USTA Florida Advocacy Toolkit  

We are pleased to present the USTA Florida Advocacy Toolkit which includes many tools to help you make a difference in your communities.  The Toolkit includes this Handbook and many resources available on our web site.

First, we want to thank our many, many volunteers who are currently advocating in your communities for new courts in public parks and schools; renovations to existing courts; and the innovative programming that is so important to our youth, adults and seniors.  Your passion for tennis brings incredible benefits of tennis to children, families and neighborhoods in your community.

In Florida, it is more important than ever that we build strong advocacy programs in order to save tennis facilities across the state.  Responding to an outcry from citizens across the state, this past June the Florida Legislature enacted tax reform measures that will save Florida taxpayers nearly $32 billion over the next five years – the largest tax cut in Florida’s history.  While we will benefit from lower property taxes, we will also be impacted by reductions in city and county services.

All cities and counties are required to cut taxes in the 2007-2008 fiscal year to the 2006-2007 revenue levels.  Additional reductions ranging from three percent up to nine percent are also required in future years.  Many cities and counties throughout Florida are reviewing their budgets and proposing substantial cuts to public recreation services.  The City of Daytona Beach proposed closing the 24 court Florida Tennis Center, home of USTA Florida and the venue for hundreds of league matches and tournaments each year for players from juniors to super seniors. The City of Tampa is considering closing the 28 court tennis complex at the Hillsborough Community College (HCC).  And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

We all know what a difference an investment in community tennis can do to improve the quality of life for children and families.  After-school tennis programs keep kids safe, providing a positive alternative to the streets or hanging out at home alone without parental supervision. Tennis is one of only a few sports that can be played into one’s seventies and eighties, and provides important physical-fitness benefits by promoting a healthy lifestyle while fighting obesity and heart disease.

The Florida Advocacy Toolkit contains information on how to contact your local decision makers, form relationships with city staff, get help with funding, build coalitions, and generate excitement and enthusiasm for your ideas.  We hope you will use this information, along with the assistance of staff and advocacy volunteers in Florida to strengthen your current advocacy efforts and to build new programs and partnerships.  Your passion for tennis will make a difference!

Sincerely,   

 

Celia Rehm
USTA Florida Past President 

 

Contents of the USTA Florida Advocacy Toolkit

USTA Florida Advocacy Handbook

We hope the online resources below will serve as a useful guide for community tennis associations and volunteers who are passionate about tennis and their communities.  Our goal is to help you channel your resources and passion for tennis in the most effective way possible.  Please use the full resources of the Florida Toolkit to plan and strengthen your advocacy projects.

Ø Advocacy Presentation – Power Point presentation you can use for your individual projects when presenting a project to decision makers.

Ø Benefits of Tennis
Tennis: Stronger Mind & Body - Cleveland Clinic
Health Benefits of Tennis: Why Play Tennis?
¿Por qué Jugar al Tenis?

Ø Information on how to establish and govern a Community Tennis Association:
USTA Guide for Community Tennis Associations

Ø Contact Information – names and contact information for Florida Recreation and Park Directors, Mayors, County Commissions, County Administrators, School Board Members, USTA Florida Staff and Volunteers.

Ø Governor Crist’s Executive Order – Council on Physical Fitness

Ø Information on Florida Property Tax Reform

Ø Media – media articles containing the latest information on Florida tennis and advocacy projects:
Dicks Evans, Daytona Beach Journal
Editorial, News Journal Online
The Tampa Tribune
New Tennis Advocacy Group Forms
USTA Florida's Effort To Save Public Tennis Courts
Editorial, News Journal Online
Editorial, News Journal Online
Tallahassee Democrat

Ø National Recreation & Parks Association - A Guide to Healthy Lifestyles -
Examples of community mobilization.

Ø USTA Florida Sponsor Brochure [1.3 MB] – detailed descriptions of all of the tennis programs offered by USTA Florida.

Ø Additional resources will soon be available through the USTA National Advocacy Website: www.usta.com/BigServe.