Newsletter

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MOTOR CITY TENNIS TIMES
MAY 2018

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MOTOR CITY TENNIS TIMES NOVEMBER 2017

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EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

Burrell Shields	President
Jesse Cleary	1st Vice President
Michele Hurst Burton	Secretary
Melody Coleman	Treasurer
Annette Williams	Financial Secretary
Gina Carter	Sergeant-at-Arms
Dennis Royal	Junior Development Chair
Robert Ennis	Executive Board Member
Luke Windon	Executive Board Member
Alfred Harris	Immediate Past President

STANDING COMMITEES

Phyllis Johnson                           Membership Committee Chairperson

David Warren                             Tournament Chairperson SPECIAL COMMITTEES

William Fred Williams                                                                      Historian

Zakiya (Doris) Hollifield                                                                     Historical (Archiving) Initiative

Jesse Cleary Tri-City Committee Chairperson Membership Benefits Committee Chairperson

 

Editorial Staff: Burrell Shields, Editor-in-Chief Jesse Cleary

Leonora King

Web Master:                                                                          Donna Douglas-Kitchen

 

Send information, comments, or suggestions to:

MCTC P.O. Box 21890, Detroit, MI 48221

or contact Burrell Shields at (248) 701-3420 or burrellshields49@yahoo.com

 

MOTOR CITY TENNIS CLUB NOVEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

IMPORTANT NOTICES GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Saturday, January 20, 2018 10:00am – 12:00pm

John Grace Community Center, Room 110

21000 Indian St. (between Beech & Inkster Rd., N. of 8 Mile & S. of Shiawassee) Southfield, Michigan

 

SPECIAL REMINDERS

 

METROPOLITAN DETROIT AFRICAN AMERICAN TENNIS SUMMIT (MDAATS)

Thursday, December 7, 2017 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers at Curtis Detroit, Michigan 48235

 

USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS – LIVONIA Y MOTOR CITY SMASHERS

(18 & Under Intermediate Level) Practices: Sundays, 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. October 1, 2017 – April 15, 2018

Matches: Saturdays/Sundays (Home/Away) (see MCTC website for schedule)

October 28, 2017 – March 18, 2018 Home Location: Livonia Family YMCA 14255 Stark Road

Livonia, Michigan 48154 SPECIAL EVENTS

MCTC FALL TENNIS PARTY

Saturday, November 25, 2017

7:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.

(Note New Time) Wimbledon Racquet Club St. Clair Shores, Michigan

 

MCTC CHRISTMAS PARTY

Saturday, December 9, 2017

7:00 P.M – 10:00 P.M.

John Grace Community Center

21000 Indian St. (between Beech & Inkster Rd., N. of 8 Mile & S. of Shiawassee) Southfield, Michigan

 

***Please view the new Motor City website: www.mctc1929.org. Membership payments and donations are now accepted on-line!!!***

 

Motor City also has a group Facebook page. If you wish to be added to the group, please contact one of the group administrators: Burrell Shields (burrellshields49@yahoo.com), Jesse Cleary (Jesse_Cleary@yahoo.com), Leonora King (leonorakng@aol.com), or Phyllis Johnson (pjbeginagain@gmail.com).

 

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MOTOR CITY TENNIS TIMES IS BACK!!!

 

Please welcome back the Motor City Tennis Times newsletter! Last newsletter publication was October, 2014. Newsletter will now be published quarterly!

 

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2017 TRI-CITY TOURNAMENT IN REVIEW

 

***NOTE: Special apologies to Alfred Harris whose name was accidentally omitted from the list of officers in the Tri-City Dinner Dance Program Booklet***

Motor City hosted the 72nd Annual Tri-City Tournament on Labor Day weekend, September 2 – 4, 2017. Detroit featured 81 participants and welcomed 26 from Cleveland and 12 from Chicago (combined player and social) to renew rivalries and acquaintances. We closely captured the Seames Trophy with Detroit scoring 72 points, Cleveland 66 points and Chicago 17 points. Cleveland dominated the Open and 45 age divisions, with Detroit and Chicago stronger in the 50+ age categories (see page 10 for complete list of winners and finalists).

 

Harvey Barcus Tennis Center (Farwell) hosted the Open Division as well as the 45s and 3.5 Level Play matches with Metropolitan Racquet Club holding the 50s, 55s, 60s, & 65s.

Burrell Shields and David Warren served as Tournament Directors.

