Volunteer opportunities:
The success of our upcoming tournament is dependent upon the help and involvement of dozens of our club members. Please see Court Reserve for the opportunity to sign up to volunteer. Volunteers for the tournament will be eligible for the following, depending upon their level of participation:
All volunteers will be invited to a celebratory BBQ at the courts a few weeks following the event (exact date TBD). You will be fed a steak or chicken dinner in appreciation of your help and support.
The top 20 volunteers (based on number of hours) will be invited to a very special event at the Pickleball Zone. One evening in the Fall we will go play with the professionals at the Zone and enjoy pizza and beer with them afterwards. We did this last year and it was a wonderful event. It includes rotating skills training for an hour with the different professionals followed by mixed play with a Pro as your teammate.
The following volunteer opportunities can be found on Court Reserve:
Painting courts (June 5-8): most of the cracks in the courts have been filled and sanded, and now it’s time for painting. Mike Patzer needs a team of volunteers starting at 10:30 am to help with masking off the lines, mixing up paint, and applying paint with brushes and rollers. The process with take multiple days, so please help on any/all days that you are able to. Sign up on Court Reserve to let Mike know you’re coming. The more people able to help the faster it will go and the sooner we can return play times to their normally scheduled sessions.
Raffle Table (June 21 - 25): sit at a covered table at the entrance, selling raffle tickets and watching the action on nearby Court 2
Court Setup (June 20): help get the courts ready the day before the events start. Activities will include any/all of the following: hang sponsor banners, move bleachers, put up pop-up shade covers, setup sound system, etc.
Court Setup (June 21 - 25): blow off pine needles, check net heights, stock courts with balls, etc. before play starts in the morning
Water, snacks, etc. (June 21 - 25): keep the player snack table stocked, refill water jugs, and mix electrolyte drink as needed, watching tournament play in between
Restrooms (June 21 - 25): keep the bathrooms clean and well-stocked by checking them frequently and watching tournament play in between checks
Parking lot attendant (June 24): Saturday only, as baseball will also be going on at Finley Butte, we’ll be asking pickleballers to park at La Pine Community Church and Mid-State Electric. We’d like to have attendants in those lots helping people find spots and then pointing them in the direction of the courts.
An additional, longer term volunteer opportunity we want club members to consider: At the end of this summer, there will be some spots opening up on our volunteer leadership committee (previously known as the club’s board of directors). Please consider if you would be willing to serve in order to support this club that we all love. If you are interested, or just want some more info, please send Cathy Hundley an email for more information.
Reminder: Please park in the parking lot
We have been asked by LPRD to remind our members to park in the parking lot rather than along the street by the dog park/picnic tables.
Clinics, Drills & Lessons — Coming Soon!
Jen and Rick Toso are going to start offering regularly scheduled drills and clinics at our outdoor courts this month. They will also be available for private and group lessons. We will send out a club-wide message soon with more details, so stay tuned!
Recent Tournament Results
At the Pickleball Zone tournament in May, a few of our club members made the podium! Congratulations to:
Men’s Doubles 3.5, Bronze: Ryan Pierson & Justin Florip
Mixed Doubles 4.0 Seniors, Gold: Jen Toso & partner Neal Peskin
Women’s Doubles 4.0, Bronze: Jen Toso & partner Dao Wilson
La Pine Pickleball Smackdown Mini Camps
Our club has partnered with LPRD to offer a pickleball camp for local high schoolers this summer. The sessions will be on June 15, July 25, and August 17 for 9th - 12th graders and they will be $20 per date. Students can sign up for any/all dates, and registration is at LPRD. Thanks to Carlos Soto and Cathy Hundley for making this happen, and please talk to them if you are interested in helping with these events.
Pickleball for Patriots
For anyone who is interested in playing in a fun, local tournament that benefits a veteran in our community, this is your chance!
Save the Date: Saturday August 12, 2023 8:00AM-2:00PM, $40 entry fee. ALL proceeds go to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO). LPRD is partnering with La Pine Pickleball Club and Central Oregon Veterans Outreach supporting veterans and those in need! Registration opens June 15, 2023 and will be through www.lapineparks.org
New members and Captains
Thank you to Karyl Cottriel who became a club captain recently! Note that there was a well-attended captains meeting last week, updating everyone on current procedures for outdoor play. For captains who couldn’t attend, please reach out to Cheryl Patzer to get up to date.
And, welcome to all of our new and returning members who joined during the month of May: Danielle Patrick, Janet Gruber, Michelle McDaniel, Cathy Hayter, Deb Aiken, John Monteleone, Julie Gilbert, John Fess, Karen Olsen, Robert Goold, Laura Goold, Jean Lambert, Gordon Sproul, Gary Peichoto, Margy Imel, Ray Judah, Kristen Judah, Colleen Halverson, Mark Youngs, Laurie Youngs, Andy Collmer, Malcolm Warrand, Carrie Parker, Dawn Thomas, Lisa Downing, Troy Downing, Tanner Hemenway, Christa Hemenway, and Fisher Hemenway.