{"id":4250,"date":"2018-04-12T12:45:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-12T12:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seattlemetropickleball.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/12\/april-2018-newsletter\/"},"modified":"2023-07-15T09:09:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-15T09:09:16","slug":"april-2018-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seattlemetropickleball.com\/april-2018-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2018 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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IN THIS ISSUE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

President\u2019s Perspective<\/a>
Membership Drive<\/a>
Notes & Updates<\/a>
Meet the Board<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President\u2019s Perspective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Hello everyone and welcome to our first newsletter. We are excited for the opportunity to introduce our recently formed nonprofit organization, Seattle Metro Pickleball Association. We urge you to join the SMPA.  You can do so by clicking on the big green button below. Our goal is to build an organization comprised of pickleball players interested in promoting the sport of pickleball, expanding available facilities and playing times, and some day hosting a variety of events, clinics and tournaments in the Seattle area. Through building a large membership we hope to be able to represent and meet the needs of all players in the Seattle metropolitan area more effectively than has been done to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We plan that this newsletter will become a regular publication and be devoted to informing the pickleball playing public about recent and upcoming activities on the Seattle pickleball scene, and goals we have for adding pickleball facilities and activities to our area. We intend to provide status reports on our progress and other information of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have been busy over the last year. We have applied for a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. That application is pending and should be approved within the next several weeks. We have collected a comprehensive list of pickleball venues in the Seattle Metro area to help you find more opportunities to play. We have participated in several meetings with Seattle Parks and Recreation representatives. Because of these meetings and efforts of many pickleball enthusiasts, several existing outdoor tennis courts have added pickleball lines. The Parks department has worked with us to provide outdoor nets and balls at many community centers. We have also been working to obtain additional courts. This is a start. Our long-term dreams are to develop dedicated pickleball courts all over the greater Seattle Metro area. To accomplish this, we will need support of players throughout the greater metropolitan area.  We are excited about the future of pickleball for Seattle. Come join us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SMPA members play at Maple Leaf Par<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Announcing the 2018 membership drive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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To achieve our goals of increasing the number of players and places to play pickleball in the Seattle metro area, we need to strengthen our organization and continue to be a unified voice with governments and decision makers. We must reach out to our communities and introduce the game to others and teach them to play and love the sport as we do. We need your energy, your voice and your support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for subscribing and staying up to date on our progress. We invite you to officially become a member of the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association with either a 1-year $20 membership, or a lifetime $500 membership. Your dues will support SMPA initiatives and entitles you to SMPA member benefits .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join now and contribute to an association where all members share the same vision. There will also be opportunities to help us fundraise, spread the word, or volunteer your time and talents to that end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Join<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pickleball at Yost Park in Edmonds<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Notes and Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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To achieve our goals of increasing the number of players and places to pickleball in the Seattle metro area, we need to strengthen our organization and continue to be a unified voice with governments and decision makers. We must reach out to our communities and introduce the game to others and teach them to play and love the sport as we do. We need your energy, your voice and your support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seattle Parks and Rec Pickleball Conversion Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seattle Parks and Rec\u2019s (SPR) Pickleball Pilot Project is in full swing throughout the metro area! This is an opportunity to show the SPR leadership that pickleball players are out there; we are growing in numbers and we need more venues and more opportunities to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 24 courts are lined on tennis courts in 7 parks. You can find the list here <\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of the pilot program will be determined by several factors including how often the courts are reserved <\/a>and how frequently the equipment is checked out (information below). There will also be random site checks to monitor use of the courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPR is encouraging feedback from players. Helpful information would include` safety issues, courts in disrepair, difficulty checking out equipment or simply not enough courts to accommodate all players. Send your feedback by email <\/a>or call 206-233-0063<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the instructions from SPR on how to check out equipment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pickleball equipment is available for free check-out at the front desks of the following community centers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n