From Left to Right. Top Row: Joseph Delgado (Team Head, Rutgers), Ray Davis (Racquetball Roundtable), Jon Panno (Team Pro Kennex, Woodbridge), John Patric (Classic). Middle Row: Nancy Luyando (Team E-Force, Middlesex College), Joe Camilo (Team Head, Hillsborough), Rick Foldger (Team Ektelon, Woodbridge). Bottom Row: Gloria Fidecaro (Team E-Force, Hillsborough), Jonathan Clay (Team Ektelon), Melanie Jones (Classic), and Edurado Mancheno (Team E-Force, Classic)

NJ Racquetball Conference Official Notes
Classic Athletic Club (Fairfield, NJ)
Saturday, October 14, 2006 (2 PM)

Attendees:
Diane Chappel, Team Head - DLC Sports, Facilitator; Joe Camiolo, Team Head – Hillsborough; Jonathan Clay, Team Ektelon; Ray Davis, Racquetball Roundtable; Joe Delgado, Team Head – Rutgers; Rick Folger, Team Ektelon – Woodbridge; Melanie Jones – Classic; Nancy Luyando, Team E-Force - Middlesex Co. College, LAF; Eduardo Mancheno, Team E-Force – Classic; Jon Panno, Team Pro Kennex – Woodbridge; John Patric, Team E-Force - Classic; Gloria Fidecaro, Team E-Force - Hillsborough

Not Present:
Bill Serafin, NJRF President - Team Head – Classic; Chris Thompson, Riverview; Sarah Sockolof, Hillsborough; Ron Van Horn, Team Head - Warren

Notes by Gloria Fidecaro, Hillsborough
Meeting opened with a discussion of hand outs circulated by Diane Chapell. These included how different states organized their associations, junior clinics, running events with sponsorships, and using professional players and clinicians to promote RB in a clubs local area.

We discussed state association structure, how funding is obtained through the USRA and if it was practical to divide the state. Possible state divisions included North, South and Central or just North and South.

Diane has suggested using a 3 tier attack: club, regional and national programming.

There is a definite need for "grass roots" programming at the Club level. We all need to develop our junior programs, do some clinics for beginners, and reach out to the women players. The recommendation for contacting players was to distribute fliers, use a contact list with e-mail addresses AND to make phone calls.

The next topic was marketing. We discussed promoting RB by advertising its benefits - it's fun and burns a significant number of calories per hour. We also discussed bringing in the pros, sponsorships and soliciting restaurants and local businesses.

Rick Folger mentioned that he has a Junior program in place at Woodbridge & Ricochet. He has about 60 young players and will be running a round robin for juniors at Woodbridge. Cost $10/child. Ron Van Horn does 2 junior clinics a year. One is scheduled for Saturday, October 21st from 1-3 pm. Gloria Fidecaro also has a junior program at Hillsborough.

Ray Davis spoke about his Racquetball Roundtable a national radio show that is broadcasted Tuesday nights from 9-10 (1360 AM). He also filled us in on how the South Jersey RB Association has virtually disappeared with the elimination of courts in the local clubs.

LA Fitness Clubs have been opening all over the state and they have courts. Unfortunately, their activities are open to members only and you must be 16 to be eligible for membership - eliminating junior players and the possibility of "open" tournaments. Rick Folger mentioned that he would like to run a tournament at Woodbridge, but the management was not cooperative.

It's obvious there are pockets of racquetball located throughout the state and we would like to see them united and promoted through the state organization. The website seems like the best place to start. In addition, it would be nice to list active clubs, their locations and a contact person if we know of one. We could also list racquet stringers and AMPRO certified instructors.

Most discussion seemed pointless without Bill Serafin present. Joe Delgado seems to have the best relationship with Bill so he volunteered to contact him about the meeting. Joe Camiolo did a mock phone conversation with Joe to prep him for the task.

He explained there were two different outcomes... (1) Bill could decide he would like to remain President and accept the help of the Board or (2) Bill could decide to relinquish his role in which case we would need someone to accept the responsibilities of the presidency and form a board. There was interest in the position of President if Bill did not want to continue in that capacity and others present were interested in assuming positions on the Board.

In conclusion, as a group we've decided that RB needs a boost in NJ and there are people willing to help Bill. The organization cannot be successful if the burden lays on one person. Since there is a State Tournament the last weekend in October, the group intends to meet again on Saturday, November 4th at the Hillsborough Racquet Club (345 Amwell Road, Hillsborough NJ). Meeting time is 1:30 PM – bring your RB gear!!

Minutes submitted on Monday, October 16, 2006 by Gloria Fidecaro.

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