Members News

Game Night February 21, 2026

Game Night November 7, 2025

OTTC Member Meeting September 11, 2025 - Minutes

1. Have more members playing

• The J4F subgroup has been created, adding members. It’s each player’s own decision whether to join by submitting an application.

• For J4F players we are offering mentoring / coaching as desired by OTTC members.

• Dedicated J4F timeslots have been added: Thursday 2:30-3:00 pm; Friday 5:00-7:00 pm.

• J4F players can certainly play also at the regular OTTC schedule, with precedence at the table closest to the tennis court. 

2. How do we manage membership

• We do have the main group OTTC, and the newly created group OTTC-J4F. Technically both are independent (and require separate membership applications), but OTTC-J4F is considered a subgroup and its members belong also to OTTC.

• For each group we have an own email alias: ottc@googlegroups.com (for OTTC) and ottc-j4f@googlegroups.com (for J4F), which can be used for communicating within the given group.

• In order to limit the number of emails a restriction has been introduced for OTTC: all members can post to the OTTC email alias, but responses are sent only to group managers who can redistribute to the group if needed.

• For J4F it is more open: all members can post to the OTTC-J4F email alias, and responses are sent to the whole group – which could be useful for playing arrangements.

• Members can check archived group email conversations both for OTTC and OTTC-J4F.

• Each member can adjust the personal email delivery settings: Each email (default setting when added), Digest, Abridged, No email.

• There is additional spam protection through a basic Google spam filter, and the fact that non-members cannot send emails to the group alias.

3. Picnic 9/27/25

• Phyllis organizes

• please confirm attendance

• please consider potluck contribution

4. other

• It was suggested to investigate whether a table tennis court divider / barrier would provide some benefit. We are planning to order one for testing. OTTC members are invited to share their opinion.

• We are planning to organize an OTTC Game Night at a regular schedule, likely quarterly. The next dates could be early November 2025 and February 2026.

• The previous OTTC T-Shirt action was a success, and we are planning to repeat it with more choices on material, design, size. Jeanne will organize and provide more details.

• We discussed briefly whether to get a ball serving machine, and the general agreement was that it isn't needed. Instead we should rely on available coaching / mentoring options. Plus, there are balls everywhere when one is in use. Some time ago this topic was already brought up to OVA, and the response was that they would not consider purchasing one, set up, take down, maintenance, etc. Nor would they put one in their budget.  

• Just a reminder that we shall always welcome new drop-ins, and invite them to play.

Herbert

Notes from Aug 22, 2025 OTTC Management Meeting

The main topic was how to encourage more club members to come playing.

Likely all of our players know at least the basics, and therefore they are not strictly “beginners” but have just different skill levels. While certain players are aiming for proficiency (A4P) and have the strong intention to improve their skills, others might want to play just for fun (J4F). In fact, pretty much everyone can place himself somewhere in-between on the J4F-A4P scale.

We decided to reserve a J4F timeslot on Thursday prior to our regular play, starting at 2:30 pm. During this timeslot we will also offer optionally coaching / mentoring for players who want to improve their skills. Currently Tom, Jeanne, Phyllis and myself volunteered to take this role, but I am sure that some others will jump in as well.

We can start coming Thursday Aug 28.

In addition, we will mark one table as J4F during all our regular playtimes.

In order to make it easier for J4F players to make arrangements, a dedicated email group ottc-j4f@googlegroups.com has been created. Please send an email to oakttclub@gmail.com if you would like to be added to this group. You can easily unsubscribe if you would like to discontinue this membership.

Please mark Thursday Sep 11 in your calendar for an OTTC club meeting, where we can discuss how to improve things further. 

Herbert

OTTC Picnic on Sep 27, 2025

Hoping to have a table tennis picnic last Saturday in September, 9/27/25 if the space is available.

Please let me know if you are available and interested so I can try to reserve the West picnic area.

Second choice is Saturday September 20 if more can come that day.

Hoping for a good turnout like last year.

Looking forward to hearing from you with either yes or no and which day works best. Then I will try to reserve.

Thank you, Phyllis 

Follow-up Notes from Dec. 10, 2024 OTTC Meeting

Thanks to all who attended. Our meeting was lively and productive. I will do my best to convey the key points discussed.

NEW Program

• As of January 9, 2025, OTTC will partner with the Parkinson’s support group here at Oakmont. 

• The beginners time slot is largely unused, so we’ve offered to share Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:00 for those with Parkinson’s and their supporters.

• Ping pong is a proven therapy to improve the condition. Please consider volunteering to help “train the trainers”, on January 9th at 5:00.

• After the initial training, OTTC members will be encouraged to drop in on Thursday evenings to provide support and assistance. More information will be forthcoming as we pilot this project.

 Other Discussion Items

1. Nets: Currently club members are responsible for set up and removal of the nets. We’re hoping to streamline the process by having maintenance handle this. Tom is following up. Meanwhile, please be very careful when handling the nets. If you have any questions regarding the nets, ask for assistance.

