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News / Newsletters

Some of our news is on the Home page. Scroll down on that page to see several key articles.

The newsletters below contain the rest of our news.  Click a newsletter subject to open up that newsletter.

Our club also uses Facebook for unofficial and social inter-member communications. Sometimes, sudden play or clinic changes are also announced on Facebook. Only SAPC members are granted access to our closed group on Facebook.  Follow us on Facebook.

  • Newsletter May 26, 2021

    2022-05-26 15:23 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Shirt and Ball Sales

     Questions - Pickleball Brackets

     Missing Balls 

     

    Shirt and Ball Sales 

    Once again, the Club is selling shirts and balls to members this summer.  Details can be found on the Club's website on the Home Page.  

    Sharon Sinclair, Yvette Webster and Ivy Mung displayed the club shirt at the Rating Clinics on May 7.   Several shirts of various colours and in two styles (t-shirt and polo) will be displayed at other events this summer and sold online.   Watch for upcoming news of these displays and sales. 

    Rosemary Pon's sales team will also be displaying balls for sale this summer.   The club will sell two different types of outdoor balls and one type of indoor ball - all online.   Each set of three balls will go for $12 plus GST - please note that in order to keep prices low, members will have to pick up their purchased balls at one of the times that will be advertised.

    When the sales start, these items will be available in the Store page of this website.   Members will have to log in to make their purchases, but note that these are not for members only.  Club-labelled shirts make great gifts for family and friends as they are of great quality and last "forever"!

    Once again, watch for updates on the Club website and visit the sales team when you seem them at Alpine this summer.


    Questions Regarding Ladder and Tournament Play

    As you have likely noticed, the Club is standardizing on the use of Pickleball Brackets for organizing and coordinating ladder and tournament play. 

    As we transition to these new systems, many members have experienced issues, have questions, want to make suggestions, etc.  Rather than send these to the Communications personnel at SAPC or to our Board members, we ask that you communicate directly within Pickleball Brackets.  Please just login to Pickleball Brackets and do the following:

    Ladder Play

    For ladder play (shootouts) for both women's and mixed play, click on Leagues and search for the SAPC League that you are enquiring about.  I would suggest that while using the Search feature that you choose Canada, Alberta and the keyword "Ladder"; click on the SAPC League that applies and on the next screen click on "Contact League".  A Request Form will pop up that will populate with your personal information such that you just need to choose your Contact Reason and then enter your question or comment in the "Comments" section.  Note: another way to navigate to the Contact League form is to go into "My League Schedule", click on the left hand (Date/Time ) side of the play session which takes you to session details, click on "Back to League" and then click on "Contact League".  Easy peasy, right?

    Tournament Play

    For tournament play click on Tournaments and search for the SAPC Tournament that you are enquiring about.  I would suggest that while using the Search feature that you choose Canada, Alberta and the keyword "SAPC"; click on the SAPC Tournament that applies and on the next screen click on "Contact Tourney".  A Request Form will pop up that will populate with your personal information such that you just need to choose your Contact Reason and then enter your question or comment in the "Comments" section.  Note: another way to navigate to the Contact Tourney form is to go into "My Tournaments", click on the appropriate tournament and then click on "Contact Tourney".  

    Missing Balls

    Please note that we are experiencing a problem with missing balls early into our outdoor season at Alpine.  As you are likely aware, our captains are responsible for tracking ball use and to ensure that all SAPC balls that are brought to each play session are accounted for at the end of that session.  All balls must be returned to the captain at the end of each play session including any balls that may have been damaged during play - DO NOT throw out those balls.  Despite these reconciliation procedures, our captains have noted four balls missing in the just last few days of play.  If you continue to play on after the scheduled completion of a club play session, please do so with your own ball(s) after returning any SAPC balls to the captain as soon as the bell is rung.  Our captains should not have to be chasing players nor conducting a scavenger hunt for balls at the end of each play session!

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter May 6, 2022

    2022-05-05 10:01 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Tournament Registration Reminder

     Kindness to Captains

     Youth Membership Pricing 

     Rating Policy Changes

     Alpine Calendar Change

      

    Tournament Registration 

    Just a reminder that registration is now open for the following St. Albert tournaments:

    SAPC Summer Kickoff Tournament - June 4th to 5th; Members only

    SAPC Pickle Party Tournament - July 15th to 17th; Open, Sanctioned

    Registration for these tournaments is available on the Pickleball Brackets website and includes a small registration fee.  Once you have created/logged into your PB Brackets account, just click on Tournaments and, if necessary, use the Search filter (narrow by choosing Canada/Alberta) to find these SAPC tournaments.  Spots are filling up fast so act now!


    Kindness to Captains / Outdoor Play

    Please note that our captains have the right to cancel schedule club play due to inclement weather or wet courts.  The decision of the captain is final and should not, under any circumstances, lead to members treating the captain/co-captains with disrespect, nor challenging their decision which is made in good faith and for the health and safety of our members.

