E-Newsletter December 2011

TennisTalk
E-Newsletter

December 2011

In This Issue

President's Letter

2012 CORTA Board of Directors

CORTA Links

CORTA Partner

President's Letter

Dear CORTA Members,

I hope you all have enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. As we look to the new year, I want to share some important information with you and ask for your help.

Effective January 01, 2012, USTA Georgia will start charging each local association $2.00 for every player who signs up on every team for every season. Everyone at CORTA values the programs of USTA Georgia and understands that sometimes fees need to increase in order to keep the high quality of tennis play that all of us enjoy as a part of USTA.

Many associations in the state will be passing this $2.00 increase on to their membership. CORTA values you as a member and we realize that fighting to keep your membership costs low is important to you. CORTA has decided to absorb the increase at this time and you will not see an increase in your fees. Your costs to sign up for your spring teams will remain at $26.00 per team and CORTA will pay the $2.00 fee to USTA Georgia out of its portion of your registration fee
($21.00 CORTA + $2.00 USTA Georgia + $3 TennisLink Fee). Please be aware that this will have a financial impact on CORTA throughout the year and the decision to absorb this cost will have to be re-evaluated as each new season approaches.

Like all local associations, our funds are limited. You can now help CORTA by signing up for all of your spring teams before December 31, 2011. We will not have to pay the additional $2.00 fee this spring season for anyone that signs up by December 31st.

Your help in controlling CORTA costs by signing up before the end of this calendar year is greatly appreciated. As always, everyone on the CORTA Board and the entire CORTA Staff remain committed to providing you with the best tennis experience possible. We always value your input on issues, and your ideas for improving tennis in our area.

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy New Year,

Rem's Signature

CORTA Board of Directors

We'd like to say thank you to those who have served on the CORTA Board of Directors this year. Your leadership has been invaluable to us as we have faced some big decisions and challenging times. Some of you continue on while some of you roll off and leave room for new board members to rise from the ranks. So, for those who are leaving, we thank you for your service. And for those who are just starting out, we look forward to your contributions and a great year in 2012.

Executive Committee
President - Rem Houser
President Elect - Doug Gibson
Executive Vice President - Sara Dismuke
Vice President - Tom Miller
Vice President - Kim Glass
Treasurer - Liz Gobbel
Secretary - Lauren Griner
Immediate Past President - Nancy Prescott
Executive Committee Advisor - Will White
Board of Directors
Community Outreach - Angela Stillwell
Special Events - Deanne Martin
Awards - Wanda Dryman
Tournaments/Officials - Melissa Foy
Adult Programs - Scott Laymon
Development/Marketing - Betty Matthews
Facility - Tom Miller
Volunteers - Max Patrick
Junior Programs - Lynn Reis
Legal Council - Brian Worstell

We have created three new At-Large Board positions to sit on some committees that tend to be more labor intensive so we are welcoming to the board:
Natasha Arora - AtLarge/Volunteers
Greg Gatti - At-Large/Special Events
Bernard Francis - At-Large/Community Outreach

Rolling off the Board are Becky Baker, Patrick Callaway, and David Snipes and we want to thank them for their service.

Adult Program News

by Cissy Sanders & Charlie Clippinger

Congratulations to all the 2011 Fall League Winners:

ADULT LEAGUE
2.5 M - Cox	2.5 W - Herrera
3.0 M - Childress/Grimes	3.0 W Blue - Medders/Drakeford
3.5 M - Thompson	3.0 W Red - Bryant/Jarzen
4.0L M - Galbraith/Gatti	3.5 W - Miller
4.0 Men - Hutchinson	4.0L W - Brena
4.5 Men - Stoller	4.0 W - Humphries/Fuller
	4.5 W - Bates

SENIOR LEAGUE
3.0 Men - Hurst	3.0 Women - Harris
3.5 Men - Yates	3.5 Women - Breault
4.0 Men - Hudson	4.0 Women - Scott
4.5 Men - Pease

CITY LEAGUE
3.0 Women - Ellison
3.5 Women - Galbraith
4.0 Women - Adams

Captains may pick up bag tags for the winning teams at the CORTA office.

YEAR END RATINGS

Got bumped up or not? Has your team dissolved because other teammates leveled up? Check your 2011 Year-End rating to see if you've been promoted to the next level. You may not even know that your team is dissolving because of recent promotions from the 2011 Year-End ratings! If you're looking for a team, we can put you on our List of Players Looking for a Team. Just click on the link, fill out the form with your contact information, rating, and the league you are interested in playing and a captain who is looking for players will contact you. The ball is in your court! Don't miss out on SPRING tennis!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALEXIS MILLER'S 6.5 COMBO DOUBLES TEAM!

