TEXAS TENNIS HALL OF FAME TAPS FORMER HTA DIRECTOR

Houston’s own Harriett Hulbert joins list of tennis notables

              HOUSTON (Oct. 16, 2009)--Harriett Hulbert, Houston Tennis Association director  emeritus, was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Waco October 10.

              Considered by many to be one of the most influential women in the Texas community tennis family, Hulbert began her lifelong service with the HTA by volunteering to run junior tournament sites in the 1970s.  She later became president of the HTA for two years and in 1984 accepted the position of assistant executive director.  In 1986 she assumed full responsibility for the HTA as executive director, a position she held until her “retirement” in 2007.  She continues to run tournament sites and assist in other ways. 

              Hulbert has also served the USTA Texas Section for 30 plus years and has received numerous awards, including the HTA Sampson Award, the W.T. Caswell Award, and Tournament Director of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award from the section.  She is a member of the Texas Section Awards Committee and the Junior Tennis Council, as well as a certified USTA umpire and referee.

HTUA Members AT US OPEN 2009

Our congratulations and cheers to the members of the HTUA family pictured above at the US Open this year.

Richard Soukup with Margaret Smith Kathy O'connor and Beatrice Hummel are in the picture on top. Susan Burns is in the chair on Louis Armstrong Stadium in the lower picture.

A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon all our blessings of the year--and we have many! Let's all be thankful that we are part of the best officiating family in the universe. Enjoy the friendships and time we get to spend together...

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2009 Certification School went off successfully. Thx to the excellent instruction from Ms Jane Goodman, ably assisted by Roz Tuerk and our own Ginny James.

NEWS ITEMS

Congratulations to Susan Burns on achieving her Bronze Badge Chair School

Welcome to our newest member Jesse Ybarra, lately from Center Texas.

Please send your messages regarding the Web site and any comments and requests to Danny Tangri

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

This is just a reminder notice. By now you should have all received the invitation to register through the Nucula system.

It is of great importance as all your work records, Certifications, Evaluations, Schools and other information will now be permanently on line.If you have not already done so please Request your New Nucula account at https://tumps.usta.com/nucula/

If you have problems or questions please contact me at my home email account

The 2010 certification schools have been set, and the Houston school will be on      January 23 & 24 and will once again be a National school. again be a National school. uston school will be on January 23 & 24 and will once again be a National school.

Please use the following links for

USTA Officials news letters  and 2009 ITA Rules Updates

• For Our New Roving officials here is a Link to HTUA Shadowing Card

Approved Bylaws 2008

Please note link to roster has been deleted for security. Any member that would like a copy please email Danny Tangri

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One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive is, "How do I get ITA training?"

The following is an excerpt from a blog post by a senior USTA, ITA official.
First, we all need to understand that ITA officiating is really a creation all its own. Its not the same as USTA tournaments and certainly isn't the same a pro level tournaments. As an ITA official, you have coaches and players right there on the court with you and many times are placed in a high-charged and adversarial atmosphere--so you need to know your stuff!
Here are your options for training:
1. Contact your local ITA coordinator.  For Houston, this would be Ginny James.
2. Ask your coordinator to submit your name to the Chair Academy in Plano in May, or the Live Fire Workshop at Baylor in September. These are the two highest quality training opportunities in the nation but it is by invitation only and you can only be recommended by your local coordinator.
Here are some things to remember when you are looking for ITA training:
* You must know the ITA rules backwards and forwards. There is no substitute for this quality.
* You must have a teachable spirit.
* You must be willing to rove as well as do chairs.
* You must be willing to do matches without pay at the first.
* Make yourself as available as possible.
* Email or call your coordinator and let them know you are interested in training.

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The July 2009 USTA Officials Department Newsletter is now available. Please follow the link July2009OfficiatingNewsletter

You can also access the newsletter by doing one of the following:

1.  Click on the following link http://www.usta.com/Get Involved/Officials.aspx in order to access the USTA Officials Department web page and click on the link that reads Officiating Tips Newsletter-September 2008.

2.  Go to www.usta.com, click on the “Get Involved” tab, click on “Officials” and click on the link that reads Officiating Tips Newsletter-September 2008.

If you have any questions about or problems accessing the newsletter, please contact us at officiating@usta.com.

USTA Officials Department

officiating@usta.com