The Lobster is Back — Covid Updates — Tournament results — March Notes

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Hello Sun City Pickleball Club Members this Sunday Afternoon,

March brings in Daylight Savings Time (but not here), reminds us of those IDES of historical note and, sends us the many, many days of perfect weather for pickleball play . . . it does, too, bring about that time when many of our Club Snowbirds ponder their “leaving” calendars! For us Desert People, it has been great to visit and play again with all those who meander here for “winter” . . . so much can be said for the wonderful friendships and camaraderie experienced during these last few months . . . however, the “rivalry” for the “crown” determined by the Frogs/Birds Tournament must wait a year for the “tie breaker” . . . you know, just saying, bragging rights and all!!! Something to look forward to in 2022! Keep those paddles “well tuned”!

On to the LOBSTER: Yes, the Lobster is back . . . cleaned, repaired and adjusted! Special thanks to Tom Jeffers and Steve McClean (with guidance from Diana Graham, Alice Ritzman and Ros Condrashoff) for all their work and expertise in getting our Lobster in “prime” working condition . . . let’s keep it that way! Please! For those of us who use the Lobster or those who may be new to using it, please take a look at the video put together by Lis Smoot (with help from Nancy Sonnenburg) on how to set up the Lobster and the correct procedure for using it! This video can be found on our Club Website suncitypickleballclub.org under the heading of player development and, then, click the link – Lobster machine – how to! The Machine thanks you!! Continue reading →

Changes Affecting the Fitness Centers/Locker Rooms and Walking Pools

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Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2021-05 on Friday, March 5, 2021 which removed capacity restrictions placed on indoor fitness centers. While this Executive Order removes the 25% capacity restrictions for indoor fitness centers and locker rooms, Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) requirements for face masks, physical distancing, and enhanced sanitization efforts remain in effect. 
 
In response to the latest Executive Order, RCSC has taken steps to open pool and fitness locker rooms, including changing stalls and lockers. Sanitizer is available in each locker room for Cardholder use to sanitize changing benches and lockers. RCSC staff will sanitize lockers each night.  Face masks are required in locker rooms except when showering. While all lockers will be available, Cardholders must adhere to the 6 feet physical distancing requirements when accessing lockers when others are in the area.
 
Please note, Sundial lockers will remain closed as we work to reconfigure the lock system at this location.  The current system requires an exchange of keys between Cardholders and RCSC staff which will be eliminated.  Additional communication will be provided when this change has been made and lockers are available at this center.
 
It is important to note that while there is not an imposed capacity limit within the fitness centers, some equipment is not available due to physical distancing restrictions.  Most notably, some cardio equipment continues to be made unavailable due to the close proximity of the equipment and limited ability for reconfiguration. 
 
Walking Pool Mask Change
Effective March 10, 2021 (today) face masks will no longer be required in the walking pools at Bell Center and Fairway Center. These walking pools are outdoors and this change makes the face mask rule the same for all pools and spas.

Sun City COVID Vaccination Event – March 9-15

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UPDATE 3/5/21 – Event Entrance Correction/Clarification. Please note that the Entrance for this event has been changed. Vehicles will be entering the Sundial parking lot from the south entrance from Boswell Blvd. (NOT 103rd Ave as originally indicated). Please refer to the map for details.

Thanks to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Embry Health, there will be a COVID vaccination event in Sun City starting on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 through Monday, March 15, 2021 at the Sundial Recreation Center parking lot located at 14801 N 103rd Ave, Sun City AZ 85351. Please enter from 103rd Avenue.

This will be a drive through event with accommodation for those without a vehicle or golf cart. Everyone MUST have an appointment! Make your appointment by calling 480-376-2170 or via this link: 
https://app.backstagemedical.co/widgets/#/schedule-appointment?
pId=9567&widgetType=allopen&typeId=1527&count=300.

Please pass the word to Sun City residents without computers to call 480-376-2170  to make their appointment for a COVID vaccination.

UPDATE: When calling 480-376- 2170, select OPTION 5 for ANY COVID 19 matters (not only testing). Hold until you get a live person who will ask if have gotten a link and whether you want help making an appointment online OR if you need help making your appointment during the call.