    Should a captain decide that play will be canceled due to poor court conditions (excessive water for example) or due to current or forecast rain, the captain will post that information on the Facebook page of the Club which is a private Facebook group for Club members.  If you are an active member of the Club and do not currently belong to that Facebook group you should seriously consider joining because that is where the cancellations will be posted.   If Club play is cancelled, members may choose to play (as public play with their own balls), but will do so at their own risk.  Once again, however, it is unfair and unacceptable to be rude to captains under any circumstances and certainly not because they have called a stop to play or stopped it before play starts.  You should know that on many occasions, our captains make the journey from all areas of St. Albert to check the conditions at Alpine in order to assist them in making a call on whether play can safely proceed.

    On another note, it is great to see our courts filling up as we all come out to play!   Kudos to the captains for a smooth roll out of our outdoor play sessions.   It is heartwarming to see our experienced volunteer captains taking the new captains under their wings and show them the procedures!  Way to go all of you and - THANK YOU!!

    Youth Membership Now More Attractive  


    Pickleball is becoming more popular across all age groups, and your club is pleased to do what it can to accommodate and encourage pickleball play among our youth.  These are our kids and grandkids -- the future of pickleball!   While we work on better policies to protect youth and try to get more courts and more court time in St. Albert to accommodate youth play, we are also moving on other fronts.   The latest is a reduction of our annual membership price for youth -- it is now only $10 per year. 

    Please note that youth members who already meet our skill rating qualifications can play in most of our organized play and in tournaments, along with adults, as long as they are accompanied by a pre-identified "Responsible Adult".   

    We encourage players of all ages in our community to enjoy this sport that we love!

    Rating Policy Changes 

    Historically, SAPC asked new members to provide information on their initial intake form regarding existing club ratings, tournament ratings, etc.   We have determined that this process is inefficient and requires updating as noted below.

    Furthermore, given that we have started to attract more members who are already members of other clubs, and many who have a Canadian Pickleball Tournament Rating (CPTR), those realties require that we rethink our past processes.

    Going forward, new members who want to have their SAPC club rating updated to reflect ratings from other clubs or their CPTR rating are required to send an email to rating@pickleballstalbert.ca detailing the request along with the required documentation for the change.  All of the details around using other club ratings is provided on our website at https://www.pickleballstalbert.ca/Skill-Levels-and-Ratings .

    A few items to note: 

    • The CPTR rating is only based on play in pickleball sanctioned events. This is different from the rating that Pickleball Brackets provides for all games that play on their platform.  Please review the latest email from Pickleball Canada for details on that nuance if you are interested.

    • SAPC has made the decision that a CPTR rating is only considered valid if the player has played 10 games or more (all sanctioned of course).  The rationale for this is that a player's rating can be skewed by the fact that the rating methodology begins with what can be a somewhat arbitrary self rating.  After 10 games, we believe, the results will have become more statistically valid and are a truer representation of a player's competency and skill level.

    • The St. Albert Club on Pickleball Brackets is not automatically connected with our membership system.  For club purposes, the https://www.pickleballstalbert.ca/ system is considered the system of record.  We attempt to keep the two environments updated, but old eyes sometimes fail; as such, patience is encouraged.  

    • Finally, if you are a recent new member to our club and have a current CPTR rating or outside rating, we encourage you to confirm your current rating on the club website under your current profile (see top right corner of the site) - https://www.pickleballstalbert.ca/Sys/Profile and follow through with the ratings team at the aforementioned e-mail address if adjustments are required.

    WhatsApp Groups to Facilitate Communication 

    Please be advised that the Club will be adopting a plan to improve communication amongst its members.   Lisa Mueller has agreed to take on the volunteer role of Social Media Coordinator for SAPC (welcome Lisa!!).  Lisa is already managing the Club's aforementioned Facebook Group including approving requests to join, approving and posting  materials/articles, etc.

    Beginning shortly, Lisa will be sending out invites to members to join WhatsApp groups that are specific to their rating level.  Accepting this invitation will be optional but is strongly encouraged as it will allow you to receive instant notification of important information specific to your rating group (eg. a cancelled play session).   If you do not already use WhatsApp you should be aware that it is a free app that can be downloaded in minutes on your smartphone (I-phone or Android).  Many SAPC members are already using WhatsApp for groups that they have created to coordinate play and communicate amongst each other so they are very familiar with this simple to use communication tool.

    Alpine Calendar Change 

    Please note that the Round Robin on Tuesday evening will be changed to 3.0+ so anyone rated 3.0, 3.5 4.0+ can come out to play.  

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter April 25 2022

    2022-04-25 14:13 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    In this issue:

     June Fun Tournament  Summer Shootout Registrations
     Referee Clinic   Sales Volunteers Needed (T-shirts)
     Summer Outdoor Play Schedule     

    June Fun Tournament

    Our club will be hosting a fun round robin tournament on the June 4/5th weekend.  Play will be mixed couples on Saturday and Men's and Women's doubles on Sunday.  We will be having a social on Saturday after play is done.  The format will be round robin and you can enter with a partner or, if you do not have one, enter without and you will be paired up. Cost will be $10 per person and registration will open April 29th on Pickleballbrackets.com at 6:00 pm.


