Welcome to the Spring Paugy Newsletter! In six short weeks your Board has met weekly to discuss, prepare, decide and ready the club so our membership can have the best possible experience this summer. I continue to be impressed by our current board members dedication and business experience. This wealth of experience is already benefiting the club.

Here are a few changes you may expect and enjoy:

• The club now accepts MasterCard and Visa for payment
• A new snack bar vendor, Mr. Nick Carrano is offering an expanded menu for all to enjoy.
• A new Assistant Manager, Mr. Seth Davis will provide more complete coverage with Manager, Mr. Ken Pierson.
• A new invigorated Tennis Program for all members under the capable hands of pro Mr. Mike McManus and his dedicated staff. Tennis chair Mrs. Alicia Prete is happy to answer any questions.
• An aggressive review of club finances as well as professional forecasting by board member Mrs. Sherri Franzman and her husband.
• Temporary suspension of the initiation fee for all new members paid in full by June 15th. Membership chair Mr. Ronald Santo is happy to answer any questions. Please contact him directly with all prospective members. His information is listed on the website.
• Mrs. Trish Janik will serve on the Board as the Program Chairperson responsible for organization, planning and co-ordination of all social functions. She will be calling on many of you for help; please end her a hand.
• The results of the first audit in more than a decade will be mailed to member homes as soon as available.
• A revised Racebrook/Paugusset agreement giving Paugy members the same golf and dining privileges as last year at the same cost.
• An expanded website offering more information in a user friendly format. It is now under construction and being developed.
• A thorough review of the drainage issues and courts 1-6 construction project. More information on the recommended project will be on our website soon at www.Paugy.com. For those looking for greater specificity on the project, board member Mr. Brian Grunow will be holding informational meetings with architect Mr. Gerry Panico dates to be announced. These meetings may also include Mr. Bill Kraut from Newport Tennis. Bill is the tennis court contractor for this project. All members are invited!

Our club consists of three anchors: 1) the clubhouse, 2) the main and baby pools and 3)June 7, 2009 0:31 AM of the anchors. The long term financial viability of the club is dependent on the strength of each of those anchors. Without a top notch pool and thus vibrant pool membership the club would be at risk. Likewise without upgraded, safe and decent tennis courts, our tennis membership will decline thus endangering a key pillar of the club's income. Please consider this point as we evaluate the tennis and drainage project. The 2009 Board is listed below please contact them as needed. In an effort to save postage we will be collecting all emails. Future newsletters will be emailed and on the website only. In the coming weeks members will begin another season at their summer escape; the Board and I ask for your ideas, your confidence and your patience as we endeavor to provide a "summer haven near home".

Board of Directors:

• President: Richard J. Zorena
• President Elect: Emmet Hibson
• Vice President: Brian Kaligian
• Past President: Lisa Stackpole
• Treasurer: Lisa Earley
• Membership Chair: Ronald Santo
• Tennis Chair: Alicia Prete
• Program Chair: Trish Janik
• Member at Large: Sherri Franzman
• Member at Large: Philip Cucurello
• Member at Large: Kathleen Hipona
• Member at Large: Brian Grunow
• Member at Large: Heidi Ramadon

Paugusset Club Staff:

• Club Manager: Ken Pierson
• Tennis Pro: Mike McManus
• Swim Coach: Ken Pierson
• Assistant Swim Coach: Todd Rainey
• Diving Coach: Gil Cyr

Emmet Hibson – President Elect would like to use this article to thank the membership for electing me President-Elect of Paugusset and to show my willingness to be available to the membership to make the Club successful. As a new member to the Board it is my pleasure to work to make the Paugusset Club members home away from home.

My family and I look forward to the Memorial Day weekend "official" opening of the Club. As with many members, my children anxiously await the summer months and the time they spend at the Club. As a parent, I enjoy seeing my kids run freely around the club alternating between the pool, playground,Sunday, June 7, 2009 0:31 AMam ready for spring clean up to end and the summer to begin.

I reference "official" opening because the membership should be aware that the Board is meeting weekly at the Club to address issues raised by other Board members and membership in general. As we all know, the club needs work in several areas and the Board is taking on those challenges. It is important to me, and hopefully all members, that the Club provides a safe, fun time for our families and guest. It is also important to me that the Club be a place where members feel welcome and enjoy spending the majority of their summer months and activities.

• This year you will notice that there has been a renewed emphasis on painting and cleaning. Board members have taken time to power wash the bath house and, weather permitting, hope to have a fresh coat of paint on by our "official" opening. Also, the Club has several new faces who will hopefully provide for an enhanced Paugy experience.
• We have a new assistant general manager, tennis instructor, and snack bar operator. Some of the new faces may be familiar to Club members. The Club's new assistant general manager, Seth Davis, grew up at the Club and was a member of the swim team. His addition will provide greater managerial control of the Club and allow members to express concerns that can be addressed.
• As with Seth, Mike McManus is our new tennis pro and he also has a Paugy legacy. Mike has expressed his desire to promote tennis to all members of the Club regardless of age or ability. As for our snack bar, Paugy looks forward to welcoming Nick Carrano as the new snack bar provider. Nick comes highly recommended from several sources so please sample his offerings whenever possible.
• Which leads me to the members. The Board is doing all it can to make Paugy your home away from home. The Club however belongs to all members, not just the Board. I have recommended that the Club have committees comprised of members and chaired by Board members for the tennis courts, pool, and grounds. It is my hope that members would like to get involved and provide suggestions to improve each of our assets. Please feel free to contact me or Ken to discuss getting involved in a committee.

