MI Pickleball New Year's Eve Celebration

35 out of the 46 "Happy New Year Tournament" Players are USA Pickleball Association Members! A Happy New Year indeed! GO USAPA Members! GO Michelle Pozan, Tournament Director and USAPA Ambassador! GO Auburn Hills Community Center! Everything to Celebrate!

Resolutions and 2009 Action Plan

The Top Ten USA New Year Resolutions and my 2009 Action Plan

1. Spend more time with family/friends: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL
2. Fit in Fitness: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL
3. Tame the Bulge: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL
4. Quit Smoking*
5. Enjoy Life More: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL
6. Quit Drinking*
7. Get Out of Debt*
8. Learn Something New: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL (w/a backhand)
9. Help Others: Action Plan - Play PICKLEBALL
10. Get Organized: Action Plan - Call 1-800-Got-Junk and then Play PICKLEBALL :)

*I don't smoke or drink and I'm not in debt, so that leaves more time to Play PICKLEBALL !

Happy and Healthy 2009!

Yours in pickleball, Janet Razz

New Year's Eve "PoP!"

Ring-in, Sing-in, Bring-in

A PICKLEBALL PoPpiNg

Happy and Healthy New Year

Bob Peters, Betty Jones, and

Singing Pickleball Pete

"Mix and a-mingle in the pickling FEAT!"

MXG Pickleball - A Wonderful Lifetime Sport!

The 2008 Mixed Generation (MXG) Holiday PICKLEBALL Festival demonstrated that Pickleball is a wonderful Lifetime Sport! SE Michigan Pickleball extends special thanks to the Troy Community Center and their facility coordinators, Carla Vaughan and Elaine Torvinen!!

• 8 Troy Community Center courts were active for 4 hours
• 32 teams made up of families and friends of all ages including the Gumbel and Balasia families all wearing green "The Gumbel Gherkins" t-shirts
• Ages ranged from 11 to 74
• 21 USAPA Members and 2 USAPA Regional Ambassadors - Dick Manasseri of the Great Lakes Region and Dick Greenfield of the South Atlantic Region - "mixed and-a-mingled in the pickling FEAT!"
• Round Robin "Speed Pickleball" kept things moving
• The crowd included 20 more young players being exposed to Pickleball for the first time

Oh Yes, and the results of the Competitive Matches are:

Winners - Gary Bejin and Nichole Cassell

Runner-ups - Renard Kolasa and Denver Surgener

USAPA Mixed Generation Holiday Pickleball Festival Results

Bottom line: "Let's do it again!"... "Where can I play Pickleball near where I live?"..."Are their tournaments where younger players can play?"...

MXG Pickleball - Full Circle

"The original purpose

of Pickle-Ball was to provide a game that

the whole family might enjoy regardless of athletic ability or strength."

Douglas Smith, President Pickle-Ball, Inc.

MXG PICKLEBALL - "The Gumbel Gherkins"

"The MXG Gumbel Gherkins"

Chrissy and Chuck

Amy and Steve

Chris and Donna

Mixed Generation Pickleball

Changing the Face of Pickleball in SE Michigan

The Steve and Donna Balasia Family

And

The Chuck and Judy Gumbel Family

Changing the Face of Pickleball in SE Michigan

More to Come....

Year End Special Events

2008 Year End

Special PICKLEBALL Events

December 27-December 29, 2008 10:00am - 4:00pm Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Fest Explore Chicago - Explore PICKLEBALL . Three days to Play and Demonstrate PICKLEBALL on four courts to over 80,000 guests. Admission Free.

December 28, 2008 SE Michigan Great Lakes PICKLEBALL Mixed Generation Holiday Pickleball Festival . Come to Troy Community Center to celebrate and cheer on the Recreational and Competitive Players in Michigan's 1st Mixed Generation Tournament. Registration Filled.

December 29, 2008 at 1:00pm The Art of Refereeing USAPA Referee Training Session . This Training Session is open to all adult players, family members and friends interested in learning more about tournament play/rules/refereeing. The Training Session will be held at the Crittenton Wellness Center at the OPC, 650 Letica Dr., Rochester, MI 48307. Free. No Registration or RSVP Required.

If you want more details on any of these special events, please email MIPickleball@gmail.com

Christmas Joy

Dear PICKLEBALL Players, Families, and Friends,

!!! CHRISTMAS JOY !!!

2008 A Fruitful Year

Of Growth and Development

for

MI Pickleball

The Great Lakes Region

The USA Pickleball Association

"For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations." Isaiah 61:11

Merry Tournament to ALL!