    Summer Shootout Registrations

    Ladies Only 3.5 plus Shootout - For the first time, we will be having a ladies only shootout on Monday evenings at the Alpine Courts from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.   Ladies will need to sign up on Pickleballbrackets.com under the league tab.   The cost will be $10/person for the whole season which is to recoup the costs charged by Pickleballbrackets.  Registration opens on April 29th at 6:00 pm.   Please read the notes on the site regarding sign up dates and times for each week.

    Mixed 3.5 plus Shootout - We will once again be having a mixed shootout Wednesday evenings at Alpine from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.   You will need to sign up on Pickleballbrackets.com under the league tab.   Cost will be $10 for the whole season which is to recoup the costs charged by Pickleballbrackets. Registration opens on April 29th at 6:00 pm. Please read the notes on the site regarding sign up dates and times for each week.


    Referee Clinic  

    We will be hosting a pickleball referee clinic on June 11th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  There is no cost to take this clinic.  If you are interested in becoming a pickleball referee or would just like to learn the rules please contact Ken Dentzien at kendentzien@gmail.com to register for the clinic. There will be some reading material and a couple of online tests you will need to do before the clinic as well.

    Sales Coordinator / T-Shirt & Ball Sales

    Your club is pleased to bring back our very popular T-shirt  and ball sales this year.   Are you inclined to help out?  Would you like to volunteer for any of the following?

    1.    Join the sales team to:

    •  Staff a sales table to help with order decisions (i.e., selection of shirt sizes) and to dispense balls
    •  Distribute shirts

     2.    Lead the sales team as Sales Coordinator and:

    • Develop a vendor order for more of the gorgeous blue logoed  T-shirts
    •  Research and design a second, equally gorgeous, SAPC -   logo'd shirt, perhaps with a collar
    •  Plan the distribution and reconciliation of orders
    Most of this work is basically "once per year", though we could have a second round of ball sales this fall.  These are some of our easiest jobs in SAPC in terms of time commitment AND they give you an opportunity to connect again with old friends and make new ones.  Training is available for all positions, and actual sales (order taking and payment) will all be done online for the team.  If you are interested, please send an email to Ray at Treasurer@pickleballstalbert.ca using the subject line "Sales Team".

    Summer Play Schedule 

    The Summer play schedule has been finalized and is available for viewing on the SAPC Website.  The courts assigned to the club are 1-2-3-4-7-8-9-10-11-12 except on the weekends. 

    For new members you just go to the website and under Calendars you will find Outdoor Calendar .   Under that tab , you will find the Alpine Court Calendar.   If you click on the play time you are interested in joining,  it will state what courts have been assigned to that play session.   This is important to note, especially when the courts assigned to play are shared between levels.

    As always, please note that the Calendar will be fluid and may be adjusted based upon usage.  For example, we may begin with a time slot having ten courts assigned to 3.0 level play, but if we consistently only have 16 or so people showing up that would mean that six courts are not being used;  the schedule could then be changed to share those unused courts with  another rating level.

    As such, we recommend that you always check the calendar before going to the courts, especially in the months of May and June when most adjustments will be made.

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter April 20, 2022

    2022-04-20 14:17 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Pickleball Canada Zoom Meeting  Sanctioned Tournament - July
     Outdoor Play   Player Safety 
     Red Willow Closure   Meet and Greet 

    Pickleball Canada Special Meeting

    As you may be aware from e-mails you have received from Pickleball Canada, there is an upcoming Special Meeting as follows:

    SPECIAL MEETING REMINDER
    Date:  April 26, 2022          Time:  6:00 p.m. ET

    The SAPC Board strongly urges Members to read the materials associated with this meeting and to participate via Zoom if at all possible.  To review the meeting materials (Motions, etc.), click on Meeting Materials .

    In order to attend the virtual Special Meeting and be eligible to vote, PCO members must register in advance of the meeting by completing this form by tomorrow's  registration deadline of April 21, 2022.   Make sure your email address is correct as the ballots, voting instructions, etc. will be emailed to you.

    The Voting Instructions, Zoom link and password will be provided to registered members prior to the meeting.  In addition, registered voting members will be receiving a test voting ballot via email, 1 – 2 days prior to the meeting, from vote@simplyvoting.com.  Please be on the lookout for this message and participate in the test vote.  Check Spam/Junk if not received.


    Sanctioned Tournament - July 15th to 17th

    Our Club is hosting its first sanctioned tournament July 15th to July 17th.  The tournament is called the SAPC Pickle Party Tournament and registration opened on pickleballbrackets.com on April 1st and is filling up fast; so click on the above link and register if you haven't already - it will be lots of fun!

    Running a tournament involves a large group of volunteers to make the tournament a success.  If you are interested in volunteering and haven't done so already, please contact Ken Dentzien at kendentzien@gmail.com.  Some of the tasks we will need help with include, registration desk, scoring desk, snack table, set up and tear down, first aid, announcements, referees (we will be hosting a referee clinic), court maintenance, prizes and sponsorships. 

    As noted previously, these tournaments are a great way to meet and socialize with other Club Members and pickleball enthusiasts whom you may not have had contact with during your regular Club play.   From past experience, we can state with confidence that you will meet nice people, have tons of fun and good food and, maybe, even come home with a medal!