We would like to congratulate Alexis Miller's 6.5 Combo Doubles team for advancing to the Combo Doubles Southern Sectional Championships that will be held March 2nd -5th, 2012 in Mobile, AL. Members of the team are: Alexis Miller, Jessica Fullerton, Kerri Medders, Ashley Leverett, Lesley Dudley, Michelle Beach, Amy Hill, Casey Parker, Angela Drakeford, Amy Griggs, Prissy Mudge, Stephanie Shiver, Michelle Human, Katie Northrup, and Devin Macdonald. Good luck and bring home the trophy!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE UPCOMING LEAGUE SEASON

Adult League:

Deadline to form a Team: Wednesday, December 28th

Season Play: Saturdays from January 14th - March 24th

Senior League:

Deadline to form a Team: Wednesday, December 28th

Season Play: Sundays from January 15th - March 25th

City League:

Deadline to form a Team: Wednesday, January 18th

Season Play: Thursday mornings @ 9:30am from January 26th - March 29th

FRIEND AT COURT - 10 POINT TIE-BREAK GAME:

Question: How is the score for the 10 point tiebreak used in CORTA's League tennis?

Answer: The 10 point tie breaker is used in lieu of a third set. The tie break is scored as a third set 1-0.

The flight winner shall be the team having won the most team matches in its flight competition. In the event of a tie for flight winner and/or second and third place positions, the tie shall be broken by the first of the following methods.

a. Winner of the most individual matches.

b. Loser of the fewest sets

c. Loser of the fewest games

USTA LEAGUE ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURING

USTA League is improving its structure to enhance your playing experience starting with the 2013 Championship Season. This change will take affect with CORTA's Fall 2012 league programs. See the new age divisions and format of play for each league.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

For more information about Adult Programs, contact Cissy Sanders or Charlie Clippinger.

Junior Program News

by Deby Caldwell

Whew...What a Fall for Junior Tennis at CORTA!

This Fall we we had four USTA Jr. Team Tennis leagues (Elementary JTT, Middle School JTT, High School JTT, and 8U/10U JTT). Matches were played at Cooper Creek, Double Churches, Lake Bottom, Brookstone, Columbus Country Club, Green Island, and Phenix City! Each league had record numbers, great competition, and outstanding sportsmanship.

Junior Tennis is growing and the Jr. Team Tennis format is a great way to start playing tennis, stay in tennis, develop individual and team tennis skills in a fun and competitive atmosphere.

Thanks to all the players, parents, coaches and captains! You are the force behind the game.

Hats off to our 8U players who competed at the 8U Regional Championships in Atlanta on November 12th at the Racquet Club of the South. The Reis team WON the 8U Beginner Division and the Courville/Harper team came in 2nd in the 8U Intermediate Division. Our own future "US Open Champions!"

Teen Council has been at it again! They recently hosted the CORTA Christmas Toy Tournament, which was a HUGE success! They secured over 40 sponsors and raised over $5000 for our AD IN special athletes and our regional and state Special Olympic Games. We had 90 players (22 were 10U's) who played some great tennis and had a great time! The tennis ended with a great pizza party sponsored by Cici's Pizza, court games led by our own "CORTA" Santa, and wonderful door prizes given to some lucky players.

Winners of the divisions:

10U Girls - Mattie Albright 10U Boys - Jonas Stenslie

12U Girls - JayLee Sawtelle 12U Boys - Noah Stenslie

14U Girls - Isabel Schley 14U Boys - Jeremiah Harrison

16U Girls - Mary Grier Illges 16U Boys - Daniel Peacock

18U Boys - Ellis Bunn

ATTENTION JUNIOR PLAYERS!!!! THE NEXT JUNIOR TOURNAMENT IS ALREADY ON THE CALENDAR AND REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Sign up now for the first Junior Tournament of 2012!

CORTA Jr. Satellite Georgia Level 5 will be played January 7-8 at Cooper Creek and Registration is open NOW!
This is a USTA Level 5 sanctioned tournament for boys and girls 10-18 years old. This is a great starter tournament for juniors who want to start the new year off with some ranking points. If you have not played tournaments before, a level 5 is where you want to start.

On another note: The 32 members of the CORTA Jr. Teen Council have already done 937.75 hours of community service! That's impressive! Do you want to be a part of the Teen Council? Just come to our meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. Next meeting: Tuesday, January 3rd. Next project: Adopt a Unit. The Teen Council will partner with USTA to Adopt a Unit of soldiers deployed from Ft. Benning serving overseas! Our care packages will be followed by portable tennis equipment from the USTA and CORTA. Be part of the Teen Council and make a difference!

Check out all the latest Junior news on Facebook. "Like" us on Corta Juniors!

Tournament News
by Joe Adame

It has been a wonderful tournament year! We have finalized the 2012 Tournament Schedule and we are really excited to be adding two new tournaments to the CORTA calendar. The Senior Banana Open (April), and the Super Senior League Tennis Southern Section Championship (November). We are always working to provide great tennis for the Columbus community.

