A Letter to the Racquetball Players Of America
I am writing this to all of you, the Racquetball Players of America, to tell you that your sport really needs your financial support.
USA Racquetball (USAR), your national organization, wants to continue to be the glue that binds us all together. We are the organization that:
Ø provides competitive opportunities for all levels of play (adults, juniors, collegiate, seniors, and masters)
Ø forms and promotes our Adult and Junior National teams for international competition
Ø keeps all the entities of our sport talking to each other, through magazines, eNewsletters, websites, etc.
Ø creates and maintains the rules and regulations of the sport; develops standards (eye guard safety, ball structure, racquet size); and monitors and enforces those standards
Ø ensures the protection of participants, sponsors and venues by providing liability insurance and risk management programs and information
We’re doing pretty well…and we have controlled our debt. Yet, USOC support is down, sponsorships are down, expenses are up…and we have an aggressive agenda. The plans include:
Ø working with venues (clubs, universities, YMCAs, etc.) to position and maintain racquetball as a great sport and fitness activity – “Fitness and Fun, Rolled Into One!”
Ø creating and supplying promotional materials for marketing and visibility
Ø providing mechanisms (e.g., portable court, TV, on-line broadcasts) to bring the sport to the masses
On February 1st, 2009, adult competitive membership dues will be $50 per year (an increase of $1.25 per month).
We are 13,000 members strong…and we need each and every one to continue their support by:
· renewing their membership when the time comes (or early at the current amount)
· gifting a membership to a new player
· making an occasional financial contribution to USAR when you can
Without your being there, alongside us, we’ll have to scale back our plans. Instead, let’s move forward together, to ensure we not only survive, but thrive! Please continue to aggressively and faithfully support your sport. It matters, a lot!
Many thanks,
Cheryl Kirk Dr. James Hiser
President, USA Racquetball Executive Director, USA Racquetball