 

The Hotel St. Regis served as the tournament headquarters and accommodated the Sunday evening dinner dance with featured guest speakers Michele Hurst Burton, Executive Director of SEMTA, and Charles Beckham, city of Detroit. At this opportunity, Mr.

Beckham announced the formation of the Metropolitan Detroit African American Tennis Summit to address the decline in Junior tennis as evidenced by the almost non-existent

Tri-City participation numbers (Detroit had 2, Cleveland and Chicago none). Tri-City has evolved over the past 20 years from a Junior tournament to a Senior Adult event. The Summit plans to meet periodically to formulate strategies to address Junior involvement throughout the area.

 

Motor City also hosted a successful Saturday night party at the Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit which was enjoyed by all, despite some rather “harsh” music. Out-of-town guests also visited Detroit attractions such as the International Jazz Festival, Casinos, River Walk, and used the new Q-Line which provided free transportation that weekend.

 

Motor City thanks the Tri-City Committee for a successful event: Chairperson Jesse Cleary, Gina Carter, Donna Douglas-Kitchen, Leonora King, and Burrell

Shields together with a host of volunteers and contributors, including the Motor City Executive Board, our Souvenir Booklet advertisers and patrons, and our players. Motor City also recognizes the following contributions which made the event extra special:

 

Jesse Cleary – Tri-City Chairperson – Hotel, Hospitality Room, & Social Ken Bailey, Gina Carter, Fred Williams, Luke Windon – Hospitality

Charles Beckham – City of Detroit – Harvey Barcus Tennis Center Site availability and improvements

Corene Crosby – Metropolitan Racquet Club site availability and “maintenance” (you had to be there)

Donna Douglas-Kitchen – Event Branding, T-Shirts, Banners, Souvenir Booklet, & Silver Sponsorship

Gordon Hawkins – Silver Sponsorship

Zakiya (Doris) Hollifield – MCTC Historical Exhibit

 

Michele Hurst Burton – Silver Sponsorship, souvenir donations, and use of SEMTA office for meetings and production

Tena Kinney & Volunteers – Courtside Refreshments Cheryl Williamson – Courtside Massage Service David Wilkins – Dinner Dance Program Booklet Fred & Diane Williams – Q-Line Information

Ken Bailey, Gina Carter, & Emerson Latham – Courtside Tournament Assistance Jay Anderson – Photography

Alfred Harris – Metropolitan Racquet Club Indoor Maintenance Starbucks of Southfield for Complimentary Coffee at both sites Burrell Shields & David Warren – Site Tournament Directors

 

The next Tri-City in Detroit (2020) will be a special milestone as the event will celebrate its 75thAnniversary!

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MOTOR CITY TENNIS CLUB 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

USTA Junior Team Tennis (Practices)	Oct. 1 – Dec. 17 (Sundays 4 – 6pm)	Livonia YMCA
(Matches)                                                    (Saturdays & Sundays – see MCTC website for schedule)
Fall Tennis Party	Sat., Nov. 25	Wimbledon Racquet Club
	(7pm to 11pm)	(Note Time Change)
MCTC Organized Practice	Thurs. beginning Nov. 30	Wimbledon Racquet Club
	(8pm to 9pm)	(See Next Page Article)
MCTC Christmas Party	Sat., Dec. 9 (7pm to 10pm)	John Grace Ctr., Southfield

 

2018 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

USTA Junior Team Tennis                       Jan. 7 – Apr. 18                                                                Livonia YMCA (Practices)                                                   (Sundays 4 – 6pm)

(Matches)                                                    (Saturdays & Sundays – see MCTC website for schedule)

 

MCTC Organized Practice                        Thursdays                                                                     Wimbledon Racquet Club

(8pm to 9pm)

 

 

Please visit the Calendar of Events on our website www.mctc1929.org for additional details. It features articles of interest and links to our partner organizations. Also, memberships may be purchased and donations accepted on-line. Fundraising events and other activities may be announced there prior to newsletter publication. Information labeled TBA or TBD will be inserted when available.

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ADDITIONAL PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES

 

Tennis Clubs that Offer Tennis to Non-members By Jesse Cleary

 

Summer and the warm weather are gone for now and it’s time to play tennis indoors. Tennis memberships are very expensive to afford. There is one way to get around paying for a membership at the tennis clubs. I’ve compiled a list of tennis clubs located in Southeastern Michigan that offer indoor tennis without paying for a membership.

