Pickleball Magazine 3-1 | Page 9

2018 USAPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jack Thomas VICE PRESIDENT/ AMBASSADORS C J Jermstad SECRETARY Laura Patterson TREASURER Darryl Noble IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT David Jordan BOARD MEMBERS (COMMITTEES) COMMUNICATIONS Bob Nibarger GRANTS Ray Pereyra TRAINING Pat Murphy LEGAL COUNSEL, GRIEVANCE Phil Mortenson STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Justin Maloof MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMPETITION Christine Barksdale BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Gartlan FROM THE PRESIDENT HAPPY 2018! I hope your holiday season was filled with joy and that you had a safe and happy New Year’s celebration. I am humbled and honored to serve as President of your organization. Without you, the USAPA would not exist. There are many things I’d like to talk about—and we’ll definitely get to those in future issues of Pickleball Magazine. However, developing a much larger, active, involved, appreciated and supportive membership around the country will be the basis for every board initiative as well as staff implementation of those initiatives. Also, in my previous positions with USAPA—player, Ambassador, Ambassador Director and Vice President—my efforts to grow the game have been based on making sure the principles of honesty, fun, exercise and other benefits are understood and followed so the game grows in the correct way. That will not change. This year is going to be a gangbuster year! We’ll see the implementation of the long-awaited USAPA Ratings Program, much more growth in the Referee Certification and Training Program, 11 outstanding USAPA Regional Tournaments and a great Nationals 2018. We’ll also have a ton of fun, starting with the 3rd USAPA Ambassador Retreat at the Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, FL, USAPA PRESIDENT JACK THOMAS // January 28 through February 1. Finally, I want to pay tribute to former President David Jordan, First Lady Nancy, as well as Chris Thomas and Mark Friedenberg. While David will remain on the board in an advisory role per the bylaws, Chris and Mark retired from the board in December. The sport of pickleball and the USAPA are forever indebted to you for your tireless dedication and numerous contributions to our great game. Your President, Jack P.S. The communication lines from the board and to the board are now open. We need to know the good, the bad and the ugly! >>> Snapshot of Our New President Jack Thomas, USAPA board member since 2014, began his position as president of USAPA in January. He and his wife, Joan, are originally from Oklahoma City, OK, and moved to Scottsdale, AZ, in 1996. Jack and Joan have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | MAGAZINE 7