President’s Report September-October 2000

By Sheri Pittman

The Pittmans: Charlies, Charles & Sheri. Photo by Tong Lee Copyright 2000

The theme of this issue’s "association primer series" might be more appropriate for the November-December issue since it has a lot to do with thanks giving. Giving thanks, though, should not just be a seasonal expression of gratitude, but should be something that we do regularly. In this issue’s association primer series, I want to thank and recognize the many people and resources that have been invaluable recently.

It seems that every year there is a larger and larger pool of volunteers at the U.S. Open. These "newbies" integrate into the volunteer structure because there are now so many veteran tournament staff members. Consequently, our volunteer pool expands in depth and breadth each year. To get an idea of the complexity of the tournament structure, variety of assigned tasks, and interplay between USATT staff and the volunteer pool, please turn to page 51. Take a moment to read over the list. These are the people who deserve a great deal of applause and appreciation for the smooth functioning of this year’s U.S. Open, ITTF Pro Tour, and the Paralympic events. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who contributed to making this year’s event such a fine one.

Charlie Pittman was busy during the tournament. He plays ping pong and poses with World Women's Champion (and USA Pro Tour Champion) Wang Nan of China. Photos by Tong Lee Copyright 2000

Between attending meetings and handling other duties, I don’t always have a lot of interaction with the people responsible for each facet of the tournament. I would, however, like to thank a few "unsung heroes" for their unique contributions:

Jimmy Wilson, you took responsibility for a brand new function and handled it like you’ve done it annually. This year we awarded trophies at the conclusion of the finals in all events. Jimmy coordinated pairing up presenters with events. From all accounts I heard, the players enjoyed this improved method of congratulating event finalists. Steve Gibson, thank you for helping out with this too. Thanks also to Sean O’Neill, who had volunteered to take photos of these presentations, and did until his brand new digital camera mysteriously disappeared. Please contact USATT if you have any information about that camera’s whereabouts.

Ed Hogshead and Houshang Bozorgzadeh greeted the ITTF Pro Tour superstars at the airport. They also chauffeured many Pro Tour players and coaches around for shopping and other activities. You two exuded a caring attitude and made them feel welcome and likely to return next year. Ross Brown pitched in with international hospitality whenever I asked. Thank you. Brian Pace made arrangements for some associations, particularly China and Japan, to practice in Coral Springs prior to and/or after the U.S. Open at the Quadrangle Athletic Club. The club hosted a pre-U.S. Open reporter’s outing and agreed to extend complimentary club usage to these teams at the request of USA Table Tennis. Thanks to Keith Alban and Brian who participated in that pre-U.S. Open interview. And thanks to Palm Beach Post reporter, Ron Wiggins, for publishing a phenomenal table tennis primer.

Thank you to Y. C. Lee, Shonie Aki, Azmy Ibrahim, Bill Walk, Wendell Dillon, Norm Chouinard, Terry Canup, Allen Barth, Dick Evans, Larry Kesler, Wayne Johnson, Marilyn Miller, and Olga Feingold. Thanks to all of the officials and control desk staff.

Thank you, Nobuyuki Shirakawa, for recruiting and overseeing logistics for the contingent of volunteer umpires from Japan. Your group’s continued generosity and demonstrated commitment to the success of our events is touching.

For their great work in the Paralympic operations, thanks to Christian Lillieroos, Sharon Frant Brooks, Richard Lee, Alan Williams, Fong Hsu, and Aly Salam. Aly, thank you for making nearly last-minute arrangements for your family to change its vacation plans in order to assume responsibilities that were requested of you only weeks before the tournament.

Larry Hodges somehow managed to work all day, collecting copy for the on-line web coverage of the tournament, and then work all night posting the information. Thank you for your tremendous dedication and attention to detail.

Thanks to Dave Williams who, along with USATT Executive Director Ben Nisbet, is heading up USA Table Tennis support of the Chicago Ping Pong Festival. I know that there are probably dozens of Chicago-area table tennis players who are assisting in the city-wide table tennis promotional event. We will acknowledge your contributions.

Thank you to Debbie Doney who worked at USA Table Tennis headquarters throughout the U.S. Open and the following week, focusing mainly on inputting ratings data.

