In This Issue:

Hello Tournament Recap Honorary Membership for Lou Bock Friday Night Affairs in March and April The SMTC "DL" New Board of Directors Mountaingate Interclub - April 6 Interclub Notes

Ladder Director's Notes w/Grand Prix Points Welcome New Members Annual Block Party - May 18 Shadow Mountain Trip Recap SMTC 80th Anniversary Gala - July 18 PAL Tournament - May 5 Memorial Day Weekend Trip Planned Dudley Cup Just Added - Westchester Interclub

Important Notes:

• Joseph Hanania resigned as the Editor as of 12/31/07, so for now, we are using articles written by the Board of Directors, or anyone else that would like to have an article published. We will not have as many editorials, but we do promise to have articles on events, past, current and future. If you want to help, please feel free to contact me @ mjorgensen@nettleship.com or call (310) 454 2408. Thank you for your understanding.
  
  
• The Westchester Interclub was rained out February 24th – it will be rescheduled later.
  
  
• Check out the new photo gallery!

- Marguerite Jorgensen

"Hello Tournament" - Recap

SMTC certainly took a chance this year when we announced this would be held two weeks early so it would not interfere with watching the Academy Awards. Fortune smiled on us and we had perfect weather for the 48 participants (after some last minute scrambling due to an injury cancellation and a very late cancellation due to another commitment). As you may remember, the two previous Sundays were both rained out.

There were two sessions of twelve men and twelve women and most all told me they had a very good time! In both sessions, we played six rounds of eight games, for a total of 48 games and finished almost on time. In the morning session, we had a few injuries - a new member, Joe Thigpen, came to play after not playing for fifteen years and unfortunately ruptured his Achilles tendon and he will be in a cast for a few weeks, so my able assistant, Jim Castagnola, came to the rescue and played the last two sets. Carole Jablon, another new member, fell and sprained her wrist however, she finished the tournament. We had a guest, Steve Caresky who came courtesy of Rob Baughmann who helped fill the roster. We had seven brand new members play with us, including Diane Brooks, the SCTA chairperson for this area. The winners received trophies for the first and second place, with a ribbon for the third place person. The morning division lady winners were: Mary Sunshine, first place; second place Sue Moore by one game; and third place was our Membership Director, Carrie Gold. The winners of the men were: Rob Baughmann, first place; Terry Bernardi, second place (his first tournament with SMTC) and third place ribbon winner was Dan Zeidman (another relatively new member).

The afternoon session also had fierce competition, but luckily no injuries and the competition was just as fierce! We did have one guest, Cece Walsh, who helped fill in for the injured person quite capably. Thanks to the generosity of a few people waiting and our Park Director, Keith Neal, we again were able to complete the six rounds. The afternoon lady winners were: Claudia Tossolini, first place, Anna Zohn, was second and Carol Reston was the recipient of the third place ribbon. The afternoon men winners were: Mike Germroth, first place (good to see you back), Jim Castagnola was second, and the third place ribbon winner was Randy Chow.

We went to a new restaurant (first time for the Hello Tournament) Buca di Beppa and the restaurant were slightly overwhelmed when forty-three people appeared there to be fed...straggling in from one-half hour to one and one-half hours late! Luckily, our Social Director, Brana Hall came to be sure that everything was as promised and that we were charged the quoted rates. Brana was our savior for the club's treasury!

I want to thank Jim Castagnola for his assistance in calling and filling the player's roster and taking on the task of choosing and arranging for the nice trophies; David Ullum for bringing ice and bananas and Bob Shubert for fetching more ice when needed! I also want to thank everyone for playing and for sending compliments on having a good time. It was really nice to have a full house.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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Honorary Membership Given

One of the items that was processed last year by the Board of Directors and never reported is that Lou Bock was finally given his well deserved life time membership in SMTC. He was presented a certificate in an appropriate frame and seemed quite pleased. Lou has given freely of his time with tips, lessons and history of the club. He is especially fond of assisting 2.5 and 3.0, as well as 3.5 members with special instructions for an hour on Court #6 on Sunday afternoon. Let us know if you are interested and we will see that this happens!

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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Friday Night Affairs - March 14 and April 18

"The Friday Night Affairs" have been one of the clubs more popular social events. Generally this activity will be held on the 3rd Friday of each month, but it is not written in stone. There will be 12 men and twelve women. First come, first "served". The event will begin at 7:00 PM and will continue until 10:00 PM. After the event, members will be encouraged to continue the social aspect by adjourning to a local restaurant or bar.

There is no set standard of ability level and all members are encouraged to sign up.The format will be "round-robin" with each participant playing against other member. Balls will be furnished and members are encouraged to bring their best attitudes and other essentials to make the evening enjoyable.

