POLO CLUB PICKLEBALL BYLAWS

Article I – Name 

Section 1.  The name of this organization will be Polo Club Pickleball, herein referred to as the “Club.”

Article II – Purpose

Section 1.  To provide fun, healthy, and recreational activities for its members.

Article III – Membership

Section 1.  All Trilogy at the Polo Club (Blue Star) members are eligible for Club membership, and each member will have one vote.

Section 2.  Members will abide by the bylaws.

Section 3.  Membership will be terminated by voluntary withdrawal, nonpayment of dues or assessments, violation of the provisions of these bylaws, or violation of published rules, guidelines and regulations promulgated by the Homeowners Association and/or Blue Star.

Section 4.  Guests of Club members will be allowed to participate in Club activities subject to limitations set by Blue Star.  Guests must sign a liability waiver per Blue Star regulations.  

Article IV – Meetings

Section 1.  There will be a minimum of two meetings per year.  An annual business meeting will be held during the second week of November for the purpose of discussing agenda items, needs, assessments, and planning for the upcoming season’s activities.  A second, end of season meeting will be held in the spring, no earlier than March 15, and no later than April 30.  

Section 2.  Special meetings may be called by the President or upon written request of at least 10% of the Club membership.  The Club membership will be notified at least ten days in advance of the meeting regarding time, place, and agenda.  

Section 3.  A quorum will consist of at least a President or Vice President and 10% of the Club membership.

Section 4.  Only items specified on the agenda may be voted on at any meeting.  Proposed agenda items must be submitted in writing to the President at least one week prior to the meeting and are subject to approval by the Advisory Committee.  

Article V – Dues and Assessments

Section 1.  Amount of annual dues will be voted on at the November meeting.  Payment of dues is required by members to be eligible for full participation as a member of the Club.

Section 2.  Annual membership is based on a November 1st through October 31st timeframe.  Dues must be paid by November 30th to retain membership.  New members who join in September or October will pay the prevailing annual dues.  These dues will cover their membership through October 31st of the following year.  

Article VI – Presidential Elections

Section 1.  Any active member of the Club is eligible to run for President.  The term of office shall be for one year, from November 1st through October 31st of each year.

Section 2.  Voting for the office of President will commence on the first Tuesday of October and end on Friday of the same week.  The results of the election shall then be emailed to the Club membership within 24 hours of the close of voting.

Section 3.  Once elected, the President will select the Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 4.  A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by a majority of written votes cast by Club members at a special meeting.  Vacancies in any other offices shall be filled by the President at his or her own discretion.

Article VII – President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer Duties

Section 1.  The President or Vice President will preside at all meetings, form committees as needed, call special meetings as needed, and serve as primary point-of-contact with Blue Star staff.  

Section 2.  The President and Vice President will be responsible for coordination with other Blue Star clubs as needed.

Section 3.  The Vice President will serve as President in the event the President is unable to do so.

Section 4.  The President and Vice President will be responsible for issuing guidelines and rules for Club activities when there are safety concerns or other requirements not covered in these bylaws.

Section 5.  The Secretary will take minutes of Club meetings and will make the minutes available to the Club membership by posting the minutes on the Club website.

Section 6.  The Treasurer will record dues and assessments, disburse funds, and provide an oral financial report for each regular meeting.  A written financial report will be posted on the Club website.

Section 7.  The President and Vice President together will be allowed a discretionary budget of $600.00 per year.  Proposed expenditures between $600.00 and $1000.00 must be approved by the Advisory Committee.  Anything over $1000.00 must be approved by a majority of the Club Membership.   In addition, the Social Committee will be allowed to spend up to $300.00 per event, subject to the approval of the Club President and Treasurer.

Article VIII – Advisory Committee

Section 1.  The President and Vice President will appoint an Advisory Committee consisting of active members of the Club (typically between seven and eleven).  The Advisory Committee will provide advice and counsel to the Club leadership, and perform duties as specified in these bylaws.  

Article IX – Amendments

Section 1.  The bylaws may be amended by two-thirds majority vote of the Club membership present at the annual meeting after an explanation and discussion of the proposed changes.  Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the President at least one week prior to the November meeting and are subject to approval by the Advisory Committee.

  POLO CLUB

PICKLEBALL 

HISTORY

.....a little bit 

of our club's history

 Compiled by

Marla Palash

When Pickleball became the fastest growing sport in the USA, Shea Homes added 4 Pickleball courts to Trilogy at The Polo Clubs master plan. From our humble beginnings, we now boast 8 courts and over 200 members, and are part of our community’s lifeblood. Polo Club Pickleball (formerly “Trilogy Picklers” and “Trilogy Pickleball at The Polo Club”) was formed to enhance the social aspect of the sport. Regardless of your level of play, you are welcome at our club.

