2014 Resident Tournament Medal Winners

Congratulations

To All 162 Medal Winners  

                                                                                                                     photo courtesy of Pat Lively

Medal Winners and more

Congratulations

 Palm Desert Medal Winners

Lance Thiede and Don Simmons

Grand Canyon State Games Medal Winners

Al Hager - Marsha Freso - Lynn Carlson

Not shown Don Simmons

Next Medal Photo Shoot

All Resident Tournament Medal Winners

Friday  9 AM at the courts 

Be sure to wear your medals

The Mark Friedenberg Clinic is Coming

   Wednesday, March 5

    12:30 to 4:30 PM. 

   Cost per person is $15. 

Signup sheets are on Big Blue (the South board)  

The consistently  popular Friedenberg clinic is oriented towards emphasizing all fundamentals, from grip, mechanics of serves and strokes, to basic strategies and perhaps an overview of types of paddles. Oriented towards the 3.0/3.5  player, this is also suitable for any lower- or higher-level player who wants a comprehensive view of fundamentals and wants to learn a few new techniques along the way. 

If you have been to one of Mark's clinics in the past you already know why he is so popular. If you have not, you can't miss this....in addition to being one of the only 65+ players able to "keep up with the kids" and play competitively with the very top players in the nation, Mark has won virtually every major pickleball title at least once, helped found and was President of the USAPA, founded and ran Pro-Lite Paddles, and has a wealth of knowledge and stories he is always quick to share. 

The break-out sessions from the clinic will give you an opportunity to practice in real-time some of the things you learn!

Registration may have to be limited (due to the clinic's popularity). Sign up early. You will pay between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM the day of the clinic, (bring cash, please!), but you have to be pre-registered to attend. 

Plan to come with your pickleball gear, the right shoes, and water. Bring a chair in case available seating is taken. 

ADDITIONALLY!!!!  A very limited number of PRIVATE LESSONS with Mark will be available Thursday, March 6. Cost for a lesson, which is a minimum of one hour, is only $40 for one, $50 for two, or $100 for four players. Because the number of lessons is so limited, you MUST contact Mark directly to schedule this. His email address and phone number is noted below. If you are having a specific issue with your game, or just want to know how to REALLY hit that special shot, Mark is the guy for you and a private lesson may be the way to learn it. 

For PRIVATE LESSONS....contact Mark Friedenberg via email at apbmaster@aol.com or by phone at 425 299 7449

Nominee for Vice President

	Donna Christiansen
2/24/2014
	BIO Spent 42 years in San Diego, California where I attended high school and college.  I married my high school sweetheart, Vance, 45 years ago.   We have one married daughter and one granddaughter.  We retired in 2001and moved to Whitefish, Montana.  It was our dream to travel so we bought an RV and found ourselves at Palm Creek RV Resort in 2001.  We have wintered at Palm Creek for the last 13 winters.  So much for traveling.  We love it here.
		I worked in the Home Health Care Industry for thirty years.  I was a Branch General Manager for national, regional and hospital based home care companies that provided Medicare Certified Home Health, Home Infusion Therapy Services, Home Medical Equipment and Respiratory Services as well as In-Home-Support Services. Pickleball is such a huge part of our lives while at Palm Creek and at home in Whitefish.  I feel fortunate that I was here when it all began. It has been amazing to be here as this fledgling Club began and to see such tremendous growth. I appreciate all of the hard work and guidance that the previous Board of Director’s have provided the Club over the years. Our Club is highly respected and envied. During the last eleven years I have served on the Board as Club Secretary and Treasurer, was the court coordinator for both the resident and annual tournaments for seven or eight years and a round robin and women’s shootout captain. I am always ready to take on any job the Club may ask of me. I am grateful that I have been asked to run for the Vice President  position and I believe I can contribute experience, fairness and leadership to the Board and the Membership.

Nominee for Vice President

Rosemary Nichol  Bio

 I am submitting this resume to show my interest in the VP position with our Pickleball Club:

My pre-Pickleball history included: being a partner in a small business; working in big business and government, health promotion and primary health care; heading small community agencies; volunteering on community, university and sports boards.  For more than 20 years my responsibilities were primarily adult education, health promotion, and volunteer, board and community development.

I discovered Pickleball the first month we came to Palm Creek: January 2010.  Leroy and Barb Schmidt facilitated my addiction with that first lesson.  Since then I have tried to do my share of volunteering:a RR Captain (3 years); training assistant (3 years); this year working with the Court Use Committee; trying to learn to be a good referee (not there yet). 