Gathering to read, like gathering for worship and feasting and gift-giving, is part of the Holiday tradition embraced by Michiganders.

Most of us grew up hearing and reading the story, 'Twas the night before Christmas..." and most of us know how the story ends. "....Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night!" Some of you may even be able to recite the story from memory.

Most MI Tournament Pickleball Players grow up in the game hearing and reading the "USAPA Official Tournament Rulebook" and most of us know that makes for "...A Merry Tournament to all! And to all a good game!"

Need a book to read while you are staying awake to sneak a peek at Santa coming down the chimney? Need a book to read that will put the little children to sleep, but hold your attention? Need a book to read while you are properly allocating Santa's milk and cookies?

Book Recommendations

• Christmas Eve, while "all through the house not a creature is stirring..." The USAPA Official Tournament Rulebook
• Christmas Morning, while gathering with friends and family... The Good News

I daily herald PICKLEBALL as Michigan's good news story!
The angels herald God "pleased as man with men to dwell"!

God is with us and happy to be with us...now that's Good News!

!!! Merry Christmas !!!

• Pickleball Referee Training Session
• Monday, December 29 at 1:00
• The Crittenton Wellness Center at the OPC
• OPC, 650 Letica Drive, Rochester, MI 48307
• Adults of ALL Ages Welcome
• No Registration or RSVP Required.

Visions of sugarplums and pickleballs...

Dear Santa,

It's been a wonder filled year, jam packed with new learning experiences and new relationships. You've known me since I was a child. You know I'm happiest when I'm learning new things and engaging in lively conversations. I feel like I've been opening Christmas presents every day since July 24 when I became a USAPA Member and the OPC Rochester Ladder Manager. Every new relationship has been a gift, for which I'm deeply grateful. Playing and promoting pickleball has been a steep learning curve -- and I'm lov'n it. You will see when you check your list twice, I've sometimes been more naughty than nice. But I'm learning from my errors and I'm even sort-of-kind-of-maybe learning a backhand. All and all, I've been 'mostly good', so please consider my Christmas List.

• Happy Children (In all of my years as a mom, this was the only thing on my Christmas list. Mostly because Papa Razz gives me everything else I want. But this year my list is a little longer-- so, Santa, please read on.)


• Happy Grandbaby (Anna Katherine is my ALL time favorite gift of 2008. And the goodness of the gift reflects the greater goodness of the Giver!)


• Happy Players - Playing Happy Games of Pickleball (Santa, this gift needs to come wrapped in different packages for different players. For some of us "Happy Games" offer a little physical fitness and a lot of social well being. For others "Happy Games" are "brutal FUN". So please pack a sleigh full of games for the recreational and competitive players of ALL skill levels and ALL ages.)
  

The baklava, wrapped next to the milk and cookies, is for Mrs. Claus. Oh and let Rudolph know that I have a herd of deer bedding down in my yard -- including a few bucks with racks the size of Texas, so you may want to allow extra time for him to socialize with his buds. Please thank your elves. Merry Christmas! xox Janet Razz

!!! Holiday Good Cheer !!!

Jenny! Penny! Jan! Nancy! Beth! Phoebe!

!!! Making MI Pickleball Games Merry and Bright !!!

MSO Partners - Time to Register

Michelle Pozan, of the Auburn Hills Community Center, is the MSO Director for the 2009 Winter Pickleball Games and a SE Michigan USAPA Ambassador. Michelle uses the USA Pickleball Association software and web pages to publish player lists, brackets, and results.

You can view the current player list here: MSO 2009 Winter Pickleball Games Player List

Registration for MSO continues through January 5, 2009. You can download the MSO registration form here: MSO 2009 Winter Festival Athlete Registration Form

Please indicate on the form

• the names of your Doubles and Mixed Doubles partners
• whether or not you want to play Singles

If you have any questions about your MSO partner(s), please email Dick Manasseri at dmanasseri@usapa.org

Experience the MSO format with your partner by playing in the Auburn Hills Happy New Year Tournament on January 3rd. The registration form is here: Happy New Year Pre-MSO Games Registration Form

Pickleball Blogger Gadget Challenge

Calling All Talent! Your brilliant college/career kiddos are home for the holidays. Some of them are taking up the physical challenge and playing PICKLEBALL in the MXG Tourney, December 28! Some are taking up the artistic challenge and using their gifts to create original PICKLEBALL art work! Some are using their organizational skills and taking up the challenge of clearing out basements/sparerooms, for winter PICKLEBALL practice at home sweet home. Some will be home long enough to take up the challenge of refereeing the Auburn Hills Happy New Year Tourney, January 3! Do any pickleball enthusiasts have brilliant college/career kiddos home for the holidays that know how to create a blogger gadget?!? Search for golf: 86 gadgets. Search for basketball 97 gadgets. Search for soccer 82 gadgets. Search for pickleball "did not match any gadgets". Any talented techie (of any age!) that wants to take up the 2009 challenge of creating a PICKLEBALL blogger gadget?!?

