2012 USTA/Midwest Section Year In Review - 2012 | Page 10

News & Highlights... The USTA/Midwest section again had a great year, experiencing growth in many programs while continuing to focus on our mission of helping “Promote, Develop and Service the Game of Tennis” in our communities. Following are some key highlights from 2012: HONORS & AWARDS... 2012 Spring Meeting and Award Winners The 2012 USTA/Midwest Section Spring Meeting took place April 20-21 at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel in Carmel, Ind. The festivities kicked off on Thursday, April 19 with some friendly tennis competition followed by a buffet dinner. The meeting officially began Friday, April 20 with a presentation from Tom Osenton, a partner of the Customer Share Group. Specifically for the leadership team, the presentation focused on volunteer retention. That evening, Delanie Mast, USTA Director At Large, and President Jonelle Smith each spoke, followed by a dinner with the Kay & Bernie Schubert Hospitality Hour. The remainder of the meeting consisted of Midwest committee meetings as well as the annual USTA/Midwest Section Awards Lunch on Saturday, April 21. The 2012 Midwest Spring Award winners were presented, including a new scholarship titled Hooked on Tennis. Following are the 2012 Spring Award winners: Philanthropy and Awards • n 2012, the USTA/Midwest Section committed over $165,000 to I diversity and inclusion outreach initiatives including program grants, individual player grants, a Coaches Workshop, a Junior Excellence Camp, new Hispanic programs, two new regional junior camps and wheelchair programs, camps, training workshops, and tournaments. •  he Midwest Youth Tennis & Education Foundation (MYTEF), the T philanthropic arm of the association, hosted its fifth Charity Gala in conjunction with the USTA/Midwest Section Annual Meeting. The Charity Gala netted $53,000, with all proceeds benefiting the MYTEF, whose mission is “to develop the life skills of youth through tennis and education.” •  he new “MY Gift to Kids’ Tennis” initiative raised $7,031 for community T youth programming. •  e congratulate many award winners this year including Dorothy W Watman Levine Kohl of Palm Beach, Fla. (formerly of Chicago, Ill. and Milwaukee, Wis.) who was inducted into the USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame. Other winners were Beverly Wentz, Mel Bergman Award; Jon and Leanne Heiniger Family, Family of the Year Award; and Inner City Tennis Clinics, NJTL of the Year Award. Junior Tennis •  he USTA/Midwest Section again led the country in the total number of T new 10 and Under Tennis members with over 10,000 children under the age of 10 who experienced the benefits of USTA Membership. •