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Updates

October 27, 2024

Hello Pickleballers! 


This will be my last update - I hope everyone is doing well one week removed.


How we did:  Thanks to you and our sponsors/donors - we raised $6,400 for the Coupeville Schools Foundation.  This will make such a big difference for the students, allowing for enrichment grants, scholarships, and the Promise Fund (allowing equity in education).  You all are AWESOME and we appreciate you so much!


Feedback Please:  Help us improve with a simple 4-question survey:  https://forms.gle/H84afDqK3D8XHB5r6


Thank You to Donors & Sponsors:  Speaking of Awesome, how about our Donors and Sponsors - they provided so much to the day!  Coupons for drinks and food, prizes to build out the raffle baskets.  The Prairie Center donated all the food needed to make those amazing smash burgers that Master Chef Jerry grilled for you.  Coupeville Schools donated the use of the gym, audio equipment, and the nets.  The prizes were donated by Aqua Gifts, Ocean Bluff Farm, and HF Sinclair Refinery,


The raffle baskets - wow - so many of our businesses came together to make fun baskets that I hope the winners are enjoying.  Day of, Paul and Abi - the owners of Pickle Barn - brought an amazing basket including passes to their facility which is in Freeland.  Check them out!  They also did so much to help me get the word out in the South Island, I really appreciate your support. 


Kris Barnes of Coupeville won the Super Raffle, which included the 2-hour kayak excursion from Wharf Dog Paddle Company and dinner at Front Street Grill.   


Needless to say, the local businesses make all this possible - so please when you have choices about where to spend your money - spend your money here!



Winners:

Local bragging rights go to Falcons on Three (Dan Ryan and Lindsay Sievers) who were undefeated all day. 

2nd Place went to FedExpress (named after Roger Federer) - the due of Henry and Andrew Schuller. 


The remaining bracket champions included The Pickloholics (Mike Turner and Sam Nathenson) and

Local Coupevillians the Wyman Wolves (Andy Wyman and Bryan Strelow).


All of these teams were undefeated in their round robin brackets, WOW.


Best Team Name:  Day Dinkers (Kay Skaggs and Alicia Turner)

Best Dressed:  Team Pickles (Landon and Lindsey Roberts)


Until next time and with so much gratitude, thank you

James Steller and the Coupeville Schools Foundation.


October 20, 2024

From the entire board, we had such a fulfilled feeling following this event.  It really was wonderful to see new faces and everyone having a great time.  I posted a bunch of pictures that my friends and board members took on this campaign.  Here are a few of my favorites!  Feel free to send my your best shots!


I still want to develop a simple feedback form for suggestions and of course, I will want to acknowledge the businesses and donors that made yesterday possible.  Finally, when we add up the total, we will be sure to let you know how much money was raised in support of the schools!







October 18, 2024

Good afternoon Registrants!


Welcome to the first Pickleball Round Robin Social FUNdraiser 100% benefitting Coupeville Schools Foundation.  


Start with Why:

With your entries and raffle donations so far, we have raised over $3000 for the schools and hope to raise more tomorrow towards our goal of $5000.  Our Foundation started in 1997 and provides approximately $40,000 annually in enrichment grants, brokers or provides at least $50,000 annually in scholarships, and provides for approximately $10,000 per year in education equity, a program we call the Promise Fund.  So you should all feel amazing that you are helping a great non-profit!


Safety & Weather:

Aren’t you so glad that this will be indoors!  It will be wet and windy outside, so take care as you get out of cars or opening doors that they don’t close and pinch your fingers.  We will have a small first aid kit for minor medical issues.  If anything more serious occurs we will use 911 or have you go to the hospital.  I would ask that you let a Foundation volunteer know.


Check In:  

Doors will open at 10:30 am at Coupeville Gym

Address:  103 SW Terry Rd Coupeville WA 98239


Overview of the Day Events:

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    10:30 - 11:00 am:  Check-in, folks can warm up, vote for people’s choice awards, buy raffle tickets, mingle.

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    11:00 am We will assemble in one of the gyms for a welcome, introductions, re-affirmation of some of the logistics I will outline in this email, and get a picture before folks are sweaty

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    11:15 am - Let the games begin. 

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    11:30 am (estimated) - Lunch will be available to be purchased

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    2:45 pm (estimated) - End of the last round robin matches, Last call for raffle ticket purchases

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    3:00 pm Final Two Matches for bracket bests

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    3:30 pm Raffle Draws, Awards, and Thank You


Lunch & Raffles:  

100% of Proceeds Benefit Coupeville Schools Foundation.  

Thank You:  All food donated by The Prairie Center.

Cash or Credit Card can be used


Lunch Deals are as follows


We will have amazing raffle baskets - each valued at over $100 and the Super Raffle valued at over $750.  The table will be set up in the foyer of the gym and you will have a chance to view and enter.  All the raffle prizes were donated, so make sure you support our local community businesses.



Round Robin Details:


Equipment:  We will have extra paddles to borrow if you need them.  Balls will be provided at the court and need to stay with the court.  They are different colors so you don’t get them confused!


To share a little behind the scenes, making a round robin with 24 teams of varying abilities on 6 courts is a math problem in itself.  Thankfully I am an Engi-nerd by trade.  We still have one last team to fill and if there are any scratches on day of, I might have to make last minute adjustments.  This is a social so bring the positive vibes.