Drop-N-PoP! Nearby Places to Play

Dx: OPC Gym Closing

"Pickleball Withdraw"

Rx: Drop-N-PoP!

NEARBY PLACES TO PLAY

Auburn Hills Community Center 3 Courts - $2.00

• Mondays Dec 22, Dec 29, Jan 5 at 9:30am-12:30pm
• Wednesday Jan 7 at 9:30am-12:30pm

Sterling Heights Senior Activity Center/DAY 2 Courts - $0.50

• Mondays at 12:00 Noon-4:15pm
• Tuesdays at 10:00am-4:15pm
• Wednesday Jan 7 at 12:00 Noon-4:15pm
• Fridays at 10:00am-4:15pm

Sterling Heights Senior Activity Center/NIGHT 2 Courts - $4.00

• Tuesdays at 6:00pm - 7:30pm - $4.00 Drop-in Fee
• Tuesdays at 7:30pm - 9:00pm - $4.00 Drop-in Fee

Troy Community Center/DAY 4 Courts - $3.00

• Fridays Dec 26, Jan 2, Jan 9 at 10:30am-12:30pm

Troy Community Center/NIGHT 4 Courts - $5.00

• Sundays Dec 21, Jan 4, Jan 11 at 6:00-8:00pm

Waterford CAI Building 3 Courts - $2.00

• Mondays Dec 22, Jan 5 at 12:30pm-2:30pm
• Wednesday Jan 7 at 12:30pm-2:30pm

Wanted: Refs and Leaders of the Ref Corp

From: Dick Manasseri dmanasseri@usapa.org

Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2008

Subject: Wanted: Refs and Leader(s) of the Ref Corp

SE Michigan Pickleball Promoters,

SE Michigan will be hosting several Great Lakes Pickleball Showcase Events like the MSO in February and the Happy New Year Tournament, January 3, 2009.

One of the criteria for being a Showcase Event is the utilization of trained referees to enforce the USAPA Rules. The Summer MSO was a major success, in part ,due to the impact of our trained referees. Several of our previous referees and leaders are now basking in the sunshine of other places.

Thank you for being a Pickleball Promoter. In the future, you may very well be involved in running/assisting with a tournament or a ladder. Being a ref and/or managing refs is a great way to get inside the game.

We need one or more Pickleball Promoters to raise their hands to manage a corp of referees that we can use in SE Michigan. And, of course. we need refs.

All of the training material is in place at USAPA Training Room http://training.usapa.org/theartofrefereeing

This includes a detailed example of the Referee's Game Procedure written as an actually script.

Please take a look at this material and let me know if you would like to volunteer to be a ref or, better yet, to manage or co-manage the ref corps.

On Monday December 29th at 1:00pm at the OPC, we will hosting a training session for referees for the January 3 tournament and the MSO. There will be other training sessions in January as needed.

I will conduct the training on the 29, but I really need someone or some two to take on ongoing responsibility for the ref corp.

Thanks,

Dick Manasseri

Kalamazoo Holiday Pickleball Hours

From: Melissa Webb Muha <gardenwebb@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2008
Subject: Holiday Pickleball Kalamazoo

Here's our Pickleball schedule in Kalamazoo for the Holidays

• No play on Christmas Eve
• No play on Christmas Day
• No play on New Years Eve
• No play on New Years Day

We WILL play Pickleball as scheduled for the rest of the Holiday!

Please bring your friends & family & join us!

7 Days/week Free to YMCA members, $4 others

• Sun 12-2p Maple St YMCA
• Mon 10-12N Portage YMCA
• Tue 10-12N Maple St YMCA
• Wed 7-9p Maple St YMCA (not Christmas Eve or NYE)
• Thurs 11-1p Maple St YMCA (not Christmas or NY Day)
• Fri 10-12N Portage YMCA
• Sat 4-6p Maple St YMCA

Play Pickleball! Please visit www.usapa.org for more information.

Pickleball PoP!

Pickleball PoP!

Pickleball, pickleball, pickleball PoP!

Pickleballs PoP! and pickleballs ping

Serving and dinking up courts full of fun

Now the pickleball PoP! has begun

Pickleball, pickleball, pickleball PoP!

