Fountain Hills Pickleball Club

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    • 2025 FHPC FHUSD TOU
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      • Jim Valleskey
      • Emily Nelson
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    • NEW COURT CONSTRUCTION
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      • 2023 Beginner
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    • SPRING FLING 2022
    • 2022 Tournaments >
      • INTERMEDIATE
      • ADVANCED
      • BEGINNER
    • Member Tournament Winners
    • Orientation Gallery
    • FOOD & TOY DRIVE
    • Hall of Fame
    • 2021 JV "Move Up" CLINIC
    • 2020 Intermediate Tournament
    • 2020 Dave Weinbach Clinic
    • SPRING FLING 2019
    • MEMBERS AT LARGE
    • 2019 Intermediate Tournament
    • St.Jude
    • SPRING FLING 2018
  • PRO SHOP
    • Shop Arizona Eyewear >
      • AE-101
      • AE-102
      • AE-103
      • AE-104
      • AE-105
      • AE-106
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FHPC Newsletters

June 2023

5/27/2023

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Hello!

Whether you are here for the summer or “back home” there is VERY important information in this month’s communication.
 
As noted in the May Newsletter, West court resurfacing begins at sunrise Thursday, June 1.  The courts will be closed at 3:30 Wednesday, May 31 to prepare the courts; the gate code will be voided, no access.    The reopening date is set for Monday June 19.   The East court repainting begins Monday June 19; the gate code will be voided, no access.  The reopening date is Sunday June 25.  If there are any changes to this schedule, a  communication will be sent.
 
Please review the two  At-A-Glance schedules below to ensure members show up in the right time slot.  Online, the only calendar  available is the At-A-Glance; day-week-and month will be updated after all court maintenance is complete.   A full Summer schedule will be posted prior to June 25.
 
With school construction and maintenance for the August 2023 FHMS FHHS campus merger, the school has requested we discontinue parking in the drop off lane in front of the West Courts.  This includes days, evenings and weekends.
 
Important upcoming communications:
  • A member survey will be sent in July.  Please take the few minutes to complete as these questions help us provide the best member experience.
  • A communication will be sent mid-August for 2023-24 renewal.
 
For those traveling, safe travels.  And for those remaining here, stay cool!  Everyone - have a safe, fun summer.

The Executive Board
At A Glance June 1 - June 18
At A Glance June 19 - June 25
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May 2023

4/30/2023

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Well, we think the weather has finally caught up with us!
 
The May schedule begins our Summer times with skill level slots ending earlier in the day due to the heat.  While many of the seasonal members have left for the summer, we will monitor the schedule for a few weeks and tweak if necessary.  We have also revised the guest policy for summer to all member play times; all other guest policy rules stay in place.

The lost & found boxes will be cleared after the first week of May.  These are the black tubs with yellow lids next to the equipment boxes on both East and West courts.  So if you think there is something of yours there – hurry up and take a look!
 
The high school closing date is a bit later this year, May 25th, until then please abide by West Court parking guidelines.
 
The West court resurfacing begins June 1st, we will send a reminder as it gets closer, plan your play accordingly. 
 
In August when school resumes, the middle school is moving into the space currently undergoing construction and remodeling.  This space is closest to the West courts.  There will be a lot more traffic with students coming and going at the gate just south of the courts.  We will have a separate communication early August with more details and information.  This is not expected to impact member play at all, just an awareness of the students.
 
The Board will be working on a survey and renewal information during the summer.   We will be looking for volunteers to run Round Robins and assist with other club activities next year, if you are interested, please Contact Us .
 
Please make sure you have both [email protected] and [email protected]  as trusted addresses.    One suggestion, if you don’t already, is to create a free @gmail.com email address for FHPC (and other) communications.
 
For those of you leaving for the season, safe travels!
 
The Executive Board
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April 2023

3/31/2023

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​We wanted to get this out today before April Fool’s Day – this weather, jeesh! 
 
The Round Robins all wrapped up this week.  Even with the few rainouts, everyone had fun.  We’ll be looking to have some additional events next season and we’ll also be looking for volunteers to run them.
 
