In This Issue:

SMTC Club Championships Looking Back - 1992 DOUBLES STRATEGY CLINIC- SEPT. 27th 80TH GALA REPORT Ladder Director Notes Welcome New Members! Member Notes Board Position Openings

Election Time at SMTC Hot August Night recap and AUTUMN HAZE FRIDAY NIGHT - SEPT. 19TH ANNUAL OPEN BOARD MEETING, SEPT. 28TH Halloween Friday Night Event - OCT. 31 Rally for the Cure - Recap Fall of the Bastille - Recap Shadow Mountain Trip in Jan. '09

SANTA MONICA TENNIS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCTOBER 4TH AND 5TH, 11TH AND 12TH.

Hello everyone - before you start complaining that you cannot give up two weekends, one more time we are changing how events will be run. Again, we are trying to not compete with St. Monica Oktoberfest and the Jewish holidays so we are holding this event again in October.

I happened to look up September, 1992 newsletter to see what happened back then…there were five events - men's and women's singles, and men's women's and mixed doubles - at the A, B, and C levels and the entrants were reminded they could enter all three events, but they would have to play best-of three set elimination in one day…so be sure they had plenty of energy. They also expected to have over 100 entrants! The cost in 1992 was $7 per entry - wonder how much gas was at that time? In 1994, the same classes with the entry fee of $12 for singles and $16 per team for doubles. The newsletter listed that they had 364 members at that time. They also just rented two courts for open play ...some things do improve.

Back to our event, we will have all five events: Men/ladies' singles; men/ladies'doubles; and mixed doubles - 3.5's, 4.0' and 4.5's - minimum four entries to make the class.

• Schedule 10/4: 3.5 and 4.5 Men's doubles/ladies' doubles; plus all singles
• Schedule 10/5: 3.5 and 4.5 Mixed doubles, plus all singles (entrants that did not play on Saturday)
• Schedule 10/11: 4.0 Men's and ladies' doubles, plus remaining singles that have not played
• Schedule 10/12: 4.0 Mixed doubles and all singles finals

There will not be a loser's bracket - all events will be best out of three regular sets.

At this time, we are planning on having the annual dinner at Katherine Spetner's house...if there is any change, you certainly will be notified. If this is your first year as a member of SMTC, you can be assured that the dinners are well worth the money...it's a great time to socialize with winners…and a few losers!

Ron Elmer will be in charge of the men's events; Jim Castagnola will be in charge of the mixed doubles and I will be in charge of the ladies' events and I will collect all of the entries to make it easier.

The fee will be $35 per person for one event including dinner, second event will be $15 and the third event will be $10. See the entry form link below. Dinner only will be $20.

Click here for the entry form.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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Looking Back - SMTC, September, 1992

Bob Shubert, Mike Schmidt, and Bruce Janger were on the Open Ladder and Phoebe Neil and Sue Moore were on the Women's Ladder; Mixed doubles Phoebe Neil and Mike Schmidt, with Bob Shubert with someone who is not a member any more; Men's doubles lists Harry Weiss and Andrew Rubin in second place...they were also asking for more doubles players (ha). This same year, Brian Page and Christine Eppler became members...the club also had trips to Shadow Mountain and Casa via Mar. Jutta Ruehl was Vice President and Bill Nissley was Treasurer...they were still officers in 1994.

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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DOUBLES STRATEGY CLINIC - Reed Park - September 27th

We are going to give you a chance to sharpen your skills prior to the Club Championships by having this clinic. Many of you have expressed a desire to have clinics, so this is the first one sponsored by SMTC for a couple three years. We will have two sessions on this Saturday, with Kris Jordan and Ryan Krane, teaching pros from Mountain Gate Tennis Club, with one session from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock and the second session from 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock. We will take entries on a first come, first served basis for the first session with preference to members who have been active in volunteering (not board members) and no-one who is in the first session will be entered in the second session. We will limit the entries to 16 per session and have two courts for each session. I am sure there will be drills as well as strategy for where you should in place with your partner. Hopefully we will have enough entries so that we will only have SMTC members in the classes.