    Outdoor Play

    We know that many of you are anxious to play outdoors as soon as the weather cooperates.   As you may know, the outdoor courts at Alpine and Larose are already open and available for you to coordinate your own play at any time.   In terms of scheduled outdoor Club play, we are still waiting to have the Club's court usage assigned from the City of St. Albert.   Our plan is to have the schedule posted shortly so that we can start scheduled play on Sunday, May 1st - keep your fingers crossed.  As soon as the schedule is available we will be sending out an e-mail to advise all SAPC members. 

    By the way, we need more captains for outdoor play.  We still need captains for all levels so a team of at least two can be in place, but without more 3.0 captains or captains for "ALL" sessions, we will not be able to offer scheduled outdoor play times for members at these rating levels.   If you are willing to be a captain it would be very much appreciated by the Club and your fellow members.  Please express your interest by sending an e-mail to venuemanager@pickleballstalbert.ca .

    Player Safety 

    A couple of player safety items to note:

    1.   We want to remind members that the wearing of masks off the courts while playing inside is still recommended and should not be discouraged.

    2.   It is also recommended that members consider wearing safety eyewear while playing; we have had some recent incidents that have caused minor injuries, but believe it or not those little yellow balls can cause a lot of damage if you "take one in the face/head".

    Red Willow Closure 

    Please be advised that Red Willow Church is closed for registered Club play on April 25th and 26th as they will be using the gym to store furniture while they clean the carpets throughout the church. 

    Meet and Greet 

    Come join your pickleball friends at a “meet and greet" at the Crown and Tower pub in St. Albert on May 14th at 6:00 pm.  Plan to come for supper (and a beverage or two!) as the food is good and the company will even be better.   If you think pickleballers are fun on the court, you should see them at the local pub!

    If you are interested  please email Val Gartner at  garnet3@shaw.ca before May 7th so that she can makes reservations for our group.

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter March 24, 2022

    2022-03-21 11:23 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Tournament Volunteers Needed   Other Volunteer Roles   Available
     Red Willow Registered Play -     Cancellations   Sticker Ordering for SAPC Play
     Outdoor Play - Membership Cards  

    Tournament Volunteers Needed

    As announced previously,

    Thanks to the work of your Board and Ken Dentzien, we have lined up some summer and fall Tournaments.   While these dates are still subject to change, we want to give our Members a heads up so that you may save these tentative dates in your calendars:

    SAPC Summer Fun Tournament - June 4th to 5th; Members only

    SAPC Pickle Party Tournament - July 15th to 17th; Open, Sanctioned

    SAPC Fall Fun Tournament - September 10th to 11th; Members only

    As noted above, our Club is hosting its first sanctioned tournament July 15th to July 17th.  Registration opens on pickleballbrackets.com on April 1 at 6:00pm. For those of you who have not set up a profile on pickleballbrackets please do so before the registration date as some events fill up very quickly. 

    Running a tournament involves a large group of volunteers to make the tournament a success.  If you are interested in volunteering please contact Ken Dentzien at kendentzien@gmail.com.  Some of the tasks we will need help with include, registration desk, scoring desk, snack table, set up and tear down, first aid, announcements, referees (we will be hosting a referee clinic), court maintenance, prizes and sponsorships. 

    Once again, these Tournaments are a great way to meet and socialize with other Club Members whom you may not have had contact with during your regular Club play.   From past experience, we can state with confidence that you will meet nice people, have tons of fun and good food and, maybe, even come home with a medal!

    Other Volunteer Roles Available

    Speaking of volunteering (for Club Tournaments), there are always many opportunities to volunteer at SAPC.

    In addition to volunteer roles for tournaments as noted above, we can always use some help in other areas including:

    •  Communications team

    •  Financial team
    •  Social team
    •  Captains for scheduled play 

    As noted in our last Newsletter, if you are interested in any of these please:

    • specify them in your membership profile, and
    • contact a club director,  manager or coordinator in your area of interest (these names can be found on our website on the Teams and Committees page under Members which you can access from this link).

    Some specific roles which are currently vacant include the following:

    Ombudsperson for Club Members.  This role involves getting involved in complaints or concerns raised by Members that cannot be resolved to the Member's satisfaction through normal processes.  While rare, there are circumstances where Members feel that their concerns are not appropriately addressed by contacting SAPC management/directors.  In those cases, if a Member wishes, they can bring their concerns to this Ombudsperson in order to evaluate their concerns, understand the response from SAPC management and try to mediate the process in order to result in a mutually agreeable resolution.

    A person who may have interest in this role should have superior social, communication and empathy skills with the ability to view a situation independently and provide innovative solutions for resolution.

    If you feel that you fit this role, please reach out to one of our Nominating Committee members being Kevin McClean kmcclean@telus.net ,Gerry Gartner gerrygartner@shaw.ca and our latest member (welcome to the team!!) Jenna McCully Jmccully23@gmail.com

    Facebook Coordinator for the Communications Team.  This role currently includes the following activities:

    • Admitting members to the Facebook (FB) group, after verifying their membership
    • Annually removing people from the Group if they haven't renewed their membership
    • Scanning posts to ensure compliance with club FB guidelines
    • Maintaining backup and successor resources

    If you like to socialize, are familiar with social media technology such as Facebook and Whatsapp and like to post messages and share information on such platforms, this role may be ideal for you so please contact the Communications Director at communications@pickleballstalbert.ca .