On March 5, FHPC hosted the 2023 Winter Beginner Tournament. 16 members competed in a round robin format. Players and volunteers enjoyed the weather and had a great time! Congrats to the winners:
  • Ist Place Gold - Lisa Winter & Toni Keyes
  • 2nd Place Silver - Vicki Morrison & Lynlee Veach
  • 3rd Place Bronze - Rita Wagner & Mary Mounts
Checkout the pictures here 2023 Beginner Tournament  and on Facebook, Pickleball in Fountain Hills AZ
 
Spring Fling was a huge success.  The weather couldn’t have been better.  Terri & her helpers did a great job organizing.  We heard many and only good things about the food, thanks to Sipps Catering.  Leftovers were delivered to the FH and Rio fire departments.  The entertainment was wonderful, thanks Evonne!  Thanks to Paddletek (Phil), Jigsaw (Emily) and Joola (Amy) for providing door prizes.   Jim and Ron did a fabulous job, as always, on the 50-50 collecting (with a little nudge) just over $1400!!  Congrats to Layne and Kerry who each took home the winners share.  A big thanks to Terri and all the volunteers.   Photos and a fun video will be posted in the photo gallery and Facebook shortly.
 
There are only a few minor changes to the April schedule, removing the Round Robins and Clinics.  At-A-Glance can be found on the website and posted at the courts.
 
Tuesday, April 4, the club is sponsoring the Town’s Return to Recess at the West Courts from 4:00-5:30, all 6 courts will be in use.  This program is focused on getting kids outside to play! Fountain Hills Recreation has partnered with multiple community groups to bring youth ages 8-14 a program that teaches them new sports, one week at a time.  If you’d like to help coach, please  Contact Us .  You can also just come by and watch the kids, they’re a fun group!

On Thursday, April 6, Jigsaw will be filming at the West Courts at 9:00 AM during Advanced Play.  Please wear your club shirts and remember to smile!
 
As of May 1, we’ll be switching to the Summer schedule which will have skill level times ending earlier in the day due to the heat.  We’ll also open the guest policy to all member play times.

Summer court construction heads up.  The East Courts will be repainted and West Courts 1 – 4 will be resurfaced.  Tentative dates are late May and early June.  We will send specific dates and parking details as this gets closer.
 
For those of you leaving for the season, safe travels.  Look for a survey and renewal information during the summer.

​Some ongoing reminders:

  • At the West courts, there is   NO PARKING ANYTIME   by the driveway in front of the school gate. The school is working 7 days a week to prepare for the move of the Middle School into the High School this coming August.  More on that topic over the summer.
  • The school custodian that empties the trash cans is still on leave, so pickup is sporadic.   Please remove all trash from the courts including food items – and if the cans are full, please take your trash home with you. 
  • If you are playing at night, and you are the last players to leave, please shut off the light switch. 
 
Some members are still experiencing issues for schedules with the mobile app with the Safari web browser.  While we continue to look at this issue, using Chrome or another browser does not prompt a Captcha request.
 
If you have not visited our Facebook page for a while, there are Tournament and Round Robin and Spring Fling pictures and a special recognition for one of our own! 

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March 2023

2/28/2023

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Well, so much for a February of good weather!   Regardless, we’re still better off than most areas of the country.  No more predictions here.
 
We’d hoped to publish the results of the Beginners Tournament, but we had to reschedule to this coming Sunday, March 5.  We have a few spots open because of the reschedule; if you regularly play in the Beginner’s time slots and are interested, you can register here, Register Beginner Tournament.  Come over to the West courts to cheer on the players!

There are no changes to the March schedule except for the Beginner Tournament.  At-A-Glance can be found on the website and posted at the courts.

​Some ongoing reminders:
  • At the West courts, there is NO PARKING ANYTIME by the driveway in front of the school gate. The school is working 7 days a week to prepare for the move of the Middle School into the High School this coming August.  More on that topic over the summer.
  • The school custodian that empties the trash cans is on leave, so pickup is sporadic.   Please remove all trash from the courts including food items – and if the cans are full please take your trash home with you. 
  • If you are playing at night, and you are the last players to leave, please shut off the light switch. 
 
Spring Fling filled up very fast.  If you replied YES and your plans have changed, please Contact Us so we can clear the waitlist.
 
Some members are still experiencing issues for schedules with the mobile app with the Safari web browser.  While we continue to look at this issue, using Chrome or another browser does not prompt a Captcha request.
 
