Webmaster

From Club President Bob Vietze:

Good Morning

As all of you have heard the club opening has been delayed due to a lack of material in the marketplace. We source our material which is Northeast Red Dry Fast from Hadeka Stone who service 29 distributors in the Northeast. Our club is lucky to purchase our material directly from Hadeka Stone and avoid a markup from a distributor. In calling a few distributors to see if any material was available they are in the same boat we are waiting for the stone to be crushed and processed. I was willing to pay a higher price to get the club open early. The lack of available inventory was caused by panic early season buying then lack of raw material. Right now Hadeka is crushing Green Dry Fast and in my latest communication with Mary Beth Hadeka they have red stone in the silos and will start processing next week. Once that is complete it will be 24 hours to get it shipped. I’ve been in contact with Hadeka once or twice a week since early April and I’ve been in contact with Scott Barker who is anxiously waiting to put the material down. The courts have been prepped, the pump is primed and the sprinklers are ready to go.

On another note we will be putting down new lines and nails this year which are herringbone and punched for a true bounce off the lines.

The goal a few years back was to provide a much better playing surface for the club after a couple of years of horrible conditions and eroding membership. I’m as anxious and frustrated as all of you to play based on the way May’s weather has been but unfortunately it’s the world we live in now with supply chain disruption. After next week’s call with Hadeka I should have a date for the opening of the club.

Appreciate everyone’s understanding and support of the club.

—

Robert P Vietze
508-446-5473
[email protected]

Dear Tennis Friends,

Tremendous thanks to the many members who arrived yesterday to lend their energy and talents to preparing the club for the coming tennis season. Kudos to each of you for finding your way with enthusiasm and proprietary spirit to wherever you could be helpful. Together, our goals were accomplished, and unforeseen needs and challenges were met and dealt with effectively.

All of us are very grateful.

Dear Tennis Friends,

Join us to help get the courts ready for play in May. Work day May 7 with the rain date of May 8. (Call or text Geordie 802-793-5316 if any questions.)

Time 10:00am.

We need the following:
– pickup truck to move furniture
– 4’ or more step ladders
– torch
– adjustable wrenches

Projects will include priming the pump, sprinklers, fence work. May expand but start with these.

Those who would like to do some garden touch-up, please bring your own garden gloves, hand tools (spades, garden forks, clippers), maybe a rake.

Please let Geordie know if you are coming and what you will be bringing so that we don’t end up with 10 of everything.

And you are welcome to bring a beverage to enjoy after we’re done working. It should take no more than two hours unless we expand it.

Thanks,
Geordie
(via Darlene)

 

https://www.madrivertennis.com/
There will be a Member-only section to the website this year. You will receive further instruction.

 

 

Dear Tennis Friends,

Thank you to those who have sent in your memberships! The two piles I have gone through were a breeze having everything together. Now for a little more heat and less breeze outdoors.

A note to those who have requested electronic registration and payment: The Board considered this option and decided to stick with the paper method, at least for now. The platforms that accept payment generally require a real person to set it up, not a “role” such as [email protected], i.e. the service is tied to a person in the organization. That person will get a 1099. (Changing that person is a pain in the arss, been there, done that.) I helped one sports organization become an official non-profit 501c7, and that cost $600 to the feds at the time. So, unless someone wants to explore options further, we are not making this kind of a change in the near future.

A reminder, the Club has substantial expenses early in the season. Please take a moment, if you haven’t already, to print your membership form, fill it out, write a check, put both in an envelope and mail to the address at the top of the form. Thank you for your assistance in streamlining our accounting. We’ll be sending out to past members and people who have inquired shortly. And a reminder to carry that pesky cash or check with you when you invite guests. We are still on the $15-in-the-envelope guest payment process.

No change to target opening day. There have been supply chain issues in tennis court material as well, so cross our fingers.

A separate email will go out about workday next Saturday May 7.

Thanks,
Darlene

 

https://www.madrivertennis.com/
There will be a Member-only section to the website this year. You will receive further instruction.

Dear Tennis Friends,

We are getting closer to outdoor tennis season at the Club!  We are aiming to have the Club open this year by Memorial Day.

Please print the attached membership application at your earliest convenience and mail with payment. The Club has substantial expenses early in the season. This notice has been sent to 2021 members and will be sent to other past members and inquiries in about two weeks.

Men’s Doubles will again be Tuesday and Thursday evenings and will use Playerlineup.com for individual scheduling. Last year’s access will still work. If you need access, contact Geordie Hall <[email protected]>.

We will be having a workday May 7 (or 8th as weather alternate). This is also a great way to meet people. Please let Geordie know if you will be available to help. He will provide further information about what to bring.

Please join us in remembering our friend, Suzanne Meier, on May 30th at 10 am at MRTC. Refreshments will be available.

Thanks,
Darlene

 

https://www.madrivertennis.com/
There will be a Member-only section to the website this year. You will receive further instruction.

Dear Returning and Prospective Members,

Renewing members: please send in your membership application and check ASAP, by next Friday 5/28.

Numerous factors have resulted in substantial new membership applications this year. We are hoping to accommodate all returning members and new members in the order received.

Prospective members: we appreciate your interest in MRTC! We are evaluating how many new memberships we can accept. We anticipate being able to respond to everyone by June 4, hopefully sooner, if we can approve your membership this year. We will hope to offer you membership next year if we cannot accommodate everyone this year.

We are still working to determine opening date which is generally early June.

The Club lost a dear friend this year. Suzanne Meier passed away this Spring after an illness. Many of us remember her as a spry, spunky, cheerful gal integral to the organization of our club and activities. She organized the ladies round robin for several years. We will miss her energy, sense of humor, commitment to tennis and to the Mad River Tennis Club. If you would like to donate to a permanent gift in her honor, please make out a check to the Mad River Tennis Club and mail to Pat Amann, PO Box 875, Waitsfield 05673. Suggestions of how to honor Suzanne are welcomed; please share your thoughts with Pat.

Thanks! See you on the courts,
Darlene
Secretary/Membership

 

Photo credit Darlene, top two; Woody, bottom four.

If you have any maintenance concerns, these should be directed to Jay Kearns or Ken Amann.

Note: Geordie Hall has rejoined the board.