Submitted by Earl Hill, Assistant Director of the USAPA Ambassador Program

The common theme in all Regions this year was introducing our great game to Middle School/Junior High and High School Students.

The most significant success in this focus on youth drive has been in Ogden UT, where Ambassadors John and Karen Gullo, supported by Tim Finger of St. George UT, have worked with the Ogden School District to make pickleball a mandatory part of their P.E. program for their six high/junior high schools.  In addition, the Ogden YMCA will conduct pickleball activities in four after-school programs. The result of these efforts will expose our great game to over 8,000 students in the current school year!  (Editor's Note: See the article below "Kids Are Playing in Ogden, Utah" for more detail on this story.)

In all Regions, more and more pickleball venues have been added.  Along with establishing these new venues, our Ambassadors and their associates conduct Beginner clinics to introduce new players to pickleball every day.

Here are a few more highlights from the year:

- Eleven tournaments/activities in the Atlantic South Region raised funds to benefit elderly/special needs groups and other charities.
- A pickleball themed cruise from NYC to Bermuda, organized by CA clubs, attracted 60 Players from 16 states.  Activities included every-day play, a tournament, and a clinic conducted for students from several school districts.
- Players Jeff Baker and Justin Lawrence, employees of the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center (Florida), played pickleball for 24 hours straight, establishing a record for longest continuous play in the Guinness Book of Records!
- Players in Surprise AZ, when told by the City Council they had to contribute $25,000 to cover the cost of converting two tennis courts to eight pickleball courts, formed an Association and - within 90 days - raised $20,000!

Which Region has the most significant number of members, Ambassadors and venues?  One first thinks of the states of Arizona, Florida or Washington.  Wrong!  We are proud to announce that the Great Lakes Region, primarily Michigan, is home to 517 USAPA members, 123 Ambassadors and 329 courts!

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