2013 Midwest Community Workshop
|
|
IMG_3341
|
Community leaders from around the Midwest converged on Indianapolis this past January when the USTA/Midwest Section hosted the 2013 Community Development Workshop. Attending the event were 120 community leaders representing Midwest Youth Team Tennis programs, Community Tennis Associations, USTA Jr. Team Tennis programs, NJTL chapters, USTA League programs and Diversity programs.
The weekend began with a Friday night networking reception which provided an opportunity for attendees to share ideas with others and to mingle with speakers, national staff, section staff and district staff.
The workshop continued on Saturday morning with a tennis industry and section update from USTA/Midwest Section President Jonelle Smith followed by a very lively session with keynote speaker Gary Avischious of CoachingSchool.org. Gary spoke about building successful programs and successful kids.
The remainder of the day on Saturday consisted of seventeen 50-minute educational sessions by various presenters from around the country. The classroom session topics included opportunities for the attendees to learn more about marketing and CTA resources, diversity outreach, section and foundation grants, recruiting volunteers, getting legal, expanding youth and adult programming, social media, fundraising, advocacy and public affairs.
On Saturday evening after dinner, USTA staff member Jason Jamison along with USTA/Midwest Section staff Greg Boyd and Jim Amick presented a tennis social for the attendees. The participants were able to experience new, fun play formats and games in an open space that can be run just about anywhere.
The workshop concluded on Sunday morning with five one-hour long on-court training sessions at Five Seasons. The on-court session topics consisted of simple drills for ten and under programs, Kids Tennis Clubs, Cardio Tennis, Start/Restart Tennis for adult beginners and progressing youth through the junior pathway.
Community Development Workshop Highlights
- Other groups in attendance – Adult District League Coordinators, Junior Team Tennis District League Coordinators, Missouri Valley Tennis Association, and CTA representatives from Denver, CO and the USTA Intermountain Section.
- On Saturday afternoon, community leaders from Midwest Youth Team Tennis programs had a chance to meet with Junior Division staffers Chad Docktor and Jenny Reifeis. The programs split into two groups representing both existing and new markets.
- On Saturday afternoon, attendees had a chance to meet as a group with their Tennis Service Representative to get an update on upcoming events and new programs started in their territories.
- Also, on Saturday afternoon courtside consulting was offered which gave attendees an opportunity to meet individually with an expert for a personal consultation in the following areas: Advocacy, CTA Resources, Diversity Outreach, and Website Development.