2026 SJPA Membership Registration is now open
You can now join or renew your SJPA membership for 2026!
SJPA membership has an annual fee of $20 per individual (paid online through Zeffy). Membership runs from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Of course, the Early registration starts your membership NOW and continues for all of 2026.
For information about the benefits of membership and to sign up, click here.
The link is also available on the top menu of our website.
In lieue of an Annual Meeting, the SJPA Board presents this summary of 2025. In it, you will find a report from each committee, the Treasurer’s report, notes from the President of the SJPA, a list of next year’s board members, and information for renewing your membership for 2026.
Please take a look at the presentation. Feel free to send any questions to stjamespickleballassociation@gmail.com.
Link to the Annual Summary presentation
Video from our outgoing president, Christine Cournoyer.
Join us for the Holidink Social on December 7. This is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society so please bring cash or check made out to ‘American Cancer Society’.
There will be two sessions: 1 – 2:30 and 2:30 – 4.
Both sessions are for all levels of play.
There is no fee for this event.
The following candidates are running unopposed for the 3 open board positions for 2026.
Vice President Position – Mike Melnyk
I have been an organizer and leader of people for my entire professional career. I was an educator for 34 years, holding many club leader positions within the school such as student council, key club advisor and Student Assistance Team member. I was a college football coach for 10 years and a head high school football coach for 20 years. I am currently a member and head coach of the CFIL Advanced team here in St. James, where we have resided for 2 1/2 years. I was also elected the HOA President for the Lakeside Commons community here in St. James for the past year.
These career positions required me to work with a variety of groups including, administrators, students, fellow teachers, parents and community members. I can communicate well, be extremely organized, and I am dedicated to putting in whatever hours it takes to complete a job. I never ask anything of anyone I represent to do something if I am not willing to do it myself.
I believe in the team concept and feel that I could help this organization represent the entire pickleball community here in St. James. Moving forward is important to me and I like to leave anywhere I work in a better position than when I arrived, and I feel like I could do the same here with the SJPA. For example, as the HOA president, I have been able to get the irrigation system in Lakeside Commons up and running (at least partially), for the first time in 3-5 years. I am a people person and I have strong leadership skills that I would like to continue to use in my retirement.
Treasure Position – Leo Pacyna
My wife (Sandy) and I moved to St. James in April of 2023. We both have been members of SJPA since mid-2023. I have also been a member of the Events committee for 2 years.
I am retired from a 40+ year career in Finance, including the last 34 years with Tetra Pak, the world’s largest beverage/dairy packaging and processing equipment company. My last position was as a market CFO for US/Canada with $1.2bn in revenues.
I have a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut as well as a M.S. in Corporate Financial Management from Fairfield University.
Secretary Position – Robyn Smith
I would like to volunteer for the position of recording secretary of the SJPA. I haven’t had an actual resume since partway through my career in publishing, which began more than 45 years ago. Having been recording secretary for my sorority in college doesn’t mean all that much now.
Having said that, St. James has been my home for more than 10 years. Pickleball has been my favorite sport and an important part of my lifestyle for more than half that time. I play in several different groups and have an awareness of what members appreciate and where they see room for improvement. I have been an active member of the events committee for the past 3 years and have been in charge of several of the social events we organize during the year.
In addition to pickleball, I regularly enjoy bridge and other card games, classes at the gym and being a volunteer with St. James NEST. I’m just starting to get back into tennis and hope I can adjust to a different racquet and ball. If not, that leaves even more time for pickleball.
I look forward to the opportunity to participate on the board of the SJPA and to contribute where I can.
The St. James Pickleball Association invites all members to join us for our Annual Meeting, held this year as our First Member Appreciation Event — a special evening to celebrate YOU and thank you for your amazing support!
This is a FREE event!
Date: Sunday, November 16
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: The House of Pickleball (HOP), Leland, NC
Enjoy an evening of fun featuring:
A live DJ
Pizza & salad
Great company and lots of laughs
There will be three pickleball sessions, and all members are welcome — whether you’re playing or just coming to socialize!
Come celebrate our growing community and share in the fun.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Registration is closed.
The SJPA Championship Weekend Tournament was a huge success. 50 teams competed over the 3 days. The weather was perfect and the play was spectacular. Points were hard to come by as the players showcased their skills.
Thank you to all the players and to those who came out to cheer them on. And congrats to all the winners.
Here are the champions from each division
| 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0+ | |
| LADIES | Kathy Melnyk Tarri Grover | Cindy Phillips Lisa Boggs | Rose Webber Susan Barry |
| MENS | Leo Pacnya Kevin O’Brien | Randy Kraemer Bill Stanzel | Jay Ackerson Tom Alderice |
| MIXED | Janice Ammann Mike Garner | Deb Chiarello Joe Beitz | Rose Webber Tony Rollins |
Join us for some Pickleball spooky fun on Friday, October 31. This is a Social & Spooky Halloween-themed Mixed Up Doubles event!
Costumes are encouraged!
Due to low interest, the second session at 4:00 is cancelled.
For more details and to sign up, visit the following link.
Session 2: 4:00 – 5:30 – CANCELLED
Calling all pickleball beginners! Our weekly Beginner Round-Robin sessions are starting back up on Wednesday, September 17after the summer hiatus.
These are free sessions where you can practice your skills with an instructor and other beginner players. You need to sign up each week since slots are limited.
Look for the sessions on our calendar to see more information and to register.
Requirements:
Are you a beginner or just want to improve your pickleball game? Then this event is for you!
Join us on Sunday, September 14th. This event is for Beginners and players at the 3.0 level and below. We will drill for 45 minutes and play for 45 minutes. Drills will include serving, return of serves, dinking, and third shot drops as well as others.
There will be an instructor on each court to answer questions and help you succeed.
Come out for a great time and practice and play against others at your level.
Please sign up as space is limited.
This is a FREE event and is open to non-SJPA members as well.
For more details and to sign up, visit the following links:
Registration for the Battle of the Paddle tournament is open through August 31.
The tournament will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28.
The tournament will consist of a team skills competition, dinking only round robins, and men’s, women’s, and mixed round robins by rating.
There are limited spots available.
For more information, click here.
Rymer courts will be closed from August 4 through August 17 for resurfacing. The road and parking lot will also be repaved.
Seaside courts will remain open during this time.
Come and hang out with the Pickleball community and have a bite to eat, something to drink, and watch some Major League pickleball at Aces.
Thursday, July 10th and Friday, July 11th.
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM both days
Troon is asking for an estimated number of guests, so please let us know if you plan to attend. This does not commit you in any way; we are just trying to get an estimate.
Click here if you plan to attend.
Join us on Saturday, July 12th for a social, open-play event open to all SJPA members. This is our first-ever under-the-lights pickleball event. We will have ice cream provided by Sweet Treats.
