THE RACQUET

your monthly TTC newsletter

NOVEMBER 2023

2023 TTC Board of Directors Election

As a member-owned club, TTC is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors elected from the membership. We have 3 spots available annually, and this year we have 3 candidates to fill those spots. It is very important that all voting memberships vote; the election is invalid if less than 25% of our membership votes. You'll get an email on November 6 that will be your electronic ballot. Voting will take about 30 seconds, so please submit your ballot when you receive it. Thanks for being part of the process!

JODI ELLIOTT

Hi, I'm Jodi Elliott, a Michigan native, a mother of three, and a real estate broker here in Corvallis. I started taking adult beginner lessons at TTC at the same time that my first-born started taking Mighty Mites classes at age 5. I played elite-level soccer growing up, including with Michigan's Olympic Development Program, and have played most other sports recreationally. Our family has participated in nearly every level of program or event that Timberhill Tennis Club offers, including youth classes, Valley Tennis Academy, USTA and UTR tournaments, adult doubles league, semi-private group lessons, and social events. 

My interest in serving on the board comes from this expansive experience with the club's offerings: I have unique insight into what it looks like for the club to be successful in serving its various constituencies, and a strong desire to build a welcoming, robust community for the enjoyment of tennis at all levels. I am excited to delve into the master plan for the club in the coming years and be an instrumental voice in shaping a community that gathers around playing, supporting, and celebrating tennis. My other recent volunteer commitments have included: serving on the steering committee for 100 People Who Care - Corvallis/Benton County, coaching youth soccer with AYSO, volunteering in the classroom at Franklin K-8, and once upon a time, founding a local chapter of the Free Forest School movement.

DEB PENCE

In January of this year I made a return to tennis after a 20-year hiatus from racquet sports. Joining TTC reignited my passion for tennis, and I have embraced many of the opportunities offered by the club for interacting with other members on and off the court and for improving my skills on the court.

My unique perspective as a (soon-to-be) retiree returning to the world of tennis and as a new member of TTC allows me to bring a fresh outlook to the club and a willingness to learn and grow within the tennis community. I also understand the importance of fostering an inviting and supportive environment for all members. As a member of the Board of Directors, I would strive to create an inclusive and vibrant community within our tennis club.

During my 25 years as a faculty member at Oregon State University I honed my skills as a proficient problem solver, adept project manager and effective educator. My engineering background has trained me to approach challenges with a solution-oriented perspective. I aspire to use my skill set, where applicable, to contribute to the continued enhancement and maintenance of our exceptional tennis facility. 

DALE RUSSELL

My name is Dale Russell, and I've been playing tennis at one level or another for 60 years. I grew up a block away from two tennis courts and a backboard. I'm a retired professor from Sacramento where I taught at Sac. State for 20 years. Prior to that I taught at Old Dominion University, and early in my career tried to steer young people in the right direction as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Illinois.

After retirement my wife and I were searching for a good place to relocate, preferably a college town, and we made a very good choice in Corvallis.

I've been a member of the club for more than two years and play 3 or 4 times a week. Besides tennis, I indulge myself at the art of woodblock prints.

I'm interested in serving on the board for two basic reasons. I have several friends who are currently serving, and I have a basic philosophy that if one enjoys the benefits of membership they should also take a turn in some leadership capacity.

I don't know if I have any special qualifications for the job except that I served the last 7 years of my University service as chair of my department. In that position I learned a great deal about arbitration and ways to motivate others to work for the good of the whole.

If elected I would look forward to serving on the board.

ORANGE BALL FALL CLASSIC RESULTS

Albert Jiang - Blue Division Champ

Julia Lear - Red Division Champ

Congratulations to all of our Orange Ball players for a great event!

Save the date....

TTC'S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Monday, November 27

6:30pm-8:00pm

This will be an online Zoom meeting.

The annual meeting is a great way for members to hear about the state of the club, and to become informed (and share input) about upcoming club projects. This year, the main topic will be a review of the TTC Master Plan, which was completed and presented just prior to the beginning of the pandemic. The Master Plan is the guide for future expansion and major capital improvement at the club, and is the result of several years of member input. We'll go through what the Master Plan looks like and how different phases might be implemented and funded in the future. We're asking members to RSVP if you plan on attending, so we can have the meeting set up appropriately. We'll send Zoom links to all RSVPs.