 

Wimbledon Racquet Club

20250 E. 9 Mile Rd.

St. Clair Shores , Michigan 48080 (586) 774-1300

http://wimbledonracquetclub.com

Open Tennis

Fridays 7:30-10:00pm

$13 Members (doubles)

$18 Non-member (doubles)

$23 Singles

 

Eastside Tennis and Fitness Club

18201 E. Warren Ave Detroit, Michigan 48224

(313) 886-2944

https://www.eastsidetennisfitness.com

Fridays

Drills 7-8pm $10

Mixer 8-11pm (doubles)

$20 Members

$25 Non-members (Dinner included)

 

Franklin Athletic Club

29350 Northwestern Hwy

Southfield Michigan 48034

(248) 248-352-8000

https://www.franklinclub.com Organized practice

$40 (2 hours)

$32 (I ½ hour) Mon 7-8:30

Tues 6-8

Sat 12-2, Sun 11-1

 

 

Troy Racquet Club

3400 Civic Center Drive Troy, Michigan 48084

(248)528-3438

http://www.troyracquetclub.com/ Open Clinic

$39 Non-members Tues. 7pm-9-pm

Sat. 9am-11-am, 3pm-5pm (4.0 & above only) Sun 11am-1pm

 

Livonia Family YMCA

14255 Stark Road

Livonia, Michigan 48154

(734) 261-2161

http://www.ymcadetroit.org/livonia Organized Practices

$20/person

Sat. 10:30am-12:30pm Sun. 10am-12pm

Adult Tennis Mixers (Themed)

$25/person 7:30pm-10pm

November 24 – Give Thanks

December 22 – Seasons From Around the World January 12 – Tropical Mixer

February 9 – Valentine’s Day March 9 – St. Paddy’s Day April 6 – Spring Fever

May 4 – Cinco DeMayo

MCTC ORGANIZED PRACTICE

 

Motor City now offers an Adult Organized Practice at Wimbledon Racquet Club on Thursday evenings, 8:00pm – 9:00pm (Thanksgiving excluded). Practice is conducted by Dennis Royal. Weekly space is limited. Please contact Jesse Cleary (Jesse_Cleary@yahoo.com; (248) 205- 6018) to reserve your spot!

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SEMTA ADULT NTRP QUALIFIER

DECEMBER, 2017

THE ROAD TO THE NATIONALS

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MCTC FALL TENNIS PARTY

 

Our Fall Tennis Party is fast approaching and will be held at Wimbledon Racquet Club in St. Clair Shores once again, Saturday, November 25, 7pm – 11pm. The time has been moved forward one hour to accommodate our out-of-town guests. The tennis party is always a good time and features organized tennis doubles, a tennis lessons court, door prizes for early arrivals, food and refreshments, music and dancing, and card and board games. Ticket prices are $18 (Member/Player), $20 (Non-Member/Player), $24 (Door/Player), $8 (Member/Social), $10 (Non-Member/Social), $12 (Door/Social). For tickets, please contact Jesse Cleary (313) 205-6018, Burrell Shields (248) 701-3420, or Michael Banks at Professional Racquet Services (313) 863-1880. Get ready to hit and hustle!

 

MCTC CHRISTMAS PARTY

 

Come and celebrate Christmas with Motor City on Saturday, December 9, at the John Grace Recreation Center in Southfield, 7pm – 10pm. Attendance is free of change. Please bring a favorite dish that you wish all to enjoy. Despite “seasonal” weather, we will still be there with fellowship, food, and fun! We will also have our traditional “Ugly Christmas Sweater” Contest!

 

MOTOR CITY CALLS FOR TENNIS MEMORABILIA

 

Please don’t forget our call for historical memorabilia to archive our African-American tennis history at the Charles H. Wright Museum. Contact Zakiya (Doris) Hollifield (zakd@msn.com) or (248) 968-3782 or bring any offerings to any upcoming Motor City event!

 

MOTOR CITY FORMS MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS COMMITTEE

 

Motor City has formed a committee to address benefits that can be offered to club members. This committee is chaired by Jesse Cleary, MCTC Vice-President. Committee members are Gina Carter, Donna Douglas-Kitchen, Michele Hurst Burton, and Phyllis Johnson. Please contact one of the committee members if you have any membership benefits ideas.