If you have not visited our Facebook page for a while, there are Tournament and Round Robin pictures and a special recognition for one of our own! 
 
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February 2023

1/31/2023

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​Looks like a warmup is finally coming to the valley.  It’s been pretty chilly for early morning play, but that hasn’t affected the diehards!

The last two weekends of January were jampacked with events. 

On Saturday the 21st the club held the Member Intermediate Tournament.  There were 30 teams, many volunteers and a number of members and family came to cheer the players on.
Congrats to the winners!
1st Place Gold Jan Typher and Lou Rhodes
2nd Place Silver Teri Bernhard and Jim Chase
3rd Place Bronze Cheryl Devine and "G" Gaurev Parekh
Pictures here:   Intermediate Pictures  (click on individual to enlarge)

On Sunday the 22nd, 8 Advanced teams got together for a social Round Robin tournament. Congrats to the winners. A good time was had by all!
1st Place Chris Korjenek and Chris Wood
2nd Place Annie Kloss and Steve Berg
3rd Place Margaret and Ted Ennis
Pictures here:  Advanced Pictures   (click on individual to enlarge)

On Saturday the 28th, FHHS held their Feather & Flapjack 5K.  FHPC was one of the sponsors of the event.  The banner with all sponsors is hanging on the outside of the West Courts – go take a look!

On Sunday the 29th, Maryann O’Connor sponsored a social round robin play at the courts in memory of her husband and avid FHPC member/player Mike O’Connor.  Donations to the Glioblastoma Foundation were accepted and over $2900 was raised!  Besides FHPC members, Maryann had friends and family volunteering and providing door prizes and treats.  The Batchelor Pad food truck provided LOTS of food and drink, donated by Maryann.  Overall, the event was a great success, especially the interaction of all levels of play having a great time on the courts.  As a recommendation, we will look at options to expand the event.  Pictures here:  O'Connor Event and more to come!

Two new FH vendors in addition to our member vendors attended the tournament on the 21st. They are offering discounts to FHPC members: Laser Pain Away and Ducote Lane Studio (spray tanning).  Their information will be posted in the West Court bulletin Board.

We received several suggestions for tournaments etc. next year, e.g. #1 was to provide a Porta Potty, and to have separate men’s and women’s tournaments.  We will be looking for volunteers to run tournaments (and round robins) to expand our past offerings.
 
Next up –
 
The Beginner Round Robin begins this Sunday, February 5.  There are still a few slots available, and it is a great way to practice for the Beginner Tournament on February 26.  Register Beginner Round Robin

The tournament is open to all Beginners, playing in the Round Robin is NOT a requirement.  Tournament registration here: 2023 Beginner Tournament
There are also a few slots available for the Advanced Round Robin – Register Advanced Round Robin

We have updated the website for the new Club Shirts.  There are many styles, size and color options.  Check it out here:  Shop Shirts  Most Importantly, there is only a 2-week window to order, deadline is February 14.

Please pay attention to the club rules:  Members cannot reserve courts for practice and drilling during skill or open play times. You must rack up and rotate if others are at the courts to play at the same time as you.  There are many Member Open Play times to get a group together for drilling, etc. 

There was a question about the paddle ranking system, this is the rule: paddles are racked as players wanting to play arrive or come off the courts from a completed game. There is a "next" sign that slides below the colored paddle holders. It moves from left to right as each group of paddles are removed to take the next open court. When it gets to the last set of holders on the right, the next slides back all the way to the left to start over. NO ONE should move racked paddles except to take the 4 that are next up to take a court.

On a totally different topic, it has been brought to our attention that the mobile version of the website on an iPhone often opens with the request from Google Captcha to confirm you are not a robot.  The easiest workaround is to have a different browser, e.g. Google Chrome or Firefox to view the website.
​
Members moving away or no longer playing in FH. If you wish to drop your membership, please Contact Us, so people on waitlist can be added.
 
Last but certainly not least, save the date for Spring Fling, Saturday March 25. Details and sign up soon!

See you at the Courts!
The Executive Board

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January 2023

12/30/2022

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We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays last week and are getting ready to celebrate the New Year this weekend.
 
As we close out 2022 and begin our busy season at the courts, we wanted to provide insight into the club’s status.  First, we are financially stable.  We have 600 members and have closed 2022-2023 membership to provide members with the best experience we can offer.  We do have a significant waitlist.  We are addressing membership inquiries with that information and also letting people know there are local public courts at Four Peaks.  As members, if you are approached about membership, please let them know it is very unlikely there will be any openings this fiscal year.
 