You can also text to this phone number as an alternative by giving your Name, Date of Birth, and description of the issue you need assistance with and they will respond back to you directly

Please note that RCSC is not able to assist with scheduling appointments. You MUST either use the link below or contact this agency via phone.

Scheduling your COVID-19 vaccination appointment

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The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is working hard to get all available doses of the vaccine to Arizonans at state sites, county sites, medical facilities, and long-term care facilities. 

Whether you’re just getting started, or gearing up for your second shot, here are a few things to help you navigate the process.
 
Schedule your appointment: Find locations and make an appointment at azdhs.gov/findvaccine, or you can call the ADHS vaccine hotline at 480-573-0332 TTY: 711; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Make sure you wait for a representative to help you schedule an appointment.

Download this guide for scheduling your vaccine appointment from ADHS for step-by-step instructions on how to create an account and schedule a vaccine appointment.
 
Cost: You will be able to get the vaccine for $0.

Appointments are required to be vaccinated at any POD (point of dispensing) site.

Connecting in February — Tournament results — Other Info

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Good Monday Afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members:

Yes, indeed, another beautiful day for playing this wonderful sport we so enjoy! Some sun, very little wind, and temps with lows in the 50’s and high in the 70″s . . . how good can it be!!!! All outside courts at Marinette were busy this morning and several inside courts as well! Play at the Mountain View courts also remain busy. This is such a great time of year with so many members coming in for our “winter season”!

Each month that passes in this year of 2021, there seems to be more and more optimism about getting to the other side of this pandemic . . . lots of vaccines are being administered . . . and many people have already (or soon will have) their second shots!

Although there are no SCPB events/activities, there are a few tournaments succeeding during this time – here are some of the results from those tournaments:
Up in Wickenburg – AAU Junior Olympic Games:
Bob Thacker/Bob Keeseker – Silver – Mens Doubles 3.5 70+
Jean Ward/Bob Thacker – Silver – Mixed Doubles 3.5 70+
In Phoenix – Grand Slam Qualifier:
Jan Hodgson – Gold – Mixed Doubles – 4.0 70+
Jan Hodgson/Karen Madison – Gold – Womens Doubles 4.0 70+
Grant Boulay – Gold – Mens Doubles – 4.0 50+
In Tucson – Tucson Winter Games:
Grant Boulay – Gold – Mens Doubles – 4.5 60+
As results come in, I may miss some so please let me know if I do. Congrats to all!!!

The new gates on courts 13 and 14 at Marinette are being used more frequently as we get used to entering from the south patio – it may take some time to coordinate and work out all the advantages of using those gates . . . still working, too, on getting a gate to go out from the pavilion to the north courts ( 1- 4).

A reminder . . . please take care of those pickleballs (still provided by our Club for everyday use) – we still need to remember to pick them up after play and put them in the Club coolers. Thank you . . . I heard a “rumor” – “the better a pickleball is kept, the better your game will be”! Truth!!? Certainly worth a try!!!?

So, for now, stay safe, have fun on the courts, enjoy all the wonderful social aspects of this sport, and all this great weather!

Dave B

COVID Vaccine begins for 75 and older

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The following link has information about the vaccine and the appointment procedure. Signups begin on that website at 6 a.m. Monday, January 11.

https://www.maricopa.gov/5651/Phase-1B

There is also a phone number for further information: 602-506-6767.

Diane Snyder will be providing support to Seniors with on-line/phone registration as well as part of the Medical Crew at the Point of Dispensing at Sun City West.

Volunteer of the Year Award — Gates for Courts 13 and 14 — Notes

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A few important announcements:  
      
        The SUN CITY PICKLEBALL CLUB VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR has been awarded to JEFF SKAGGS!   Jeff’s continued contributions toward the success of our Club goes on and on.   A glimpse of his volunteerism – he serves on our Tournament Committee, was a Tournament Director for the Spring Slam, was the coordinator of our reciprocal events with Sun City West and had served on our Club Board as the Member at Large in 2019 . . . Jeff continued his work in 2020 as the one of the lead contacts in the purchase of the bleachers at Marinette that started in 2019 when he was a Member of that Club Board.  If you need the PA system set up – ask Jeff, if you need the computer set up for a Membership meeting – ask Jeff!  Cleaning out/organizing the Club shed or interior storage closet . . . yep, there is Jeff!  And much more!  Thank you, Jeff Skaggs . . . there is so very much appreciation for all you do, and, no doubt, will continue to do!  BRAVO!

