President Letter for Pickleball AGM
Ladies and gentlemen,
I'd like to begin by introducing myself. My name is Debby Morgan and I am President of the New West Pickleball Club
The New West Pickleball Club has a humble yet inspiring beginning. Founded by myself, Marion Bonner, Hazel Padula, Kelly Cannon, and Bernita Boersma, our mission was clear from the beginning to advocate for more opportunities to play pickleball in New West. Many people had tirelessly worked to persuade the city to allocate more pickleball time at community centers and outdoor courts, but progress was slow.
We realized that to make a real impact, we needed organization and numbers.
As I had experience with with this in 2010 creating the NPC for the exact same reasons, we set out to create a club that could unite pickleball enthusiasts and give us a stronger voice in advocating for our sport.
Before we even had a chance to fully establish ourselves, fate intervened in the form of a non-profit group called RE-Food. We teamed up with them to organize a fundraising tournament and together, we raised an impressive $1500 for their cause. This initial success showed us what we could achieve when we came together.
Determined to continue our progress, we were very lucky to recruit Vandy Britton and Liz Hoath. We approached the NW Parks and Recreation with a comprehensive presentation outlining our goals. They made it clear that to have a meaningful impact we needed to be affiliated with provincial organizations. We swiftly joined Pball BC and PBall Canada and initiated the process of becoming a Not-for-Profit Club recognized by the BC Government.
We started the club with 15 members. We have grown steadily and I'm thrilled to report that we now boast 88 dedicated members in our club.
Our commitment to pickleball's growth in New Westminster was further demonstrated when we organized a successful tournament at Queens Park Sports Complex in June. We held a Pub Night, complete with a 50/50 draw, donated items, and a silent auction raising an impressive total of $2323.21.
Not to forget, we were generously gifted three portable nets by our very own Hazel Padula.
While we've encountered our fair share of challenges, our negotiations with Parks & Rec have yielded some progress. Moody Park now boasts resurfaced courts with dedicated pickleball lines.
However, our journey is far from complete and we acknowledge the hard work ahead of us. With the newly elected executive team, we are excited about the prospects that lie ahead. Our commitment to advancing pickleball in our city remains our ultimate goal.
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to all of you, our members, for your support and dedication to our cause.
Thank you, and let's look forward to an exciting year ahead for the New West Pickleball Club!