This is also a good time to remind everyone of the Club Rules.

  • Players are not permitted to play in more than one skill level during scheduled skill level play. Verbal notice has been given to several club members and if the members don’t comply, they risk suspension and eventual ejection from the club.
  • Members are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner while on the courts. This means following the rules and play schedules and being courteous to your fellow members.
  • The FHPC guest policy is being monitored and we expect more guests during the season. This can be a stressful time of year with many visitors around, so we ask that everyone be courteous and patient while at the courts. Remember that guests are NOT permitted during scheduled skill level times, waivers for guests must be completed for each visit, and the member must always be present when their guests are on the courts.  The guest waivers state that the member is responsible for their guests and their behavior, following the same code of conduct expected of members. This includes no foul language, no stealing of balls, no leaving the gates open for anyone to enter, no sharing of the gate code, and no abuse of our policies. If these infractions are reported, guest privileges may be eliminated, or the responsible member could be suspended from the club. Although children are permitted to come with the family to the courts, they are not permitted to run around on the courts, on the sidelines or between the fences while family members are playing.
 
January is jam packed with events.  The schedule reflects these in a very colorful manner on the At-A-Glance version.  Please read thoroughly January 2023 At-A-Glance for dates, times.
 
Round Robins – FHPC Members Only
  • Registration for Round Robins was amazing. The groups began filling very quickly. 
 
  • Managers for the Intermediate and Advanced RR have reached out to their respective groups ahead of the first week of play.  The Advanced group still has openings.
 
  • Beginner RR starts February 5th; the manager will be in contact in January with those registered to sign up for week 1.
 
  • Information on all Round Robins here:  2023 Winter Round Robin Information
 
Tournaments – FHPC Members Only -Check in 9:30 on west courts, Play starts 10:00.
  • The Intermediate Tournament will be held on Saturday Jan 21; Advanced Tournament will be held on Sunday Jan 22. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.  Organizers will provide more information on format after registration and before tournaments begin, based on the number of registrants.
 
  • General Information here:   2023 Intermediate & Advanced Tournament Page
 
  • The Beginner Tournament will be Sunday, Feb 26th (in place of the scheduled RR that week) and will be an individual registration, not partners. The cost will be $10 per person and electronic registration through our website will be the only option to participate.  Information and registration website pages will be available mid-January.
 
Special Event-Mike O’Connor Fundraiser
  • There will be a special event on Sunday, January 29th, to raise funds for the Glioblastoma Foundation in the memory of our friend and fellow pickleball lover, Mike O’Connor. Maryann O’Connor is the event organizer with the FHPC allowing use of the courts from 10 AM to 12 noon. She will have a Jazzercise instructor there to help everyone warm up, a food truck from the Bachelor Barbeque and more surprises. We are asking for an “entry fee” (a minimum donation of $20), by check to the Glioblastoma Foundation or cash given to Maryann at the courts.  Anyone can participate, not only FHPC members, and you can donate as much as you’d like!
  • Information here :  Special Event - Mike O'Connor
 
FHHS PTO-5K and Fun Run
  • There will be a 5K and fun run organized by the PTO on Saturday, Jan 28th.  Registration, check-in, race start, and finish will be in the high school east parking lot. There will be no pickleball play permitted on the east courts on this date. The racecourse will run around the high school and there will be many runners passing the west courts, so extreme care should be taken driving and parking on the west courts.
  • Please park in the Golden Eagle parking lot and walk to the courts if you plan on playing on the west courts.
  • Information on this event here: FHHS PTO 5K & Fun Run

The Board wishes everyone a Happy, Healthy 2023!
See you at the courts!

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December 2022

12/1/2022

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Hope everyone had a nice holiday, the weather here was PERFECT!  We’re about to enter the busiest time of our year with all our events upcoming in January.
 
The December schedule remains as it was in November with the Trial Intermediate Round Robin removed from Tuesday afternoons, West.
 
With more and more members back, we wanted to refresh several court rules and reminders.

