2019 Year in Review Looking Ahead
As CDTA President Mark Trinka stated in his introductory letter, 2019 saw CDTA expand its vision of promoting and growing the game of tennis. We know we have only dipped our toes in the water in terms of making a difference and engaging more people in the sport we all love.
Topics we will be thinking about in the new year include the new USTA junior competition pathway that will go into effect in 2021, potential opportunities of the USTA-USPTA partnership, efforts to attract young adults to our sport which is increasingly dominated by players older than 45 years of age, and community outreach that take tennis to communities and neighborhoods across the district while simultaneously promoting our member organizations.
Despite CDTA’s obvious support for and promotion of USTA play opportunities, a mantra you may have been hearing from leadership is: “all play is good play.” This philosophy began shaping the work of CDTA in 2019. It is evident in our sponsorship of activities such as the Second City Classic and will continue in 2020 as we start to talk with other leagues and organizers of play to learn how we can all work together to promote the game.
With encouragement and support from USTA National and the Midwest Section, we will continue to invest in and support the adult league program and look for ways to retain existing and attract new players. Listening to and communicating with our players and captains and providing tennis opportunities that match their interests will make for a stronger community. CDTA also plans to collaborate more actively with the Northern Illinois league program to identify best practices and brainstorm about ways to make match scheduling easier and defaults less of a factor.
As many of you may know, technology improvements are underway – TennisLink is being retired and transitioning to a new platform across all USTA programs beginning in 2020. Additionally, CDTA’s website will also be transitioning to a new provider with dramatically improved visuals and organization of information (for a sneak peek at the new structure, check out the Central Indiana Tennis Association website and let us know what you like and don’t like about it).
For more information, or to become involved with CDTA, please contact Jill Siegel at jsiegel@chicagodistricttennis.com.
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Contact Us
Jill Siegel: Executive Director
Nancy Manolis: Adult League Outreach Project Coordinator
Barb Rueth: Junior Play Director
Sarah Stanchin - South Chicago District Tennis Representative
Board of Directors
Officers:
Mark Trinka, Vice President
Jason Stanislaw, 1st Vice President
Lisa Finke, 2nd Vice President
Fely Ong, Treasurer
Directors:
Maurice Allen
Luka Bagos
Jack Barton
David Beilinson
Lisa Finke
Dianna Foley
Mike Haber
Patty Lambropoulos
Paul MacDonald
Kevin Minor
Fely Ong
Shirley Roach
Denny Schackter
Jason Stanislaw
Julia Steele
Mark Trinka
Arnie Villagomez
Don Walton
Neal Zazove