April brings us a long-overdue Newsletter.

New Format for Newsletter:

The next newsletter will boast a different face. We are changing the format to reflect differing "departments" and differing views on volleyball related issues. We are looking toward adding topics such as Club Overview, Team/Tournament Recap, Upcoming Events/Camps/Clinics, Community Outreach Activities, and Nutritional Information.

Puget Sound Regional Tournament Approaches:

Each season we train, practice, compete, and better ourselves as players. For most of us, we are preparing for the last tournament of the indoor season. 

On April 24th and 25th, the Puget Sound Regional Tournament will be held here in the northwest. Five of the six SF teams are registered in different divisions of this year-end event.

Currently, the women (all divisions) will be participating at Seattle University. Go ladies!

The men's site however, is still to be determined. Wherever they play, we wish both men's teams the best of luck!

501(c)(3):

The IRS has granted us our 501(c)(3) status! Woohoo! Should any of you have thoughts of possible sponsors for teams, clinics, camps, or whatever, please get in touch with Lynne Tarter, our Fund-Raising Chair. lynne@sfvbclub.org

End of Year Bash:

We are looking at May 10th or 12th as the target date for this year's "All StrikeForce Bash".  Thanks to Sarah G., Laura G. and Nikki A-G for their efforts.

There is a good chance that the party will be held in the same place as last year, but we will let everyone know for certain when the plans get finalized.

Please consider this a "Must Attend" event folks. It was such a gas last year and we're looking for more hilarity again this season.

I would like to ask people to submit (to Bill Foote) any and all photos from the year, funny stories about teammates, awesome triumphs, silly defeats...  anything that would be appropriate for this gathering. I will put together a running slide show of images (if we get any), and try to piece together the evening's "microphone usage" to include time for you to recant some of the stories you have to share about your teammates.

Significant Others are invited of course. Look for an email from Bill about specific dates, costs, and food choices. When this email comes, please reply IMMEDIATELY. I anticipate that we will need to get an exact headcount and food choice to the hotel in short order. Thanks gang!

Summer Duke and Duchess Tournaments:

We will again this year, be hosting at least 5 Duke and Duchess tournaments at the Mercer Island Lid Park. We are deciding if there is enough interest in holding back to back day events such as having an "A/AA" D&D on Saturday and a "B/BB" D&D on Sunday. Whether we split it or not, each event promises to be the same rip-roaring good time as the past 9 (yes NINE) Duke and Duchess Tournaments. I look forward to seeing you all at these.

Personal Comments From Bill:

Under the new format of the newsletter, there will, I'm certain, be much less of the "Personal Comments from me". But that's all for the best because I talk too much anyway. ;)

I would however, like to take this opportunity to share some feelings with each of you. I recently passed these sentiments to Gold, but I feel they are appropriate for all the SF teams.

Just like our Handbook says, I feel like we are all part of a family within this group. Granted, some of us are more "distant cousin"-like than others. But all in all, watching the team and player development of this past season, I have learned so much. I have been able to observe so many family-like things happen. I have seen players within our group undergo great personal loss and stress, I have witnessed players fighting and bickering (like most brothers and sisters do), and I have watched as parts of our family have gone through "counseling" in some form or another.

But also, in each instance, I have seen this family help each other... be there to listen or to assist...  I've watched as these inevitable issues have come and gone through the season. And each time, I see a family, our family, grow stronger for it.

Don't get me wrong... I may have mentioned the "twists" first, but that was only a part of what has happened this year.

I have also watched as teammates have grown closer, as we have all learned about each other and shared our lives with each other. I have had the absolute thrill of seeing players improve, exceeding both their own expectations and others' expectations of them. I have witnessed first-hand, as players have stepped up and helped teammates when they needed it. What an exciting thing!

I cannot possibly express to everyone how wonderful it is to see such a diverse group of individuals band together to become so close.

Also, please allow to say how much fun this year has been. As a Club, by the end of Regionals, we will have played in some 55+ events! What a great time.

And finally, I would like to thank the Board of the StrikeForce Volleyball Club for their HUGE efforts. Ken W., Karen J-F., Lynne T., Laura G., and Todd M. have all given so much of their time and energy toward this year and next. Thanks to everyone.

So for now all, thanks for the "so far" and good luck in the "coming up"!