  • Singles play during scheduled skill level slots is not permitted; permitted during Member Open Play only
  • As scheduled time slot near their end times, please do not start a new game and delay the next time slot’s players from starting their games.  Please leave the courts promptly so everyone gets the benefit of their entire scheduled time.
  • The FHPC guest policy is being monitored and we expect more guests during the holiday season. This can be a stressful time of year with many visitors around, so we ask that everyone be courteous and patient while at the courts. Remember that guests are NOT permitted during scheduled skill level times, waivers for guests must be completed for each visit, and the member must always be present when their guests are on the courts.  The guest waiver states that the member is responsible for their guests and their behavior, following the same code of conduct expected of members. This includes no foul language, no stealing of balls, no leaving the gates open for anyone to enter, no sharing of the gate code, and no abuse of our policies. If these infractions are reported, guest privileges may be eliminated, or the responsible member could be suspended from the club. Although children are permitted to come with the family to the courts, they are not permitted to run around on the courts, on the sidelines or between the fences while family members are playing.
  • Players are not permitted to play in more than one skill level during scheduled skill level play. Verbal notice has been given to several club members and if the members don’t comply, they risk suspension and eventual ejection from the club.
  • Members of the FHPC Advisory Board will be at the courts in the coming months to introduce ourselves to members that we don’t routinely play with, say hello, and check membership status of the players on the courts. The lists we have are only members names, we are not checking or judging skill levels. If members have questions, this will be a good time to ask the board in person.
 
January Events
 
Round Robins – Members Only

The information and details for Round Robins can be found at this link:
2023 Winter Round Robin Information
Registration will open December 10.  Emails will be sent to the specific skill level members with a registration link.

Advanced RR will be on Thursday afternoons run by Chris K and Michelle W and Intermediate RR will be on Tuesday afternoons run by Terri C and Diane N. We are looking for volunteers to run the Beginner RR on Saturdays or Sundays. Please contact a board member or send a note through the website if you are interested. Others will assist with the Beginners RR, but we need a primary contact and manager.

  • Members are only permitted to play at one skill level during Round Robins
  • Members should sign up to play in the group where they routinely participate in skill level play.
  • The cost is $10 per person via electronic registration through our website. It will be the only option to pay.
 
Tournaments – Members Only, Coed-Doubles

Website Information and Registration details will be available next week.

  • The Advanced Tournament will be held on Sunday Jan 22. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.
  • The Intermediate Tournament will be held on Saturday Jan 21. The format will be partners, like last year, not individuals. Only one partner will register their team for their event and pay electronically through the website. No cash or checks will be accepted. The cost will be $20/team.
  • The Beginner Tournament will be Feb 5th and will be an individual registration, not partners. The cost will be $10 per person and electronic registration through our website will be the only option to participate.
 
  • Members are only permitted to play at one skill level for Tournaments.
  • Members should sign up to play in the group where they routinely participate in skill level play.
 
Clinics

The Fall Clinic schedule was filled almost immediately.  During that time a waitlist was created for both Beginners and Intermediates.  We revisited that list and filled the January Clinics.  And at that, we still have a few on the waitlist. 
 
Special Event – Mike O’Connor Fund Raiser

There will be a special event on Sunday, Jan 29th, to raise funds for the Glioblastoma Foundation in the memory of our friend and fellow pickleball lover, Mike O’Connor. Maryann O’Connor is the event organizer with the FHPC allowing use of the courts from 10 AM to 12 noon. She will have a Jazzercise instructor there to help everyone warm up, food truck from the Batchelor Pad Food Truck and more surprises. We are asking for an “entry fee” (a minimum donation of $20), by check to the Glioblastoma Foundation or cash given to Maryann at the courts.  Anyone can participate, not only FHPC members, and you can donate as much as you’d like!  Please save the date!
 
Summary of November Toy, Food and Bike Drive
  • Toys for Tots- SUV full of new toys, cash donations
  • Extended Hands- SUV full of non-perishable items and 6 turkeys, cash donations
  • Bob’s Free Bikes- 4 bikes and extra parts, cash donations
 
This bears repeating since we are still hearing that members are not receiving all member communications:
 
All member-only related information requires a sign in on the website.  If you do not remember your password, there is a selection to request a password.  Once you receive the temporary password you can go to Manage Profile and change the password to one of your choosing.  