CARDIO TENNIS CLASSES with Sam

continue this Fall

Mondays 8:15am-9:15am

Fridays 9:45am-10:45am

$15/class

This has been a really popular class since it was started, so we offered a second weekly chance to join the fun. Spots are limited, so be sure to click the button and let Sam know if you're interested in coming!

TENNIS STRETCH AND STRENGTH

a new class offering at TTC

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12pm-1pm

on Court 6

Work on your tennis conditioning by improving tennis-specific strength and flexibility! This class is led by Amy Hunter, who is a certified yoga instructor, wellness enthusiast, and tennis player! Classes will be offered on a drop-in basis ($12/class), or you can get a discount for buying a 10-class package. During September through November, your first class is FREE! So come try it out and take your tennis (and health) to the next level.

PHILOMATH

HIGH SCHOOL

IS LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH!

Do you love tennis? Do you like working with kids? Do you have some spare time? This is a great opportunity to get into high school tennis coaching, working with an experienced head coach and assistants to help continue the success story of Philomath High School tennis! Click the link on your right for more information.

REINDEER GAMES

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2

4:00pm - 7:00pm

This is a fun seasonally themed mixer that consists of an hour of on-court tennis games led by TTC's pros (this is a chance for the adults to play all of the fun drill-type games that we do in the kids' groups), an hour of social doubles, and a potluck dinner to finish. Adults and high school juniors only, please.

FRIDAY NIGHT MIXED DOUBLES

Friday, November 10

7:00pm-8:30pm

This will be a fun on-court opportunity to meet new players and make new friends within the Timberhill Tennis Club community. Players of all levels are welcome to come out for 90 minutes of mixed doubles play (or close to it, if we don't have equal numbers of men and women).

Registration is now open for our fall junior classes at TTC. There are still a few spots available in the Nov-Dec sessions, so give us a call and save your child's spot today!

Congratulations to TTC's 18+ Mixed Doubles Team, which won the One-Weekend League in Eugene and qualified for Sectionals!

League play has wrapped up for the 2023 season, but the next leagues forming will be:

Women's 40 & Over League

This is a one-weekend league held in Eugene Feb 16-18. Matches are 1 singles/3 doubles, and teams can form independently. Deadline to sign up is in January.

18 & Over League

This is a multi-week league that plays home and away matches over a three month season March-June

Matches are 2 singles/3 doubles, and teams will sign up through TTC. Deadline to sign up is in early February.

Head Radical MP

Looking for a classically designed, perfectly balanced racket? The 2023 version of the Head Radical MP fits the bill. This is a prototypical midplus, at 100 square inches and 10.6 ounces with even balance and a 20/23/21 tapered beam. In my opinion, the best blend of solid feel and "pop" on your shots. We've got a couple of demos of this popular model, and you can have a new one (with custom string for $219!

DEMOS FOR SALE

get these quickly, as they sell fast!

Yonex VCOR Pro 97 (2021) $100

Wilson Ultra 100L v.4.0 $125

Wilson Burn 100S v.4.0 $125

Head Boom Team $120

From the Clubhouse

Hi Everybody,

As we transition into our cooler, wetter months, we always have to keep an eye out for the optimum time to "winterize" the buildings. This involves closing up ventilation intakes, dropping and storing windscreens from the outdoor courts, and getting our water shut down around the grounds. This year we opted for the last week of October to get things done, as the low temperatures dropped into the low 30s and upper 20s. This will keep the buildings temperate and warm until our heating system is installed in late December/early January. Note that we've also put a lock on the garage door for the season so we don't lose control of the temperature in courts 4-6.

Our HVAC project is scheduled to begin in earnest at the end of December. We'll have some preparatory electrical and concrete work prior to then, but it won't impact club function at all. The big work weeks will be December 18-22, when courts 1-3 will be closed, and December 26-29, when courts 4-6 will be closed. The work crews will be hanging ductwork inside the buildings during those weeks, and installing the vent fans on court 3. The first couple of weeks of January, the heat pumps will be installed on the exterior of the building, and ductwork run up the side of the buildings to connect with the interior ducts. By the middle or end of January, we should be able to tame those really cold days of winter in the buildings. Thanks for your patience while this process is completed.

Also, note that the Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 27. We'd love for you all to tune in (via Zoom) for this interactive information session, and all you have to do is click here to RSVP. The primary focus of the meeting this year will be to review TTC's Master Plan and to discuss what phases of that plan might be most desirable to prioritize. We'll see you there!