News

Informational Meeting - Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 7 p.m.
at BRI

Discussion of the expansion of the squash courts and men's locker room.

It was almost 30 years ago when a group of friends and squash enthusiasts from Brattleboro began making regular trips to Deerfield, Massachusetts in order to satisfy their desire and need to play squash. These squash players gradually grew tired of the drive to Deerfield and they started to dream. What if they could find a sufficient number of like-minded people in the Brattleboro area to justify the construction of a squash court? As this small group of dedicated squash players spoke with friends, neighbors, colleagues and local athletes, it became apparent to them that not only was there a strong interest in building a squash court in town, but an equal interest in building a racquetball court. Many informational meetings were held and eventually Brattleboro Racquetsports, Inc. was incorporated on November 21, 1980. Initial membership was set at 115 members and shares were sold for $2,050.00 each. A local architect was hired, permits were obtained, and GPI Construction was awarded the contract to construct the new racquetball facility. The sale of the stock, interest and dues enabled the construction of the facility to take place without the club incurring any debt.

27 years later we again have a large number of squash players making the trip to Deerfield, Massachusetts or Hanover, New Hampshire to play squash. Why are they going elsewhere when they have access to their own courts? The answer is quite simple. Beginning in the early 1990's and by 1996 the vast majority of squash players in the U.S. and throughout the world were using the soft ball and playing on a wider court. Our courts, which were designed and constructed for hardball play, are now, and have been an anachronism for over a decade.

For the past 5 or 6 years, your Board has given cursory consideration to repeated requests by the squash players to renovate the squash courts to meet current international dimensions. The Board was concerned about the potential costs of such a project and in the absence of a specific proposal with a concrete dollar figure and a realistic funding mechanism, the Board declined to give the matter any further consideration.

At last year's annual meeting held on September 27, 2007, a lengthy discussion was had on the possible renovation of the squash courts. Board members Moss Kahler and Bob Pu were directed to do further research on the project and to provide the Board with some actual figures for consideration at the December meeting. Construction figures were presented to the Board on December 6, 2007, and on January 15, 2008, financing figures were presented to the Board. Based on the most recent information presented, the Board now believes that the proposed renovation of the 2 squash courts and the men's locker room is in the best interests of the club and its members and essential for the long term viability of Brattleboro Racquetsports, Inc.

Based on our current "one share = one playing right" setup, the initial dues of $62.50 in 1982 were gradually increased to $125 in 1989, $150 in 1995, $170 for 2002, and to $180 for the 2008 playing year.

We believe that the proposed project can be funded by a gradual increase in dues over the next 3 years. An increase to a total of $30 only represents an additional $2.50/month for each member. For that modest amount we will be able to bring the squash courts up to current specifications and add a new changing room with lockers to the men's locker room (we considered an upgrade to the women's locker room as well but the polling data from our female members suggested that it wasn't necessary at this time).

A full presentation of the Board's plans will be made at an informational meeting to be held on February 19, 2008 at 7p.m. at Brattleboro RacquetSports. We encourage all interested members to attend the meeting and voice your questions or comments about the Board's decision. Should you not be able to attend please feel free to contact any of the board members to discuss this matter.

Board of Directors
Phil Feidelseit
Moss Kahler
Bill Penniman
Bob Pu
Pete Rose
John Scherer
Diane Tayeby