In case you have not already found out, Governer Crist finally signed and approved a license plate for tennis about a month ago. I must admit, I got myself a vanity plate and when I was getting it at the DMV there was golf and no tennis. There was everything you could possibly think of but no tennis. I was actually really irritated to the point of asking about what to do to get a tennis license plate. I even considered writing something to someone but after some investigation I found out I needed to get 62,000 signatures (essentially become a citizen-at-large) in order to get a a tennis plate on the DMV wall. The plate becomes the first tennis license plate and is here to assist in the USTA Florida Section Foundation in its efforts to "improve the health and quality of life of Floridians through tennis." Well said by Governer Crist which restores my little to no faith in politics. Therefore, I have decided to get involved by hopping on a local advisory board. I would like to be an old man with white hair as a U.S. Senator or Florida Senator.
The plate will be available at the latest in May 2009, but more likely at the end of 2008 or early 2009. It may be a little corny but I will probably be the first in line to get one, just like the apple iphone.
Doug Booth USTA Florida Big Dog (Executive Director) says the revenue will go towards improving the quality of public tennis facilities. He says "Tennis is on the rise, and we want to keep it that way."
Tennis is on the rise? One of the camps I work at can't even fill the courts in the mornings and are struggling to employ tennis pros who need to pay bills. Another camp had to cancel their first week of camp because they didnt have enough campers. On the flip side Florida is arguably the tennis capital of the world. We've got incredible weather, University of Florida, Bolletierri, Saddlebrook, and most professionals retire and teach in Florida at the local clubs.
Not to sound too pushy but if two of the Gainesville camps struggle to even operate maybe some of this money needs to be pumped into the local school systems promoting tennis.
Posts
