As my term as president of the SJPA ends, I would like to thank the Board, the Committee Chairs, and all of the other members who helped make 2024 so successful. There have been terrific events, both on-court and off, and lots of spirited and fun play. We continued to work closely with The Clubs at St. James to enhance the pickleball facilities, both for usability and safety. And more improvements are coming in 2025, including resurfacing the courts at the Rymer facility. The topic of getting gates at the entrances to the courts continues to be discussed and I am hopeful that it will be addressed soon, though I do not have the details or timing as yet.
Those of you who attended our social events (Winter Dance, Progressive Dinner, Spring Fling, Pool Party, and Beach Events) understand that this is a group that knows how to have fun, whether it includes good food, music, dancing, tug-of-war, or a swimming relay race with an inflatable pickle.
In addition to the always popular Battle of the Paddle, we introduced several new on-court events including men’s and women’s championships, and the All-Aboard Tournament involving competition for every level of player. We also had a number of Mixed-Up Doubles events in all seasons and weather conditions – heat, cold, and wind – where part of the goal is to meet new people and have fun playing with folks you might not know.
While we had many successes, we encountered a few challenges as well. Court reservations and utilization continue to be areas of concern, though with only 10 courts for over 600 pickleball players in St. James, it seems that the competition to get courts at the most popular times will always be a challenge. How to ensure that the courts that are reserved are actually used is a separate issue that remains unresolved. A number of ideas have been discussed, but none have been put into practice, so this is an area where the SJPA and The Clubs will continue to work toward a viable solution. The procedures for using the Whiteboard during open play evolved during the year and it seems to generally be working, as long as everyone understands the process and includes all players who attend, regardless of level.
I look forward to more fun events and energetic play, with a bit of competition and a lot of laughter, in 2025. (We can’t take ourselves too seriously!) I expect that the new SJPA Board will continue to offer events and activities for all of our members.
Happy holidays to you and your families. I hope to see you at the socials and on the courts in the new year!
George Johnson
SJPA President, 2024