Thank you to the entire USA Table Tennis staff: Ben Nisbet, Margaret Smith, Vicki Ulrich, Megan Kulenberg, Heather Sellars, Chris Laskey, and Kathy Engel-Stabler. Even though this is their job, they all worked long hours. For all but Margaret, this was their first U.S. Open as staffers! Thanks to Escalade Sport’s Dewayne Zint for working seamlessly with USA Table Tennis in planning and overseeing tournament set-up and breakdown.

Thank you to Sug Chan and the Coral Springs Chinese Cultural Association for hosting a post-U.S. Open reception for the Chinese team. Coaches Terese Terranova and Marty Prager oversee their program. Terese and Marty, thank you for the post-event critique. While the tournament ran very smoothly, there is still room for improvement, and I appreciate hearing about what areas need the most attention.

Jimmy McClure, thank you for serving as tournament evaluator. Your thorough write-up provides us with a good starting point for continuing to make significant improvements in the presentation and implementation of this event. Thank you, Dick Evans, for your kind post-U.S. Open letter.

It is not possible, in this amount of space, to personally thank everybody for all of the excellent contributions made by tournament officials, staff, and volunteers. I again want to thank everyone for your time and commitment.

I also want to extend a special thanks to all of the spouses who so generously support our efforts through their good-natured acceptance of our zeal for table tennis. In particular, I want to thank my husband, Charlie Pittman, for his ongoing patience with me for the omnipresence of table tennis in our life. And, although my son, Charlie Pittman IV, is too young to understand, I also appreciate his squeals of delight for a sport he knows only as "table tennis!"

Thank you to all of our U.S. Open sponsors and host-city service providers. Larry Gadjerowicz, your genuine support of not just USA Table Tennis, but also of table tennis in the U.S. generally, is always totally apparent; Escalade Sport’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of our sport is vital to our association. Also representing Stiga, Mitch Rothfleisch, owner of The Table Tennis Pioneers, thank you for your generosity in your willingness to "dress our team" for success and in your openness to modifying our contractual arrangements for the benefit of our developing players. Thank you CancerQ.com and your representative Santos Cruz for your sponsorship.

Thank you to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for the tremendous hands-on customer service approach. Staff was always available and willing to accommodate our requests. The Marina Marriott, besides serving as the excellent tournament hotel, also provided sponsorship money.

The ITTF promised tournament support and delivered it. Over a year ago, just prior to both his ascendancy to ITTF President and to my own election as president of USA Table Tennis, Adham Sharara and I spoke at length about our mutual visions for our sport. I pledged to support the re-emergence of a USATT-hosted ITTF Pro Tour and he pledged to provide our association with increased ITTF assistance in promoting table tennis in the United States. It was a turning point in USATT-ITTF relations.

ITTF Marketing Director Anders Thunstrom and ITTF Competition Manager Zlatko Cordas worked closely with USA Table Tennis during all organizational phases. We were all committed to the successful production of a world-class event. And, as a team, the ITTF and USATT, together with the volunteer staff, did it.

Adham’s commitment to the success of our association remains strong. Although he had a conflict in his schedule, Adham arranged to fly in for one day especially to attend a meeting between USA Table Tennis, the Chinese Table Tennis Association, the ITTF and the likely sponsor of our association’s Youth and Coaches China Tour. Assuming that the last items to be negotiated work out, then the trip will be set for an "all systems go" and will take place from October 6-16. Although the Secretary General of CTTA, Yang Shu’An, was unable to attend this year’s U.S. Open at the last minute, he sent two negotiators in his place, Madam Li Yuhuan and Miss Liu Yi. Anders Thunstrom also attended on behalf of the ITTF. The potential sponsor sent two representatives. Executive Director Ben Nisbet, USATT Treasurer Tong Lee and I represented USA Table Tennis at the meeting. Thanks to all of the participants for your generous support of our association’s initiative.

I want to thank Hank McCoullum for agreeing to serve as Interim Group B Vice President while Wendell Dillon heads up an ad hoc committee that will prepare its own general election proposal for Board vote by September 1.

Lastly, I want to thank all of the participants for playing in this year’s event. There seemed to be a true esprit de corps throughout the ranks of the skill-level spectrum. I think every president receives a great deal of both positive and negative feedback. I want to thank everyone for making my experience as president, on balance, a source of great joy. I hope to see many of you soon again at the North American Corporate Games in October.