The USCTA held its annual meeting via Zoom on Saturday, June 21st. Dacre Stoker, President, welcomed the 19 participants, then briefly reviewed the year’s highlights. He thanked clubs, their leaders and professionals for their efforts in hosting events and soliciting USCTA membership, highlighting Newport’s recent hosting of the Ladies World Championship, the US Pro Singles for the Schochet Cup, and the upcoming Men’s Singles World Championship in September. He thanked the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the Chicago Racquet Club and the Aiken Tennis Club for hosting World Championships Eliminator matches. Dacre praised Westwood for stepping into the US Open rotation and the New York Racquet and Tennis Club for hosting a successful National League event. Dacre also mentioned new initiatives, such as the professional alumni association formed by Steve Virgona, John Gilligan, and John Lumley to engage past professionals in our ongoing social events. He highlighted several key initiatives and updates from the executive committee, including Jonathan Lewis’s work on modernizing the website and Zach Sacks’s progress in corporate sponsorship. He thanked committee chairs and members for their efforts and announced that Adam Inselbruch, the secretary since 2020, is rotating off the board. Dacre also mentioned the successful uniform ball project run by Tony Hollins for professional events, modeled after the world championship, and praised Charlie Katz, the USCTA Treasurer, for his financial management. He noted Sand Valley’s successful hosting of the National Open, welcoming them as a new club and encouraged our members to plan a visit to play soon.
Dacre mentioned the successful tracking and financing of junior programs by the USCTPF, headed by Bill McLaughlin and Jane Lippincott. Dacre highlighted the National Fund, managed by a group of board members, which augments prize money for pros and makes USCTA events attractive to players. He encouraged board members and USCTA members to consider donating to the National Fund, emphasizing its importance in attracting top players to professional tournaments.
Dacre thanked the Communications Committee and the Chair, Jane Lippincott, for the long-awaited Annual Report, which appeared in our mailboxes over the last few weeks. He mentioned that the board will investigate a possible opt-in for electronic copies of the Annual Report, which could lead to cost savings in the future. Dacre acknowledged the work of the members of the Communications Committee, including Ryan Carey for his excellent streaming of tournaments, and he introduced Xanthe Ranger as a new communications committee liaison to the USCTA board.
Treasurer, Charlie Katz, reported that the organization remains in a strong financial position with sufficient reserves to operate for at least a year, despite running a slight deficit due to various initiatives and supporting two world championship events this year.
Vern Cassin, co-chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, presented the proposed board members for the class of 2028, which included Xanthe Ranger, Jonathan Lewis, Tim Carroll, and Tyler Thompson, and mentioned potential bylaw amendments to address term limits and board expansion.
John Lumley, the pro representative, was recognized for his efforts and praised for his efficiency in communicating with the professional players. Mary Livingston was acknowledged for her expertise in international matters while serving on the ITC and the IWCC. Mary provided an update on global initiatives, highlighting the success of the Ladies World Championship in Newport with its new format. She mentioned that the International World Championship Committee (IWCC) is now chaired by Jeremy Wintersteen, reviewing policies for the four major national opens. The International Tennis Committee (ITC) has formed new working subcommittees for scheduling, historic archiving, juniors, and global sponsorship. Dacre emphasized the importance of international coordination on various issues such as eyewear rules, ball specifications, and amateur status.
