The Board had a busy agenda.

Paddle manufacturers A2Z (Kjeldsen’s company had acquired the assets of Marcraft), Wilson and The Paddle Co. were producing paddles for the upcoming season and these included a few prototypes which prompted some tweaking to paddle specifications as cited in the Minutes:

“a. approved a change to paddle length, so total length does not exceed 18″
b. eliminated the handle length/play length specification
c. retained 87 as the maximum number of holes
d. retained 3/8” as the hole diameter
e. approved a change to the rim, so the rim may be flush or wrap around within limits noted in revision documentation (attached)
f. retained surface finish as “slight texturing” subject to further research (Bob and Charley will attempt to further define “slight texturing” using the sandpaper grit scale as a standard reference by 6-1-95)
g. retained surface as flat, not yellow

The Board reaffirmed its position that non sanctioned or sanctioned equipment modified by its owner cannot be used in ranking and National tournaments.”

Balls by Vittert, Marox and ARD where also a topic of discussion.

The Board started to look at a marketing plan as securing adequate tournament sponsorship was becoming an issue.

PTN Update Vol.6, No. 2, February 1995

PTN Update Vol.6, No. 3, April 1995 (Nationals Results)

PTN Update Vol.7, No. 1, December 1995

The Board approved a proposal to loan “seed money” of up to a maximum of $5,000.00 to a National Championships Committee for expenses prior to the receipt of entry fees and sponsorship funds.

It was anticipated that the funds would be used for the purchase of products for fundraising activities and other deposits needed to secure facilities for the event.

The first step was implementing teleconferencing for Board meetings to make it easier for seven Directors outside of the New York Metropolitan area, historically the usual location of the meetings, to participate.

The second step was Board approval of holding the Annual Membership Meeting outside of the New York Metropolitan area for the first time in its history. The next meeting, in May 1996, would be in Baltimore, with Region III Director John Horine, as the host.

The thought behind this action was to demonstrate that the game of platform tennis has grown beyond the borders of its roots, similar to the way the National Championships were now staged in different locations each year.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1995

In 1995, the APTA Board of Directors embarked on the most aggressive and comprehensive marketing program in its history.

The Board had started preliminary discussions with RHB Ventures to assist the APTA in the growth of the game throughout the country. RHB Ventures, a sports marketing firm based in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., had secured corporate sponsors for sports such as tennis, golf, cycling, sailing, basketball and football, and owned and managed The Champions Tour, the 35-and-over professional tennis tour featuring Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, and others.

Tapping the extensive marketing expertise of RHB Ventures, the APTA hoped to implement a multifaceted marketing program.

Among the major points of this program were:

a) sell corporate sponsorships on behalf of the APTA

b) complete a comprehensive demographic study of the current membership

c) attain a greater membership base from among the estimated 400,000 paddle players from around the United States

d) produce promotional materials to help “grow the game”

e) develop membership opportunities for non-tournament level players

f) create new events and stimulate interest among the “B” and “C” level players and juniors

g) provide greater benefits – via new corporate sponsorships – for new and existing members of the APTA.

Source: Platform Tennis News, Fall 1995