2012

The club was formed by ten people on June 14, 2012 as a Wyoming Unincorporated Nonprofit Association. Ed Heckman volunteered to be President.

Dues were set at $10.

Board meetings were held every two weeks and were followed by potluck socials.

FEIN (federal employer identification number) was obtained and a bank account opened.

Beginner lessons were started,

The club began fundraising by selling lunches on the 4th of July, concessions at the golf course, and preparing desserts to sell at park dinners along with a 50/50 raffle. Concession supplies were initially donated by Tim Stewart, but that ended once the club had some funds of their own.

Concrete sanding and patching of the 30 year old tennis courts was begun, and lines were painted on the bare concrete for 5 PB courts.

Four nets were purchased and 8 net posts hole were drilled on the west court. The tennis net was used on the single east court.

The single court, on the east tennis court, was reserved for beginners.

Morning play had a magnetic board with player names to be used for court rotation and group signups.

There were 47 members by the end of the season.

2013

Negotiations with the Stewart's were begun to obtain financing for PB court improvements. Stewart’s agreed to provide $2,000 toward resurfacing, and possibly more, if more RV lots were sold.

Club committees and a master plan for court improvements were developed.

Fundraising continued with 50/50 raffles, dessert sales and two lunches. Priscilla Scott offered to run a tournament in 2014.

The west tennis court was sealed, resurfaced and lined for four PB courts. The Stewart’s paid for the product and the club provided all the labor.

Larger diameter net post holes were drilled on west courts. Two regulation PB nets were purchased by the club and two more were donated by members.

After some concrete patching, the east tennis court lines were repainted, and lines for two pickleball courts were added, making six total PB courts.

A Court Usage Committee was formed to create plans for how to divide courts between the different levels of players.

The Stewart's agreed to provide and install interior fencing for the west side courts.

There were 61 members by the end of the season.

2014

Board meetings and socials were no longer combined. Board meetings were too long.

Club declined to buy liability insurance or have a waiver since Leisure Valley Inc. (LVI) has full coverage for all the facilities and the club had few assets.

Quick Books software use was instituted for recording the club’s financial activity. Prior years’ info was added for complete records.

Two portable USAPA pickleball net systems were purchased for use on the east courts. A USAPA grant was applied for and received, to help offset the cost.

Volunteers were asked to play with the beginners. Court usage was updated to 4 in-4 out play.

First USAPA sanctioned tournament held in July with 82 players on 6 courts, raising over $2,000 after expenses.

First club t-shirts were made and sold.

Bylaws adopted.

Annual patching and crack sealing of the west courts was begun by club members.

A trough was hand dug on the east side of the courts, in the dog park, to improve drainage.

Master Plan updated for congregating area, a storage shed, walkways and relocating sprinklers.

Conversion of the east tennis court to four PB courts was approved and completed. Stewart's paid for this work and club volunteers did the prep work.

Club Board approved net post, interior fencing and gate installation contract for this area, to be completed by May 31, 2015.

There were 91 members by the end of the season.

2015

Signup sheet for morning play, instead of paddle lineup, implemented.

A 3.5 and a 4.0 self-rated (two) challenge court was tried, but abandoned after one month due to arguments. Afternoon/evening play encouraged.

Fees to allow for nonmembers to play in the morning were instituted at $1 per day.

Three gates were added for better court access, to minimize crossing courts. Dog park fence was cut back to allow access to SW court. All courts, except for two on the south side, now had direct access. All work done by volunteers.

A 3+ foot deep French drain was dug around SE perimeter of courts and filled with small rocks, to corral water drainage and keep this corner court drained.

Storage shed purchased.

Club purchases 12 metal chairs for player seating.

The creation of a joint PB maintenance fund, with the club and LVI matching annual donations, was proposed, presented to the Stewarts and accepted. Initial contributions were set at $1,500 each annually.

Tournament had 113 players and netted $3,711. Raffles and sponsors increased net.

There were 137 members by the end of the season.

2016

Fees for nonmember morning play doubled to $2.

One shared court for 3.5/4.0+ play instituted, to help reduce wait times.

New bulletin board, built by a volunteer, installed on the side of our shed.

New court number signs, built by a volunteer, installed.

Self-rated skill level designated courts for morning open play started.

