WEB SITES, BLOGS, E-MAIL…WHATEVER
By Charles E. Vasoll

I’ll start off by admitting that at one time I had no idea of what this was all about. I can vividly remember that as a Director of the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) about ten years ago, I was the only one who voted against a proposal that the association start a web site for the sport. At that same meeting the Directors were asked, by a show of hands, if they had an e-mail address. I don’t think I was alone on this one but only two or three others did not raise their hands. Frankly, that surprised me. I thought that because of the ages of the Directors, they would not be up on this replacement for the telephone and post office. While I did recognize many of the benefits of these new avenues for communication and information, I thought that, it was too early for the organization to get involved. I thought we had other priorities. The APTA web site did get started, however, and use of e-mail has grown, but both are in a little bit of turmoil this season. All of this preceded my entry into having my own web site and communicating so much by e-mail. What a difference a few years make! Now back to the subject.

Since its inception, the web site has been “kicked around”, going through several “web masters” and designers. It has some good basic information but the presentation has never been attractive nor has it been easy to navigate. This season has been a total mess. Apparently there had been some division on the APTA Board about what the site should be presenting. One camp believed that the site should be a “static” basic “information only” site and the other wanted a more “lively” site with current tournament results, chatty articles and instructional videos. Hopefully you read about it in an article by Paul Wiggin in the recent issue of Platform Tennis Magazine. He reveals that last May the Board decided to develop an entirely new site and, in October, awarded the project to Active Network, a firm that produces sites for other sports organizations including the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Their work began in November, he states, and this month the cut-over was begun.

I gave the “beta” site an “Add-In” in my last issue and was pleased to hear from Paul Wiggin (by e-mail) thanking me for the compliment. We have had further communication (by e-mail) as he asked me to review the Hall of Fame presentation on the “beta” site authored by Bob Brown and Taylor Bowen. This item was already “in the can” (as they say in movie production) awaiting presentation on the existing web site. Mr. Wiggin finally caught up with it and put it on the site. The background of the sport, by the individuals who did so much for it, is presented in a very attractive manner. It is an excellent presentation and well worth the few minutes it takes to check it out. Click HERE to see it.

Mr. Wiggin also gives a glimpse of the future for the site. He mentions an improved process to record membership and tournament registration, which will go on-line. He issues an invitation to contribute to the site, either once or throughout the season. The “beta” site has made a good start and here’s hoping that the new APTA site can live up to its promise.

E-mail to members is also evolving. The abrupt resignation of the Executive Director in August pushed every thing back a bit. Ann Sheedy, the new ED has worked overtime to catch up and I am confident that she will do the job and make future e-mail worthwhile and meaningful. The most recent APTA e-mail came from Mr. Wiggin, not Ann Sheedy, but I am sure that will be straightened out also.

An improved web site and better e-mail communication reminds me of that editorial headline many years ago in the New York Sun, “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus”. He is bringing these gifts to APTA members in the new calendar year.

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