The first social event, "The Ides of March", will be held March 14th. Be sure to sign up!! David Ullum, 8708 Falmouth Ave, Unit 308, Playa del Rey, Ca 90293

• The Ides of March - March 14th, 2008
• April Showers - April 18th, 2008
  
  Click here for the entry forms.

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THE SMTC "DL"

It seems as though some of our members have injuries:

Carla Guitian had shoulder surgery; Phil Berman broke his wrist, Cyrus Namini had an injured knee; Joanie Rippner is still on the injured list; Gillian Cook is still recovering from her knee surgery, but promised to be able to play by April; and Brana Hall, our Social Director, is recovering from rotator cuff surgery. A long-time member, Marie Lafayette, is coming back after having double hip replacement surgery! Good luck to all of them - heal fast.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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INTRODUCING THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carrie Gold, Membership Director
Carrie Gold comes to us from Long Island, New York and has called Santa Monica her home for the last 5 years. Carrie has been a member of the Santa Monica Tennis Club before joining the SMTC board and has enjoyed close friendships with several active tennis enthusiasts.

Carrie invites all members to drop by (hopefully) to the tennis courts for a big WELCOME. Carrie currently works as a Registered Nurse and has two adult children. Carrie also belongs to the USTA and is an avid tennis player.

Brana Hall, Social Director
It is my pleasure to serve on the SMTC Board as chair of social tournaments and events. My husband, Ron Hall, and I have belonged to the club for over 10 years. We have attended many SMTC trips and have enjoyed the tournaments and Sunday open play. I have captained ladies and mixed USTA doubles teams over the last 15 years. I underwent rotator cuff surgery in December, 2007 and, unfortunately, cannot play tennis until June, when I hope to return to the courts.

I work as a legal assistant in Beverly Hills. Aside from tennis, my other hobby is playing bridge, I am a Life Master bridge player and play in local clubs and tournaments. I have 2 married sons and 5 grandchildren who live in northern California along with 2 stepchildren and 2 step grandchildren who live in Reno.

Tennis has brought me some wonderful and close friendships, many of whom are SMTC members. I am looking forward to being part of planning SMTC's 80th anniversary tournament and gala party to take place on July 13th , 2008.

David Ullum, Tournaments Director
David Ullum is returning to the board again after a brief sojourn to the Bay Area. David's bio appeared in the February/March/April issue in 2007, however, a brief synopsis is that he was a decorated Viet Nam vet; a retired school teacher in Indiana with 31 years experience and moved to the Los Angeles area in 2003. He coached high school tennis in Indiana also and is the one who marks where he wants to serve on the courts.

Ron Elmer is returning to the board as Interclub Director (we are happy to have him back).

Gwendolyn Coleman remains as Trip Director.

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WE GO TO MOUNTAINGATE AGAIN

April 6th is our third trip 'up the mountain' for this interclub. I am sure the competition will be fierce again this year because we beat them so soundly last year. (Their top teams were away at the USTA regional matches.)

We will have four teams of 4.5's; four teams of 4.0's and four teams of 3.5's. The format will be the same, two rounds of mixed doubles and one round of same sex doubles. We will have lunch at this beautiful setting to complete a good day. It is advisable that you sign up with a partner of your choosing. Entry fee is $25 per player.

Click here for the entry form. Send your entry to: Marguerite Jorgensen, 560 E Channel Rd., Santa Monica, CA 90402

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OTHER INTERCLUB NOTES

Marina City Club interclubs have been postponed due to construction on their courts. Richard has promised that he will call to re-schedule when the courts are available.

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NOTES FROM LADDER DIRECTOR

Bruce Janger won the ladder points crown again for 2007. His 540 points edged out Andy Shore, who had 350, and Cyrus Namini, who tallied 300. Only one woman played a ladder match of any kind in 2007, and she only played one, so there was not a prize for the women. (But at the Hello Tournament dinner, there was talk of women playing singles to revive the Women's Singles Ladder.)

Patti Kingston and Sue Moore now hold the number one spot on the Women's Doubles Ladder simply by being there; they are the only team. But they don't want to remain at number one by default; they want someone to challenge them. Aren't there two ladies who think they can compete with them? Patti and Sue are two of the nicest people in the club; win or lose, you will certainly have an enjoyable match with them.

