Labor Day Tennis
The season is almost upon us, but before we jump right into it, we do have one more summer event in which you may want to participate. It is time for your tennis “labor of love” as the Labor Day event is right around the corner. On Monday, September 6th from 9am – 11am we will have some fun on the courts, and then move the party over to the pool for some refreshments and cooling off. If you have your login information for the club website, click here to register for the event. We look forward to seeing you there.
Tennis Boot Camp 2010
A few members have mentioned that they are planning to attend a Boot Camp at West Bay, and that they didn’t know the dates of Gulf Harbour’s Tennis Boot Camp. That was surprising since we previously emailed information about our Boot Camp, and posted it on the main Tennis page of the Club website. Just to remind everyone, all tennis events are listed on the Club Calendar, as well as on the Tennis Calendar on the main Tennis Page of the Club website.
Member Update
Norma Schuyler has won the first set against one of the most formidable opponents in the women’s game: Breast Cancer. Using a positive mental game and strong sense of humor, along with much cheering from friends and family, Norma made it through initial surgery, emerging with an excellent prognosis. With a few good bounces here and there, it appears as though Norma might triumph in straight sets (no chemo!!!). Keep your fingers crossed and continue to send the positive energy her way. Hopefully we will see Norma in October before she returns home to continue her “match” with her treacherous foe.
In the toughest “match” of his life (a fight against Acinic Cell Carcinoma), Bob Ostrom has claimed a hard fought victory in the first set tiebreak. Engaged in the most strenuous of Grand Slam battles, Bob persevered through cramps, multiple bouts of heat exhaustion (as in radiation treatments) numerous injury timeouts, and the like, before claiming victory in the first set (pronounced cancer free on July 7th).
After the set, Bob acknowledged that he wouldn’t have won the first without his fans. In an email to his supporters, Bob wrote, “The PET scan confirmed that my February surgery, and 33 gruesome radiation treatments have been effective to date.…please accept this email as my thanks for all your kind words, moral and spiritual support, and for just checking in to see how I'm doing.” After a brief rejuvenating rest, Bob is gearing up for what we hope is a much easier second set. Bob is awaiting results of a biopsy taken on another lump he recently discovered.
We have no doubt that Norma and Bob will continue to fight the good fight with all of our energy behind them. We look forward to the time when they can rejoin us at full strength.
Staff Update (click link for staff info)
Mike Curran, your director of tennis, is back from a rejuvenating vacation experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains, during which he exploded out of bed at 3am in the morning to rescue his two children from a marauding bear…only to find that the bear was only after the trash can.
Joel would probably rather that I not mention this, but after returning from his two-week vacation of nothing but leisure, he believed that hitting twice with an old goat like me (for about fifteen minutes each time) would prepare him for his sectional competition in Daytona. Not! Let’s just say that Joel’s team did not advance to Nationals, but should be commended on making it to Sectionals anyway.
As for me, I’m still trying to find a golf game somewhere, but the golf game finding tool that Mike gave me for my birthday just is not working. Anyone have an idea as to where I could find a golf game relatively inexpensively? I’ve pretty much given up hope on a tennis game.
Laurie has brought in some new gear that will have our members looking as good as any club members anywhere. If you are still around, I would suggest paying her a visit before everyone gets back and snatches up all the goodies.
And if you remember what these courts looked like in the summer time before Jerry got here, you will know that Jerry continues to fight the good fight with the elements to keep the courts in pretty good shape all things considered.
That’s about it for this installment. If you haven’t taken a look yet at “T. A.’s Gulf Harbour Tennis Hall of Game,” check out the blog from August 5th. From time to time I will be doing profiles on some of the members who have made Gulf Harbour Tennis what it is today. Until the next time, game, set, match….
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
T. A.'s Gulf Harbour Hall of Game
The great thing about writing a blog is that you have a great deal of freedom to do just about anything you want...within reason of course. In addition to thanking the very thoughful members who have been so supportive during a difficult moment, I'd like to recognize the first inductees into T.A.'s Gulf Harbour Hall of Game.
What is the Gulf Harbour Hall of Game? The Hall of Game is intended to showcase tennis playing members who have made extraordinary contributions, past and/or present, to Gulf Harbour tennis...and....who have made signficant deposits into my checking and/or savings account. See me for the minimum donation. Seriously though, the off season is a great time to recognize some of those who make our program what it is.
Just so you know, neither the Tennis Advisory Committee, nor the Board of Governors, nor the US Senate, nor the Judiciary, nor President Obama has anything at all to do with the selection process for the Hall of Game. This is purely my invention, and even people who use steroids are eligible for inclusion...as long as they use those streoids for the enhancement of Gulf Harbour Tennis. Also, although many members may qualify for the Hall of Game based upon their contributions, induction is limited by my ability to find time and energy to do these. That said, on to our first inductees.
It seems appropriate to initiate the Hall of Game with the leader of Gulf Harbour's inaugural Captains Council, Linda Van Wyk. Linda was born and raised in Menasha, Wisconsin with her five brothers. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BS in Accounting, and received her Certified Public Accounting license in 1981.
