Happy 2018! I hope everyone had a healthy and happy holiday.
With the start of the new year, it’s a great time to reevaluate priorities and make positive changes in your life as well as how you impact those around you. This is why I want to encourage everyone to volunteer. It’s through widespread volunteering that will bring pickleball in the area to the next level.
There are many opportunities to volunteer. Whether you have just a little time or if you’re retired and looking for ways to keep busy, there’s something you can do to get involved.
One of the more pressing opportunities is to be on the committee for the NJ Senior Olympics. We had many area players participate in the tournament and a few people that volunteered during match play, but they need help so that it’s not always the same few people having to shoulder most of the responsibility for the tournament. Each additional volunteer lessens the burden on everyone involved. If you are can spare the time to get involved, please contact Frank Nobile.
A more local opportunity is to self-nominate yourself for a board position for the Monmouth Pickleball Club (MPC). I know many people who have different thoughts and ideas on how the club could/should be run. It’s not productive to complain and criticize, instead, get involved and help MPC grow to meet the needs of a rapidly growing membership.
As the Spring approaches, there will be opportunities to get your hands dirty and do things to help municipalities convert unused tennis courts to pickleball courts. This presents many opportunities for volunteers to help both with the conversion, but also in launching programs and making it easier for new players to join. You do not need to be an expert pickleball player to help beginners get started.
Each of us is unique and offer unique skills that can help make pickleball better for everyone. Ask yourself, “What unique skills can I bring that might provide value?” For me, it was this website, but perhaps you love to paint, or maybe you enjoy making things and want to make paddle holders for the various venues. Even if your unique skills aren’t transferrable, there’s always the opportunity for good old-fashioned manual labor.
Many of you may not know, but much of the painting at the Community YMCA in Red Bank was done by volunteers.
I realize that everyone is busy and time is our most precious asset. But without volunteers, we’re nothing but a bunch of cranky old people wondering why things aren’t better. We cannot expect that someone else will do it.
Please reach out to either Kim Smith or me and we can figure out how you can get involved.