In This Issue:

Newsletter Changes Friday Night Tennis March 23 Standards and Sportsmanship A Vision for SMTC Ladies/Mens Doubles Tournament May 20 New Board Member Bios Join the Board City Personnel Gets It Right! Parents Against Leukemia Doubles Tournament May 21

Hello Tournament Recap Interclub Tournament at Riviera June 10 Photo Contest Notes from the Ladder Director Tennis Trips Morgan Run Trip May 26 - 28 New Members Mountain Gate Interclub May 5

New Newsletter Look, And Other Changes

Beginning immediately, you will find changes in our newsletter and website meant to address two ongoing problems.

First, since many members have (alas) not been reading our newsletter, they have been unaware of upcoming Club activities, and not participating. Second, we also hope to lower newsletter costs, while also achieving better results. So, we have made the following changes.

Distribution of our newsletter, which comes out every other month, will be at the beginning of the two month period.

To help achieve this goal, we have expanded this February-March newsletter to also include April. The next (May-June) newsletter will be come out on by May 15th. The July-August newsletter will come out July 1st, and every newsletter after that will come out the first of every other month.

Freedom to play with the newsletter format - adding colors and photos and a mix of articles - comes from our going on-line - giving the newsletter a more exciting look and feel.

The annual membership booklet will soon be replaced with an on-line listing, cutting down printing and distribution costs - which run upwards of $400 a year. This will also provide an effective way of keeping membership lists current. SMTC members will be able to log in with a password to a website and look up the same information which is in our current booklet. We will advise you as this project moves closer to completion.

A publicity campaign to raise the Club's profile is being launched. This program will include an ad in the Santa Monica Seascape/Recscape, where city tennis classes are listed. Rich Rollins and other City officials have generously donated space for our ad, which we anticipate will help bring in new members.

Also, member Jeff Potts has designed a beautiful poster, which we have weatherproofed and hung on the bulletin board at Reed Park. If the design looks familiar, yes, Jeff also developed many of the Budweiser beer ads. (To see more, go to JeffPottsdesign.com).

We have a second, identical but smaller poster on display in the window of First String in Santa Monica, a racket restringing shop - so if you patronize that store, thank 'em for providing this free service.

We have additional 8 1/2 x 11 posters which need to go up at various tennis-related venues, and we need your help - yes, you - in distributing them. Should you have access to such a venue, please ask a Board member for a poster.

Above all, we would like to see our membership transform from consumers of our product to advocates of the Club. Thus, whether an idea comes from the Board or from an individual member, we'd like to see everyone help enforce good conduct, spread the word about our Club, and help put together Club events. To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy - and with apologies - "Ask not what your Club can do for you. Ask what you can do for your Club."

- Joseph Hanania

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Join Our Friday Night Affair

Please join us for our Friday night affairs - which are mixed doubles from 7 - 9:30 p.m. at Reed Park. These will take place the third Friday of nearly every month (unless there are five Friday’s in the month).

Last year, our affairs sold out even in advance at full price. To inaugurate our 2007 season, however, we are halving the price a full 50% to a mere $5.

No, that was not a misprint! That's a one-time only deal - our way of saying welcome back.

There are only 24 slots, so it's best to sign up early. And bring a guest (or two or three) with you - all for the same low, low price of $5 apiece - payable in advance, of course. So, see how interesting your Friday nights can be! All under Reed Park's bright new lights.

Get the entry form.

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New Committee to Deal with Behavior Problems

In a striking departure from past practices, the Club has formed a Standards and Sportsmanship Committee. This Committee will handle complaints of poor behavior during Open Play or other club events, freeing the Board to pursue other Club business.

The new Committee consists of (in alphabetical order) Bruce Janger, Jeff Potts and Katherine Spetner. Both the Board of Directors and the Committee members are serious about ensuring that the fun of playing tennis with the club isn’t spoiled by the conduct of a few.

We all hope that the Committee will have nothing to do. Let’s just enjoy the game, and allow others to do the same.

- Bruce Janger

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A Vision For SMTC

As we head into spring, we would like to reassess why many of us participate in Santa Monica Tennis Club, and what many of us hope to gain out of it.

