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USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop-PAST&E Executive Director Reports

PAST&E Executive Director Danice Brown with other Pacific Northwest Attendees

By Coach Danice, Executive Director PAST&E

I just returned for the United States Tennis Association - Community Tennis Development Workshop which was held in New Orleans this year. I have been fortunate to attend this conference every year since I have been the Executive Director of Portland After-School Tennis & Education, Inc. So many of you only think of "tennis" when you think of the USTA, but I have found that for USTA Serves and NJTL (National Junior Tennis & Learning) tennis is the vehicle to engage at risk children in learning. Yes..."EDUCATION"...whether it is supporting programs that offer tutoring, life skills, nutrition, fitness...I wish all of you could have been there to hear the incredible work that is being done through NJTL Chapters across the country. I am so proud to be part of this network of dedicated people...and each year our gatherings have become more and more a "reunion of friends".

Volunteer Spotlight: Coach Debbie

Coach Debbie volunteers as a Coach and Tutor with our PAST&E Tennis Academy for High School students. She taught high school math at Aloha High School in the late 70's and then jumped ship to software engineering and retired from IBM in 2005. Her husband claims she's busier now than when she worked, which she says "is probably true but I only work on what I want to."


Congratulations to Coach Meghana and the PAST&E Science Program!

Thanks to your votes the PAST&E Science program has received a $5,000 Grant to be used for supplies and program activities! In the end Coach Meghana's project finished in the Top 20 of the Pepsi Refresh Grant voting polls ensuring the grant for PAST&E!

Thanks to our dedicated voters who voted all through the month of November!

See the project page here: Science for Kids

PAST&E USPTA Coaches Training

On October 9th our core coaching team met under the guidance of Tennis Director Fitz Paccione to review tennis programming from the United States Professional Tennis Association's World Conference.

Highlights were drills and development strategies from the USTA High Performance Division run by Jose Higueras and Patrick McEnroe.

PAST&E's Coach Fitz earns the USPTA Star Award for service



We are extremely proud of PAST&E Tennis Director, Coach Fitz's nomination for and receipt of the USPTA Star Award!

From the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA):
"The USPTA Star, recognizing teaching professionals who make an indelible mark on their communities through the sport of tennis, was awarded to Philip "Fitz" Paccione of Portland, Ore. Paccione has made significant contributions to tennis in Portland through his work with Portland After-School Tennis & Education. The program works to develop young tennis athletes from poor families into successful tennis players who graduate from high school."

Currently working fulltime for Nike, Coach Fitz continues to develop the Tennis programming at PAST&E, keeping our on court activities fresh, engaging and fun for all the student athletes. With his vision we look forward to developing strong and successful student athletes!

Volunteer Spotlight: Coach Meghana, Science Director

My name is Meghana Rao, and I am a sophomore at Jesuit High School. Leading the PAST&E Science program for the student athletes is something I am extremely excited about and something I have wanted to do for a very long time. I was introduced to science through a completely hands-on curriculum in elementary school. Because of this, I began to understand how science is thoroughly integrated into the world around us, such as in the designs of bridges and shapes of leaves. In middle school, I had the opportunity to apply science concepts to everyday problems through investigative science projects which I have continued on to this day.

Volunteer Spotlight: Coach Bob, Music Director

I am in my second year as a volunteer with the Portland After School Tennis & Education Program. I have played guitar since I was 14. I have played in bands and folk groups through much of my adult life. I love rock and roll, folk and liturgical music. I have found that when an individual has an opportunity to play an instrument or sing in a group, music comes alive and everything they have tried to learn alone becomes possible.

The idea to try a music club PAST&E came this summer when I came to visit the kids and played my guitar. I asked them whether they played or had an instrument. Half the hands went up --they had guitars, trumpets, drums, or something at home. That gave me the idea to say, bring it!” Let’s play.

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