 

MCTC MEMBERSHIP CARDS TO BE REISSUED

 

MCTC Membership Chairperson Phyllis Johnson will be issuing new membership cards to all new and existing members over the next several months. Please watch your mail.

 

MOTOR CITY SMASHERS COMPETE IN USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS

 

The Motor City Smashers, our 18 & under intermediate team, is competing in the Fall and Winter sessions of USTA Jr. Team Tennis. This is a Junior travel league which plays against other clubs in the metro Detroit area. Home matches are played at the Livonia Family YMCA. Matches began the last weekend in October; please view the match schedule on our website at www.mctc1929.org. We have 15 players currently signed.

Registration is currently closed, but if you have a Junior (2.5 to 3.5 Level) who is interested in participating, please contact program coaches David Warren (313) 778-2692 or Burrell Shields (248) 701-3420; an available spot may open. Non-registered players are welcome to attend our team practices on Sunday afternoons from 4 to 6 pm. A YMCA Community Membership is required to participate ($39/yr., one-time fee), and practice fee is $17 per player for two hours. Our Motor City Smashers have qualified for SEMTA District Playoffs in March four times out of the last six years!

 

Spectator support is greatly appreciated, so come and watch a match if you have the opportunity!

 

CERTIFIED TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS AND OFFICIALS NEEDED

 

Certified tournament directors and officials are needed to implement our objectives of increasing competitive participation in the metropolitan Detroit area. Training for officials can be done entirely on-line. Please contact Michele Burton, Executive Director at the SEMTA Office (executivedirector@semich-usta.com) (734) 421-1025) for additional details.

 

 

MOTOR CITY JOINS USTA NET GENERATION INITIATIVE

 

Net Generation is the new youth brand of the USTA for kids ages 5-18. Individual tennis professionals and coaches as well as tennis clubs and organizations are encouraged to register on-line for the program. Net Generation will make programs and play opportunities easy to find on-line for kids and parents since all will be included under one banner, accessible by a program or coach’s search. Additionally, all registrants must pass a Safe Play background check. Net Generation also offers a community partner link to schools and recreational organizations enabling them to receive complimentary equipment to run programs in conjunction with registered individuals and clubs (partnered schools and organizations must register). There are also features for grant applications, customized advertising flyers, and rebates to an on-line store. You will hear much more about this initiative in the future. Please visit the Net Generation website at www.NETGENERATION.COM for complete information.

 

72nd ANNUAL TRI-CITY TOURNAMENT RESULTS

 

The tournament was held at Farwell Field and Metropolitan Racquet Club in Detroit, September 2 – 4, 2017. The following is a list of winners and finalists:

 

Ken Prather, Detroit – Winner, Men’s Open Singles George Dixon, Cleveland – Finalist, Men’s Open Singles

 

Brooke Solomon, Detroit – Winner, Women’s Open Singles Genee Cosby, Cleveland – Finalist, Women’s Open Singles

 

Gordon Hawkins, Detroit – Winner, Men’s 3.5 Singles Vernon Readus, Chicago – Finalist, Men’s 3.5 Singles

 

Dennis Royal, Detroit – Winner, Men’s 50 Singles Herb Williams, Cleveland – Finalist, Men’s 50 Singles

 

Ernest Ndukwe, Detroit – Winner, Men’s 60 Singles Joel Whitworth, Cleveland – Finalist, Men’s 60 Singles

Nancy Gilbert, Cleveland – Winner, Women’s 60 Singles (Round Robin) Nate Barnett, Chicago – Winner, Men’s 65 Singles

Jay Anderson, Detroit – Finalist, Men’s 65 Singles

 

Claude Banks/Adrian Eisenhower, Cleveland – Winner, Men’s Open Doubles George Dixon/Nahee Jahaan, Cleveland – Finalist, Men’s Open Doubles

 

Alesia Jones/Kali Strickland, Cleveland – Winner, Women’s Open Doubles Genee Cosby/Claudia Oates, Cleveland – Finalist, Women’s Open Doubles

 

Jerry Johnson/Luke Windon, Detroit – Winner, Men’s 3.5 Doubles

 

Jay Anderson/Selwyn Mitchell, Detroit/Cleveland – Winner, Men’s 50 Doubles Jesse Cleary/Jeff Collins, Detroit – Finalist, Men’s 50 Doubles

 

Leonora King/Tena Kinney, Detroit – Winner, Women’s 55 Doubles (Round Robin)

 