This is sponsored as part of our SCTA grant, so the cost is minimal - $10 per session. We are trying to find a Saturday available prior to 10/26 to have another clinic and we will have different instructors. Please be sure to send your email address with your entry form. Thanks!

Click here for the entry form.

- Marguerite

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80TH GALA REPORT

WHAT A SWELL PARTY WE HAD!!! The day of competitive round robin tennis was topped by the Gala of the Year! The Gods provided a gorgeous day and the Tahitian Terrace a beautiful site for a sunset dinner overlooking the bright Blue Pacific. We also want to thank Jacqui Schmidt for providing the fabulous venue!

The tennis tournament seemed to be a prelude to the party, which had three divisions, surprisingly enough! We eked out 20 - 3.5 men and women (thanks to a couple of former members who volunteered and filled in at the last minute); 24 - 4.0 men and women - who all showed up; and l6 - 4.5 men and women, for a total of sixty players!

Winners were: 3.5 women: First - Diane Brooks; second - Dori Wilde; 3.5 men - First - Dan Zeidman; second - Rob Baumann; 4.0 women: - First - Carol Reston; second - Jutta Ruehl; 4.0 men - First - Ron Elmer; second - André Charvet; 4.5 women: First - Phoebe Neil; second - Jillian Mayer; 4.5 men - First Mike Schmidt; second - Raul Hernandez. We need to especially thank Ron Elmer and Jim Castagnola who stepped up and ran this tournament. Ron also brought the water, Gatorade and refreshments...what would we do without him!

Between courses of a delicious and plentiful dinner provided by Silver Spoons, four past presidents were honored as guests: Sue Hannan, Jutta Ruehl, Brian Page and Elizabeth Dorzback. (At the last minute, Ian Kimbrey could not attend but he promised to be there for the 100th.)

Katherine Spetner not only provided the beautiful and colorful center pieces, but she also had the many spectacular raffle prizes wrapped and ready to present. Raffle tickets were drawn by Andrew Rubin, as M. C. with assistance from Harry Weiss between food courses. The grand prize of two box seats for Indian Wells of afternoon and evening performances for three days was won by Randy Chow (well deserved) and the four box seats at the Countrywide matches at UCLA was won by David King. The two night stay at Shadow Mountain was won by a contributor. We had over $5,000 worth of prizes and wish to thank all who contributed.

The winners of the 3.5 and 4.0 divisions received special trophies - a crystal tennis ball on a marble stand, which effectively commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Santa Monica Tennis Club. At the time the trophies were ordered, we did not have any entries in the 4.5 division, so two people accepted cash and two people generously declined trophies. The trophies were presented at the Gala dinner.

We danced to the enticing rhythms of music furnished by our own members, Brian Page, Mike Schmidt and Jimmy Dale. We were even feted with a number by Elizabeth Dorzback. We certainly do have talent in this club. Marguerite Jorgensen oversaw the whole day's and evening events, in her usual "Energizer Bunny" fashion.

- Patti Kingston and Brana Hall

(Marguerite, and SMTC, owes a debt of gratitude to the co-chairmen, Patti Kingston and Brana Hall, along with Katherine Spetner, for putting together a memorable and appropriate celebration. Many, many thanks to them for their hours of work and attention to detail. I also want to thank everyone who lent a hand to help see that everything was ready, and cleaned up! These include Jim Castagnola, Randy Chow, David King, Carmen Grant, our ticket takers, Patti Kingston and Dori Wilde, our raffle ticket sellers at the Gala - Mary Sunshine and Gwendolyn Coleman, and our bartenders - Bruce Schelden and Eric Rabinowitz. If I forgot to list your name, please forgive me. The 80th Gala was much easier for me than the 75th Anniversary! After all, SMTC is the same age as the Oscar's and..the Culver City Bus Line.)

