April 13 Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Bill Seeberg, Josh Zimmerman, Lori Farmer, Tory Borovsky. 

Member Sign Up: Discussion about how to sign up members for the association took place. Tory wondered about whether we needed to decide on our possible relationship with Northfield Shares first, and we decided that that was not necessary and could be decided at a later date. Lori mentioned that we could advertise on Facebook sites and offered to find the Northfield Pickleball site. Bill talked about using our email list as potential candidates and using that platform to solicit members. He also talked about placing a sign at the Riverside Courts to find members. Josh shared that he purchased the domain name “northfieldpickleball.org" that could be used on a website he could build. He also told us how we could use that platform to sign-up new members. Everyone thought that was an idea worth pursuing. Discussion about what to include on that website ensued. Also discussed was that the website would cost the association money we didn’t have. Josh said he would be happy to pay for that for the time being. Everyone agreed that we could eventually “pass the hat” to pay for the website. Josh will try to get something up that he could share with us by the weekend and we could maybe launch the new website on the Monday after Easter.

Introducing Ourselves to the Community: Discussion about how to let the community know about our association and what its purpose is was discussed. Using KYMN, the Northfield News, Facebook site to advertise our existence was discussed. Presenting to the park board and city council was offered as a possibility. Talking with Charlie Fredericks, 50 North and community ed was also mentioned as good ideas.

Community Building Activities: Bill mentioned that the steering committee discussed having a social gathering and a round robin fun tournament as possible community building activities. The board agreed that those ideas were worth pursuing and wondered if we could ask for volunteers to investigate and plan those activities. Bill said he would reach out to see if others were interested in helping and planning.

Committees: Discussion ensued on whether we should form committees to handle the work- load. All agreed it was a good idea. Immediate needs are with a social committee to plan and run community building activities (see above). Other committees like one for facilities could wait to be formed.

Long and Short Term Goals: All agreed that we should codify our long and short term goals sometime in the near future. In an earlier message to the board Bill shared some possibilities that are included below.

Short term goals (to be completed this year)

1. Sign up and solicit members - website, email, signage

2. Introduce association to community - KYMN, Nfld News, park board, city council, Community Ed, 50 North, Facebook?

3. Establish committees to help handle the workload

4. Build community - social gatherings, round robin tournaments

5. Consider our finances including a relationship with Northfield Shares, fund raising, passing the hat and becoming our own 501(c)(3)

6. Continue to work with stakeholders on Riverside improvements, Sechler Park development, Community Ed offerings, the new high school gym space and the ice arena possibilities.

Long-Term Goals (5 year plan)

1. Get all of the Riverside Park court improvements complete.

2. Get the Sechler Park courts built.

3. Have an indoor dedicated pickleball facility in Northfield and encourage Community Ed to continue to offer indoor opportunities to our members.

4. Encourage the pickleball community to provide a variety of learning and playing opportunities to our members.

5. Foster an environment of belonging and connectedness so our members feel a sense of ownership in our pickleball association.