​We have heard from several members that they are not receiving our communications.  Please make both [email protected] and admin@[email protected] trusted senders.   While this may be a drastic measure, consider creating an email @gmail.com as we don’t seem to have issues with that provider.  If you choose to do that, you can update your profile on the website  Member Manage Profile.
 
 
See you at the Courts!
 
The Executive Board
 

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November 2022

10/31/2022

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Happy Halloween and welcome to the perfect weather at the courts!
 
Lots to cover here, please read through the whole newsletter.
 
We are happy to report the East court construction is complete and players are loving court 2!  Thank you all for your patience as the work took longer than originally anticipated.  One important thing to note is that upon inspection of the completed job, the concrete repair looks spectacular, but the painted surface is streaky and uneven.  The contractor pointed out the paint issue and has agreed to repaint the whole court at no charge.  This will be done next summer.  We are also in process of getting quotes to resurface West courts 1 -4 also for next summer.  Although “real steps” were not put in, the hill at the entrance to the east courts was reduced by making several tiers to access the courts while they were closed for repairs.  Big thanks to Walt and Diane for all their work, oversight and time overseeing the project.
 
Saturday, November 12 is our Annual Food and Toy Drive.  This year we are also benefiting Bob’s Free Bikes.  Old or unused bikes and bike parts will be given to Bob’s Free Bikes who refurbishes them and provides them to children who would otherwise not be able to obtain one.  Read about them here:  www.bobsfreebikes.org.  Also, this year, we have provided information to make monetary donations to these 501(c)3 organizations.  See flyer with details at this link   2022 FHPC Food-Toy Drive

The FHPC is not just about playing pickleball.  It is about providing value and the best experience to members; we are always looking for ways to make that happen.   We have reached 600 members and that is starting to stress that experience.  The board has voted to cap/close membership at this time.  We already have a waitlist of 50+ people and have numerous requests daily.  We have also discontinued  FHPC orientations , as we can’t offer participants membership or courts on which to play.

When the club Guest policy was implemented, we committed to review it on an ongoing basis.  The two main points in the policy are that a member must be present when hosting a guest and that the guest form is completed each time a guest is hosted.  In the summer, there were fewer players and that wasn’t a significant impact during Scheduled Skill Level time.  But with more members returning for the season, the board has voted to limit guests to Member Open Play time slots ONLY.   Guest Policy

We received positive feedback on the change to weekday Intermediate distinctions.  Therefore, the November schedule is essentially the same as October with minor tweaks made to align times.   Once again, please note a member can only play in one skill level.  November 2022 Court Schedule

January will be busy with events.  Round Robins and Tournaments are on the agenda, with details being finalized.  We are also going to have a special event at the end of January, details and registration will be announced in December. 

The club hosted the Town’s Return to Recess last week.  The kids had a blast, the coaches were great (and exhausted).  Many thanks to Diane and her crew for volunteering their time. Picture of the whole gang here  Return to Recess

East court parking requires a parking pass.  These are available in both equipment boxes.  The school has increased its security, if you don’t have a pass, you will be cited. The FHPC WILL NOT pay any citations.

The Club is looking for members to volunteer to help beginners and anyone else that needs help with a trouble area, get input and some practice (skills and drills perhaps) so they don’t feel that they must move to the next level to “get better”. We are calling it a Step-Up Program. If you are interested, please Contact Us.
 
Jim Valleskey’s Clinics starting in January, will  first be offered to people on the wait list from this fall. He is already booked, so please Contact Us if you wish to be added to the waitlist.

All member-only related information requires a sign in on the website.  If you do not remember your password, there is a selection to request a password.  Once you receive the temporary password you can go to Manage Profile and change the password to one of your choosing.  

​We have heard from several members that they are not receiving our communications.  Please make both [email protected] and admin@[email protected] trusted senders.   While this may be a drastic measure, consider creating an email @gmail.com as we don’t seem to have issues with that provider.  If you choose to do that, you can update your info on the website Member Manage Profile.

See you at the Courts!

The Executive Board 
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October 2022

9/27/2022

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Welcome to Fall – sort of!  It’s still on track to be warm through the month.  So, while the schedule is reflective of seasonal play, please be sure you’re aware of overheating, take breaks between games and bring plenty of water!
 
Speaking of the schedule, there is a significant change to Intermediate play.  This will be monitored through October and changes may occur.  Schedule details further down in this communication.
 