Tennis started out as a gentleman's game. The game - and society - has evolved far from its origins, but the idea of gentlemanly - or gentlewomanly - conduct, also called sportsmanship, remains. And the Club would like to renew our commitment to this, which many of us consider even more important than how well we hit the ball. Thus, we would like to recommit ourselves to a three-part vision which includes:

- Good Sportsmanship. Anyone who has lost a match after repeated bad line calls or disputes over the score knows the bad feeling this leaves behind. Anyone who has won under such circumstances knows that the "victory" rings hollow. It is up to each Club member to be responsible for his own behavior. It is not up to Club officers to referee such disputes.

Good sportsmanship also involves showing up in a timely manner, honoring one's commitments to play, and waiting one's turn when others are signed up for Open Play. It's okay to take a "pass" and wait for the next available game. It's not okay to cut ahead in line. Blatant or repeated violations will be referred to the Club's Standards Committee.

- Diversity. We urge all members to extend a genuine welcome to new members, realizing that they are the life blood necessary for the growth of our Club, while also committing ourselves to respectfully treating players of all races, genders, and backgrounds. One of our greatest strengths is our diversity, which has only grown over the last several years. Therefore, harassment or deliberate rudeness directed at any player for any reason will not be tolerated.

- Healthy Fun. For nearly all of us in the Club, tennis is a recreation, not a vocation. We come to have fun, relieve daily tensions, develop friendships, exercise, and improve our athletic abilities. While winning is fun, it should not come at the cost of our other goals.

The Club is publicly recommitting itself to these goals in this new season, and we hope that all who join us have fun. See you on the courts!

- SMTC BOARD

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Ladies/Mens Doubles Tournament Ahead

Okay! Okay, we heard you already, all of you who felt miffed that we dropped the Men’s Ladies Doubles the past couple of years. (What were we thinking?)

So, back by popular demand – the Ladies/Men’s doubles tournament gets reborn May 20th. You can enter either with a partner or as a single player, as the format will be round robin. For more details, please see our next newsletter – or check out our web page at: www.santamonicatennisclub.com.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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Insider Info On Your New Board

We at the SMTC board realize how difficult it is for participants at Sunday Open Play to tweak the rules in their favor. Why, for example, do the rules unfairly mandate against cutting to the head of the line?

So, to even up the odds between the (totally innocent) players, and the (not so innocent) new Board members watching them, and under the theory that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, we are providing brief bios of our new Board members, in alphabetical order.

JOSEPH HANANIA - was born in Baghdad, and moved to the United States with his family at age 2. He majored in American history at Cornell University, and got an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, where his Master’s thesis was about the evolution of jazz.

He became a reporter, writing first for the Philadelphia Inquirer, then the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. He has also written documentaries for CBS-TV and for HBO, while also teaching screenwriting and journalism at UCLA Extension and at the New School for Social Research in New York.

He took up tennis about 15 years ago, principally to get more exercise, but got hooked enough on the psychology of the game to write about it for the LA Times. After voting as an expatriate in the 2005 Iraqi elections, he wrote up his experience for the LA Times. This was the seed for his just-completed book about growing up Iraqi-American Jewish.

He speaks French, Spanish, along with a smattering of English – and is SMTC’s Interclub and Publicity Director.

CAROL RESTON - has lived in Santa Monica for many years and thoroughly enjoys this city and all it has to offer. She recently retired from an accounting profession and is looking forward to having even more time to play tennis. She took up the sport for the first time a few years ago and is an avid player with other clubs and groups as well as SMTC.

As Membership Director, she hopes to work with the other members of the Board to increase membership participation in tournaments and other activities SMTC offers. She welcomes your input and ideas.

DAVID ULLUM – Anyone who participated at the last Sunday Open Play supervised by David knows who he is. When one player on the “wrong” side of the net disputed a call, he had to contend with this Viet Vet, who loudly told him that how to call the ball was up to the opposing team – ending the dispute, right then and there.

David was born in Lebanon, Ohio, and graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BS in Education. At 26, he was drafted into the armed forces and served 14 months in Vietnam, where he was highly decorated for valor. After teaching for 31 years in Ohio, he retired – to go to work for the airlines.

He moved to the LA area in 2003, is now enjoying total retirement, and hopes to improve the Club during his tenure on the board as Social Director.

HAI VU – If you want to know California’s best surfing spots, just ask Hai. On the tennis courts, all the muscles he developed surfing – and hanging ten – translates into an opponent who can run down nearly every ball.

