August 2023 Member Update

La Pine Pickleball Club Leadership Opportunity

We are coming up on the time of year where we look for new volunteers for our club’s leadership. Since we are part of La Pine Parks and Rec District (LPRD), our leadership is not formally a board, but a volunteer committee. As a volunteer-run organization, we welcome the opportunity for different members to help lead us over time to get new ideas and fresh energy.

To date, we have had 5 members on the committee. Two of the current committee members are looking to step down, leaving two vacancies. Additionally, we think that it would be beneficial to add up to two additional members (for a total of 7) in order to spread some of the load. If you are interested in joining the committee, please reach out in person to one of the current committee members or contact us at lapinepick@gmail.com. We plan to hold an all-member meeting later this summer and hold elections at that time.

For reference, the current committee is:

Cathy Hundley
Mike Patzer (stepping down, Facilities and Equipment)
Ryan Pierson
Cheryl Patzer
Whitney Smith (stepping down, Secretary and Communication)

The exact roles each member will fill will be determined once the new committee is assembled.

Save the Date: 9th Annual Frontier Days: June 26 - June 30, 2024

Just a quick note here that after all the costs associated with this year’s tournament have been accounted for, we raised almost $10,000 for our club. What an amazing achievement, which can only be accomplished with the help from so many of our wonderful club members!

Reminder: Lock the gates and close the umbrellas

We love being able to give all of our members access to the courts at their convenience using a combo gate lock. Unfortunately, at least once in July, the courts were found with the locks installed incorrectly and an umbrella blown out of its holder and through one of the court’s nets. If you are the last person off the courts, please always make sure the umbrellas are closed and the locks are installed properly on the gates.

Above: A properly installed gate lock

Below: the impact of an umbrella not being closed

Also, the bathrooms were left open one night last week, and the office was found unlocked one morning. Any captain who opens the office, shed, or bathrooms MUST put another captain in charge of locking them before leaving or lock what you opened before you go, even though others are still playing.   

DO NOT SHARE THE GATE CODES

Related to the topic above, it has come to our attention that some of our members have shared the combo for the gates with non-members and those people are using the courts on their own. Also, non-captains have been told the combo for the office, shed, and bathrooms. This has become a serious problem. Members: please do not share the combo with your family and friends for any reason. Captains, and committee members: please do not share the combo for the office, shed, and bathrooms for any reason. It becomes too difficult, unsafe, and potentially costly to manage our facility.  We do not want to resort to keyed locks and scheduling captains to open and close with restricted hours. If you enjoy the freedom of being able to play when you want, please help us protect that privilege.

Recent Local Tournament Results

Congratulations to the following members of our club who finished on the podium at the Central Oregon tournaments during the month of July:

Redmond Rock Chuck Open

  • Bronze in Women’s 4.0+: Jen Toso with partner Dao Wilson

Pacific Northwest Classic

  • Bronze in Men’s Doubles 3.5 19+, 30+, 40+: Ryan Pierson and Greg Price

  • Bronze in Men’s Doubles 4.0, 55+: Tommy Campas with partner Peter Montross

Pickleball for Patriots

The Pickleball for Patriots Tournament is coming up on August 12. If you have already signed up, thank you so much! 100% of the proceeds go to COVO, the Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, which helps our very own veterans right here in La Pine. Keaton, the high school student who has worked so hard to organize this event, NEEDS MORE PLAYERS! Right now, 44 players have signed up, but his goal is 64 players total to reach his donation goal. Please see the visit this website to sign up and pay.

Round Robin

This Saturday, August 5 there will be a round robin. Warm up is at 8:00 and play begins at 8:30.  Sign up on Court Reserve and join us for a morning of fun!  

New Members

Welcome to our new members who joined the club in July. With the latest additions, our club now has over 300 members!

Ben Smith
Angie Smith
Gracie Smith
Libby Smith
Elise Smith
Brian Cragnotti
Christopher Wilder
Lauren Wilder
Tyler Huggins
Shannon Bolyard
Craig Hemingway
Don Freel
Tina Freel
Evi Nast
Janetti Marotta
Rhoda Zach
Joseph (Pete) McGannon
Breanne Bauer