Henry Bryant/Jerry Suthers, Detroit – Winner, Men’s 60 Doubles Ernest Ndukwe/Theo Ulinfun, Detroit – Finalist, Men’s 60 Doubles

Rhonda Flowers/Ann Martin, Cleveland – Winner, Women’s 60 Doubles (Round Robin) Kali Strickland/Hilton Naylor, Cleveland – Winner, Mixed 45 Doubles

Alesia Jones/Patrick Smith, Cleveland – Finalist, Mixed 45 Doubles

 

Claudia Oates/Selwyn Mitchell, Cleveland – Winner, Mixed 55 Doubles Ivy Amos/Edwin Amos, Cleveland – Finalist, Mixed 55 Doubles

 

 

MOTOR CITY WELCOMES NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS

 

Motor City salutes the following individuals who have purchased full memberships or renewals since July 1, 2017:

 

Charles Beckham                                                                             Tena Kinney (Lifetime)

Michael Bowman                                                                          Boston Oliver

Claudeen Cuthpert                                                                          Burrell Shields

 

Please remember that your membership fees help to support our annual programs and events!!

 

BIRTHDAYS

 

Happy Birthday to those members with celebrations from August thru December:

 

 

August	October	November
Clarice Billings	Jerry Butler	Gwen Butler
Manuel Wilson	Craig Orr Robert Taylor	Leonora King David Warren

 

 

If your birthday is not listed, we may not have it on file. If you wish to have your birthday included, please contact Burrell Shields, Motor City Tennis Times Editor-in-Chief, (248) 701-3420 (burrellshields49@yahoo.com).

 

PRESIDENT’S SERVE

By Burrell Shields INCREASING TENNIS PARTICIPATION

Greetings, Motor City Members and Friends,

 

The dominant theme for the upcoming year 2018 will be increasing tennis participation on two fronts: 1) Junior participation, which has declined particularly in the city of Detroit, and 2) Junior and Adult tournament participation as the number of players as well as the number of tournaments has declined steadily over recent years.

 

The Metropolitan Detroit African-American Tennis Summit plans to address Junior participation by targeting elementary schools and nearby tennis facilities in the city of Detroit and deploying certified as well as volunteer instructors to introduce those kids to the fundamentals of tennis at an early age. For tournaments, Southeast Michigan Tennis Association (SEMTA) plans to implement alternative format events which are quick, single-day competitions which do not require the commitment of an entire weekend. For young, developing players, youth progression events (ROGY –red, orange, green, yellow ball) will be an integral part of both efforts. The USTA’s new Net Generation initiative allows tennis coaches to register their facilities and programs on-line to receive complimentary equipment for instruction and to partner with other registered facilities such as schools and public recreation centers to obtain equipment for their needs. Also needed will be certified coaches, tournament directors, and officials to facilitate efforts.

 

Some reasons for declining participation are as follows:

 

1. Area has lost population. Due to recessions, people have moved away and/or cut back on their recreational time and spending. Smaller pool of players to choose

 

2. Cuts in DPS and PAL programs caused decline in tennis interest and

 

3. Demographics have shifted. Player support base in Detroit which existed back in the ‘70s and ‘80s has shifted to Southfield and Farmington Hills (similar to closure of Northland Mall).

 

4. Generation Gap in tennis which affects Juniors. Preceding adult generation did not embrace the game so that now their kids are not

 

5. We now live in a non-committal society. Children and parents are different. People have more activities competing for their time and more choices. The ease of technology has accelerated this. They are less focused and loyal. Parents are more lenient so that kids are in charge and don’t always make choices that are most

 

6. Efforts need to start in schools to increase awareness. Issues are that the schools want to run the programs themselves so they 1) take the ideas of qualified contributors and give them to less qualified staff members to run the programs, 2) participation is good as long as programs stay in the schools but difficult to get commitment to participate in external tennis

 

7. Culturally, tennis is considered not cool. Kids want to do what their friends are doing and most of their friends are playing other sports. It takes special kid to leave the pack and play tennis. Tennis has stigma of elite

 

8. Issues with interested players: focus, commitment, mental toughness, and split-parent living situations which hinder their development. Transportation and financial issues and difficulty for indoor playing time (courts). Expensive fees to secure public

 

 

We encourage Motor City members to promote the sport among their friends, relatives, and neighbors and to join the tennis initiatives being formed. Addressing these issues is just beginning. Reports from those initiatives will be featured in future newsletters.