Dear Friends,
Our first tournament of this season went well. Over the years we've enjoyed a lot of tennis at the little club in Borrego Springs. Borrego will continue to remain a small quite but special place for us to gather.
Let's be honest - it's the renewing of our long standing friendships that has kept us together as a group. The tournament is the outer reason for our get together but all of us are winners just by receiving and giving a smile or sharing a story of an event in our lives. Wasn't it great to see Lorlie Petersen, Bob McDonald, the Gibsons, Pete Ota, the Bevans etc.?
The new owners of BSTC, Borden and Sandy Granger have made us welcome and we must understand that changes are inevitable. A new storage building will be built where our little metal shed now stands. All of our "stuff" will either be removed, discarded or absorbed into the facility. We will no longer need to provide paper products. Borden plans on having new wind screens in place by our next tournament. In the not too distant future the courts will be resurfaced. Surely we can accept such changes?
Now for our part - the Grangers have a business in Baker City, Oregon to run while living in Borrego. They must utilize a computer, fax machine, telephone, etc. Please respect that and don't pepper them with questions they cannot answer at least at this time. It will take a year at least for them to determine the direction they wish to go. Address you questions to me, Don Wilson or Ken Shallahamer.
If the Grangers dicide to become a public club, and they have considered it, then it may be prudent for us to simply assimilate into whatever organization they form. That will be determined at a later date. Remember for years when we had a lease on the club we offered memberships to all interested parties.
Those of you who have not paid your annual dues, please do so. It is $75.00 for each of you if you are a couple. Children are included in the parents dues. All of us must pay the $10.00 tournament fee. Those who have not been with us for a while might want to reconsider. ALl dues go to Ken Shallahamer.
Don WIlson and I had a staff meeting and we voted that Ken will be the emcee at our next tournament. We will ask Jim Perez to pontificate at our closing "ceremony". Jim has a nice sense of timing with his anecdotes and he always uses good "judgement". Thanks again to Gary Edwards for putting on a smooth tournament.
We'll be visiting our daughter in Georgia for Thanksgiving and w look forward to seeing all of you at the next tournament. Luv ya all,
Jim Rathbun
