By Rick Limpert, special to USTA Georgia
“Organizing is a journey, not a destination.” (Anonymous)
The above could easily be attrbuted to Teri Miller, Local League Coordinator, Board of Directors member for the Northeast Georgia Tennis Association (NEGTA) and avid organizer.
“I actually don’t really have a title,” explains Miller who will say Director and League Coordinator. “I do all the grunt work now that nobody likes to do.”
Coming from California to Georgia in 1996, Miller had no idea what tennis would have in store for her. She started playing tennis in Duluth at the Chattahoochee Tennis Club, but it was while attending an orientation meeting for the team she was playing on that her life changed.
“I not only earned a spot on a tennis team, but I ended up as a Ladies League Coordinator when I opened my big mouth.” This all occurred when Gainesville and Athens’ tennis associations were loosely connected.
“They were looking for someone with organizational abilities,” said Miller.
“Gainesville had just broken off from Athens and the new organization needed help with growing and organizing.” Miller ended up being a League Coordinator in various capacites for men and women for a total of about 25 years.
Things have changed over the years and Miller has had a front row seat.
“When we first started, we were just league tennis, not a community tennis organization. We filled in rosters four or five pages thick with a pen and the coordinator had to call USTA National to add to the roster.”
The schedules were all done by hand on spreadsheets, but Miller said she was better known at that time for her cookies. Everytime she had to go use the league computer at an office in Sandy Springs, she would bring cookies. “I was nicknamed the “Cookie Lady” and I would bring cookies to all the meetings I attended.
Miller also wasn’t afraid to help others and other League Coordinators.
“I raised my hand when people needed help,” she stated. “I’m good with numbers and also, doing the job as a League Coordinator means corresponding with people, numbers and being organized.”
She also setup NEGTA (her local organization) for success in the future. The Northeast Georgia Tennis Association (NEGTA) is a USTA community tennis organization of volunteers offering various leagues through out the year. They are a non-profit, (501 3-c) with more than 400 league players. NEGTA invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from beginner to advanced levels.
Miller says that part of her aim and NEGTA’s mission is to give back. “Being a non profit, it has helped grow tennis,” Miller added. “Gainesville does not have a tennis facility, we have a Parks and Rec. We don’t have that many courts; we don’t even have enough courts to hold a state tournament. The country clubs helped in the past organize the events and the teams. It was at first just about people joining, playing their seven matches and participating in a sport.”
It was Miller that turned the organization on to raising money. The organization’s money comes from league fees, grants and they did Rally for the Cure for Breast Cancer Society in the past.
What’s the best advice Miller can offer when it comes to managing and organizing tennis leagues? “Be hands on and always available. Earn the respect of the Captains. Be consistent. One year, as a thank you, the Captains all pitched in and gave Miller and her husband a trip to the Grove Park Inn.
“Three years ago, I started training another lady, so my husband and I could travel.” Since then, Miller has been traveling. She has been around the world three times and those that now that have a question for her can text and will usually have an answer in 30 minutes.
“I have 12 grandchildren, from the ages of 3-30. Also a great grandson that is 15 month old. One granddaughter was a state ranked tennis player, one is a hockey player and one is a gymnast.”
Miller and her husband live right on Lake Lanier, so there will be plenty of boating. She may dip a little back into NEGTA or other organizations she feels she can help.
“I have fond memories. I helped with things outside of NEGTA as well with tournaments and I can’t believe all the people I have met. It (will) sadden me a little, but I’ll stay involved just to have those connections. The growth that I have seen to where we are now, is like the world has opened up!
