth Tennis & Education Foundation in 2012 and 2013. He has been a member of several committees over the years including: Marketing, Hall of Fame, Investment, Budget, Tennis On Campus, and the Nominating committee. Butzlaff currently serves as President of the USTA/Midwest Section Tennis Support Services Committee.
At the National level, Butzlaff is serving his first term as Adult Council Chair and is also a member of the Advisory Group on Committees. He previously served on the USTA Budget Committee, Community Tennis Association Committee, and Membership Committee.
During his years of dedication to tennis and outstanding service to numerous organizations, Butzlaff has brought the sport to many underserved juniors and local programs. In addition to his volunteer role, Butzlaff is an active tennis player. His list of awards includes: Chicago District Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013, Chicago District Volunteer of the Year in 2001, and Chicago District Family of the Year in 1999.
Family of the Year Award Recipient – Joe Totten Family
The Joe Totten Family of Bloomington, Illinois, will receive the 2014 USTA/Midwest Section Family of the Year Award. The Totten family has supported and promoted the development of tennis in their local community and the Mid-South Illinois District.
Joe works with both junior and adult tennis players at a local tennis facility. He coordinates the USTA Jr. Team Tennis program in his area, offers and oversees USTA sanctioned tournaments, and provides tennis outreach in local schools. He also is the Mid-South Illinois Tennis Association BG12 Team Cup Coach.
Chris, Joe’s wife, supports Joe and their children by assisting with tournaments and programs Joe offers. She also is responsible for driving their three children – all active tennis players – to lessons and tournaments. Chris also helped with the development of the tennis web page for their children’s high school team.
Their children, Sam, Alex, and Abby are accomplished tennis players. Sam is playing as a freshman at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Alex plays high school tennis and is a ranked Mid-South Illinois Tennis Association junior player, and Abby is also a ranked junior player.
Joe and his family were recognized as the 2014 Mid-South Illinois Tennis Association Family of the Year. The family exemplifies the positive aspects of the sport of tennis in their community and throughout the District.