Hai also has over 14 years experience in both the equity and fixed income investment industry – and until last year was a Vice President in Equity Research for Jefferies & Co. in West L.A. (His Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from UCLA in 1993 didn’t hurt there). He is also a member of the American Mathematical Society – which is how he figures out all those excruciating angles to make his opponent run as much as possible – while Hai sips pina coladas at his end of the court, and smiles. He’s new. He’s dangerous. Watch out!

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Share in the Glamor! The Power! The Prestige!

Lucky for you, the Board has some last minute openings. So join us and help direct the Club.

Opportunity is knocking - so will you answer? Or will you sling your head and have future regrets at the difference you could have made - if only others had listened to the brilliance, the charm, the genius of...you...as an SMTC Board member?

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City's Tennis Personnel Gets It Right!!!
(No, That Doesn't Mean They're Backing Jerry Falwell)

We at SMTC all love to belly ache about how city personnel sometimes muff things. Oh, do we love to belly ache!

But how about when city personnel go out of their way to get it right? Do we then go mute, like one of the Marx brothers - Harpo, I believe? And even Harpo wasn't totally mute - didn't he have his horn to honk out yes or no?

So, we at SMTC are also taking out our horn - and reprinting an open letter sent to Rich Rollins, the man in charge of the city's tennis program. All the players - plus Russ Braunstein - are in SMTC.



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Parents Against Leukemia Doubles Tournament

SMTC is supporting the Annual Parents Against Leukemia Doubles Tournament on May 21st this year. Please help back this worthwhile cause by contacting Midge Reisman (818) 789 7224 or Dorothy Meyer at (818) 545 8008. Featuring not only great tennis, this 25-year old event also includes a lunch and a silent auction to help in a wonderful cause.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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Hello, I Love You (Won't You Tell Me Your Name?)

The Hello Tournament started off looking grim for Jeff Potts, who stood on his side of Court Four – alone. His assigned partner had not shown up, while lined up against Jeff were Joe Hanania and a mystery tournament guest.

Now, two to one odds seemed fairer to Joe than it did to Jeff. Still, Jeff was proud of his loyalty to team and to country. A real patriot he was, remembering the Alamo, and intent on collecting enough points to help his beloved side win. He could not, would not let them down merely because the odds were against him.

And then came the turnaround a la "24," - with, with tournament organizer David Ullum filling in for Jeff’s missing partner. And the mighty combo of David and Jeff smashed their once giddy opponents 8 to 0.

Yes, it was truly a day of upsets at the annual Hello tournament, where cloudy skies cleared just in time for the tournament to proceed, with participants divided into two teams. Carol Reston and Ron Elmer were the queen and king of the tournament, Carol winning a mind-numbing 33 games, while Ron won 29. (Can the matchup Reston vs. Elmer be far behind? Can female strategizing overcome brute male strength? Watch this space!)

After the Crushers crushed the Smashers, all retired to Earth, Wind and Flour for dinner and drinks. There Vrej Azadian and a tournament guest whose first name was Trish – and whose glass slipper we are still holding – chose the most winners in the Club’s Oscars contest, guessing in advance who the Oscar winners would be.

- David Ullum

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The Riviera Invites You (Yes, You!)

Courts at the Riviera

Sure, it was tough to get them to play against us. After all, SMTC’s rep as a tough club to beat is known far and wide. But the Riviera Club finally decided to take a chance.

The showdown: Sunday June 10th.

At: the (posh) Riviera Club at 1250 Capri Dr., Pacific Palisades 90272. (Take 26th Street to Sunset Blvd, make a left to Capri and you’re there. Or, see it on the web at www.therivieracountryclub.com.

Twelve of us will be entering the Lion’s Den for this one - all for a mere $25 apiece.

Sunday, June 10th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an informal meal to follow.

First come, first served; you snooze, you lose.

Please send check payable to SMTC, together with the entry form to: Joseph Hanania, 500 California Ave. #14, Santa Monica, Ca. 90403.

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Unleash The Artist Within!

This is your big chance to explore your artistic side in SMTC’s 2007 photo contest. Any tennis-related photo qualifies – a player looking aghast at having just missed the ball, or celebrating having won a match. Your dog chewing on a tennis ball – or racket. Whatever – if it involves an element of tennis, we’re interested. (Please ID participants).

