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Dear Long Island Tennis community:

Please pause and pray for Haiti … may their hearts and land be healed over time.

Who is the USTA/Eastern/Long Island Region
USTA/Eastern/Long Island is an organization committed to the promotion and growth of tennis, the lifetime sport for people of all ages and abilities, to enjoy the game. Through the efforts of volunteers, USTA staff and strategic partners, we are dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, honesty and ethics in developing tennis programs in communities throughout Long Island. Our mission is to serve our youth, adults and corporate partners.
The Region is coming off one of its most productive seasons in recent years. We were recognized by the Eastern Section, as one of the top financially-solvent regions in the section. Our board members are committed to providing the best tennis programs serving our youth, adults and strategic partners. Our board members and volunteers often wear several hats, and their hands-on approach speaks volumes on their commitment to serving our tennis community.

Highlights of the Long Island Region for 2009
*Annual Award Dinner attended by more than 300 tennis enthusiasts.

*Leagues, with more than 4,500 participants. Thanks to our league coordinator Kathy Miller for a job well done.

*More than 800 children participated in our Nassau County QuickStart Tennis in the Park clinics coordinated by Bill Mecca.

*Rally Day expanded to Nassau and Suffolk Counties … many thanks for the assistance of Terry Fontana and Steve Haar.

*The Suffolk Corporate Challenge (Terry Fontana).

*The Nassau County Park Advocacy Program, with the assistance of Sunny Fishkind.

*High School State Champion Danny Kreyman.

*The USPTA Tennis Touring Pro of the Year was awarded to Adrian Chirici of Long Island.

*The Carefree Men’s 4.0 National Champions, captained by Adam Kolenberg.

*Eastern Athletic 2.5 National Champions.

*USTA/Eastern Sectional Champions Senior Men’s—Ed Wolfarth.

The goal of the Region for 2010 is to increase our service to the Long Island tennis community by reaching out via our newly-appointed District Delegates, Joe Arias in Suffolk County and Steve Haar in Nassau County.
We would like to welcome Jocelyn Cruz as our new community service representative, who, along with Bill Mecca, will continue to provide updated information on local and sectional grants, tennis clinics and volunteer opportunities.

If you have any questions, are looking for information, or have issues you wish to bring to our attention, please contact any of the following Long Island board members:

USTA/Eastern/Long Island Region Board
--Scott Axler, President: superscoot@aol.com

--Daniel Burgess, First Vice President, USPTA Representative, Liaison L.I. Tennis Magazine: amertwist@aim.com

--Craig Fligstein,  Secretary/Treasurer, Membership Committee: craigfligstein@aol.com

--Joe Arias, Suffolk County District Delegate, Web Site Committee, Public Courts Committee: jarias@ariastennis.com

--Bob Coburn, Membership & Marketing Committee, Web Site Committee Dinner Committee: bobcoburnsales@yahoo.com

--Roberta Feldman, L.I. Ranking Chairperson, By-Laws Committee, Dinner Committee: rlf1020@aol.com

--Sunny Fishkind Parks & Recreation, College Liaison, Dinner Committee: sunny28@verizon.net

--Terry Fontana, Rally Day Co-Chair, CTA Liaison, Dinner Committee, By-Laws Committee: terry196@optonline.net

--Steve Haar, Nassau County District Delegate, PTR Representative, Web Site Committee, Dinner Committee: steveoncourt@aol.com

--Herb Harris, Volunteer Liaison, Grants Committee, Dinner Committee: tfgl@optonline.net

--Anneleis Karp, Junior Competition, Scheduling, Sanctioning: akatennislady@verizon.net

--Eileen Leonard, Competition Training Center Committee, Dinner Committee: cocoaviii@optonline.net

--Kathy Miller, League Coordinator: kathym65@aol.com

--Emily Moore, Multicultural Committee: tennispro137@yahoo.com

--Mike Pavlides, Scholastic Representative, Web Site Committee, Dinner Committee: mpavlides@msd.k12.ny.us 

--Chuck Russell, Nassau County QuickStart Clinician: prochuck@optonline.net

--Ed Wolfarth, Grievance Committee, By-Laws Committee, Dinner Committee: wolfarthe@msn.com

USTA/Eastern/Long Island Region Staff
--Bill Mecca, Tennis Service Representative: mecca@eastern.usta.com

--Jocelyn Cruz, Community Outreach Specialist: jcruz@eastern.usta.com

Important dates for 2010 … mark your calendar!
--2nd Annual Long Island Tennis Expo

--March 1: Summer League Registration

--May 1: First Annual Tennis for New Adult Players Day (Suffolk County—volunteers needed)

--May 6: USTA Summer League Captains Cocktail Party from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y.

--May 12: USTA/Eastern/Long Island Region 19th Annual Awards Dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y.

--May 17: Start of League Play

--May 22: First Annual Tennis for New Adult Players Day (Nassau County—volunteers needed)

--June (date to be determined): Kid's Rally Day (Eastern Suffolk County—volunteers needed)

--July 16: Kid's Rally Day (Town of Islip—volunteers needed)

--Week of July 19: The last week for local matches play

--July 25-July 28: Flight playoffs

--July 29-August 1: Regional playoffs 2.5, 3.5, 4.5

--August 13: Sectional Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.

--August 20: Sectional Championships for 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0

--August (date to be determined): Third Annual Tennis in the Parks Day for youth groups throughout Nassau County

--August 13: Kid's Rally Day (Town of North Hempstead—volunteers needed)

--September (date to be determined): Corporate Challenge (Sayville, N.Y.)

--Tennis in 2010 … additional events will be published in future editions of Long Island Tennis Magazine.

Quick hits
President Scott Axler
The nation of Haiti has been crippled by the worst earthquake to hit the region in 250 years. This devastating earthquake has left more than 200,000 dead and more than one million people homeless.

We know that death is certain, but when it includes such a large magnitude of a country’s population claiming the old, the young and the recently born, it is difficult to accept. We hope that our caring will comfort those who lost their love ones and we pray that time will ease their pain.

Please visit our Web site (www.longisland.USTA.com) for our information on how our region will contribute to the Haitian relief efforts.

League Coordinator Kathy Miller
If you want to play in our leagues, but do not have a team, have a team but need more players, e-mail me at kathym65@aol.com.

Volunteer Liaison Herb Harris
It is a great feeling to give back to the game. If you would like to serve as a volunteer for any of the above-listed events. Please contact me at tfgl@optonline.net. Not only do we need you, but the kids do too!

Nassau County District Delegate Steve Haar
Congratulations! There are more than 30 million regular tennis players nationwide, playing the fastest-growing sport in America. Let’s continue to grow the game so be proactive and let us know of any new ideas we all can benefit from. See you on the court!

A USTA membership
Your USTA membership brings you so many benefits. Whether you are an individual or an organization, joining today will also help fund local tennis programs throughout Long Island. As they say, “It's a no brainer,” so visit Long Island's premier tennis Web site at www.longisland.USTA.com and join today.

Visit us online
Your Long Island board is continually adding information to update its Web site. Whether you are looking to see what events are coming up, looking for league results, how a local college team is doing, how to report public courts in poor conditions or to find a tennis partner, www.longisland.USTA.com is THE place to find it. On Facebook, you can visit us by entering USTA LONG ISLAND and become a fan!