FROM THE USAPA
Pickleball and Social Media BY BOB NIBARGER , USAPA COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
How many of you have members who are overwhelmed and have no idea how to connect on social media ? You send emails , post your comments on Facebook , try Instagram and still there is a “ dark hole ” that seems at times to get larger . I first experienced that techie gap when I published a newsletter for our local homeowners association . Our committee had high hopes and great enthusiasm . The only problem was that we only had 35 % of our residents open the electronic newsletter . The USAPA has similar experience with low open rates on some of our publications . Why ? Well , the answer is quite simple .
It is a generational thing . How about those 3-year-olds using smartphones and iPads while Grandpa and Grandma still use flip phones ? To assist you as you expand your club ’ s outreach , use mass media to include Facebook , newsletters , texting , print , Instagram , the telephone , a dedicated web page or whatever is needed . I have found that a “ shotgun ” approach is the most effective tool when trying to reach a techie and non-techie crowd . This will change over time , but keep plugging away and you will , somehow , reach your club members . •
USAPA Appoints Training Chair
Pat
Murphy
USAPA Training Chair
The USAPA Board , at their regular January meeting , named Pat Murphy as the new training chair , replacing Lynn and Linda Laymon . According to Murphy , “ I started playing pickleball in 2010 and became addicted to this crazy game . For the next several years I got more involved with pickleball . I started playing tournaments and meeting many great players . I wanted to share this with others so I became a USAPA Ambassador and an Area Team Liaison for Goodyear , Arizona . In 2015 I was elected as Vice-President of the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club and in 2016 I was elected President . The PebbleCreek Pickleball Club , one of the largest pickleball clubs , has 1,255 active club members and is a full-time job .” Murphy is most anxious to begin his new duties and both finish and start new programs . You may contact him at trainingchair @ usapa . org . •
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