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The Team From Augusta
By Robin Dawson
(No - not the one you played
against yesterday)
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Tammy Stout, Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Sports Council,
was very excited when she first learned her city was going to be host to
the USTA Adult and Mixed State Tournaments back in 2006. “We’re very
pleased to have these great events returning in ’08 and ’09. USTA
Georgia awarded these events to us because of the good feedback we
received.”
Augusta has a unique event management model, upon which many other
cities throughout the nation are basing how they do business. It’s
unique because each entity works together as a cohesive team unit, using
what Stout calls a “three tier approach.” The Sports Council, the City
of Augusta Recreation and Parks Department and the local sports
association, in this case the Central Savannah River Area Tennis
Association (CSRATA) work together to bring events to the city and to
make them a success.
Tennis is just one of a dozen sports niches in Augusta. Stout
complimented the CSRATA, saying it is “one of the most organized local
sports associations. They make it a joy to host an event like this".
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Superwoman Tammy Stout
The Greater Augusta Sports Council |
Planning for an event this size begins almost immediately after the previous
one has finished up. So after you all head out Monday, these folks will
take a few weeks to clear their heads and then start in with planning for
next year.
The
economic impact the State League Championships has on the City of Augusta,
with 1,000 athletes participating, and countless friends, family members and
supporters making the trek to lend support is significant, according to
Stout. The League Championships is, of course, not like an event like The
Master’s, with the massive number of spectators flooding into the city. But
Stout says, “Amateur, grassroots events similar to this one are quiet economic
engines for the community.” This event will bring thousands of dollars into
the city. And the money coming in is the start of a very important cycle.
The more funds coming in the more support there is for the CSRATA. The
stronger the CSRATA the more events, and so on...
To
Stout, the USTA League events are important because the mission of the
Sports Council is to grow local sports partnerships and to support local
sports associations. These league events play a big part in boosting the
local programs, which helps to recruit new members.
The
Greater Atlanta Sports Council operates with a staff of just
three-and-a-half. For an event like this State League Championship, the
Council helps with hospitality needs, works to negotiate hotel costs, and
assists with everything from securing beverage product providers, to
banners, to promotions and marketing, to sponsorship assistance.
When it comes to putting this event together, those on Sports Council are
the ones in the know. And if they can’t do it themselves, they know who
can. They are some of the oftentimes unnoticed Superheroes of this whole
event!
Stout wants to make sure a big pat on the back goes out to Dick Hatfield
with the Augusta Recreation and Parks Department. Dick is the Director of
Tennis at our main site – Newman Tennis Center. Another pat on the back
goes out to Loretta Healy, the President of the CSRATA. We would all be at
home watching the Braves play the A’s today if it weren’t for Dick and
Loretta.
If
you see any of these VIP’s, they seem to be hiding their superhero capes
under their Wilson garb very discretely. Or maybe they’re just flying
around so quickly we can’t even see the capes in trail. Nevertheless, the
capes are there, and we thank each and every one of them for the countless
hours of work they’ve put in to bring us here this weekend. So get ready to
rest up, our Superheroes! Planning for next year starts what? In June? |
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