    Finally, if accounting/administration is your thing we also have a vacancy for the Financial Coordinator role which reports to our Treasurer.  Work on the finance team can be adjusted to suit the interests of the individuals on the team, but some experience with spreadsheets and/or bookkeeping are essential along with a keen interest in using computing technology.  An example of a small finance team job that could be quickly assigned is that of receiving all sign-in sticker sheets each month and entering values in a spreadsheet that the Club uses to track sticker use and help re-allocate underutilized play times.  If you have interest in this role, please  contact Ray Keroack at treasurer@pickleballstalbert.ca so that he can provide more specifics on the role, activities and time commitment.

    The success of our Club hinges on the volunteer activities of our Members and we are very thankful for all those who have volunteered in any capacity in the past and encourage others to volunteer in the future -  remember this is YOUR Club!

    Registration / Cancellation for Reserved Play

    When you register at Red Willow and the session is full you can decide to add your name on the waiting list.  If you do this, it is very important that you check your e-mails right up until the start of the event because a member can cancel at any time (try to avoid late cancellations as noted below).  If a member cancels, you will automatically receive an e-mail that you are now registered.  Therefore, if you don’t check your e-mails, you won’t realize that you are in the system and expected to play at Red Willow for that session.

    If you need to cancel from a registered session please do so as early as possible to allow time for the above process to take place and another interested Member to register for the session.   

    Follow the following instructions to Cancel your reserved play registration:

    • Log into the SAPC website.
    • Click on the event in the calendar. It will take you to the event description page.
    • On the left side the event description it will have the words in red "Already Registered". Click on this link.
    • On the next screen click on "Cancel Registration". You will get a pop up that will ask you, "Are you sure you want to cancel your registration?" Click on "Cancel Registration."

    You will receive an email confirming your cancelled registration.

    Some reservations may not be cancellable or may only be cancellable by emailing an administrator.   Please read the event description to learn of these possible exceptions.

    Ordering Stickers for Play

    Some Members have been asking about our sticker ordering process.  The main thing you should know is that it is prudent to order stickers while you still have a small supply left on hand - say enough to cover 1 to 2 weeks of play based upon your usual playing schedule/habits.

    While our website indicates that you should allow a three week window for the receipt of stickers you have ordered, Members usually receive the stickers within a week (or two at maximum) under normal circumstances.

    Despite numerous requests, we have determined that it is impractical to arrange for sticker pick up (our volunteer time is precious and in short supply).   While we understand that new Members are anxious to play once they have registered, we continue to ask for patience in receiving their first sticker order and then to utilize good planning to replenish their sticker supply thereafter.  While we don't recommend this, some Members may be willing to borrow or give another Member a sticker or two at a venue if you're "stuck", but there is no guarantee this will happen and we certainly wouldn't want Members to rely on such generosity.

    Upcoming Outdoor Play / Bring Membership Cards

    We know some of you may be getting anxious to play outdoors even though the snow still swirls.  We have no idea yet when the outdoor courts will open but we ask that you remain patient and stay tuned.  What you can do to get ready for the outdoor season is to print or download your 2022 SAPC membership card if you have not done so already.  That card must be generated from the Wild Apricot system on our website to indicate that you are a paid member for 2022.  Captains will be asking for this soon as some former Members still have not renewed.   Instructions to print your membership card are as follows:

    1.  Sign into the SAPC website and click on the head/shoulder icon at the top right corner of the screen.

    2.  Click on “View Profile”.

    3.  On the next screen you will see your membership card.

    4.  Follow the instructions below the card to print off a pdf copy of your card.

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter February 10, 2022

    2022-02-10 14:32 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Changes to Covid Restrictions   Registration/Participation - AGM 
     Save the Dates - 2022 Tournaments   Update Your Profile / Volunteer 
     Member Account Credits    Club Play   

    Changes to Covid Restrictions

    As you are probably aware, the Premier of Alberta announced changes to Covid related restrictions earlier this week.  The restrictions exemption program has been terminated so play captains will no longer need to see your QR code nor inquire about your vaccination status.  Until masking requirements change, we still expect members to wear masks indoors while not engaged in pickleball play.

    The SAPC Board believes that this may now be a time for healing our divisions and coming together both literally and figuratively.  It has been a long two years and we can all now breathe a little easier.  What we have done as a society has worked reasonably well, especially as compared to other countries around the world; if a more serious Covid strain emerges we now know what must be done and we will make any necessary changes to our policies at such time to best protect the health of our Members while also respecting their individual rights.

