Platform Tennis Magazine (PTM) off to a great start

The second issue of PTM carried some positive feedback and some complaints on delivery timeliness.

In the From the APTA … section APTA President John Horine had this to say:

“Our first issue was a smashing success. A heartfelt thanks to Wayne Dollard and APTA Board members Pete Mathews and Mark Holtschneider. Your summer efforts have resulted in a fantastic magazine. Wayne must have put 10,000 miles on his car this summer crisscrossing the country collecting pictures and articles for this seasons issues.”

Horine’s comments were echoed in the Letters to the Editor section:

“Just read your first issue cover to cover and wanted to congratulate you on a wonderful job! Forty-eight pages of interesting paddle reading…who could ask for anything more? Wishing you continued success in this worthwhile venture!”

Sally Rogers / Scarsdale, New York

“Thank you for the wonderful publication. Your history piece was particularly special and accurate. So many times I have read otherwise. Johnny (Ware) would be proud of you for your new Platform Tennis Magazine.”

Molly Blanchard Ware / Scarsdale, New York

However there were some issues, as with any new undertaking:

“As of today’s mail, I still have not received the first copy of the magazine except for the ten copies that you sent to me as a director of the APTA. This was an important issue with which to make a good impression, particularly because the APTA did not issue a tournament schedule and gave it exclusively to you for publication. I am deeply disappointed and I hope that this is not a harbinger of the remaining issues.”

Charles Vasoll/Cold Spring Harbor, New York

To which Dollard replied:

“Sorry about the two week delay in receiving issue #1. 1 did it the best 1 could and 1 did it by the book. As it tums out, the U.S. Postal Service mislabeled our magazines, lost them, and then stored them away for two weeks. Through numerous phone calls and complaints, I was told that resistance was useless. I am thankful that the magazines arrived late, rather than not at all. I am also thankful that the magazines came out as well as I had hoped. You never know what you’re going to get with a new printer and press department. We could have had a real train wreck on our hands for even the slightest graphics mistake. Finally, with help from my new ‘buddies’ at the postal service, I anticipate the mailing of PTM to go smoother for our future issues.”

Source: From the APTA, and Letters to the Editor, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #2, November, 1999