All past and present Chairpersons and Presidents were sent a questionnaire asking about their experiences and highlighting what changes they were a part of. They have all brought their own unique style of leadership to enhance the enjoyment of our club over the years. Their stories tell the unique history of our great “Polo Club Pickleball” club.

We thank them all!

2015: Jim Zimmer leads a group of TPC residents to play at Freedom Park before our courts were finished. It was a tough start since they were new to the game, and few wanted to play with them. This experience left a lasting impression on Jim!  He now volunteers his time and effort to teach beginners and make sure all those wanting to learn this wonderful sport have a good foundation on which to build their skill level.  He is and remains our clubs smiling ambassador.

March 2016: The first 4 pickleball courts in our community were completed and ready for play.  Jim could now expand the number of student players he could help and set up specific times for beginner lessons. 

May 5th, 2016: Polo Pickleball Club is formed, and membership begins to quickly grow.

May 2016-December 2016:

Chairperson: Jim Zimmer

Alternative: Kathy Knapp 

Committees: Mel Mantell, Kathy Knapp, Janet Malek, Hank Reimer 

Number of Members: 35

Dues: $10 used mostly for tournament supplies

Accomplishments: 

• Two In-House tournaments were organized and conducted:

• June 2016:

  • 1st place: Janet Malek and Mel Mantell

  • 2nd place: Luis Fuentes and Evan Karlson

  • 3rd place: Kathy Knapp and Jeff Gindin 

• Nov. 2016

  • 1st place: Toni Deaztlan and Janet Malek

  • 2nd place: Connie Dipasque and Tony Deaztlan

  • 3rd place: Stacy Atherton and Mel Mantell

• Jimmy began the listing of events in the MTL in cooperation with BlueStar as it remains today. 

Comments:

Jim Zimmer stepped aside from leadership but continued to teach “Introduction to Pickleball” as he still does today. 

Ask Jim about the Tournament Plaque he still has with the names of  tournament winners that used to hang in our clubhouse. 

December 2016-2017

President: Hank Reimer, USAPA Ambassador 

Vice President: Mel Mantell

Secretary: Janet Malek

Treasure: Kathy Knapp

Member at Large: Tony Deaztlan

Number of Members: 40 

Dues: $10 dues 

Accomplishments: 

• Wrote the first formal by-laws with Mission Statement led by Jim Zimmer.

• Created a Pickleball logo used for T-Shirts led by Mel Mantell.

• Wrote the first Code of Ethics led by Hank, Kathy and Janet.

• Organized Clinics with Pro Players. 

Comments: 

As with all endeavors, there were growing pains. Internal strife in the club pushed the board to resign early.

The BlueStar General Manager was a big supporter of the President, Treasurer and Secretary for what they had accomplished and was disappointed to see it collapse.

2017-2018 and 2018-2019 

President: Doug Briggs

Vice President: Gigi Maceda 

Treasurer: Michael Lacy

Advisors: Jim Zimmer, Mel Mantell, Stan Urmann, Tony Deaztlan

Number of Members:

2018: 41

2019: 117

Dues:

2018: $10

2019: $20

Accomplishments:

• 2019 dues increase used for various court improvements.

• Started interclub play.

• Formed a committee to establish protocol for court play. This led to the creation of the “sign-up” board that is still used today.

• Created 4 new committees for more member involvement: Membership, Social, Facility and Tournament.

• Presented a plan to BlueStar and Shea to convert the stadium tennis court to 4 pickleball courts led by Mel Mantell.

• Created a Polo Club Pickleball site on Facebook led by Gig Maceda.

• These 2 years saw an almost 200% increase in membership!

 2019-2020  

President: Liz Lynch

Vice President: Jill Goldberg

Secretary: Gigi Maceda

Treasurer: Art Scher

Advisors: Phil Hoffman, Marla Palash, Stan Urmann, Mel Mantell, Jimmy Margoles, Jimmy Zimmer 

Social Committee: Marla Palash, Diane Billings

Number of Members: 135

Dues: $20 plus large donations used for stadium court conversion.

Accomplishments:

• Added 4 new courts (doubling capacity) by converting the stadium tennis court into 4 state of the art pickleball courts. Led by Mel Mantell with help from Donald Sutherland, Bart Braverman and Jimmy Margoles.

• T-Shirts and hats led by Jill Goldberg using a design from Art Scher’s son. 

• Inter-Club play continues and expands with Jill Goldberg's leadership.

• Round-robins and clinics run by Club members.