For player safety, horizontal pipe was added to bottom of fencing on E-W fences. PVC corrugated drainage pipe added to top of 4 foot interior fences.

Sidewalks were installed from the basketball court edges to the gates at either end.

Tournament had 152 players and netted $5,003.

There were 229 members by the end of the season.

2017

Shared 3.5/4.0+ court was not working well. Changed to one swing court with alternate days for 3.5 and 4.0+’player use.

Club purchased 10 plastic chairs for players.

Evening round robins started, run by volunteers.

Tournament had 152 players and netted $5,692.

There were 257 members by the end of the season.

2018

Open play vs. rated or self-rated skill level morning play hotly debated.

Brick Campaign fundraiser started.

PickleballPlus membership software instituted.

Four additional courts in the bumper boat area approved by LVI. Filling, grading and concrete installation work done and paid for by LVI. SVPB is to pay for everything else.

Cost estimates for resurfacing upper courts solicited.

Ad Hoc Court Usage Committee established with a member from each skill level.

Tournament had 177 players and netted $6,369.

There were 336 members by the end of the season.

2019

Member dues increased to $20 per person for the season.

Fees for nonmember morning play raised to $3 per day.

Club starts using player liability waivers.

Board reaffirms that all courts will be self-rated skill level play. Challenge court for rated only players rejected.

LVI requires that players aged 14 or under must be accompanied by a parent, adult family member or approved guardian for morning play.

Fencing, net posts, nets, surface sealing and painting for the four new courts completed at a cost to SVPB of $37,489 (see cost sharing under 2018). This brings the total number of courts to 12. Room was left for four more courts in the future.

E-W 6 foot interior fencing & posts were upgraded and replaced. The 4 foot interior fence on west end courts also upgraded and replaced. Club paid for this work.

Bylaw Review Committee established.

Tournament had 195 players and netted $6,961.

There were 276 Members by the end of the season.

2020

AED added to pickleball court area.

Major revision of Bylaws presented and approved at Annual Meeting.

Tournament canceled due to COVID-19.

There were 276 members by the end of the season.

2021

Stewart's provide a part-time employee for custodial and light maintenance work for PB courts.

SVPB participates in Thayne 4th of July parade for the first time, and wins “Best in Show” award.

Updated cost estimates for resurfacing the upper courts solicited.

Tournament had 161 players and netted $8,501.

There were 384 members by the end of the season.

2022

Member dues increased to $30 per person for the season.

Fees for nonmember morning play increased to $5 per day.

Tournament had 170 players and netted $8,922

There were 339 members by the end of the season.

2023

Upper courts resurfaced for $35,200. PB Joint Maintenance funds used to pay for this.

Tournament moved to late June from late July.

Multiple court usage and play time schedules experimented with, including two shifts for morning play. Court usage was returned back to the original schedule in August.

Tournament had 139 players and netted $10,306.

There were 336 members by August 6, 2023.

Prepared by Priscilla Scott, Tim & Jan Johnson -August 6, 2023

2024

The season of 2024 SVPB Club increased the dues to $35.00 and guest players to $10.00/day.

Created a new website for the SVPB Club, starvalleypb.com.

Established a new accounting system for the Club. The accounting system is cloud based which gives Board members who need access to have the ability to login anywhere and at any time.

Stewart's and the Club started the work on the new courts late in the 2023 season. The Stewart’s brought in fill dirt to level out the ground and let it set for the winter.

Tournament was held June 24th-26th. We had 197 players and netted $14,619.00.

In June the Stewart's started the process of leveling the ground and removing trees along the street to make room for the new courts.

SVPB Club had a float in the Thayne 4th of July parade and won First Place in “Best of Theme”.

Mid-July the fence posts went up and concrete was poured over the next few weeks.

Mid-August the fence and fence toppers were installed.

August 21st the courts got their first coating of paint and over the next few days the courts were finished. New benches were built and installed and an overhead screen was added to provide shade.

SVPB Club held the Grand Opening for the new courts was held on August 26th, with new and past Board members and the Stewart's in attendance and cutting the ribbons. Total cost was approximately $95,000. The Club paid half and LVI (Stewart’s) paid the other half.

New court assignments were implemented for the remainder of the season.

SVPB Club ended the season with 363 members.

Prepaid by Carl Nobel, August 30, 2024