Stacey L. Venker Says Good-bye To Tennis at Bishop Park in Athens, Ga.

To friends and players in the Athens Clarke County Tennis Community,

 With the Tennis Center near Southeast Clarke Park now under construction, ACC Leisure Services has made the decision to bring all tennis operations “in house.”  Tennis for Life’s contract with ACC Leisure Services will not be renewed.  Our long association began in 1987 and allowed me to provide tennis programming, opportunities and court management in Athens, Georgia. That association will end on December 31, 2012.  I wish ACC Leisure Services success as they move forward.

I want to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all those who helped Tennis for Life become a successful small business, providing over 25 years of quality tennis services to the community I love. When Don Oliver first gave me a chance to teach tennis classes on the under-used tennis courts at Bishop Park neither of us knew that my modest vision would continue to grow in such a wonderful way. I thank Don from the bottom of my heart for giving me a chance.

For the last 25 years, I have worked closely with the many fine ACC Leisure Services employees. I am grateful to the six Athletic Administrators who recognized what a successful tennis program could do for the community. Thanks to the five Directors who allowed me to grow my business.  And I thank the four Bishop Park Facility Supervisors who have worked with me and the Tennis for Life staff through the years.

It has been my honor to work during the terms of five Athens Clarke County Mayors and many Commissioners who supported my efforts to build tennis programming in Athens. You have my sincere appreciation and thanks.

I am so grateful to have built and nurtured a small business in Athens Clarke County. For the past 25 years Tennis for Life has hired, trained and paid many employees and independent contractors.  All are skilled, talented and high quality individuals. Many have moved on from Tennis for Life but still call Athens their home. My current staff is no exception: they are professional, dedicated and passionate about teaching tennis. I am so grateful for them.

Most importantly, I want to thank all of my Tennis for Life students.  Over the last quarter century, we have taught over 30,000 students!  They allowed Tennis for Life to offer tennis lessons, clinics, team play and tournaments. Together, we genuinely enjoyed the sport of a lifetime. Whether you were five or eighty-eighty, you gave it your best and truly made it a joy for me to come to work each and every day. I cherish the relationships, the memories, the life lessons so many of you have taught me. I will miss you and beautiful Bishop Park deeply. But life goes on; there is always another match, another season.

That is so true for Tennis for Life. We will continue to partner with the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department, providing tennis programs at Herman C. Michael Park.  My current staff will be joining me there.  While no longer as young as I was in 1987, I am lucky to still have energy and excitement to teach tennis and to be part of our tennis community.  I look forward to seeing you around town and on the courts, sharing memories and building a new future together.

With Sincere Gratitude,

Stacey L. Venker