I'd like to welcome back our Director of Tennis, Michael McManus. A native of Hamden, CT, Mike played high school tennis at Notre Dame in West Haven where he earned all state honors. At the University of Connecticut, he played singles and doubles while also teaching at Tennis Central in Woodbridge and the Ridge Top Club. After college, he was instructor at the Waccabue Country Club in Westchester County where he was mentored by USPTA President Harry Gilbert. During this time; he helped grow the Tennis program, producing many juniors with top 50 national rankings in their age groups. He has also coached numerous men's and women's USTA teams to District, Sectional and National wins.

Most recently Mike was a pro at Milford Indoor Tennis, before making his way to us for the summer. He looks forward to working at Paugusset this summer and can't wait to see everyone out on the courts!

• Women's clinics: based on stroke production/live games and match play.
• Junior clinics: focus on development of strokes and the "love of the game"
• Cardio: Fun new group activity for fitness-minded tennis lovers at any level.
• Private lessons: want some one-on-one time to perfect your skills; these lessons will improve your skills, and let you do what you love, play the game.

We will also be adding working men's and women's clinic's as the nights get lighter and currently have 3 out of the 6 har-tru courts available to play on and they look great so don't hesitate to set something up soon. Any questions please contact Michael McManus directly: cell-858-527-8799, mmcmanus1@yahoo.com or the pro shop at 203-795-8938.

Megin McManus comes to us from Madison Racquet and Swim Club. Prior to that she was at North Haven Health and Racquet Club, to where she will return in the fall. Megin played #1 for 4 years at Hamden High and graduated from Fordham University. While at Fordham she played #1 and #2 singles and #1 doubles. In high school Megin was ranked in the top 5 in USTA, and was a Prince All American player. She was the Pro at Paugy in 2000! She is very excited to be back at Paugy to work with her brother!

May 23rd	Saturday	10-6
May 24th	Sunday "No Cook" - Please bring a covered dish	10-7
May 25th	Memorial Day	10-6
May 29th, June 5th, 12th & 19th	Friday	3-7
May 30th, June 6th, 13th & 20th	Saturday	10-7
May 31st June 7th, 14th & 21st	Sunday	10-6

Please note: Summer hours begin Tuesday, June 23rd.
Hours: 8am - 8pm

The club will retain these hours of operation until Labor Day weekend.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

• THURSDAY JUNE 18TH,
• FRIDAY JUNE 19TH,
• TUESDAY JUNE 23RD,
• WEDNESDAY JUNE 24TH
• THURSDAY JUNE 25TH 4:00 – 5:00 PM.

THIS SCHEDULE INCLUDES ALL SWIMMERS AND DIVERS.

1ST MORNING PRACTICE:  FRIDAY JUNE 26TH

TEAM PRACTICE IS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY PLEASE REVIEW CLUB SCHEDULE BELOW.

SWIMMING:

• 9:00 AM-10:30 AM (AGES 11 AND OVER AND YEAR ROUND SWIMMERS 9 AND 10).
• 10:30AM-11:30AM (AGES 7 AND 8, 9 AND 10)
• 10:30AM-11:00AM (AGES 6 AND UNDER)

DIVING:

• 9:00AM-10:00AM (AGES 10 AND UNDER)
• 10:30AM-12:00PM (AGES 11 AND OVER)

FEE:

• 1ST CHILD $90.
• 2ND CHILD $80.
• ADDITIONAL CHILD $50

MEET SCHEDULE:

DIVERS REPORT AT 7:00AM/SWIMMERS REPORT AT 8:00AM

WEDNESDAY	JULY 1ST	FARMS@PAUGY
WEDNESDAY	JULY 8TH	PAUGY@PARADISE
SATURDAY	JULY 11TH	COPPER VALLEY@PAUGY
WEDNESDAY	JULY 15TH	PAUGY@WOODBRIDGE CLUB
SATURDAY	JULY 18TH	PAUGY@HIGH LANE
MONDAY	JULY 20TH	DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS @WOODBRIDGE CLUB
WEDNESDAY	JULY 22ND	9/10, 11/12 SWIM TRIALS @ HIGH LANE (9AM START)
THURSDAY	JULY 23RD	6/U, 8/U, 13 AND OVER SWIM TRAILS @ PARADISE (9AM START)
SATURDAY	JULY 25TH	FINALS @ FARMS (TOP 6 SWIMMERS AND RELAYS FROM TRIALS) 9AM START

*** SWIM SUIT TRY AND BUY FRIDAY JUNE 26TH
LOCATION:  5:00 PM IN CLUB HOUSE (NEW SUIT)

SWIMMING COACHES:
KEN PIERSON (203) 464-0436
TODD RAINEY (203) 248-2030

DIVING:
GIL CYR (203) 288-2967

 

Last Updated:Sunday, June 7, 2009 0:31 AM