If you have pictures of the Gala and would like to share them, please let us know as we need new pictures for the website.

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NOTES FROM THE LADDER DIRECTOR

Click here for the ladders page.

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Welcome New Members

• Brys, Laura  310-820-0260  3.5
• Cornish, Phyllis  760-285-1401  4.0
• Desai, Sujay  860-977-1542  4.0
• Feig, Eric  310-383-2693  4.0
• Gilpatrick, Josh  310-279-3193  3.5
• Goldstein, Jennifer  310-656-0961  4.0
• Greacen, Carmella  310-642-1964  4.0
• Guitian, Carla*  310-312-4000, ext 06001  4.0
• Kush, Wendy  310-999-8004  3.0
• Kuzmanovic, Natasha  310-383-0145  4.5
• Lynch, Nick  10-827-7760  4.5
• Meyer, Stephanie  310-508-5726  3.0
• Outten, Todd  310-736-5151  3.5
• Reiss, Robert  239-253-6564  3.5
• Tucker, Robert  925-595-3371  4.5
• Yamaji, Hiroko  310-382-6671  4.0 (F)

*returning member - glad you are able to play again, Carla.

Correction phone # Tossolini, Claudia - 310-444-7947

- Marguerite

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Member Notes

Harris Levey would like to have any upper level player that is interested in mid-day, mid-week play to please contact him @ 310-822-9067.

Several of our members have left this area, one long-time member, Beverlee Longstreet has moved to Portland, OR, however she has kept her same email address if she shared it with you. We certainly will miss her! Beth Lacaeyse moved to Chicago to better her career.

One that will be really missed is Jeff Potts who moved to the Midwest to be nearer his children. He says he is out here every six weeks but did not say if he would be here to play tennis. Obviously he can still be reached via email and his local phone number.

Jillian Mayer reported that she has left for Europe but will be back in October.

One of our members, Terry Barris, was fortunate to attend the Olympics in China, however she now has a knee injury, so it will be awhile before she can tell us first hand what it was like!

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BOARD POSITION OPENINGS

Two board members have resigned - Carrie Gold, Membership Director, who needed to spend more time on her career and David Ullum, Tournament Director, Friday night specialist and great Sunday court monitor, for personal reasons. Do we have any volunteers to take their place?

- Marguerite Jorgensen

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ELECTION TIME (SMTC that is)

The country is having a general election and SMTC is having a minor one. Our by-laws call for nine directors and five are elected one year, then four the next year. The terms expire on 12/31...however when a director resigns we have the right to fill that position now. We are currently in need of a Membership Director and a Tournament Director…however the Tournament Director would not have to be in charge of the Club Championships...unless they are very experienced.

As of 12/31/08, the term of Marguerite Jorgensen, Eric Rabinowitz, Gwendolyn Coleman and Bruce Janger will expire. The board members that will remain are Bruce Schelden and Ron Elmer. The positions on the board are filled by the directors, not the rank and file members. The form to file for a director can be downloaded by clicking here...so this is your chance to make a difference...be on the board and make decisions...help with events...you do get your membership for free - what a perk that one is. Jump on in, the water's fine!

- Marguerite

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"A Hot August Night" recap, and AUTUMN HAZE FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 19TH

Once again our monthly Friday night social affair brought together 24 members of our club for an evening of tennis. Several different members participated and some challenging matches resulted. Those participating played five rounds of tennis, switching partners with each round. Among the men, Luc De Schepper and André Charvet won 28 games. They were the "big" winners among the men. Bob Shubert followed with a total of 26 games. I will not mention the name of the player that only won 8 games. Claudia Tossolini won 32 out of 40 games with her partners. She was the "top dog". Carol Reston followed with 29 games. Interesting fact that all the women finished with totals of more than 8 games. Remember: We can't all be winners, but we can all enjoy the contests in tennis.

(This Friday night was not the usual third week of the month due to the Rally for the Cure tournament being on the third Saturday of the month.)