We will publish the best entries in the newsletter. Please submit photos, preferably in a JPEG file or other E-Z to open internet format to hanajoe@aol.com. If you have no internet access, please submit photo via snail mail to Joseph Hanania, 500 California Ave. #14, Santa Monica, Ca. 90403. Photo will be scanned into the internet – but it’s best if you do this on your own.

Many thanks – and let’s see which Club members have the best i-ma-gi-na-tion.

- Joseph Hanania

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Notes From The Ladder Director

Bruce Janger pulled another shocker and won the 2006 men’s crown for most ladder points with 500. Andy Shore was second with 330 points, followed by Allan Greenberg with 195. Bruce’s 500 points were barely enough to win the men’s Grand Prix point crown, edging out Park Liu’s 490. Had Park played one more ladder match (and won it), he would have taken the gift card for winning the Grand Prix.

Stacie Murray took the women’s ladder points crown with 110. No one else had a total worth mentioning.

You may have noticed the absence of the Women’s Singles Ladder. Well, it can easily be restored. It only takes two women playing a singles match. When the result is reported to me, the winner is number one, followed by the...er...runner-up at number two.

- Bruce Janger
Click here for the ladder.

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Unwind With Plush, Low Cost Tennis Trips

After 17 years on the board as trip director, vice president and president of Santa Monica Tennis Club, including 7 years as trips director, our own Jutta Ruehl is branching out on her own, adding new elements to her tennis outings. Destination resorts, which include swimming pool, jacuzzis, and other amenities, will continue to be in a 2 1/2 hour driving range of Los Angeles. Because Jutta is getting group rates, prices will remain moderate.

Thus, although her trips will continue to include a complimentary happy hour and dinner, plus court rental time, the weekend price will roughly be the equivalent of an individual booking a room for the weekend without these extras.

To find out more, please query TennisTripsLA@aol.com. This is affiliated with, but not a part of, SMTC.

Her next trip - to the Pierpont in Ventura County from March 30th through April 1st, has already sold out, so if you're interested, best to sign up early for the still open trip to the plush Morgan Run Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, May 26th through May 28th. Members from other LA tennis clubs will also be participating.

- Joseph Hanania

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Luxury Memorial Day Weekend at Morgan Run Resort
May 26 -28

Morgan Run Resort

Morgan Run is a beautiful Boutique Resort and Private Country Club in San Diego's affluent Rancho Santa Fe area. Set amid majestic hills, embraced by perfect weather, it is one of the country's most exclusive destinations with newly remodeled rooms and Spa which transform a weekend trip into a luxury vacation. TennistripsLA invites you to join us. $276.00 per person includes two nights (double occupancy). Also included:

• 2 1/2 days of organized tennis.
• An Interclub with the Morgan Run Tennis Club.
• Complimentary happy hour.
• Sunday night dinner at an Ocean Front restaurant.

More details available at www.morganrun.com. To join in, please contact Jutta Ruehl at TennisTripsLA@aol.com, or call 310-208-6882. by May 1.

Click here for the entry form.

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Welcome New Members

• Clarke, Alex 310-455-8720 – 3.0
• Herscovitz, Moshe* 818-693-8400 – 4.0
• Holzman, Harold* 310-822-4822 – 3.5
• Johnson, Peter 310-559-1969 – 4.0
• King, David 310-996-0291 – 3.5
• Kirkpatrick, Kevin 310-570-3038 – 1.5
• Lessing, Arnold* 310 452-1742 – 4.0
• Marcum, Paul 310-463-6000 – 3.5
• Meraro, Aviv 310-775-9255 – 3.5
• Nissley, William 310-453-3009 – 4.0
• Pooley, Allyson 310-393-4740 – 3.0
• Weiner, Leah 310-770-8107 – 4.0
• Williams, Liz 310-670-4853 – 3.0
• Yibin, Shen 847-477-4993 – 3.0

*Returning members

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Mountain Gate Interclub

Save the date for the Mountain Gate Interclub on May 6th – we will have twelve teams – 4 -3.5’s, 4 – 4.0’s and 4 4.5’s. This is a repeat of last year’s event and we will be served lunch. Great price – two hours of tennis and lunch $20. So get your partner ready, and if you do not have a partner, we will try to find you one!

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