As 'seniors' we need to care for our physical and mental health. Being active and social are two of the key ingredients for that.  Single or married people, older or younger, more or less physically able, those who have played sports before or not - everyone can benefit from some level of activity and socialization. That is what we offer to our members. And I think we are all healthier for it.

Palm Creek has given us (or more correctly allowed the Pickleball Club to work hard for) 24 courts.  But those courts would be nothing without the organization that supports the volunteer activity that maintains the RRs, tournaments, daily court care, and social activities. That is why I am willing to volunteer for this position.

Rosemary Nichol

Nominee for Director at Large

Bio for Ken Schaebethal

Upon graduation from college in 1963 my wife and I married and I entered the Air Force where we spent the next 28 years.  Most of my career I was associated with the intercontinental ballistic missile systems in one aspect or another, starting as a missile crew member, then spending about five years as an instructor and then moving into staff positions at intermediate and major command levels.

After retiring I worked as a seasonal tax preparer for four years and also began to work fairly seriously in stained glass.  For the next ten years I was associated with two different co-op galleries where I sold my work and assisted with the financial operations of both organizations.

My first exposure to pickleball occurred four years ago which was our first year here at Palm Creek, and I've been hooked on it since the first day.  We have about a dozen men and women in our small home town of Custer, SD who also play so I'm able to stay with it over the summer a couple days a week although all the play is indoors.

I am well aware that keeping the pickleball program alive and well at place the size of Palm Creek takes a lot of work by many volunteers.  Between maintenance of the courts, setting up the schedule, monitoring round robins, scheduling and having the tournaments run smoothly all require a lot of effort by a large number of volunteers.  I believe it is the task of the board of directors to make sure that the courts are used to accommodate the maximum amount of players while at the same time making sure that all skill levels have an adequate amount of time to play with others at their skill level.   I can see  that these goals may often conflict with each other and there is no change that you can make to the way the courts are scheduled and operated which will make everybody happy.

I am pleased to have been asked if I would consider becoming a member of the board and if selected, look forward to working with the current board members to help keep the pickleball program one of the premier activities here at Palm Creek

Deadline Is Here

Registration for our 11th Annual Tournament is almost closed.  Sunday 2/23 is the last day to Register
Some brackets are already closed  - Skill Men's 4.0 and Mixed 3.5 and 4.0

Click on the link and take a look at the players who are competing. After having such a great Resident Tournament, one would have thought, that you would have registered immediately.
There is a link for players needing partners.  Have fun with someone new or a friend.
Players are traveling from New Mexico, California, Utah and from even further away
Men don't disappoint the one team that has signed up for 50+, that are coming from Minnesota.
As long as you are 50 or older you can sign up in this bracket and give them some play.
Women there are only 3 teams signed up for 50+, sign up and give them some competition and if you are at least 70 years of age, you can compete with the two teams that have signed up in this bracket
If you have not registered, click on the link. and join everyone else who has registered to have a great time
Why are our Annual Tournaments are always great,?  They are great because we have great volunteers, some of whom start working on next year's tournament as soon as this one is over

Palm Creek Annual Tournament Registration

DVD's Available

The following matches were recorded at this year's Resident Tournament, and are available for purchase for $10. The DVD's can be either a standard DVD or in a Blu-ray format.

Monday
• Palm Division 3.0 Mens Gold/Silver match
• Palm Division 3.5 Gold/Silver match

Tuesday
• Creek Division 3.5 early bracket play: Bear Hanson/Beaumont Beaumont
• 2.5 Mixed Gold/Silver match
• Palm Division 3.5 Mixed Gold/Silver
• 4.0 Mixed Gold Silver match

Wednesday
• Palm Division 3.5 Womens Gold/Silver match
If you are interested in purchasing a copy, contact Steve Mueller over at the courts, or call 6924 or email
captainvideo@gmx.com All proceeds go to our Pickleball Club.

Medal Winners

Congratulations !!!

2014 Resident Tournament Medal Winners

Resident Tournament Medal Winners

Click on Link

Resident Tournament is under way

Members checking in at the Registration Table

Colin Caldwell and Jeanne Gearhart at the Ref table

Ready for the games to begin

At the monitor - Karen Fellows and Chuck MacDonald

Massage Therapy was hand for Players

The Games Begin! 

photos courtesy of Jocelyn Barr

Note we are working on having the medal pictures posted

A message from Wendell

Please accept my heart felt appreciation for the generous donation to the Palm Creek Cancer Awareness effort.  We have all been touched by this disease.  Many of our PC residents will benefit from your generosity.