2012 Tournament Schedule

January 7-8 CORTA Jr. Satellite Georgia Level 5
This is a USTA Level 5 sanctioned tournament for boys and girls 10-18 years old. This is a great starter tournament for juniors who want to start the new year off with some ranking points. If you have not played tournaments before, a level 5 is where you want to start. SIGN UP TODAY!!!!

February 25-27 USTA National Open 12s
This is a USTA National Tournament for 12 year old boys from all over the United States with a National Ranking.

March 30-April 2 Bullfrog/USTA Southern Section Designated 18-16s
This is a USTA Southern Tournament for boys and girls 16-18 years old from all over the United States with Southern Rankings.

April 12-15 CORTA Sr. Banana Open

This is a new tournament for the 2012 year. The seniors have asked for a tournament and we were listening. The seniors now have there very own Banana Open.

April 22-29 CORTA Adult Banana Open

This tournament is a fun, mostly local, USTA Adult Sanctioned Tournament with singles, doubles and mixed.

April 29-May 4 CORTA Jr. Banana Open
This tournament will remain non-sanctioned and is a local tournament for junior players age 10-18 with singles and doubles divisions.

June 1-4 USTA Georgia Senior State Championships
This is the State Championships for USTA Senior League players.

July 7-10 Boys and Girls Burger King Southern Open Championships 16s
This tournament is a USTA National Regional Event for 16 year old boys and girls from all over the United States.

August 1-5 "Return to Server" Southern NTRP Clay Court Championships
This is another local, fun tournament for adults with singles, doubles and mixed divisions.

August 24-26 CORTA Jr. Championships
This tournament is a Level 4 USTA sanctioned tournament for boys and girls 10-18 years old.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2 USTA Super Senior League Tennis Southern Section Championship
This is the USTA Senior Sectional Championships. Players from 9 different states come here to battle it out for a chance to go to Nationals.

December 7-8 CORTA Christmas Toy Tournament

This is a non-sanctioned, local tournament that benefits local special athletes to attend area and regional Special Olympics Games.

Upcoming Officials Clinic

Have you ever thought about becoming an umpire, referee or ITA official? Or maybe you are interested in knowing the rules a little better? You can get certified to be an Official right here in Columbus. There will be an Officials Clinic held on Sunday Feb. 5, 2012, at the Hilton Garden Inn. For more detailed information on the Officials Clinic, please click here.

BURN OFF THOSE HOLIDAY CALORIES WITH CARDIO TENNIS

Start 2012 off right with some good exercise to burn off all those extra holiday calories at Cardio Tennis. The goals are:

To have fun, keep moving and burn calories!
Get your game in top shape for the spring season
To shed those holiday pounds!

All levels of tennis are welcome! The next Cardio Tennis Session will begin Tuesday, January 10 at 6 pm. Sessions are four weeks long. Sign up today! Class sizes are limited. For more information contact Cindy or visit our website.

Gift Donations

As the year comes to a close you may be feeling nostalgic and want to honor a tennis friend with a tax deductible donation to the game we love. gift box

There are many worthwhile programs that need support....choose from programs like the Junior Scholarship Fund, TennisWorks! In the Park, or "Ad In" Special Populations. Acknowledgment cards will be mailed to the lucky recipient notifying them of your thoughtful gift. Contact CORTA to help you find the perfect fit or see our donations page on the website by clicking here.

CORTA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. We rely on donor support to sustain many valuable programs.

Thank you to our recent donors:
Anonymous, to the Cooper Creek Enhancement Fund in honor of Roger Pearce winning the National Clay Court Championships
Nancy Prescott, to the General Fund in honor of Brinkley Pound, Suzanne Mullin, Helen Martin, and Katherine Dunlevie
McAdam's Fall 2012 3.5 Women's Team in honor of their Captain, Christy McAdams
Dan Newberry to the General Fund in honor of Gene Oswalt and Russ Hagberg
Judy Pearce to the Cooper Creek Enhancement Fund in honor of the 2011 CORTA Board of Directors
Judy and Roger Pearce to Ad In in honor of The John Illges IV Family
Judy and Roger Pearce to TennisWorks! In the Parks in honor of Will and Amy White
Judy Pearce to TennisWorks! In the Parks in honor of Helen Martin
Helen Martin to the Cooper Creek Enhancement Fund in honor of Judy and Roger Pearce
Helen Martin to Tennis Works! in the Parks in honor of The CORTA Staff
Ron and Karen West to TennisWorks! in the Parks in memory of Betty Waldrep.

Follow CORTA on Facebook and Twitter

Message from CORTA

The CORTA office will be closed December 30, and January 2 in observance of the New Year Holiday. We look forward to another great year!

Columbus Regional Tennis Association, CORTA is a 501(c)3 non-profit community tennis association.

Our mission is "to promote the development of tennis as a means of healthy recreation and lifelong physical fitness."

CORTA (Columbus Regional Tennis Association)
P. O. Box 8236 · Columbus, GA 31908
706-317-4136 · 706-317-4501 (fax)
corta@corta.org(email)
www.corta.org