President's Message

For the Prescott Area Tennis Association (PATA), 2010 was a year of advancement. Our membership nearly tripled, we made much progress toward becoming a USTA Community Tennis Organization (CTA), and introduced the USTA QuickStart Program to Prescott. These accomplishments contributed a great deal to the growth of tennis in Prescott and the surrounding communities.

The accomplishments of 2010 have set the bar very high for 2011. This year, PATA plans to work hard to expand the USTA QuickStart program. Currently, there are 60 children from Kids & Company involved in the program in addition to two paid instructors. By later this winter, we hope to branch out to at least two more elementary schools in the Greater Prescott Unified School District. We hope to hire additional instructors, as well as encourage more volunteers from the community.

The USTA developed QuickStart to teach tennis to kids 10 & under, in a new and easier way through the use of smaller tennis courts, shorter nets, and special balls. One of PATA's goals was to make this program accessible to kids from every sector in our community, no matter their economic status. Exposure to tennis at a young age establishes a foundation to enjoy the sport in a variety of ways: as a player, a spectator, a proud parent, and a volunteer. Until now, PATA has provided most of the funds, aided by very generous donations from two members of the community and a grant from the USTA. We are now working to help the program become self-sustaining, while still keeping it accessible to everyone of all income levels.

The success of this 10 & under program made apparent that we need junior tennis programs for kids over the age of 10. Again, we would make the programs easily accessible and all-inclusive, especially to the older children in our community. For this program to work, we will need, and hope to get, the help and involvement of Prescott's many and talented tennis pros. Ultimately, we wish not only to introduce tennis to children 10 & under, but to expand tennis programs and access to a sport that will keep them active all their lives.

Tennis has grown quickly in Prescott, and many more people are dependent upon the public tennis courts at Yavapai College. These courts are in desperate need of repair; they're over forty years old, composed of asphalt, and have far outlived their intended 25-year life span. Through the help of Yavapai College, the Millie Ryan Fund, and PATA's many volunteers, these courts have been resurfaced and repaired, but they have now reached a point that they need to be rebuilt.

The economic recession has hit the Prescott community (along with the rest of the country) hard. Money that had been set aside to rebuild the courts is no longer available, as more dire priorities than tennis courts took precedence. The fact remains, however, that these courts that are invaluable to our community and therefore, must be rebuilt. This year, PATA members should focus our creative energies and hard work to achieve this. We'll need to gain the help and support of our community in order to be successful.

With having demonstrated our commitment through the successes of 2010, I'm looking forward to partnering with PATA's membership and the Prescott community to accomplish our aspirations for 2011.

Lisa Cook
President, PATA