    Registration and Participation - AGM

    The Board encourages all Members to register for and to participate in the Annual General Meeting which will be taking place on Zoom at 7 pm on February 16, 2022.  The Agenda for the meeting can be accessed from the SAPC website by accessing this link.   In order to participate in the Zoom meeting, Members will need to register on line which you can do by accessing this link (you can also access this link from the e-mail invitation you should already have received). Click on February 16th on the Meetings Calendar and follow the Registration instructions from there.  Once registered, you will receive a Valentine's Day gift - a link to the Zoom meeting which will occur 2 days later.

    Save the Dates - 2022 Tournaments

    Thanks to the work of your Board and Ken Dentzien, we are starting to line up some summer and fall Tournaments.   While these dates are subject to change, we wanted to give our Members a heads up so that you may save these tentative dates in your calendars:

    SAPC Summer Fun Tournament - June 4th to 5th; Members only

    SAPC Pickle Party Tournament - July 15th to 17th; Open, Sanctioned

    SAPC Fall Fun Tournament - September 10th to 11th; Members only

    We encourage Members to play in these Tournaments or to volunteer, as many are required, or even just to attend to support these fun and important pickleball community events.  These Tournaments are a great way to meet and socialize with other Club Members whom you may not have had contact with during your regular Club play.

    Update your Profile / Volunteer 

    Speaking of volunteering (for Club Tournaments), the beginning of 2022 is a good time for you to login into the SAPC website to update your profile by indicating your interest in various club activities and volunteer opportunities.  The success of our Club hinges on the volunteer activities of our Members and we are very thankful for all those who have volunteered in any capacity in the past and encourage others to volunteer in the future - this is YOUR Club!

    Member Account Credits 

    Our Treasurer reports that many members have credits on their account and encourages you to use those as soon as possible.   To see if you have a credit on your account, go into your Profile on the SAPC website and click on "Invoices and payments".  If you have a credit follow the instructions under Members/Finance and Technology FAQ's using this link for how to offset your credit against other invoices - eg. membership, sticker purchase, etc.

    Club Play 

    Stickers

    Members are advised to write their name and phone number on the back of their stickers as we have had several lost stickers.  If a member finds stickers at a venue please give them to the captain.

    February 19th Play (Family Day Weekend)

    Please note that February 19th play sessions have been removed from our play calendars as the schools will be closed (re Family day on Monday, February 21st).  Enjoy your family that weekend even if it doesn't involve pickleball!   As always, please check the calendar before going out to a Club play session as changes or cancellations do sometimes occur.

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter January 16 2022

    2022-01-16 12:02 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Evaluators for Member Ratings   School Play Returns 

    Evaluators for Member Ratings

    Some Members have notified the Board that they have concerns with the Member rating process currently used to rate players within the Club.  A Member motion will be presented at the February AGM in this regard, but in advance of that meeting and Member vote, the Board believes it would be useful to see if additional qualified raters are available and interested to evaluate our players.

    Qualified evaluators must have the following credentials and meet the following expectations in terms of the rating process employed:

    • Minimum competency requirement is that Rating Evaluators have proof of having been trained by IPTPA (or equivalent) to perform player skill evaluations.
    • Raters must use evaluation sheets based on IPTPA or USAPA rating sheets.
    • The evaluation sheet must provide a numerical score on each of the skills that are being evaluated for a given rating level and the score sheet must state the total sum of the numerical scores achieved by the participant as compared to the total points required to attain the desired rating level. 
    • The completed score sheet is provided to the person that has been evaluated to provide feedback regarding the level of skill that they have demonstrated during the rating session.  
    Note:  There is no expectation on the evaluator to provide coaching feedback (or any verbal or other feedback beyond what is contained on the formal rating sheet).


    If any member has interest in being considered to be an SAPC Member rating evaluator or knows someone who has the aforementioned credentials and is willing to conduct their evaluations to meet the above standard, they are asked to submit a proposal/application to the Board.  Your application should be sent to communications@pickleballstalbert.ca  and include:

    •  Name

    •  Credentials (must provide supporting documentation)
    •  Proposal Details – Length of rating session, Evaluation Form and   process used, Number of evaluators/participants per rating  session, cost per Member, etc.
    •  Description of Availability

    It should be noted that the Board and, we believe, the vast majority of Club members are very satisfied with Sean and Leslie who have been performing almost all of the Club evaluations for the last few years; we are simply inquiring as to whether their services could be supplemented by others which would potentially provide the Club and its members with more options in this regard. 

    Furthermore, our research and inquiries of other Alberta pickleball clubs indicates that other clubs in Alberta struggle with the issue of ratings and that we are fortunate to have one of the best club member rating processes in the province - a process that is being performed by experienced professionals.

    School Play Returns

    The City has let us know that school venues will be open again for community use.  Pickleball will start tomorrow on Monday, January 17th at Joseph Demko at 7:00 for 3.5+ rated players.  You should note that this time has been changed back to a 7:00 pm start due to school activities.  Please remember that we enter through the front door at Joseph Demko.   Don't forget to fill your water bottles at home as we are expected to stay in the school gym for the entire session.

    As always check the online calendar as dates given by the schools can vary!

    Special  thanks to all of our captains at the school venues and at Red Willow  Church  -  you are such an integral part of our volunteer team! 