- Bruce Janger

Katherine Spetner	700	Dan Bianco	200	Fitzroy Sammoth	60
Philip Berman	680	Carol Reston	160	Vrej Azadian	60
Joe Hanania	625	Eric Rabinowitz	160	Bernadette Cosgrove	60
Cyrus Namini	620	Carrie Gold	160	Ron Hall	60
Bruce Janger	620	Gwen Coleman	160	Brana Hall	60
Mary Sunshine	560	Carol Katz	160	Raymond Lopez	50
Lucienne Aarsen	480	Bob Shubert	160	Nafiz Cekirge	40
Raul Hernandez	400	Steve Dorman	120	Hai Vu	40
Ted Malek	380	Alex Clarke	120	Jerry Zamarin	40
Russell Braunstein	380	Barbara Osborne	120	Mike Germroth	30
Jim Dekel	380	Mary Durkin	120	John Raiss	30
Andy Shore	350	Bill Roberti	110	Brian Page	30
David King	350	Mike Schmidt	110	Samantha Barnett	10
David Morton	320	Jeff Potts	105	Marvin Krakow	10
Yosh Kambe	320	Richard Levik	90	Henry Guerrero	10
Ron Elmer	320	Bill Denecour	80	Paul Suchecki	10
Jim Metzger	210	Sherry Harrison	80
Andre Charvet	200	Gisel Nachtigal	80
Marguerite Jorgensen	200	Bryan Chen	70
Harry Weiss	200	Rick DeWeese	60

Click here for the ladder.

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Welcome New Members

• J. Terry Baris   310-288-3289   3.0
• Bruce Beddoe   310-457-1274   3.0
• Thomas Boysen   310-992-2894   3.5
• Nafiz Cekirge   310-488-8963   4.0
• Carrie Cho   650-619-1777   3.0
• Jennifer Goldstein   310-656-0961   4.0
• Darren Himeles   310-729-7721   5.0
• Ninja Jorgensen   323-938-7766   3.5
• Dayne Katz   858-245-9979   5.0
• James Landreth   312-953-5056   3.5
• Carol McCright   323-293-3519   3.5
• Liz Middlebrook   310-393-6030   3.5
• Kaveh Moazzami   734-276-2238   4.0
• Kathy Reilly   310-815-1112   4.0
• Kyle Schleicher   310-395-7535   4.0
• Joe Thigpen   310-899-0125   3.5
• Claudia Tossolini   310-444-7947   4.0
• Roy Ulrich   310-892-9462   4.5
• Andrew Whittome   310-393-6030   3.5

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SAVE THE DATE: Annual Block Party

May 18th - the second annual Block Party will be at Reed Park, hosted by SMTC and the city of Santa Monica, along with USTA, SCTA, Tennis Patrons, SMOHI and SMCollege Tennis Team. Since we had the learning experience of last year, we will make this one bigger and better. Again, since we are a co-host, we urgently need the participation of SMTC members to assist in this event. Last year, we gained five new members, so let's do better this year.

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SHADOW MOUNTAIN TRIP

Our Club has successfully completed our Shadow Mountain trip, the first for 2008. As a new Board Member and now the Trip Director, I took on this challenging job with the only expectation that I could corral enough brave people to join me on this maiden voyage. I have been told by many of you that the trip was really great, and I am grateful for those encouraging responses.

The trip was fun because the people have decided to have a good time and roll with the punches, I thank all of you who were so gracious and patient with me, as I rowed through a few stormy patches, but all in all I was thrilled with the outcome. I learned a lot, and that is a wonderful thing. I know now what I will definitely repeat some of the different ideas I tried out, on this first trip of mine. I had some ideas, I was told, that really added to the fun. We had glorious weather, (I can't take credit for that.).. but we also had glorious tennis, parties, dinners, and fun in the jacuzzis!

We had twenty people attend the trip to Shadow Mountain in Palm Desert, it was perfectly even, ten men and ten women. Our wonderful much-loved member, Gillian Cook, joined us for our Saturday night dinner at the restaurant, and that was a bonus! (It also brought us to lucky #21 for dinner.)

I am proud to mention the outcome for the tennis from Saturday and Sunday. The winners for the 4 ROYALS left standing on the top court of "KINGS AND QUEENS OFTHE COURT, our Sunday finale tourney with prizes WENT TO MICHAEL SPARNO, KATHERINE SPETNER, KATHY RILEY AND MARY SUNSHINE. I also want to mention the highest score for Saturday's round robin event went to Shirley McClaine, always a top competitor no matter what format we play! Congratulatory gifts were also given to Shirley, since she too was our big winner for the weekend games. I think everyone out there was a winner, and I salute you all for such high level tennis and decorum. We are a very special club

I want everyone to know that I had fabulous help, and could not have done this by myself! Our President - Marguerite Jorgensen, was amazing, as always, thank-you many times over. And I think your driving is superb!