Thank you.

Wendell Johnson

Tournament Time

Our Tournament depends on volunteers

Referees challenge themselves to learn a new skill

Referee Meeting

Tom and Jean Gearhart

Once again coordinated Referee Training

Bill Wessels receives Certificate from Tom Gearhart

Congratulations to all who have became certified this year and a thank you to all the referees who continue to referee, year after year. Certification requires attending two training sessions and reffing a number of games.

The monitor is being set up

Colin is fast at work on the Sound System

Chairs are brought to the courts

Lance  maintains the medal board

Volunteers clean the courts

The courts are ready!

photos courtesy of Jocelyn Barr and Kathie Baker

To all our members who have signed up to play in our 9th Resident Tournament  we wish you 

Good Luck 
 Have Fun - Play safe and as Marg would say HYDRATE

To all of our members who volunteer to make this event happen

Thank You

Special Thanks to Colin Caldwell - Tournament Director

Karen Fellows - Registration Coordinator

They dedicate months of their time for all of us to take pride in having great Tournaments

Spectators are also needed, to cheer on your fellow club members

There is always the chance that you will get a chance to help!

Election 2014

Our annual Election will be held during the March meeting.

Three positions will be open:

• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Director at Large

Our first nominee  Ken  Schaebethal,   is running for the Director at Large Position

To learn more about Ken, please click on this link

Ken Schaebethal Bio

It is our volunteers that make our club a success.  If you are considering running for one the open board positions and would like more information, talk to the current board members or any of the prior board members, they will be able to answer any questions, that you may have.   

Do you think one of our fellow club members, would be a great addition to the board?  Please speak with that person and encourage them to submit a Bio

February Meeting

The Board at Work

Minutes from the meeting have been posted

Laurel Wineinger and Susan Hearn

Coordinators for Club Shirts

The Annual Pizza Party

Filled the Ballroom

Earlier this week - Final Bingo Chair pick up for the

season

Advanced 4.0 + Dinking Clinic

Thanks to Pat Lively and Jocelyn Barr for taking these photos

Reminder

Monthly Meeting

Wednesday 4 PM

in the Ballroom

Club Members will be brought up to date on Club Business

The floor is than opened for questions and suggestions

Nominations to be made at this meeting for

• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Director at Large

You may nominate yourself or a club member

Annual Pizza Party

Immediately following the Meeting

Bring your own beverage

In the  News

Paddle Day

Although the expected Vendors did not come

Al Hager with the assistance of his wife Barb were able to help a large number of club members with the purchase of new a paddle and always a good opportunity to socialize

          photos courtesy of Pat Lively

Venture Out All City Medal Winners

Congratulations

Barbara Durrant -Nancy Schwartz - Lynn Carlson - Dave Touchet

Not shown Lance Thiede  - Don Simmons

Last Chance

Resident Tournament Registration

Deadline Sunday February 9th

Sign up NOW

http://www.pickleballtournaments.com/main.pl

You could take home

Referee Meeting Friday

TO ALL REFEREES 

PLEASE ATTEND A REFEREE MEETING ON FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 14TH AT 4:00 P.M. THE MEETING WILL BE
HELD AT THE SPORTS PAVILION. IT WILL BE SHORT
BUT IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO WILL
REFEREE AT OUR TOURNAMENT AND WHAT TIMES
YOU WILL BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE COME, WE NEED
YOU ALL.

TO YOU NEW REFEREES
IF YOU COMPLETE YOUR REQUIRED GAMES AND
TURN THEM IN TO US, THEN BE SURE TO ATTEND THIS
MEETING AND YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE
AND “PALM CREEK REFEREE BADGE”.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
TOM & JEANNE GEARHART        

                                                                                

Annual Paddle Day

PADDLES!!

THE NEW AND THE TRIED AND TRUE

Sunday from 10 AM - 3 PM

at the courts

This is your opportunity to test paddles on the courts

Find the right weight and grip and get expert advice

Some members will add a new paddle to their collection 

 others will not be able to resist 

adding a few to their collection

One thing is for certain 

Comes Monday many New Paddles will make their debut on the courts

Thanks to AJ Fraties for coordinating this event