One thing that seriously needs to be stressed is that members play at their actual skill level.  While summer was an anomaly, for example, there were many beginners playing intermediate because there we’re not as many members playing in the beginner’s slots. 
 
GREAT news – the East court repair is scheduled to begin October 10.  The East courts will be closed during the repair, no play during construction.  We will send an update when the construction is complete and where to obtain the new gate code which will be effective on both East and West. During this time, we expect the West courts to be very busy.  Please be patient and respectful.  Please consider limiting the number of games you play during this time so everyone has a chance to play without waiting too long and also to play during Member Open play.
 
If you play East and have not picked up your parking pass, they are available in the equipment boxes.  Remember to park in the spaces closest to the courts and display the pass on your dashboard.  The school security officers WILL issue tickets if the pass is not displayed.  The Club is not responsible.
 
The Town is sponsoring Return to Recess again this fall.  FHPC is hosting the group on October 25 East courts from 4:00 to 5:30.   There will be no Member Open play East during this timeframe.
 
Updated Guest Forms are available at the courts.  Please remember a member must be present when hosting a guest and BOTH must sign the form each time a guest plays.
 
We have reopened the ability to purchase a paver brick. For anyone not aware, the Club self-funded the court expansion (courts 5 & 6).  The paver array in front of those courts highlights the donors.  It also displays the pavers purchased to supplement the building expense.  The engraving ranges from amusing to memorial.  If you haven’t seen it, go take a look!  And if you’re interested, please go here to purchase.    Paver Orders
 
We will publish the Shirt Order page very soon.   We have existing inventory and options for new shirts.  Stay tuned.
 
October Court Schedule
The At-A-Glance is color coded to identify the various skills/slots.  While the significant change to the schedule is to Intermediate skill level time slots, other changes include adding Advanced Challenge on T-TH-S West and changing the Beginner slot on Saturday West to a full slot.  Clinics begin this month and lessons have priority on West 5&6 during Member Open play.
 
Intermediate play is as follows:
  • Competitive (West M-W-F, East Sat)  Players wanting to push themselves to improve and play hard, consistent games. 
  • Recreational (West M-W-F, East Sat) Players who want to play with friends and enjoy the camaraderie during a solid game. 
  • Challenge (East M-W-F) Players playing aggressively with body shots, slamming and all aspects of the game
View Schedule here October At-A-Glance

Scheduling the courts for season play is the board’s primary and most difficult task.  We will periodically send questions to solicit feedback.  We recently did this with the 3.5 Intermediate-Advanced members and will have an email to the Beginner members shortly.  Thank you for your replies.

Have a great start to the season!
See you at the Courts!

​The Executive Board
 
 

1 Comment

September 2022

8/31/2022

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Thank you to all the renewing and new members, a whopping 98% paid by credit card!
 
For those of you who are currently playing and have not yet renewed, please remember the Gate Code will change on September 10 and only available in the member area of the website.   Member registration is available here 2022-2023 Member Registration .
 
We’ve made one change to the schedule for September: Intermediate Challenge Courts (West 5 & 6) on Monday-Wednesday-Friday mornings.  There will be an Orientation Saturday the 24th West at 9:30. For any members that have not played much or not at all, this is a great opportunity to learn all about the game. It is limited to 24, 4 already paid.
 
The October schedule will change from the summer format to additional skill level time slots.  This includes having members play in their specific skill level.  While this was a bit lax over the summer, with full participation members need to (re)evaluate their current level.  We will continue to encourage members to form groups and play in the Member Open slots for both social interaction and to increase skills.
 
The member clinics for Intermediate and Beginners presented by Jim Valleskey will also start in October.  These are listed on the website Event section for registration.  Jim’s lessons can be scheduled directly with him to begin October 1; his contact information is in the Event section of the website.
 
If you play on the East courts, please ensure you display the parking pass on your dashboard.  If you don’t have yours, they are available at the courts, please take one per vehicle.
 
Good news!  We have a bid to remediate the expansion joint on the east courts and are going through the necessary steps with the school, contractors and everyone involved to see if we can make it happen during the school break in October.  Just keeping you all in the loop. No promises, but keeping our fingers crossed we can get it done sooner than later!
 
We look forward to seeing everyone back at the courts!
 
The Executive Board
 
 
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