USTA Eastern Section Honors Local Volunteers and Players
In January, nine Long Islanders were recognized for their outstanding achievements both on and off the court by the USTA Eastern Section at its 2012 Annual Meeting and Awards Reception. The following were honored for their efforts during 2011:
Barry Kubit of Oceanside, N.Y. (pictured here, center) is the Virginia and Chuck Landis High School Coach of the Year. Barry is the varsity coach for the Oceanside High School Boys Tennis Team and the Junior Varsity Coach of the Oceanside High School Girls Tennis Team. He is also the coordinator of boys tennis for Nassau County and was coordinator of girls tennis for Nassau County until this past fall. Under his tenure, Coach Kubit created the Long Island Championship (Nassau County championship team versus Suffolk County champion) and increased the number of teams that make the playoffs in all conferences/divisions, allowing more kids to participate. He took it upon himself to sell t-shirts at both the Girls and Boys Nassau County tournaments, giving players a memento of their experience; he then used the small profits made from the t-shirt sales to purchase additional trophies and awards for the kids. Coach Kubit also gives lessons and continues to play six times a week, sometimes against his former students.
Jacki Binder of Merrick, N.Y. (pictured here on the right with her daughter Maddie) has been named USTA Eastern Regional Volunteer of the Year–Long Island. Jacki is not a tennis player, but a dedicated tennis volunteer. She has served as Public Relations Chair of the USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Board for two years, where she has significantly increased awareness and raised the profile of the region in newspapers and local media and throughout the region. In 2010 and 2011, she conducted extensive publicity work to support the Region’s Annual Awards Dinner. She has also coordinated internal communications between the Regional Board and member organizations, including tennis clubs and facilities, community organizations, schools and teams. When she is not volunteering, Binder is a committed tennis parent, taking her two children, now 13 and 15, to lessons, tournaments, summer camps and tennis volunteer work.
USTA League Award winner Jonathan Klee of East Rockaway, N.Y. (pictured here, center with DA Abrams, executive director of USTA Eastern on the left, and Jeff Williams, USTA Eastern president on the right) has served for more than four years as chairman of USTA Eastern’s League Grievance Committee. In that role, Klee has dedicated countless hours working to address complaints from league players from across the Section. It is a hard job that itself deserves recognition. He has also been a league captain and player for more than 15 years. Klee has written articles about leagues for Long Island Tennis Magazine and has served on the USTA’s National League Committee.
Charles Nanton of Malverne, N.Y. (pictured here on the right with USTA Eastern Long Island Region President Daniel Burgess, left), recipient of the USTA Community Service Award, has worked tirelessly on Long Island as a volunteer to provide positive outlets for youth through athletics. Since retiring from the New York City Police Department, he has assumed the role of president of the Lakeview Youth Federation, which organizes community tennis programs and basketball leagues, funds and administers track teams and provides tutoring programs. Charles has been a volunteer tennis coach for 32 years at Malverne High School, where he works closely with its athletes to ensure the academic eligibility of all student athletes. With his dedication and leadership, the overall academic average in the Malverne School District has improved significantly. Coach Nanton has been a Nassau County Youth Board Member for 13 years. In 2011, he was named USTA Eastern Long Island Region Adult Volunteer of the Year. His tennis mission is to accomplish a standard of excellence in the spirit of friendship, brotherhood, peace, tolerance and respect for all.
The USPTA Eastern Division, located in Garden City, N.Y., received the Corporate Service Award in recognition of its being an active partner with USTA Eastern in helping to grow the sport of tennis. USPTA Eastern members volunteer at charity events, provide free lessons and organize tournaments to promote the sport. In May 2011, USPTA Eastern held its first ever TennisFest 2011 at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco, N.Y., showcasing all of the ways families can enjoy the sport: From private lessons and clinics to special play formats geared to children and physical fitness. Volunteers gave free lessons to more than 750 adults and children, and USPTA Eastern bused hundreds of children to the event from as far away as Brooklyn and Harlem. Working with the Section, USPTA Eastern Division also recruited all of the instructors for last year’s Annual Meeting and tied in their own meeting to the event.
