Newsletter - May 2007

President’s Message 

If you have received this newsletter, you are in The Highlands Squash Club database as either a supporting member (you have paid a minimum $50 to the Club in last 4 years), a prospective member (you expressed an interest in the club being re-opened), or perhaps you were a member of the club when it folded in 1999. You have also supplied us with an email address.

After four years of “treading water” and running a very limited squash program (only during curling club hours), we are happy to say that the squash courts are still in existence and that we now have year-round access through the original entrance (the curling club’s expansion is now complete and includes a new entrance for curlers). This means that we can now get into the building during the warm weather to do work on the courts (scraping, sanding, painting, etc.). Unfortunately, we no longer have the use of the observation gallery or the washrooms, so plans are underway to acquire funding to address these 2 issues.

Our treasurer (Don Gage) and I attended the Dysart Council meeting on May 14 to request that some old bills for hydro and insurance be forgiven so that we can start fresh with no old debts from the former club to hinder us. I’m pleased to say that Council has responded favourably to this request.

To further assist us, Cordell Carpet has arranged for Benjamin Moore to donate 11 gallons of primer and finish coat paint so that we can give the squash courts a badly needed face-lift. Naturally, we will be requiring lots of volunteer hours for this undertaking.  “Many hands make light work”. If you can spare some time, please call me (Glen Carter) at 457-2862 to “sign up”.

A grant request has been submitted to HCDC for help in funding repairs to roof and to heating/cooling systems.

Chris Youngdale of Vista Signs has graciously agreed to put up some signage on the door of the club in return for a temporary membership in the club (another squash player has been unearthed!). See the "pic" on our web-site home page to see his handywork.

In addition to work crews, we also need ideas, so we are having a brain storming session at the courts on Thursday June 14 at 7pm. If you are able to come, please do so and help us plan for the future of the squash club.  Please bring your own chair as our selection is not great! We will be formally electing a new board of directors at this meeting. We have a proposed slate of directors listed below (thanks to you all for volunteering to get involved!). Feel free to add your name to the list by calling Glen.

Proposed Board of Directors

Jim Andrews                Glen Carter              Jodi Curry               

 Don Gage                    Mike Gervais             Ray Issacs                      

 Mike Landry                Gerry Moraal              Al Oakley

 Lori Roberts                Debbie Watson          Rick West

We would like to hold a “Grand Reopening” of The Highlands Squash Club sometime this fall but there’s lots of work and planning and fundraising to do first.

In the meantime, if you are keen to play squash in the intervening months, let our treasurer (Don Gage) know at 457-1110 or dongage@candlelight.ca and he will give you a temporary membership card for $50, which will enable you to pick up a key at Jug City and return it when finished (much thanks to Jug City for their support!). If you have already paid a $50 supporting membership (1/2 price for students), this card will be free and valid until the club reopens this fall. At that time we will set an annual membership fee.   

A brand new web-site has also been developed. Nothing elaborate, but enough that you can find out info about the club and what's happening. A big thanks to Mark Coles of First Page SEO for agreeing to host our web-site and even register our domain name for free for the first year (www.highlands-squash-club.com).  Also a big thanks to Don Gage for acting as our webmaster and developing the website.

For your interest, we are including on our new web-site, the proposal (with a few minor changes/updates) that Don and I took to Dysart Council (with support from a couple of other members – thanks – Ray and John!). It outlines some of the history/background of the club as well as our current situation and our draft plans for the future. Feel free to call Don or I with any questions, ideas, or willingness to lend a hand….or just to express an interest in the reopening of the club! We’d love to hear from you!

Please pass this newsletter along to all of your friends, neighbours and anyone else that may be interested. 

Last modified: April 09, 2010