AN “OPEN LETTER” TO MEMBERS OF
THE PLATFORM TENNIS ASSOCIATIONS

Dear Visitors:

I’m sorry to report that it has been a slow month for news about platform tennis. Actually, I have been occupied with getting the Long Island Platform Tennis Association membership roster prepared for the season and PAID. I am pleased to report, however, that all is well in that assignment and I was on-time (about one-half hour early) with my report of the league membership to the APTA. Marjorie Hodson, APTA Executive Director, sent an e-mail to me to correct that impression. She said I really had another 24 hours. I had reported at 11:30 P.M. on October 31 and she indicated I really had until midnight November 1.

I thought that updating the APTA computer file in the manner in which we were instructed was going to be an awesome undertaking, however it turned out not to be too bad. I guess I spent five hours on the final product with new members, changes and additional information on members from the previous year. I do not consider myself a computer guru so I am sure that other League Coordinators can perform the required ritual in a more efficient manner.

As in other Leagues, I am sure, LIPTA asks that only those who are confident that they will be participating in the League competition to register in August. We then get an avalanche of new members and return of some who thought they would drop out when matches begin in October. We published a Membership Directory in mid-October. Since that booklet went to press, we have had an increase off 10% in our membership.

We expect a report from the APTA Executive Director will arrive shortly with membership numbers for the year. Of course, sanctioned tournaments are already underway and, where entry forms ask for the “APTA Membership Number”, we advise our members to indicate “LIPTA Member”.

The complication and delay in this registration with the APTA is no one’s fault except the membership itself. For reasons that cannot be explained, platform tennis players don’t like to sign-up and pay annual dues until they are ready to hit the first serve. The APTA even changed the commencement date of its membership year from July 1 to August 1 this season. Unfortunately, that has had little impact.

Everyone is aware of this problem and is working to resolve it. As Treasurer for LIPTA, I pushed through the Board of Directors a $10.00 “late fee”. It is not a fund raising tool but is a means to enlighten the members of the extra work involved in delayed registration. It may be something that the APTA will have to resort to in the future. If that happens, you, the membership, will have no one to blame except yourself.

Warmest Regards,

Charles E. Vasoll

Click HERE to Return to Archives