First off, it makes sense, but the majority of folks that signed up for this have experience playing pickleball.  The folks in Beginner/Novice that I know, can play and have a good time.  I have moved a couple registrants around to make the complicated brackets but I think everyone will still have a good time.  Next time I do this, I am not having divisions!


Each team will play 5 matches unless there is a scratch (no show).  

If the team you play ended up scratching, I absolutely don’t mind if you want to use the time to hit with your partner or find another team in the stands that isn’t playing to fill in!


There will be 6 courts, 3 in each of the two gyms.  They will be labeled.  Courts 1  & 2 will be primarily used for beginner / novice and I hope that folks who are experienced can help these teams if needed with rules or scoring.  My hunch again is that most of the sign ups do know the basics.


Game Rules:

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    Conventional Pickleball Scoring, Matches to 11, win by 2

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    There are no judges in a social, so be nice ????

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    The blocks will be timed and at the end of time, play will be stopped on all courts and the team that is ahead will be the winner.  This is to ensure we keep folks moving and folks are waiting in the stands for too long.  Please help me adhere to this or my entire spreadsheet and master of ceremonies will be doomed.


The Bracket is Shown Below and will be posted in the foyer.  After each match, we will ask the court to leave the balls by the court and then come to check in to update the results.  This is very important.



Since the above is a math permutation, I have made it easier by doing it by team so you can have an idea of the times you will be playing.  I will have these as handouts for you so you can keep track.  I have been totally deep into spreadsheets so if you have questions, let me know and of course tomorrow I will review again.


Finals:

Through the day, we will keep track wins, losses and pt differential.  The top 4 teams will play in a final match in the main gym, in front of all the adoring fans, for some fun prizes.  So some of you might play 6 matches!


Awards:

We will have prizes for the teams in the finals

We have people choice awards for best team name and coordinated outfits.  Please Vote!

There may be a couple more prizes I make up so that everyone has fun!

We have coupons for discounts at local businesses that you can use following the afternoon if you wish to celebrate with your new friends :)


Volunteers:

Our Coupeville School Foundation Board members will be the primary volunteers, helping set up and take down, manning the food preparation and sales, the raffle table and info about our Foundation, and at check in, round robin update area.  


A few of you have expressed you can help out - so feel free to pitch in if you see a need.  I really want to make sure folks get to the correct court and that beginners are able to learn the rules and have fun.  At the end of the day, we will remove all the court tape and ensure the gyms are spotless so all are welcome to help us do that.


Spectators:

Spectators are welcome!  We have local DJs playing music and this should be a low key day, having fun.


Donors:

There were so many businesses that made this possible.  You will see how many at the raffle table and we will have a nice visual to show who supports us and the schools.  Please do thank these small business owners and shop local!


Questions:

Let me know if I missed anything you were wondering about, otherwise we look forward to meeting you tomorrow!


October 16, 2024

A couple of updates tonight everyone.  First thank you for signing up or donating.  I hope you are getting ready for Saturday.  I am really excited to meet you and have an awesome time.


I have a lot of the logistics and details worked out, I plan to send that Thursday night of Friday midday.  


For now, there a few things I want your help to get the word out!


A) If you know some folks who play, have them register for the last two spots!  Pickleball is For the Wolves! - Community Foundation for Coupeville Public Schools (flipcause.com)


B) Spectators are super welcome!  We are going to have amazing deals for lunch and raffles - and if we have a ton of spectators buying food, we will just run to the Prairie Center and grill up more handmade smash burgers!


C) Care of our amazing community businesses, we have super awesome raffle baskets put together valued at over $150 each.  We also have a "super basket" that is valued at over $750 that we have opened up to the public as well to purchase tickets.  Again, spread the word as all proceeds will benefit the schools.


For registrants & spectators - you will be able to purchase raffle tickets day of.


The details of the super raffle are here:  (2) Awesome Raffle - Available to All | Facebook


Here are some pictures you can imagine yourself enjoying if you are the lucky winner!


More details to come!  Your super excited director of ceremonies, James



September 28, 2024

Good afternoon to you amazing folks who have registered for our Pickleball FUNdraiser already.  You obviously where the good students who never procrastinated.  We have already sold about half the spots so we have enough to have a great time.  We want to sell out to maximize the fundraising so tell your friends to commit!


Send them this link:  Pickleball is For the Wolves! - Community Foundation for Coupeville Public Schools (flipcause.com)


From the organizing side, we have put flyers out across the Coupeville businesses and are putting posters out at the local Pickleball courts in from Langley to Oak Harbor.  We met with Coupeville Schools administration who are awesome - we have both gyms reserved and they are letting us use their nets - and the sound system for all the tunes - for FREE!  So they are awesome.


And guess what else?  Come Hungry.  Our organizing committee includes Jerry Kroon and Molly McPherson who are in charge of food.   Two amazing things - The Prairie Center (love them!) is sponsoring the food so every dollar we sell will add onto our Fundraising totals!  Second, Jerry and Molly intend on making from scratch burgers - which already makes me hungry.  


We have received fun donations for raffle prizes.  Additionally, we have purchased fun prizes for the day.  


I am getting more and more excited to bring this to our community.  I will keep posting updates on Facebook but for sure, as we get closer, I will send out details of the logistics. For the singles who have signed up, I will match you up with a partner.  You will go away from the day besties!


Remember - recruit a friend or they will have FOMO.

James