Once again, El Chollo became the hot seat of the social circle. The evening ended with all having a good time.

- David Ullum

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AUTUMN HAZE FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 19TH
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We will have all the Reed Park courts available at 7 o'clock - if 24 people are available for this social event. (Actually 22 people as I already have two entries!) It will be a round robin mixed doubles with the tennis balls, soft drinks and snacks…all for the low cost of $12 per person, so please come on out for this event.

It is a good occasion to meet other members of the club besides the regulars that come on Sunday...so please join us.

Click here for the entry form.

Thanks - Marguerite Jorgensen

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ANNUAL OPEN BOARD MEETING, SEPTEMBER 28TH AT JOSLYN HALL, REED PARK 4 O'CLOCK

Hello everyone - this is your chance to come and tell the Board of Directors your opinion of what you think that has happened to the club that is good, or tell them what you think is bad. Speak up - this is a club of almost 180 members, with a very small board of directors, so they need your input. It is conveniently located next to the courts, so you can come over after you play your last match!

You will hear the minutes of the last Open Meeting and you can ask your questions/present your suggestions, etc.

Thanks in advance!

- Marguerite Jorgensen, President

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GET OUT YOUR BROOM - FRIDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 31ST

Trick or treat - this is our night to show our 'ghostly figures' of some sort - costumes are optional, but they are fun...prizes to the best ones (not just ribbons this year), so come to Reed Park at 7 o'clock and let's have fun...and some tennis...the usual round robin...or maybe we can surprise you with something different.

Send in your entry with $12 to Marguerite Jorgensen, 560 E Channel Road, Santa Monica, CA 90402. (If someone else volunteers to do this, I will let you know the change of address....hint, hint).

Click here for the entry form.

- Marguerite

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Rally for the Cure - Recap

On August 16th, 28 members participated in the Rally for the Cure event. This event supported the Susan G. Komen for the Cure - breast cancer awareness program. Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 40 - 59. Those that participated raised more than $600.00 for continued research in the field. The Rally for the Cure presented a gift bag to each participant, plus a magazine choice from the Conde Nast Publishing Co. went to each participant.

A morning session was held in which 12 members participated. They played a mixed doubles format for three hours, switching partners after each round. At the end of play 2 members were tied with 21 games. Mary Sunshine and Gisel Nachtigal than played a tie-breaker for the top prize. Gisel won and took home the prize of a back pack.

In the afternoon session, 16 members participated. Using the same format, they enjoyed delightful games. After 3 hours of play, four individuals, Mike Germroth, Ted Malek, Jim Castagnola, and Ron Elmer, tied with 21 games. Because of the time limit, they were not able to play a tie-breaker. It was than decided to present the final prize to Carmel Valencia, with 20 games. Carmel took home a lovely tote bag.

Once again a great time was had by all and a nice contribution was given for breast cancer research.

- David Ullum

(Comment from Marguerite: To my knowledge this was the first charity tournament that SMTC had hosted for quite some time. The results were disappointing as this was open to all tennis players, not just SMTC members and we did not have any outside entrants. The lesson learned was that we have to advertise much earlier and contact other clubs earlier. The UCLA event for this same cause has over 200 entrants and minimum entry is $500 at least!)

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Fall of the Bastille - Recap

On July 15, once again, the club's monthly Friday night social event took place. 24 club members, 12 men and 12 women, enjoyed a pleasant evening of social mixed doubles. All of those participating enjoy themselves . Hopefully some different players will participate and enjoy the event.

The big winners of the event were Carol Reston, won 27 games, and David Morton, won 33 games. After the games, many retired to El Chollo's. Here they discussed the line calls and other aspects of the games. I encourage many of the other members of the Club to sign-up for future "Friday Night Affairs".

- David Ullum

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SAVE THE DATE...Gwendolyn Coleman is planning a trip to Shadow Mountain, Palm Desert, January 16th and 17th ...can be extended to the 18th...more details later.

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