Pickleballs PoP! at pickleball time

Lobbing and smashing on pickleball courts

in the OPC Gym

What a bright time, it's the right time

To PoP! the day away

Pickleball time is a swell time

To go scoring in tournament play

Volley-up net shots, pick up your feet

Pickle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the pickling FEAT

That’s the Pickleball PoP!


That’s the Pickleball - That’s the Pickleball

That’s the Pickleball PoP!

Merry Christmas!

Happy and Healthy 2009 ~ filled with PICKLEBALL PoP!

MI SNOWBALLS!

Today's OPC Rochester MI Pickleball Ladder Games are SNOWED OUT.

Like our pickleball shots, Michigan snow comes "light", "moderate", "heavy" or "EXTREME". The label we give the snow depends on our geography and sometimes on our agenda. The MI Pickleball players in the UP can teach the downstate folks a thing or 7 about "Real SNOW"! Our friends in AZ and FL may need to be reminded that the white stuff, surrounding the snowballs, in the photo is COLD! And WET! There are weather alerts throughout SE Michigan and "travel is strongly discouraged this morning..." Today's headline reads: "Heavy SNOW Blanketing Michigan!"

The OPC Rochester MI Pickleball Ladder Games are Snowed OUT! Now that's EXTREME!!! Breath s l o w l y and deeply...Breath s l o w l y and deeply...Breath s l o w l ly and deeply... Together ..."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

Even now... getting cozy with a good book and a blanket... Go ahead...rest your eyes...and your muscles...enjoy the gift...relax...count sheep for a change instead of points... 10sheep/7sheep/1... 10sheep/7sheep/2... 7sheep/10sheep/1... 8sheep/10sheep/1... 8sheep/10sheep/2... 9sheep/10sheep/2... 10/sheep/9sheep/1... ... ...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....now that your opponents are sleeping... Here's the scoop -- Troy Community Center canceled all of their classes. BUT the Troy Community Center fitness area is open. Translation: Troy Community Center is open for Drop-in Pickleball today from 10:30am - 12:30pm. The mother in me repeats..."A winter storm warning for heavy show means severe winter weather conditions are expected. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency (PICKLEBALL WITHDRAW!). If you must travel...keep an extra flashlight...food...water...( and an extra PICKLEBALL PADDLE) in your vehicle in case of an emergency. "

Did I just hear a "PoP!"

High Five!

"High Five!" Hans Spata, USAPA Member, and his granddaughter!

MI Pickleball extends a 'High Five' to the 61 active and smiling pickleball players, including Hans Spata, gathered for today's "OPC Pickleball Best Practice Safety Clinic: Warm-up" presented by Deb Lane! MI Pickleball extends a 'High Five' to the OPC Health and Wellness Department for hosting this premier event and to Deb Lane for sharing her wisdom!

MSO 2009 Winter Pickleball Games

Michigan Senior Olympics 2009 Winter Pickleball Games

Michigan Senior Olympic 2009 Winter Pickleball Games

• Monday, February 2 - WD (AM) and MD (PM)
• Tuesday, February 3 - MX Doubles
• Wednesday, February 4 - MS (AM) and WS (PM)
  

The registration deadline is: January 5, 2009. There are still a few players looking for partners and there is still room and time for you to join in this biggest pickleball tournament yet for Michigan. The Games are Sanctioned/Tier3 by the USA Pickleball Association. All Tournament players are responsible for reading the USA Pickleball Official Tournament Rulebook.

Registration Form MSO 2009 Winter Pickleball Games

Player List MSO 2009 Winter Pickleball Games

USA Pickleball Association Official Tournament Rulebook

Direct your questions about MSO Registration, MSO Partner Search, or the USAPA Rulebook to Dick Manasseri at dmanasseri@usapa.org or Janet Razz at MIPickleball@gmail.com

Slip into The Mitten!

Swans Gather by Dawn Ulmer

Dear MI 'Snow Birds'!

You send us sunshine and will sent you news of the LARGEST yet Michigan Pickleball Tournament ~ Michigan Senior Olympic 2009 Winter Pickleball Games USAPA Sanctioned/Tier 3! Honestly, we are humble learners and we didn't know if we could do it without you. But we did! The number of MI Pickleball Players, the number of MI Pickleball weekly offerings and the number of MI USAPA Members have skyrocketed in this, the last quarter of 2008. If you are looking for a way to spend your Santa Bucks, you may want to book a flight home and slip into The Mitten! You still have time to join in the MSO HOT Winter Pickleball FUN! MSO registration deadline is January 5, 2009.