        Tomorrow, Thursday, January 7, (beginning 9 – 10 a.m. or so?) 2 gates – one for court 13 and one for court 14 at Marinette will be put in!!  New, additional entrances to those courts will then be available for direct access from the south patio!  They have asked us to vacate those courts on this morning so they can begin construction as soon as they can get started.  Great news!   Of course, in addition to providing easy access to those courts, the use of the south patio will also help us maintain better “social distancing”!  Got to keep our courts areas safe and courts open!!  More thanks to each of you for following the safety guidelines . . . 

        Notes:

        Thank you, too, for all of our Club Members for filling out your membership forms for 2021 . .  a great response!  If, by chance, you are still not up to date in filling out your yearly membership info, please refer to our last Club email for all the instructions on how to do that quickly and successfully!   

 And, more from the “pig chase” in Wickenburg –

Patty Evans, Bronze – mixed 3.5
Donna Holick/Grant Boulay, Bronze – 4.5 mixed
Patty Evans, Gold – 3.5 womens doubles
Karen Madison, Gold – 4.0 womens doubles
Jan Hodgson, Silver – 4.0 womens doubles
Donna Holick, Silver – 4.5 womens doubles

       What beautiful weather for pickleball!!!  Stay safe!!!

For now,
Dave B
 
 

2021 Memberships — Safer Play Reminders/Suggestions during Covid — Notes

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Good afternoon Sun City Pickleball Club Members,

Yes, here it is . . . another beautiful Sunday in AZ! And here comes 2021! Good bye 2020!! While we are still under the restrictions of Phase 2, we are still playing pickleball on the courts and enjoying all the benefits of exercise, camaraderie, and the freshness of the “winter” air of the great southwest! (A little pollution aside!)

2021 Memberships:

Please read this next reminder if you haven’t sent in your 2021 membership application . . . VERY IMPORTANT!

Membership in the Sun City Pickleball Club is waived if you were a member in good standing during 2020. You DO NEED to complete a membership form. It can be done online at https://suncitypickleballclub.org/membership-form or a paper application can be filled out and put in the box on court 6 at the Marinette Center. Paper application forms can be found in the center kiosk area at Marinette. You can also give your completed application to any Board Member (Board Members wear RED name tags . . . . if you haven’t met them yet, just ask “around”, they can be found!) The forms can be mailed directly to our Treasurer, Jan Booth.
A reminder that if this is not done by January 15th, your name will be taken off the roster and you will no longer get any emails from the Club . . . you know, like this one . . . also, once we start Club activities again, you cannot join in those activities until you have renewed your membership. Please check whether you are “up to date” by checking the Club roster at https:suncitypickleballclub.org/roster/club. The Club password can be found by clicking on “request password” under the roster tab.
Basically, even though we are in this Covid situation, we must still register each Club Member with the RCSC as we do each year. The total number of Club Members is an important factor as we show the great interest in Sun City for this fantastic sport and the continued need for court usage, activities, improvements, etc! Take a few minutes and get your application completed . . . THANK YOU!

Safer Play Reminders/Suggestions during Covid:

We are all aware of the current situation with Covid 19 . . . as we know, the numbers of those affected are spiking in the West Valley. We need to continue following the safety guidelines set forth by our RCSC. Courts are still open and every day the courts are busy . . . “makes my day to play”!
Here is a note that was forwarded to me from one of our Club Members that, I think, says it well:

Pickleball Covid
Update . . .
As we all see the numbers rise we need to increase our awareness of social distancing. . . . our set up is sometimes tight. Please take your time and wait for space. Please wear your mask when coming off the courts and sanitize or wash your hands.

Seems direct and clearly, simply stated . . . thank you for keeping our court areas safer for play as you keep all this in mind!

Notes:

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