Senior Corner

March/April 2009
By Olga & Stan Kahan,

Co-Chairs, USATT Senior Committee

949-830-6699 (ph) • 949-240-7167 (fax)

natashafeingold@gmail.com

2009 - YEAR OF THE OX
2009 is the year of the Ox in the Chinese Zodiac, the OX Buffalo sign symbolizes prosperity through hard work. With a new USATT Board and its CEO, Mike Cavanaugh, it seems to signal a new splurge of energy and expansion of responsible and industrious ways to navigate our table tennis into new unchartered waters.
We will be very glad to see Richard Lee’s smiling face, welcoming us again to Las Vegas and the 2009 US Open. This July, Richard Lee, who serves as North American Table Tennis President, will also be directing the 2009 USA International Veterans Championships, in addition and in conjunction with the US Open. These Grand Table Tennis Events will be held in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, July 1-4, 2009. Richard Lee’s company – North American Table Tennis – has been selected again to provide tournament operations for our local, national, and international players. The company started its service in 1998 and with time it has soundly improved and widened its operations.
This is the first time that Richard Lee will be operating together with the 2009 USA International Veterans Championships, chaired by Olga Feingold Kahan – for the benefit and enjoyment of mature seniors. By the insistence andencouragement of its Referee Azmy Ibrahim and its deputy referee, Nobuyuki Shirakawa from Japan, the 44 mm balls events will be included in those international veterans championships.With this strong will and diligent approach, Richard Lee has secured 115 Butterfly tables for these July tournaments.
“The goal, this year of the Ox, is to improve the national and international image of table tennis, specifically for seasoned veterans.” Richard Lee strongly emphasizes: “Let’s work together, to help everyone be involved in a collective team effort, and to make these oncoming table tennis events rewarding and enjoyable.
“We wish you and our participants, volunteers, and officials, who will be involved in these events, a great memorable experience and good luck.” Entry forms can be obtained in this issue of the USATT Magazine or additional IVC information and IVC Bulletin No. 2 from Joyce Grooms, Administrative Director, at admin@usatt.org, (719) 866-4583 ext 5, fax: (719) 632-6071.

The 20th Annual Mieklejohn North American Seniors has prepared a particularly attractive number of changes in prize money this year. The entry form can be found in this issue, but note the following:

Top money has been increased for many events significantly.

2008: over 40 - $5400 ’08 under 2400 - $1300

2009: over 40 - $8100 ’09 under 2400 - $1950

2008: women over 40 - $800 ’08 women over 50 - $500

2009: women over 40 - $1200 ’09 women over 50 - $900

Those are a few of the very many award changes in events throughout the tournament. And even better news, entry fees have remained the same as last year, except in a few cases where the Meiklejohn Committee copied current US Banking practices and raised fees $1 or $2.
Will we see you in June where the temperature usually tops out at 75 degrees and the hospitality is legendary?