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter January 12 2022

    2022-01-12 15:24 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Vaccination Requirement  Positive Covid Test Results
     Mentoring Session  Rating Clinic Openings

    Vaccination Requirement for Club Play

    Given the current COVID environment and prevalence of the highly contagious Omicron variant in our community, the Board will be implementing a new policy regarding vaccination requirements for Member play at our venues.  Effective Monday, January 17, 2022, and until further notice, ALL Members must show proof that they are fully vaccinated (QR code) in order to play at SAPC venues.  Evidence of negative Covid tests of any variety will no longer be considered acceptable nor permitted for play by our captains.  Both members and captains have expressed the desire for this policy change in the interests of simplicity, efficiency and, most importantly, public health and their own personal safety.  We would like to thank all members in advance for their understanding and cooperation in this regard.

    Positive Covid Test Results

    Members are reminded that should they test positive for Covid (even a rapid test), and they attended an SAPC pickleball session in the 3 previous days, they are asked to immediately contact:

    Nicole Currie at nicolecurrie@live.com for any registered play they attended at Red Willow Church, and

    Eileen McClean at  venuemanager@pickleballstalbert.ca  for play at any of the School venues during those 3 days.

    Nicole or Eileen will then send out an e-mail to all participants at that session so that they are aware and can follow the AHS guidelines related to contact with a Covid-positive individual.  The name of the member who tested positive will not be disclosed in these e-mails for privacy purposes.  Following these measures will prevent or slow the spread of the virus and help to keep your fellow members and our community safe and healthy.

    Mentoring

    Please be advised that Members may now sign up for the mentoring session on the 21st of January. They can do this by sending an email to training@pickleballstalbert.ca .

    The mentoring session is scheduled to take place at Bertha Kennedy School starting at 6 pm.  You cannot just drop in, you must register in advance by sending a request to participate to the above noted e-mail address.

    Members should note that mentoring is an excellent way to get some useful training and tips before your next rating clinic.  Feel free to ask your mentor about specific skills that you feel you need to work on in order to achieve your next rating; remember that these skills do not come naturally to all of us, but rather must be practiced in order to be used effectively and become a natural part of your pickleball game.

    Next Rating Session

    Speaking of rating clinics, just a reminder that there are only two spots left for the 3.0 Rating Clinic to be held on January 29th at 11:30am which will be held at Bertha Kennedy School.   Interested Members may register online on the SAPC website. 

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter December 24 2021

    2021-12-23 15:00 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     President's Message  Membership Renewals for 2022

    President's Message

    Indoor Play

    While the calendar year is coming to close it is important to understand that we are in the middle of the indoor play schedule.  I receive many questions asking why we don’t get many more dates, but members should know that this is a very fluid situation. 

    When the city assigns us the schedule, they give us the dates that the schools release their gyms.  New schools can be added and dates/times can change which is why it is so important to check the calendar.   While it is relatively rare to see the City/schools make changes to their schedules mid-season, it can happen. 

    While we are so fortunate to have the schools we have so far, we will wait until January to hear from Sturgeon school.  We do hope Sturgeon school will open in January and then we will be offering a 3.0+ session, an ALL session and a 4.0 session.  Northpointe Church is still not accepting clients to come into their gym.

    Thank you again to the captains who continue to take care of us at the schools. 

    Thanks also to Nicki Currie, Venue Coordinator for Red Willow, and Carol Mah who ensures registration is open for members - and that is 16 sessions!!!

    Thanks also to the mentoring team; while we have limited mentoring sessions, we know that the mentoring team give up an evening of play to help others.

    Due to the limited space at the venues we do not have playing down except at sessions with the plus.  For example at 3.5+, we can have the 3.5 rated players and the 4.0 rated players.

    At the ALL sessions any level can come and play!

    Vaccinations Status / Covid Tests / Verification

    We will continue to require verification of your Covid QR code OR a negative test  taken within 72 hours of play along with the receipt for the test as the AHS test results by themselves are not acceptable.   You should note that we are following the provincial government regulations in this regard.

    Any Covid testing documentation provided must indicate the type of test administered, the name and location of the company providing the test, the date and time of the test and, of course, a negative test result.

    The associated receipt must state the cost, the company providing the test and the date and the time of payment which must be within three hours of the time indicated for the test results.

    The person providing this documentation must allow the captain to take pictures of both documents for Club records to support our compliance with the provincial regulations and venue protocols.

    While these processes may be considered onerous, we must comply with the regulations and maintain a safe atmosphere for our members while providing clear guidance that allows our venue captains to complete this verification process as quickly as possible.  We ask that all members  exhibit patience and show respect to these captains who have generously volunteered their time.

    Rating Clinics

    Don’t forget to check the rating calendar as there are 3 spots left in the 3.0 and 3.5 rating clinics scheduled for January 29th.  Thanks to Gerry Gartner and Karen Cabot for getting these organized.

    Annual General Meeting / Board Positions / Nominations

    Please keep involved in the club by planning to attend the AGM by zoom on February 16th.   This will be your chance to elect members to the SAPC Board.  A zoom link will be sent to Members within a week of the meeting.

    Thanks to the nominating team for their work behind the scenes in securing a slate of members willing to step forward for various open positions.