• 1st two day tournament “Fun in the Sun”. run by Stan Urmann and Eric Bendfelt with volunteers from our Pickleball Club. The proceeds went to local Pet Rescue, Roosevelt Elementary School and $3000 worth of high quality nets for our club.  

• Clinic group lessons with teaching Pro and arranged private lessons. 

• Holiday party at Liz’s house. 

• Socials after Round-Robins at our Club. 

• COVID pandemic shuts down the courts and members improvise by setting up nets on community streets and inside garages (kitchen games).

• Club leadership and BlueStar work together to manage the pandemic restrictions and get the courts back open for play. 

Comments:

The transformation of our courts happened during COVID. Many members gave their time and money to do some extras, like putting the fences between the courts which Shea was reluctant to pay for. The newer members really should give a big thank you to many of the “old guard”. I think things would be much different now if we hadn’t made the decision to do it right. 

2020-2021 and 2021-2022

President: Mel Mantell (Pitbull)

Vice President: Jimmy Margoles/Mike Lorion

Secretary: Brenda Zurcher

Treasurer: John Scoles

Advisors: Stan Urmann, Marla Palash, Art Scher, Mary Scoles, John Scoles

Membership: Jim Zimmer

Social Committee: Elyse Goodman, Liz Lynch, Stacey Belche

Facilities Maintenance: Phil Hoffman

Special Events: Jill Goldberg, Stan Urmann, Marla Palash

Music Director: John Avey

Number of Members:

2020: 135

2021: 176

Dues: $40 Used for the purchase of balls, food and beverages for after tournament socials, end of year parties and facility improvements. 

Accomplishments:

• Reviewed and updated Club by-laws each year with help of Art Scher, Mary Scoles and John Scoles.

• In-House Round-Robins led by Stan Urmann.

• Inter-Club Play led by Jill Goldberg.

• 1st "Glow in the Dark" two day Pickleball Event led by Stan Urmann with help from Phil Hoffman, Mel Mantell and John Avey. Members paid to play which paid for equipment that the club now owns.

• Dinking Divas led by Gwen Washington.

• Pickleball Lite led by Jimmy Margoles.

• Skill Clinics led by Stan Urmann and Marla Palash.

• T-Shirts led by Mel Mantell and Brenda Zurcher.

• The website started, led by Mike Lorion and Mel Mantell.

• New member registration Jimmy Zimmer and Christine Dirkovich.

• “Next-Up sign up board for open play designed by Mel Mantell and installed by Phil Hoffman, Gary Goodman and Mel Mantell.

• East Coachella Valley League Pickleball - 3.5+ team led by Art Scher, Tom Thompson and Marla Palash. 3.0 team led by Mary Ellen Perry and Scott Sterling.

• Completed the transformation of the stadium courts with shade cover, sitting area and bike rack. 

• Shade cover on upper courts, safety barriers, new nets and the battle to remove the windscreens on the upper courts for better viewing. 

2022-2023 and 2023-2024

President: Scott Sterling

Vice President: Mary Ellen Perry

Treasurer: Joanne Spina

Secretary: Priscilla Joseph

Advisors: Tom Thompson, Rod Butler, Priscilla Joseph, Lauri McKinley, Dick Lundgren, Marla Palash, Stuart Goodman, Sue Anderson, Gwen Washington, Stuart Goodman, Jill Goldberg

Membership: Jim Zimmer

Social Committee: Elyse Goodman, Liz Lynch, Stacey Belche, Sylvia Avey, Laurie McKinley

Facilities Maintenance: Rod Butler, Phil Hoffman

Special Events: Jill Goldberg, Mike Galeski, Lisa Galeski, Gail Hamilton

Music Director: John Avey

Number of Members:

2023: 195

Dues: $40 used to purchase balls, equipment for events (Charity Tournament), minor maintenance and social events. 

Accomplishments: 

• Built on previous leadership accomplishments such as Inter-Club events, League Play, In-House Skills/Drills and Clinics.

• A major charity “tournament” raised $8,000 for cancer charities.

• Streamlined financial accountability system by opening a club bank account.

• Created a more formal Advisory Committee to provide advice and counsel to club leadership.  

• Promoted inclusion throughout Club. 

• Improved communication through weekly newsletter and upgraded website.  

Comments:

It took the better part of the first year of this leadership team to discover the Club ethos, i.e., this is a club primarily made up of players who want to improve their game, but to do so in a social/recreational context. I felt like I had a great head start by following previous leaders, all of whom had different priorities, but all of whom also wanted the very best for the club. 

In Conclusion:

Starting with Jimmy Zimmer's efforts, the current leadership team and future leadership teams will promote the love of pickleball to all who want to join our fun and competitive club!

The future is bright! 

Compiled by Marla Palash