Famous Faces at the EPC Fall Social
Jerry Beth Owen finally found an opportunity to wear her pickle. About 35 avid picklers showed up at Wild Game for the Fall Social last week. The pool table, ping pong table and shuffle board were all put to use.
“The delightful bartender, Sydney, was thrilled to serve our group because she plays pickleball at Hiwan with Linda Jacobson,” Jerry Beth says.
Get ready for our last social of the year, the Holiday Gala & EChO Food Bank Benefit, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Troutdale Tavern.
Raise Your Hand If You’re Thinking About Serving on EPC Board
The EPC Board Nominating Committee is taking nominations for three open board positions. Current board members John Russell and Jeri Herskovits will be running for their seats. Election is held at the annual EPC General Membership Meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 am. Members must attend the meeting to vote.
If you’d like to serve or know someone who would, let committee chair John Dunlop know.
EPC Member Sign-up or Renewal Now Activates Your Membership Through 2023
Fall sign-ups and renewals take your EPC membership through all of next year. You’ll be set for our tournaments, socials, clinics and special events in 2023.
Name That Hawk
We’ve gotten to know the red-tailed hawk that’s been monitoring our play at Marshdale. They (preferred pronoun) were becoming such a regular, we asked players to suggest a name for them. We threw out The Marshdale Marauder? The Ball Hawk? ATP? (Around the post, get it? Never mind.)
Bob Hudson says “How about "‘Dinker’?” Hopefully, not to be confused with Dinger, the Rockies mascot. Linda Jacobsen suggests ‘Hawkeye,’ which to a hawk is probably like being named Bob or Linda if they were a person.
Send us your suggestion and we’ll share it.
More News from Germany Featuring EPC Paddles for Ukrainian Refugees
Dianne Jeffries updated us on the latest from Fred Schlichting, pickleball coach at TurnGemeinde Schwalbach sport club in Schwalbach, Germany.
”Fred sent an article from a county newspaper. Unfortunately no mention of EPC’s paddle contributions to their pickleball cause. I don’t know if that’s because Fred didn’t tell the reporter or if the reporter chose to leave that out. Anyway, you can see the EPC logo on the paddles in the pics. We know we did a good thing even if we don’t get international glory for it! Right?
”The article talks about pickleball being a trending sport, that all ages can play (including his 72 year old father Lothar); that the Ukrainians who are being housed at a local historic gasthaus (guest house, to be clear) find joy in playing and it’s a welcome distraction from the war; how Fred learned pickleball in the US (Ohio) in 2016 and was excited to be part of the movement to introduce it in Germany; and that anyone can learn it for free from the sport club and that equipment is provided.”
Beautiful Paddletek EPC Club paddles, no less.
Final Tip of the Week from Hiwan Pickleball Pro Tom Karas: BFFN: Best Friends For Now
When you join drop-in pickleball play, you meet new people who become very important to you. They may not become your BFF (best friend forever) but everyone you partner with during a game will be your BFFN (best friend for now).
What do BFFs do? They talk often. They have each other’s back. They support one another regardless. And they celebrate wins. Silent partners may be good in business and sometimes in marriage, but they do not make good pickleball partners.
Communication between partners helps avoid unforced errors that happen when you expect something from your partner and he doesn't deliver. The best partners move as a single force together at the baseline, together at the net and together in their strategy.
“Yours” and “mine” are the most important words you can exchange, especially with new partners. “Bounce it” should also be used frequently. This means you think the ball may be out and you’re alerting your partner not to hit it until they see where it lands. When you are not side by side with your partner give directional clues. Tell him “Up up,” if you see a shot is coming back short, or shout “switch” when you are behind your partner and want her to cross to the other side.
How often during play have you seen a ball go straight down the middle and the two partners just stand and look at each other with no communication? Get in the habit of communicating frequently and you will improve your game 100%.
(Reprinted with the permission of Beverly Keil)