Also, my heartfelt thank-you to Carol Reston. Wow! Carol made the "schleps'" with me for all the food and drinks, and then she creates the world's greatest original guacamole and made our second cocktail party a huge success. Add in those ice-blended margaritas, made by Gillian, another thank-you!, and it all worked out so perfectly. I beg you Carol, please, give me that recipe- or promise to keep making that guacamole! Fantastic!

I think that wraps it up, Yes, I returned to Katherine Spetner her lost bathing suit...how she lost it?? Nobody knows! What happens in Shadow Mountain stays in Shadow Mountain!

Again, my heart-felt thank-you to all of you who took a chance and joined me for our first trip of 2008, please come again, the welcome mat is out.

I am working hard at prepping our next trip for May. It will be again, a three day weekend, May 24,25, and home Monday, May 26th. I have been told by most of you that you will be joining us on this next trip: That would be so wonderful, and I would look forward to having you all back for the next adventure, with me doing my best, come May in the Del Mar/San Diego area. I am letting you know that the plan to go to Morgan Run is still being considered, but not my solid choice. They are under massive Construction and there will be no pool, no jacuzzis, no kitchen for me to make the cocktail parties or the continental breakfast, and these factors seem important to me. I may be wrong. This is where I need your input on this decision, not just my feelings.

So please let me know your thoughts. Morgan Run still has our rooms and the tennis courts available for me to lock in and book. I am aware that Morgan Run has been a huge favorite for many years. I don't want to fix something that "ain't" broke! I only l want to make a correct and informed decision. After all, this is your Club and your trips. So please speak up, let me know your priorities, I only want to do what works best for you, the members of the Santa Monica Tennis Club. Understand that the trip is ON! I do have other choices, well in the works that I believe will accommodate all my criteria and still keep the price where it would have been at Morgan Run. Our Club Will be traveling in May for the Memorial Day weekend, so let me know as early as you can if we can count you IN for trip #2. I look forward to a great turn-out and a really good time for all of you who decide to join us!

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Save the Date: 80th Year Gala - July 13, 2008

This is the 80th Year of SMTC and we are having a Gala! We will have a tournament and a party…no, not a party, a Gala. The co-chairs for this event are Brana Hall, our Social Director and Patti Kingston, a long-time member of SMTC. These ladies know how to plan a successful event, so please let them know which committee you would like to serve on….AND…if you have talent (as many of you do) you can plan on singing, dancing…or whatever..to entertain the rest of us.

Some of the committees are:

• Beer, wine, soft drinks and water…including providing ice for same
• Entertainment. (We would like to have a band of our own capable members)
• Catered food
• Table decorations
• Paper goods, plates, napkins, “silverware”, and cups. Garbage bags too!
• Raffle items
• Coffee set up
• Set up (Be there 2 hours ahead of event)
• Clean up (For as long as it takes!)
• Disposing of garbage and recycling bottles and cans

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PARENTS AGAINST LEUKEMIA (PAL) TOURNAMENT - MONDAY, MAY 5

This tournament is in the 27th year of raising funds for the leukemia research and has been supported by SMTC and various members most every year...so again this year we are asking you to support this worth while cause. Please note the raffle prizes on the entry blank. The tournament is played on many courts, including some on the Westside and then a grand luncheon is held where the court winners are announced. There is also GREAT shopping in the various booths and displays. Last year over three hundred ladies/gentlemen entered, so send your entry in early and have fun.

Please send your entry with $60 direct to: PARENTS AGAINST LEUKEMIA c/o Joyce Schmidt, 11741 Odessa Ave., Granada Hills, CA 91344

Click here for the entry form.

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Save the Date - Memorial Day Weekend Trip

Save the date for our second trip of the year – Memorial Day weekend to the San Diego area – three days.

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Dudley Cup in April

The Dudley Cup junior tennis tournament will take place at Reed and Ocean View Parks on April 5, 6, 11 and 12. This historic 92 year old tournament is one of the oldest on the circuit and this will be the first time that the competition will happen on the weekends instead of after school. It is named after Santa Monica Mayor Dudley and has featured many of the big names in tennis -- Billy Jean King (Moffit), Andre Agassi, Tracey Austin, Pete Sampras and more recently Logan and Austin Hansen. The kids love an audience! So, come out and watch!!If you want to give a helping hand at the tournament desk, contact tournament director Bill Nissley at whnissley@hotmail.com.

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WESTCHESTER INTERCLUB APRIL 20TH!!!

We've scheduled an Interclub with the mighty Westchester Tennis Club at Reed Park on Sunday, April 20th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. And, just to show you what a bunch of swells we really are, we're even offering a promotional price for this home event to (and we blush to admit it is this low) a mere $15.00!!!

We've only got eight spots, though. Soooo, fill out the entry form and sign up fast!!! As always, first come, first served.

Click here for the entry form.

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