The OTA’s Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday April
11th at Rexall Centre.
The formal part of the meeting reviewed the Annual Report of
the association, which showed the organization to be in sound financial shape.
For the first time ever revenues of the association had exceeded $2 million and
the grant portion of this revenue was the primary reason the revenue numbers
had grown.
Other highlights of the report included summaries of the
large number of kids who are being reached through the various programs the OTA
runs or supports. These include Capital
Kids, the Sunshine Project, Kids Tennis, Schools Tennis and Little Aces among
others. It is estimated that more than 130,000 kids and people have been
introduced to tennis in 2014. Sanctioned tournament events also passed a
milestone in 2014 with more than a thousand events being sanctioned across the
province, with a significant increase in rookie events.
The following individuals were elected to the Board. Scott
Fraser, President; Rob Nicholls, VP Finance & Administration, Dave Gervan,
VP Membership & Regional Development; Tom Kern, VP Player Development;
Dianne Weatherby, VP Marketing & Communications. Michel Lecavalier, Past
President.
The following individuals, elected by their regions, were
confirmed as directors. Scott Bartley, East Region; Philip Johnson, NCTA; Diane
Kriksciunas, NYTA; Miro Ejem, North; Natalie Wong, STF; Wayne Saigeon, South
West; Ed O’Shaughnessy, West; Alan Maguire, Tennis Toronto; Adrian Grice, West
Central.
After the formal meeting presentations were made by the
Philpott Foundation on their racquet recycling program and by representatives
of the Rogers Cup, who outlined the deals that will be offered to OTA members.
Achievement Awards were made to the following clubs.
North Burlington Tennis Club (Bruce Reid). Who saved the club from being closed by using
an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to completely rehabilitate the facility in
all respects from the fencing to the net posts. The club also provides free
tennis lessons to kid from Kilbride Public School (5 lesson series to 150 kids)
in collaboration with the Public School Physical Education Department.
Newmarket Community Tennis Club (Laura Wilcox). The club has a Ontario Trillium Foundation
Grant to introduce 200 children aged 4 to 12 to tennis in two 8 week sessions.
O’Connor Hills Tennis Club (Helga Cuddy). In 2013 the club
started a series of free adult beginner lessons supported by members who are
TPA-certified. Graduates from this program are now playing in the singles
ladder and participating in house league.
Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre (Mark Piovesana). This
organization has used a Ontario Sport and Recreation Community Fund grant to provide a week long program to train 20 new
volunteer instructors. They are also piloting a program to introduce seniors to
tennis by offering pickleball at the facility in less busy times so they are
exposed to the opportunities provided to play tennis. They have also upgraded
their social media programs and their community outreach program has been run in
Amethyst Harbour.
Two educational sessions were delivered to the attendees,
one on Police Background Checks and one on Board Leadership Training. The group were then invited to participate in
some tennis in the bubble.
The photo shows the OTA staff as they get ready for a busy
AGM weekend.