The Edith Martin Girls 14 Sportsmanship Award was presented to Shanice Arthur of Glen Head, N.Y. (pictured here) who is ranked seventh in the Girl 14s Division. A ninth grade student at K12 International Academy, Shanice previously attended Jericho Middle School, where she played second doubles and second singles for the girl’s high school varsity team. She trains at Bayside Terrace in Queens, N.Y. Shanice said, “As a student athlete, I believe that both on and off the court I show dedication, competitiveness and fairness. Even when competing, I appreciate the strengths and skills of others, letting my opponent know when they have played a ‘nice shot.’” The youngest of five, Shanice says she has learned from her family and her own experiences that fair play makes any win more enjoyable. She has been playing tennis since the age of five and dedicates herself to making sure when playing “that I have respect for myself, my teammates and my opponents. I believe I can be the best and still see the good in my opponent.”
Brendan Henry of Massapequa, N.Y. (pictured here on the right with his father, George Henry) received the Lt. Frederick M. Scribner Jr. Boys 18 Sportsmanship Award. A senior at Farmingdale High School, Brendan is ranked 15th in Boys 18s Division and plans to attend Wake Forest University in the fall. He has been playing tennis for 10 years and trains at Sportime Bethpage and Randall’s Island, as well as at the John McEnroe Tennis Academy. Brendan says he is honored to receive the award “because it’s good to know that someone has recognized and appreciated my good tennis etiquette and the passion I have for the game.” He is excited to be playing for Wake Forest next year on a highly competitive collegiate team.
Melanie Rubin of Merrick, N.Y. (pictured here with her daughter, Jessie), Ron Smyth Parent Sportsmanship Awardee, is completely involved in promoting the game of tennis and very active in the USTA Eastern Long Island Region. She helps promote street fairs, corporate challenge and the Long Island Region Awards Dinner, and is always eager to participate in every aspect of promoting the game of tennis. She has also assisted the Long Island Competitive Training Center program. Rubin received this award for continuing to work to promote the game of tennis, not only for her own children (now ages 15 and 20), but for all children.
Tournament Director of the Year Annalies Karp of Floral Park, N.Y. (pictured here in the middle with USTA Eastern Long Island President Daniel Burgess, left, and Grievance Committee Chair Ed Wolfarth, right) has been involved in tennis as a tournament director for many years. She is president emeritus of the USTA Eastern Long Island Regional Board. Karp started running tournaments in 1980 and has loved every minute of it. “Working with kids keeps you young and young spirited,” said Karp. “I have volunteered for the Eastern Section almost as long as I have directed tournaments.”
Let’s get ready to party!
Mark your calendars and save the date for Wednesday, May 9, as the USTA Eastern Long Island Regional has announced that its 22nd Annual Regional Awards Dinner will take place at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, N.Y. The event will include the annual awards reception honoring all of our local heroes who have accomplished so much both on and off the tennis courts. This year’s dinner will have many new elements, including an exciting “Fiesta” theme. Please make plans to attend to cheer on your local award winners and celebrate tennis on Long Island.
USTA Eastern Long Island Corporate Fundraiser: Helping U.S. veterans and their families
This past December, USTA Eastern Long Island teamed up with the United Way of Long Island to hold its first Corporate Tennis Challenge Fundraiser, featuring teams from across the region. The event raised $2,500 to create tennis programming for families of returning military veterans, through the United Way of Long Island’s Military Family Assistance Project. Pictured here, USTA Eastern Long Island President Daniel Burgess (center), presented a check to Craig Fligstein (left), vice president of Community Impact, United Way of Long Island, and secretary/treasurer for USTA Eastern Long Island; and Theresa Regnante (right), president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Long Island.