Yours in pickleball, Janet Razz

HOT Games! Warm Hearts!

!!! A Ladder Of Smiling USAPA Members and Friends !!!

Barb Ash, USAPA Member! Liz Travis, USAPA Member!
MI Pickleball Congratulates the Nation's Newest USAPA Member, Albert Hung!

Alice Hodder! John Heron! Monzie Edmonds, USAPA Member!

MI Cold Weather -- burrrrrrr! MI Cold Economy -- ouchhhhhhh!

MI Warm Hearts -- Always! MI HOT PICKLEBALL -- YESsssssss!!!!!!!

Michigan's USAPA Membership numbers are catching the attention of the Nation and demonstrating Michiganders well deserved reputation for generously supporting our non-profit organizations! 29 of the 100 most recent NEW USAPA Members are Michiganders! The first step into the game of pickleball, for most players, is "paddle ownership". MI Pickleball thanks the 70 Michigan Pickleball Players that have taken that all important "next step" into the game -- USAPA Membership!

Chicago Sports Fest: "POP" till you drop!

!!! Christmas PICKLEBALL Adventure !!!

Hungry for MORE Court Time!?!

Ready for a short winter holiday road trip!?!

Wanting to try the trains from Detroit to Chicago!?!

Asking Santa for a Christmas PICKLEBALL Adventure!?!

Searching for active family FUN or a festival to enjoy with friends!?!

Need to cope with "pickleball withdraw" during the OPC Gym closing :) !?!

Chicago Sports Fest: "POP" till you drop!

"Explore Chicago!"

!!! Play Great Lakes Pickleball !!!

OPC Rochester Wednesday Free Beginner Lessons New Start Time: 9:30 AM

The weekly FREE Beginner PICKLEBALL Lessons at the OPC Rochester MI are foundational to the successful growth of the sport at the OPC and in SE Michigan. Each week is a pleasant surprise, as new folks step into the gym and experience the "POP" of the whiffle ball on the paddle. Playing the game, they learn the answer to that question we love to hear: "What's Pickleball?!?"

If you are an OPC Member, you are invited to lace up your court shoes and come ready to experience the reason Michiganders are having serious FUN playing the game with the silly name, PICKLEBALL!

The OPC FREE Beginner PICKLEBALL Lessons are held every* Wednesday.

The NEW Start Time is 9:30 AM.

*The OPC Gym will be closed from December 22 - January 12 to refinish the floors and paint new court lines. When the OPC Gym re-opens we will have a new 4th court! Thank you, OPC!

NEW! Place to Play! Independence Township

NEW! SE Michigan "Place to Play" Pickleball

Independence Township 50 + Adults

Starting January 6, 2009

Every Tuesday and Thursday 10:30am - 12:30pm

First Congregational Church Gym

5449 Clarkston Rd, Clarkston, MI 48348

Contact: Mary Melega mmelega@twp.independence.mi.us

OPC Pickleball Warm-up Clinic

Don't let the

Cold

Muscle

Monster

take a bite

out of your

PICKLEBALL

game!

All 50+ Pickleball Players are invited to the FREE

OPC Pickleball Warm-up Clinic

Presented by Deb Lane

• The OPC Gym


• Monday, December 15


• 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM


• Please RSVP to Janet Razz MIPickleball@gmail.com

NEW! OPC PICKLEBALL Gym Schedule

NEW! OPC Rochester PICKLEBALL Gym Schedule

• Monday Drop-in Pickleball 3:00 PM* - 6:00 PM
• Tuesday Drop-in Pickleball 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Wednesday FREE Beginner Lessons 9:300 AM - 11:00 AM
• Wednesday Drop-in Pickleball 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• Wednesday Drop-in Pickleball 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
• Thursday Drop-in Pickleball 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Friday DAY Pickleball Ladder Game Start Time 10:00 AM
• Friday NOVICE Pickleball Ladder Game Start Time 11:30 AM
• Friday Drop-in Pickleball 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Friday NIGHT Pickleball Ladder Game Start Times 5:00/6:00/7:00
• Saturday Drop-in Pickleball 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM

*Exceptions

Monday, December 15 FREE OPC Pickleball Warm-up Clinic Presented by Deb Lane from 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM. Drop-in Pickleball $1. from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

December 22 the OPC Gym will be closing for about three weeks. The floors will be refinished and lines for a new 4th court will be painted. The expected reopening date is January 12, 2009. Thank you, OPC!

The OPC Rochester Ladder NO PLAY DATES are December 26, January 2, and January 9, 2009.