VOLLEYING
WEB SITE VISITOR RESPONSES

Re: "JUST WHAT WE NEED – A BUMPER STICKER"
(February 2005 Issue)

Chuck,
I have always had a lot of respect for you, and what you have done for Platform Tennis over the years, but I must admit that I am disappointed that you would use your website to trash a promotional idea that the APTA promotional Committee put out. These bumper stickers, whether a good promotional idea or not, could not possibly hurt the exposure of the game that you and I love so dearly. These stickers did not cost the APTA a dime, and was a simple idea to get the name of the game out and about on traveling billboards (cars). We do not expect the game to double in size by this idea, nor membership to grow by leaps and bounds. This style of bumper sticker happens to be very popular around the country now, like it or not. I counted 15 cars at the Short Hills tournament alone who were proudly displaying the sticker.
The whole idea is to make the game more of a household name and eventually get more people exposed to what Platform Tennis is all about. Whether it’s a vanity license plate or a bumper sticker…who cares??? It’s all about the love of the game, and these stickers are only another avenue to talk about Platform Tennis. Our committee has sponsored junior events, produced a high quality press kit, sponsored exhibitions, etc. Why should we be made out to be the bad guys with a so called bad promotional idea? Last time I checked Fritz Odenbach and Chuck Vasoll were on the “same team”, trying to make this sport better.
I’m sorry you don’t approve of the bumper sticker idea and I’m really sorry you bashed it in your article, not the first negative article you have written. Maybe someday in the future you can look at the positives this promotional committee of volunteers is trying to do for the “good of the game”.

Sincerely,
Fritz Odenbach

(Mr. Odenbach is a Director of the APTA and Chairman of the Promotional Committee)

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