Dear SJPA Members –
Welcome to 2024! I’m looking forward to a fun year of play and social events that the St. James pickleball community can enjoy. The SJPA Board has a number of activities planned, including social and competitive events, and parties! Go to the SJPA Events page to find out more and to sign up. I hope to see you at many of these events.
As we start the year, I would like to remind everyone of the purpose of the SJPA, and how we interact with the Clubs at St. James (i.e., Troon) who own and manage the sports facilities. Our bylaws state that the SJPA should:
- Encourage play, good sportsmanship, friendly competition, and enjoyment of the game of pickleball; and
- Work with The Clubs at St. James management to improve the quality and quantity of pickleball play and pickleball facilities at The Clubs at St. James.”
I want to encourage all players to focus on the first part of our mission: sportsmanship, friendly competition, and fun. The nature of the play at St. James lends itself to social interactions that many sports don’t offer. Games are relatively short and, often, partners are switched between games, giving players the chance to interact more with other players. In addition, many independent groups have evolved and the SJPA hosts a range of different events to further expand everyone’s pickleball (and social!) network. I want to be sure that SJPA continues to facilitate making these important connections.
Regarding the second part of our mission, the SJPA Board has close communication with Troon management and, from time to time, makes recommendations regarding how usage, access, and the condition of the pickleball courts might be improved. Not everything we want or suggest fits into their plans for how pickleball will grow in St. James. Some of the things that you will see this year are the result of our recommendations from last year, including a new shade structure for the Seaside courts (to be built later year) and a new device known as a VAPTR which will help dry the Rymer courts more quickly than the rollers and squeegees that we have been using. The VAPTR is here now and has already been put to good use!
We want to maintain good two-way communication that allows you to learn what the Board is doing and allows you to let us know how we can better serve your needs. There are several ways that we will help in this regard. We will post a summary of the minutes of the monthly SJPA Board meetings on the SJPA website. The minutes for the meeting that was held January 9 may be found in the Latest Posts found on the homepage of the SJPA website. You are also invited to sign up to receive automated notifications of new SJPA website posts (upcoming events, news articles, etc.). The sign-up form is located at the bottom of every webpage. We are working to mount a new bulletin board at the Rymer courts that will allow us to post current event and other relevant information.
We also need you, our members, to let us know what you think could improve the pickleball experience at St. James. The best way for you to send us your thoughts, suggestions, and questions is through the “Contact US” link on the website. We will review and respond to every submission.
Also, please help us brighten the lives of SJPA members who have experienced an illness, injury, or loss of an immediate family member by contacting the Sunshine Committee. Their goal is to “provide a little sunshine” to these members at what is often a difficult time.
I intend to send messages like this periodically to let you what the SJPA Board is doing throughout the year. Until my next missive, here’s to fun and healthy pickleball!!
George Johnson
2024 SJPA President