What’s in this email?
1) Surprise Pickleball Association Fundraiser.
2) Court Cleaning
3) How did Pickleball get its name? Did Pickles come before or after the game originated?
4) Official Club Shirt Update
5) VP update on the VVHS Band
1) The Surprise Pickleball Association is having a fundraiser to add more courts. $25.00 buys a certificate for a 1 hour massage, OR a chiropractic evaluation with x-rays included at Greenway Chiropractic (303 & Greenway Rd). GREAT DEAL! Make checks payable to Surprise Pickleball Association, the Association keeps all the proceeds! Contact Sharon Navrail or Jeff Stone.
2) Court Cleaning is scheduled for next Thursday, September 10th.
3) Many are still wondering and asking and/or telling their own version on how Pickleball got its name. This is what we have found when googling the question. We report, you decide:
The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, at the home of then State Representative Joel Pritchard who, in 1970, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the State of Washington. He and two of his friends, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, returned from golf and found their families bored one Saturday afternoon. They attempted to set up badminton, but no one could find the shuttlecock. They improvised with a Wiffle ball, lowered the badminton net, and fabricated paddles of plywood from a nearby shed.[2][3][4]
Although some sources claim that the name “Pickleball” was derived from that of the Pritchard’s family dog, Pickles, other sources state that the claim is false, and that the name came from the term “pickle boat”, referring to the last boat to return with its catch.[2][4]According to Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard’s wife, the name came “after I said it reminded me of the Pickle Boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats. Somehow the idea the name came from our dog Pickles was attached to the naming of the game, but Pickles wasn’t on the scene for two more years. The dog was named for the game.”[5]
4) The Club has placed a bulk order for more shirts that should be arriving in a few weeks. There will be a new sleeveless style for the women but all will be the same color for now to keep the price down. We may be offering shirts at a lower price, based on our costs, so please be patient.
5) Last night, 9/3, I went to a VVHS Main Booster Club meeting and then had the opportunity to go see the Band kids, which I haven’t seen since our big day with them at the courts. They are so appreciative of all the equipment we have purchased for them. Many gave my wife and myself hugs and high five’s and they truly love our Club. With the band director leaving with no notice, it left the band program in disarray but they are dedicated kids and are working hard to get back on track. They haven’t even been fitted for their uniforms yet but their spirit is there. They are so proud of the band director stand we gave them and the student who plays the synthesizer is just so happy. There is a football game tonight at VVHS, so if you are in town and haven’t seen a HS football game in awhile, you just might want to come out, see a football game and our equipment in action. I want to truly thank all our members who either participated in the 3 day fundraising event and/or helped teach the band kids pickleball. You all made a very positive impact and our Club should take pride in helping these local kids. Thanks for listening, Bob
Dennis Raggi
President SCG Pickleball Club