President’s Message

President’s Message - January 3, 2025

Happy New Year as we welcome to 2026!

2025 has been a year of system fine-tuning and anticipation, particularly regarding the proposed two new courts.

REMINDER – Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is January 19, 2026 Registration at 8:30 am

Board Elections & Call for Nominations – All Board members are up for election. Eight of the nine Board members are letting their names stand for re-election. If you are interested in joining the Club Board, send an email to guayabitospb@gmail.com.

Some of the things the Board has been working on since the last AGM:

Your Board meets every month either in-person or online from various locations near and far. We have a rolling task and project list to track recurring or new initiatives. The annual operating budget was prepared based on the previous fiscal year (Nov to Oct) actual expenses/revenues and projected expenses and revenues for the year ahead. We are pleased that prudent expense management and the building of a reserve fund kept our playing fees with no increase. Club, court and property expenses are funded solely by the daily-weekly-monthly-season playing fees.

NEW COURTS – YES or NO, WHEN? This remains the number one question on everyone’s mind — including the Board’s!

While funding for the new courts has been secured, the project is currently on hold due to a fence that was built by the adjacent property owner on property zoned for recreational use. Unfortunately, this fence prevents the courts from being constructed in the most suitable location.

Relocating the courts is not feasible due to:

The topography of the estuary
The significant amount of fill required to raise the courts above the high-water mark
The Board is in ongoing discussions with the Municipality to resolve property lines with the adjacent land owner. Our hands are tied until this matter is resolved, but we will continue to keep members informed.

HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVES

Emergency Information Forms and bag tags have been very well received, helping identify bags and access medical information during emergencies.
Printed ER forms are available through the collector. Once completed, the form will be placed into a bag tag for you to hang on your bag.
Forms are now available in English, French, and Spanish.
Emergency Response Plans specific to our courts have been developed and are posted in all three languages.

PADDLE RACKING CHANGES – To improve flow and monitoring:

Paddle racks were repositioned to reflect sequential skill levels, including the advanced group.
The new layout has been well received and makes it easier for new players and hosts to manage all racks from one area.

Court Flagging System – This flagging system alerts the host when players are two points away from completing a game. This reduces waiting times by allowing the next players in the queue to prepare and step on immediately once the game ends.

Collector and Host Training Program – Linda Balon-Smith developed a training program and video to make volunteering easier and more consistent. Volunteers are essential to our daily operations and maintenance.

If you haven’t volunteered yet, now is a great time to step forward — teamwork makes the dream work!

COURT & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

A porta-potty was installed in November and is serviced weekly — Yahoo!
The roadway was temporarily built up to allow access.
New nets were installed on Courts #3 and #4.
Bottom fence wires were tightened or installed where missing to prevent balls from migrating from or between courts.
Solar lights on Court #6 were lowered based on player feedback; Court #5 will follow shortly.
Workers have been hired to assist with shrub and ground clearing.
A practice board remains on the “To Do” list — volunteers welcome!
The extended ball-stop net on Court #5 is awaiting replacement with sturdier chicken wire, hopefully before the New Year (volunteer dependent).

COMMUNITY / BEGINNER LEARN-TO-PLAY PROGRAMS – These programs had focused on teaching school aged children and beginner adults how to play pickleball. Both programs were well received.

The junior player initiative, led by Jocelyne Berube and Martha Martinez during the school introductions was very successful with one school purchasing their own portable net while the Club donated 20 of our custom wooden paddles to the school.
Due to increased beginner interest this fall, volunteers ran a four-session adult beginner program with 10 participants. The goal is to help beginners gain confidence and integrate comfortably into court play. Program continuation depends heavily on volunteers. Several club members have offered to coach beginner lessons or skill-and-drill sessions during less busy hours (generally 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) however nothing has been finalized.

WEBSITE UP DATES AND MEMBER INTERFACE – Members can now register online for Sunday Round Robin and Friday Ladder Play events, streamlining registration for organizers and providing instant notification of space availability.

COMMUNITY NEW / EVENT BOARD Check the whiteboard on the bag fence for updates — or post something you’d like to promote! Check out the AGM and Call for Nominations poster.

If your stay here is short or long term, please keep in mind that “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Best regards and paddle on!

Teresa M. Joki, President, Guayabitos Pickleball Club Board