Quail Creek Pickleball Club Super Bowl Social (photo by Roxanne Housley)
Roxanne Housley
In December of 2021, Joyce Butler, the Quail Creek Pickleball Club Social Committee chair, asked Roxanne Housley if she would gather some pickleball friends and host a December social. This was the first social since COVID restrictions were lifted, and everyone was very enthusiastic to help. The team included Cindy Mueller, Mary Taylor, Wendy Turley, Madelyn Witt, Jill Eisele, Bobbi Jo Blythe, Susan Jones, Georgine Thomas, Susie Eckhart, and Ruth Maki. Susie and Ruth were instrumental in showing the team how to handle registrations, and Madelyn was the perfect student who quickly became the trainer. Following a very successful Elf on a Shelf Social, Joyce suggested Roxanne take over as chair for her, and Roxanne has overseen many successful events since then.
The current committee members include Cindy Mueller, Wendy Turley, Chris Reitz, Madelyn Witt, Mary Taylor, Tina Davis, Georgine Thomas, Yoyo Ehrementrout, Barb Ware, Tricia Kordalski, Suze Grass, Michelle Skoglund, Bill Foraker, and Roxanne Housley. Every member brings a unique talent to the committee, helping the socials and other impromptu activities run smoothly. The committee also recognizes spouses who are often behind the scenes helping with set-up and take-down, even climbing ladders to decorate areas the committee cannot reach.
There are many important tasks for a successful social: communications, reservations, registration, timekeeper, collecting money, decorating, shopping for prizes, purchasing food and drinks, music, raffle (when held), set-up, clean-up, and taking down decorations. Sometimes the committee needs additional support, like the October social with Debbie Schertzer Downes providing photos to be displayed on the TV screen. Behind the scenes, Paula Davis reserves courts and the ramada and creates the event sign-up on CourtReserve. One improvement to registration and ease for players was implemented by Madelyn Witt. She replaced the player boards with laminated cards showing each player’s number, along with every court for each game and whether the player serves or receives. The cards are returned to Madelyn after each social for use the next time.
The committee tries to hold six socials annually, but this year there were cancellations due to inclement weather. With the new courts now open and our CourtReserve system, Paula can now automatically block courts for one week later in case of cancellation. As the number of players for each social has increased from 64 to 72, and there typically being a waitlist, this is very helpful.
This year, two additional activities were planned: the 10th Anniversary Party and the New Courts Soft Opening. The committee also plans the annual Volunteer Appreciation event. Several times a year, committee members will drop by the courts with baked treats, fruit, and even charcuterie boards. The committee introduced the idea for Dink & Dine, which became a social round robin. The committee members enjoy dressing the part in “social” shirts, elf costumes, referee shirts, bunny ears, etc. They enjoy having fun at the socials and want to make sure all attendees also have an enjoyable experience and want to play again.