    Special thanks to the Board members who diligently work behind the scenes in so many capacities.

    Also, a very special thanks to Gary Marcellus who has stepped down from his role as Vice President creating an opening for that position in addition to those referred to in our last Newsletter.  Thanks Gary for the work you have performed on behalf of the Club for these past many years!  The Board and all members wish you the best in your future endeavours and hope to see you on the courts in the future.

    Stay safe everyone!

    Merry Christmas all the best for 2022! 

    Live, laugh, love, play pickleball
    Eileen McClean
    President of SAPC

    Membership Renewals

    As noted previously, you can now renew your membership for 2022.  

    The SAPC membership fee for 2022 has been set at $40.  

    You will recall that you must join or renew with Pickleball Canada and Pickleball Alberta separately, before joining or renewing with SAPC.  They have a combined charge of $15 for 2022. Further details on how to renew and pay for your membership are available by clicking here.

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

  • Newsletter Nov 30, 2021

    2021-11-30 11:00 | Anonymous

    In this issue:

     Ratings Clinics  Board Nominations/Recruiting
     Indoor Play   

    Ratings Clinics

    We wish to extend our thanks to the 2.5 and 3.0 groups on Saturdays at Bertha Kennedy whose sessions were bumped for rating clinics and apologize for the inconvenience (our options were limited).

    Please note that we will not be offering any rating clinics in December; they could commence in January, 2022 depending on the demand.

    Congratulations to all participants of the rating clinics held since July including those just conducted last weekend.  Also, many thanks to our raters Sean and Leslie.

    Board Nominations/Recruiting

    As members may or may not be aware, the SAPC Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place in just over 2 months on February 16, 2022.  Some of what takes place at the AGM is the election of Board members and other key positions.  The Board currently consists of the following individuals (incumbents): 

    President - Eileen McClean, St. Albert Resident

    Vice President - Gary Marcellus, Edmonton Resident

    Secretary - Douwe Spriensma, St. Albert Resident

    Treasurer - Ray Keroack, St. Albert Resident

    Director at Large, Web Manager - Tamas Virag, Edmonton Resident

    Director of Membership and Volunteers - Carol Mah, St. Albert Resident

    Director of Communications - Roger Hutlet, St. Albert Resident

    Due to the considerable workload ahead of us, the Board has decided to add a new/second Member at Large Board position in order to take on some of these tasks and responsibilities.   As well, a number of the Board positions are up for re-election so interested individuals may apply for these positions as follows:

    President, Vice President, Director of Membership (please note that all 3 current incumbents as noted above are letting their names stand for re-election to these positions).

    Roger Hutlet must also have his appointment to the Communications Director role confirmed at the AGM.

    Non-Board roles that must also be elected at the AGM are:

    Ombudsperson

    Auditor (If the auditor is a certified CPA, only one is needed, otherwise we need two)

    Nominating Committee (4 persons)

    If a member is interested in any of these positions, they should first read the Job Descriptions available on the SAPC website which can be accessed from this link.  

    On the following web page you will find the Ombudsperson job description:  https://www.pickleballstalbert.ca/resources/Documents/Policies-Rules/Operational%20-%20Ombudsperson.pdf

    Please note that the Board is recommending to the AGM Nominating Committee that one of the qualifications for the President and Vice President Board positions be that they are residents of St Albert.  This will significantly strengthen our Club's negotiation position with the City of St. Albert when arranging for current and future facilities agreements.

    The Nominating Committee encourages all interested members to make their interest known to Scott Henderson at shenderson2@shaw.ca no later than December 24, 2021. Please supply a brief resume and cover letter stating why you would like the position and why you feel you are a good  candidate for the role.

    A Nominating Committee report covering the candidates will be sent out to all members with the notice of the AGM in January 2022.

    Other Nominating Committee members currently include:

    Kevin McClean at kmcclean@telus.net , and

    Gerry Gartner at gerrygartner@shaw.ca

    Indoor Play

    Joseph Demko

    Effective immediately, the entrance and exit to Joseph Demko will be through the main door.  You can park along the front of the school, but you MUST BE ON TIME.  You need to be on time as the bell cannot be heard in the gym and we do not want to be bothering the caretaking team.   If you arrive late please go to the back gym door.   This applies to all sessions - for clarity:

    On Monday be at the school at 6:30 pm

    On Saturday be at the school at 10:30 am

    Bells

    Just a reminder about the school bells.  With the new COVID regulations and security at the school, all schools have added a new bell; the bell is connected to a microphone so that when you press it the school office answers and then grants you access to the school.  DO NOT PRESS THIS BELL as no one can hear it after hours.

    The "regular bell" is usually close by the new bell button.  Each school bell is a different color so pay close attention to ensure that you are ringing the correct bell.  The  captain or designate will wait at the door for the first 10-15 minutes before play is scheduled to begin.  We ask that members be on time to avoid members who are playing having to leave the gym to answer the door.  Please note that if members arrive early/on time, there will be no need to ring the bell for access.

    Stay safe and don’t forget to bring your QR code, club ID and of course indoor shoes!

    Until next time, keep your paddle up!

   Contacts


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