Q&A: USTA Texas Committee Members

Are you thinking about applying for a USTA Texas committee? We asked some of our current term’s members to share their perspectives on what it’s like to serve as a volunteer leader for USTA Texas. Applications close 9/30. 

Texas Tennis is huge and it takes a community of dedicated volunteers and committee members to help organize, plan, and execute initiatives to grow the sport of tennis and support programs and initiatives in and around the sport throughout the year. 

Every two years, hundreds of Texans volunteer to serve on a number of committees organized by the USTA Texas President and Board of Directors. These committees offer oversight and support across all of the USTA Texas’s initiatives and serve as a valuable platform for local and community leaders to help shape the direction of Texas tennis. 

While applications are open for the next 2025-2026 committee term, we talked to three committee members about what serving as a volunteer leader for USTA Texas entails, what they found rewarding and the potential ups and downs of the position. 

Dart Bebel is a former collegiate tennis player and member of the Capital Area Tennis Association (Austin) Board of Directors and first-time-volunteer who chaired the 2023-2024 Young Adult Transition committee. Jessica McMillen has worked as a tennis leader in Austin as well as serving on a number of Texas and National committees including chairing the USTA Texas Junior Team Tennis (JTT) committee and was a past member of the USTA Texas Board of Directors. Thao Tran, from Aledo, has been a longtime grassroots JTT organizer and tennis coach and served on the USTA Texas Community Engagement committee. 

USTA Texas: What motivated you to apply to serve on a USTA Texas committee - what about serving on a committee did you find appealing?

Thao Tran: Loving the game of tennis and wanting to share this love was what motivated me to apply for the USTA Texas committee. Serving on the community engagement committee made me feel like I am making an impact in someone's life. 

Jessica McMillen: I was motivated to serve on a committee because I’m extremely passionate about JTT; kids getting to play on teams with their friends. I love meeting other passionate JTT providers from across the Section and hearing their stories and experiences. I also enjoy serving the community by helping beginners understand the finer aspects of the JTT Program. 

Dart Bebel: I felt like my demographic was being under-served by the USTA organization, USTA community players/ambassadors and by the actual programming.

USTA Texas: As a first-time volunteer, how did you hear about USTA Texas committees?

DB: I think I received an email that had some information on USTA Texas Committees. I had just been nominated to the CATA board (by my young peers) and so I was getting included on more things related to service and projects.

USTA Texas: What do you find rewarding about serving on committees?

JM: Meeting new people, sharing ideas and working with tennis friends is the most rewarding part. [USTA Texas] has an incredible staff and as volunteers we’re here to assist and advise the staff. Staffers implement programs 24/7 and they have the expertise volunteers do not. 

TT: Helping young players understand that there are more ways than just becoming a tennis professional to have tennis in their lives. 

USTA Texas: What challenges or obstacles did you experience that you would want other people to know about or expect? 

JM: My [JTT] committee members are often full-time coaches who do not have spare time to volunteer for Sectionals which means [USTA Texas Community Service Coordinator and JTT Program Manager] Mark Hodge ends up doing most of the work. We’re the only USTA Section that hosts two JTT Sectionals and while the kids/parents and coaches love it, it’s a HUGE LIFT. Going forward, JTT Committee members will need to commit to working at those Sectionals. 

DB: To me, there are two big challenges: The first is that the USTA itself can be very fragmented. The CTAs do what they want. The Section does what it wants. Then National comes down with what they want. Sometimes, even departments and committees within the USTA don't always see eye to eye on recommendations and thus often end up doing things in silos. 

The second biggest challenge is keeping the committee members motivated and engaged. Progress is slow and you really have to celebrate the small victories and assign projects out to people to keep them engaged.

TT: Making the time to meet with committee members. Most of us have a professional career that we are juggling but it is so important to make that time to meet with our members.

USTA Texas: What are realistic time expectations for serving on a committee?

DB: Between running the meetings and then actually working behind the scenes with the USTA it's probably 5 hours per month.

TT: A commitment of at least 2-5 hours a month to get things accomplished.

JM: The JTT Committee only met every six weeks, so the majority of the expectations would be helping with Sectionals events. Even if a committee member isn’t able to attend in person, they can help record scores off site. 

USTA Texas: What are some of the Pros and Cons of committee service?

DB: On the pro side, I like having a seat at the table and I think people are genuinely interested in my perspective and the thoughts coming from the committee. I have also learned a lot about the USTA and non-profits in general. It has been a great experience as I continue my career as a business executive. As for cons, if you are a committee that is trying to start from basically nothing, it is TOUGH. We had all first time committee members and thus no playbook to draw from. People should know what they are getting into. Sometimes it feels like there is a lot of pressure on me as a committee chair to deliver results and I obviously want to do good things but the formality of some of the annual meetings can be a little tough to navigate at first. Initially, having a chair plus only three members was really small, but [with the addition of some members of the Adult Social Committee] now with 8 people in our meetings we have better discussions.

TT: I like to attend the annual meetings, the summit and the semiannual. I am able to meet the folks I work with through my terms and learn many things, especially around USTA expectations, and ensuring their growth for tennis future. I don't have any cons in regards to serving on the committee.

JM: The JTT Committee is ESSENTIAL to the program; we make decisions on rule changes, offer new and improved ways of recruiting and try to provide an excellent playing experience through collaboration. However, what works in some areas doesn’t in others and we support Area League Coordinators’ (ALC) decisions to run their programs to the best of their abilities. 

Volunteering for USTA Texas has changed my life. I’ve met incredible people, attended inspiring meetings and benefitted from so many opportunities for personal and professional growth. USTA Texas has been incredibly generous and it’s an honor to be asked to serve.

To learn more about USTA Texas Committees and to apply to be on a committee, click here. 2025-2026 Committee Applications are due by Tuesday September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CT.