IT’S CALLED "THE PLATFORM TENNIS MUSEUM
AND HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION"

By Charles E. Vasoll

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" was the heading of the famous editorial in the Herald Tribune confirming the status of the bearded gent who puts presents under an evergreen tree late in December each year. Since 1965 there has been a "Platform Tennis Hall of Fame", although in its earliest days, it was designated as the "Honor Award". The recognition in a "bricks and mortar" form of individuals who contributed to the growth of the sport and / or who played it extremely well has been lacking.

Just as the Herald Tribune confirmed to "Virginia" about Santa, it now seems closer to reality that we can say to our sport’s founders, Fessenden Blanchard and James Cogswell, and the others inducted into the Hall over the years, that they will finally be enshrined in a real "Hall". Equally important is the idea that there will a museum with artifacts, memorabilia and interactive displays to accompany the "Hall". The Board of Trustees of the Foundation met at the Short Hills Club on February 6 and took some of the first steps to move plans for the Museum and Hall forward.

One of the important steps was to elect Rich Lombard as a Trustee. He was added to the original trustees named in the Articles of Incorporation filed in the year 2000. They are John Horine, Robert Brown, David Childs, Yvonne Hackenberg, Tim McAvoy, Andrew Giannella and myself. Rich Lombard was elected following his show of interest in advancing the project at an APTA Board meeting.

At the meeting, the Trustees also elected Joseph Rogers as a Trustee. Somehow, although he was named "Treasurer", his name was omitted from the Articles of Incorporation as a Trustee. The other Officers are John Horine as President, Robert Brown as Vice President and I am serving as Secretary.

A second important step is moving ahead. The application for the Foundation to have a Not-For-Profit designation under 501-(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code has been filed. If approved, this designation will enable the Foundation to raise funds that the donors will be able to deduct as charitable contributions. As soon as this designation has been obtained, further progress can be made to solicit funds for the construction of a building to house the exhibits and memorabilia.

The Trustees are also anxious to inform those who have historical material that could be displayed in the museum to hold on to them or to forward them to Trustee Tim McAvoy. He resides at 351 Drummers Lane, Phoenixville, PA 19460 and he will store the material until the museum is constructed and prepared for occupancy.

The Board of Trustees has spoken with architect (and platform tennis player) Howard Patterson about the project. He was enthusiastic about assisting and has offered some suggestions that the Board is reviewing. Many other things are in the works, such as a logo for the enterprise, a location and design for the building, an article in the "Platform Tennis Magazine" and plans for raising funds. The Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation will be held during the month of April at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, New York.

It finally seems that after several false starts, a museum and hall of fame may really come to be. We know there is a Santa Claus. It was in the newspaper. Now there is a good chance that there will be a place to honor our finest and a place to learn more about how it all began and has progressed. You saw it here, on a web site.

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