2. Room temperature: We’re checking with maintenance to change the program to reduce the heat during our club time.  Thanks, Tom! 

3. The “ball machine”:  For the time being, it will remain retired.

4. Proceeds from t-shirt sales will be used to enhance our annual summer gathering. 

5. For safety reasons, we have requested corrugated cardboard barriers between tables. If OVA is unable to provide, we’ll purchase through t-shirt funds. 

6. Tournaments? Look for signups and details in the near(ish) future. Lessons? We may also offer clinics taught by local coaches.

7. Idea: The table closest to the tennis courts may be used for singles, unless we’re full and people are waiting to play. 

🏓 Let’s continue to strive for a welcoming atmosphere and a balanced approach, with equal measures of fun and challenging play. 

--

Jeanne

OTTC Picnic on May 30, 2024

Hi everyone:

I’m following up about our first annual table tennis picnic on May 30th at 12:30 at west picnic area just below bocce ball courts.

I’m looking for an approximate head count as well as what you want to bring to the potluck.  Also please supply own drinks or drinks to share. I’ve heard from a few people. I will supply the plates, cups & utensils. Partners invited as well.

Also if anyone has a fun outdoor game, feel free to bring it.

Open to any thoughts anyone may have.

Looking forward to seeing many of you.

Phyllis

OTT Club Meeting Minutes 02/01/24

1.  Hours for Tuesday play changed to 3:00 - 5:30 PM for consistency.

Update: Completed; hours for ALL open play days are 3:00 - 5:30 PM. 

2. OVA new table evaluation process.

Update: One new Joola table installed in West Rec Upstairs. Recommendations submitted to OVA by TT Club. Evaluation ongoing by OVA to purchase one or more tables in the future. No ETA for now. 

3. New player feedback; steps to ensure welcoming of new players.

Update: All club members will be responsible for welcoming new players, introducing themselves, showing them around, and pointing out general rules of play (see #11). 

4. Scoring Change

Update: Scoring will now be 2 out of 3 games to 11 pts with 2 serves per player. Players can still play a single game to 21 by mutual agreement.

5. Play by skill level versus “open play”.

Update: We will try to assign one table for mostly advanced play (west side), one for beginner play (first table on east side), and the remaining two will be for mixed skill levels. Signs to be created for tables (see #6). When matches complete, the losing team (2 players) will yield their spots to players waiting to play. If there are four or more players waiting, then all 4 players who just played will come off. 

6. Personal items to be stowed during play.

Update: We will not stow any purses, water bottles, phones, coats, paddle cases, etc. on top of the tables. Instead, they should be either left in the car, placed in the closet area or supply room (safely), or stowed underneath chairs.

7. Signs for TT area.

Update: We will create movable signs to show our general rules (see #11), and the beginner/advanced/mixed tables. To be created. 

8. Club leadership changes.

Update: We will adopt a club year from July 1 - June 30 annually. Prior to July 1 each year, we will put out a call for volunteers to serve as new club leaders. Until the next change, Tom will serve as communication and meeting facilitator (and point of contact for OVA), Phyllis as activities facilitator, and Herbert as technological facilitator. Roles will be subject to adjustment as needed. 

9. Club member training & mentoring.

Update: We have a 3rd party who has given lessons, as well as a club member or two who are willing to give lessons by appointment (outside of club hours and off site). We will put out a call for Mentors who are willing to informally help others practice and learn. When mentors are hopefully collected, we can let club members know who the mentors are, and one-on-one practice can be arranged either before or at the end of club play (4:30 - 5:30 PM). We can also send out links to YouTube training videos to our members. 

10. TT Tournament Invitation - Wine Country Games thru Council on Aging. 

Update: Tom will send the PDF invitation out to club members soon, and again closer to the event. We may also post the invite in one of our TT Club articles.

11. Mid-Year Social Gathering.

Update: We would like to organize a potluck and/or barbecue in approximately May, preferably on a scheduled Table Tennis day so we can play afterward. This would be for club members and their families/significant others. Phyllis is the likely organizer for this event.

12. General Rules of Play (to be posted during club play, and sent via email) Update:

• A match is the best 2 out of 3 games to 11 points. Games to be won by at least 2 points. Two serves per person unless “deuce” is reached; then one serve per person.

• Proper shoes are required to play safely and prevent falls.

• Doubles is the standard mode of play, to keep the maximum number of players engaged. Singles play is always welcome when space permits.

• Players should know the basic rules of the game and where to find them

• Club members may politely point out things such as an illegal serve, hand on the table, etc.

• Nobody is expected to be an enforcer of these rules or assign skill levels.

• All questions or concerns are welcome; feel free to ask anyone.

• Mutual respect is a given in our club.

• Play is open, yet we have one table designated for more advanced players, and one for more beginning players.

• Rules are subject to change!