Orlando Tennis Blog: Tennis Industry Meetings Set High Bar; Opportunities to Give

Orlando Tennis Industry Meeting Includes USTA National Campus Tour

The latest quarterly Tennis Industry Meeting that was held Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club may have been the best one yet!

This meeting, set at this idyllic location, had it all. The keynote speakers discussed the most exciting tennis project to ever hit our region: the USTA National Campus is the new home of American tennis, where tennis enthusiasts can come to watch, learn and play at one of the largest tennis facilities in the world. The best news: it’s right down the street!

Andy Odenbach from Tavistock, and USTA National Player Development GM Martin Blackman shared their vision of our future at Lake Nona! Set to open in late 2016, the USTA National Campus is a one-of-a-kind facility that will serve as host to local play for residents of the Orlando community as well as for national, individual and collegiate events, and it will be the home base for USTA Player Development and the USTA’s Community Tennis division.

Other topics discussed at Friday’s meeting were the USPTA Florida Convention coming up June 1-5 at the Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, coinciding with a 10 & Under Workshop, USTA Junior Team Tennis in Orange and Seminole Counties, the upcoming USTA Florida Fall Ball Pilot for High School players, the One-on-One Doubles event, volunteers needed for the Special Olympics State Games at ESPN Wide World of Sports on May 20-21st, the Monica Seles book signing benefitting La Amistad on May 12th, and the Tennis Thanks the Troops Hawaiian Luau at the Grand Cypress Resort on May 15^th.

The event was superbly hosted by Kelvin Rivera, Lake Nona’s director of tennis, and the food, atmosphere, and opportunity to connect were unparalleled! To top things off, Lake Nona Realty treated the nearly 100 attendees to a fantastic Disney bus tour of the under-construction USTA National Campus, the ever-expanding surrounding Lake Nona communities, and the Medical City.

This meeting was co-sponsored by the USTA, USPTA Florida, Mid Florida Tennis Association, and Lake Nona Realty. These Tennis Industry meetings are a great example of how we can do amazing things if we stay focused and work together as a team! There has never been a better time to be a part of the tennis industry in Central Florida!

Please be sure to join the next quarterly meeting that will take place this fall, tentatively set to take place at Interlachen Country Club. Contact USPTA Florida District 4 President Conrad Cowan conradcowan@yahoo.com for more information.

Upcoming Opportunities to Give in Orlando Area

The idea that tennis changes lives is nothing new, but there are three new opportunities to contribute in Central Florida over the next few weeks.

Please consider joining one, or more of these unique events, all hosted by non-profit organizations, and experience how great giving can be! By hobnobbing with a tennis celebrity, enjoying a Hawaiian luau, or by helping Olympic competitors pursue their dreams, you may get back more than you give. Click the headings for more information on each event.

Lunch with Monica Seles

On Thursday, May12th from noon to 3 p.m. don’t miss the rare opportunity to lunch with one of tennis’ superstars! Monica Seles will be hosting a luncheon and book-signing event, with a Q&A session at the beautiful, newly-renovated Interlachen Country Club.

The luncheon and book signing will benefit La Amistad. Opened in 1970, La Amistad, which means friendship in Spanish, is a long-term residential treatment center for adults with chronic mental illnesses. La Amistad Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Don’t miss it, it will be an event to remember!  Contact Marlene Sands msands@laamistad.org for more details.

Tennis Thanks the Troops- Hawaiian Luau Round Robin, Luncheon, and Silent Auction

On Sunday, May 15^th starting at 8:30 a.m., Tennis Thanks the Troops will benefit from a Hawaiian luau-themed event at the Grand Cypress Resort.

The spectacular events that day will include a fun round robin at their pristine clay court facility, followed by a Luau luncheon, and a silent auction that will surely have some great buys! Tennis Thanks the Troops is a branch of ThanksUSA, a unique charity that provides scholarships to service men’s and women’s children. Please contact Tweet Coleman tweetcoleman@gmail.com or Mike Dombrowski at michaeladombrowski@gmail.com

Special Olympics State Summer Games

On Friday, May 20^th and Saturday, May 21^st the Special Olympics State Games will come to ESPN Wide World of Sports, and they are looking for volunteers who have some tennis experience.

Special Olympics Florida’s Summer Games are the largest event on the calendar with athletes competing in athletics (track & field), bocce, cycling, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. This event is held annually at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and kicks off with an exciting Olympic-style opening ceremonies featuring the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.  It concludes on Saturday night with closing ceremonies and the much-anticipated victory dance. For more information, please contact Howard Chodak at howardchodak@sofl.org or 954-298-2016.