At least as difficult as getting an institution started is moving it forward to the next level. Taking the helm to lead us in that process is another brave and hearty soul, Sally Mellendorf. Nicknamed “No Mercy Mellendorf,” for good reason, Sally has led the Double Trouble 3.0 team (the one Linda Co-Captained) for the past three years, finishing in second position in the division each of the past two, and has been our Club Champion in her division multiple times, most recently in the 2009 - 2010 season.
This determined native of Clio, Michigan, the middle child of three, also brings a business background to the table that should assist her with the difficult task ahead. A graduate of Baker Business College in Saginaw, Michigan, Sally began her business career in the insurance industry, with an emphasis in accounting. The parallels with her Co-Captain are uncanny, as she also migrated to the construction industry in the early 80s.
Sally eventually returned to the insurance industry, and is licensed to meet consumers’ insurance needs in all 50 states. She and husband and partner George Mellendorf, also an insurance business owner at the time, married their businesses and personal lives in 1998. Despite holding licenses in every state, the Mellendorfs made Florida and Gulf Harbour their home base in 2001, and again, we are better off for it.
Sally and George’s clan are a modern day Brady Bunch plus. In Sally’s own words, “I brought to the marriage two handsome boys and he brought three beautiful girls. We now have nine fantastic grandchildren!“ Given all of the above and ailing family members to boot, Sally will need all of the help she can get from the other captains on the Captains Council this coming season. Kudos to Sally for taking on this incredible responsibility.
Ok tennis friends, that's it for the first edition of T. A.'s Gulf Harbour Hall of Game. Keep your eyes peeled, because if you're bringing your "A-game" to the program, chances are you'll find your picture in the Hall of Game. Until next...game, set, match....
What is the Gulf Harbour Hall of Game? The Hall of Game is intended to showcase tennis playing members who have made extraordinary contributions, past and/or present, to Gulf Harbour tennis...and....who have made signficant deposits into my checking and/or savings account. See me for the minimum donation. Seriously though, the off season is a great time to recognize some of those who make our program what it is.
Just so you know, neither the Tennis Advisory Committee, nor the Board of Governors, nor the US Senate, nor the Judiciary, nor President Obama has anything at all to do with the selection process for the Hall of Game. This is purely my invention, and even people who use steroids are eligible for inclusion...as long as they use those streoids for the enhancement of Gulf Harbour Tennis. Also, although many members may qualify for the Hall of Game based upon their contributions, induction is limited by my ability to find time and energy to do these. That said, on to our first inductees.
It seems appropriate to initiate the Hall of Game with the leader of Gulf Harbour's inaugural Captains Council, Linda Van Wyk. Linda was born and raised in Menasha, Wisconsin with her five brothers. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a BS in Accounting, and received her Certified Public Accounting license in 1981. Prior to her marriage to Tom Van Wyk in 1987, Linda worked for multiple financial institutions and Jack's Pizza (now owned by Kraft). Shortly after marrying, the couple purchased a union sub-contracting firm that performed work throughout Wisconsin. Linda's role included handling all of the administrative, insurance and accounting functions for the company.
Linda has been a founding board member of a regional chapter of the trade group Construction Management Association, board member of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters local chapter, Board member of the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley Foundation, and a member of Women in Construction.
A proud step-mom to two great sons and grandma to two wonderful grandkids, Linda retired with Tom in 2001 and moved to the paradise that is Gulf Harbour. It has been the great fortune of Gulf Harbour’s tennis program that the Van Wyks chose to retire here, because they have been extremely generous in their contributions to charitable causes, and Linda has given most generously of her time (much to Tom’s dismay).
In addition to serving as Co-Captain of the Lee County Women’s Tennis League Double Trouble 3.0 team during the 2009 – 2010 Season, Linda took on the daunting task of chairing the inaugural Captains Council. Linda’s previous administrative and leadership experiences were evident as she navigated the choppy waters quite well in establishing a new institution at Gulf Harbour that should enhance our team formation process for years to come.
This determined native of Clio, Michigan, the middle child of three, also brings a business background to the table that should assist her with the difficult task ahead. A graduate of Baker Business College in Saginaw, Michigan, Sally began her business career in the insurance industry, with an emphasis in accounting. The parallels with her Co-Captain are uncanny, as she also migrated to the construction industry in the early 80s.
Sally eventually returned to the insurance industry, and is licensed to meet consumers’ insurance needs in all 50 states. She and husband and partner George Mellendorf, also an insurance business owner at the time, married their businesses and personal lives in 1998. Despite holding licenses in every state, the Mellendorfs made Florida and Gulf Harbour their home base in 2001, and again, we are better off for it.
Sally and George’s clan are a modern day Brady Bunch plus. In Sally’s own words, “I brought to the marriage two handsome boys and he brought three beautiful girls. We now have nine fantastic grandchildren!“ Given all of the above and ailing family members to boot, Sally will need all of the help she can get from the other captains on the Captains Council this coming season. Kudos to Sally for taking on this incredible responsibility.
Ok tennis friends, that's it for the first edition of T. A.'s Gulf Harbour Hall of Game. Keep your eyes peeled, because if you're bringing your "A-game" to the program, chances are you'll find your picture in the Hall of Game. Until next...game, set, match....
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