It may be hard to believe but the 2012 edition fo the Comfort Inn Open, to be held at our Evergreen Squash Club during the January 10 – 15, 2012 period, is just around the corner. Our continuing goal is to present the very best squash we can afford to our squash community, so we are raising the prize bar quite a bit this year by presenting a US$50,000 event, compared to the US$35,000 event last year. Remember our first event in 2005 with a prize pool of US$6,000?

In a conversation last year with Daryl Selby, who has won our tournament two of the past three years, he indicated that if we were able to present a US$50,000 tournament we could reasonably expect a handful of top 10 players. So keep your fingers crossed that Daryl’s speculation is correct.

As in past years, we need lots of help from all the members.

There are three (3) major ways that you can contribute to this year's event:

1. Financial:

   The financial backbone for our seven (7) previous PSA events has always been the financial participation of our Evergreen membership. I believe I'm correct in saying that approximately thirty percent (30%) of last years budget was accounted for by the direct financial contribution of our membership through participation in either our ‟Patron” or ‟Benefactor” programs. The details of these programs are as follows:

   1. Patrons:

      The Patron program is available for $325.00 and $195.00 this year, which represent the first price increases in these categories since 2007. In return, Patrons receive a premium reserved seat for the entire tournament, from the qualifying rounds through to the finals, in either the lower padded seats ($325.00 option), or the front of the bleachers ($195.00 option), recognition on our ‟Sponsor Boards”, recognition in the tournament program and, most importantly, four (4) beer tickets. The $325.00 padded seats have been highly sought after in the past, and, by popular demand, we have decreased the number of persons on each bench from six (6) to five (5). As we value the fact that many of our ‟Patron” have consistently supported this event, we have given last years Patrons the “right of first refusal” until Friday, December 16, 2011 to claim their same seats as last year. I have started a “wait list”, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are going to claim the seat you had last year, or are interested in “upgrading” to these seats.

   2. Benefactors:

      The Benefactor program is available for $100.00 again this year. In return, Benefactors are entitled to a seat at one of the quarters, semis or finals and are seated in the ‟Benefactors” section which is directly behind the ‟Patrons”, and ‟Reserved” seating, and in front of the General Admission section of the bleachers. As well, Benefactors receive recognition on the ‟Sponsor Boards”, recognition in the tournament program, and, of course, the requisite two (2) beer tickets.

   As you probably realize it is a monumental task to contact everyone to solicit participation in these programs. You will make our task much easier this year if you would contact yours truly — Paul Marley. Your cheques are appreciated and they should be made out to ‟The Evergreen Open” and left in the office to my attention.

2. Silent Auction:

   The silent auction, which is held during the Saturday night Tournament Dinner at the Capilano Golf & Country Club, is always in need of attractive items to sell. As we have done in the past, silent auction contributions can be used as ‟currency” to pay, or partially pay, for either the ‟Patron”, or the ‟Benefactor” programs at the rate of 50% of the face value of the item. The most attractive items are Canuck, Giants, Lions tickets, plus quality booze, golf packages, and restaurant coupons. Any help you can provide in this area is appreciated.

3. Volunteer:

   As you can imagine, there are a wide variety of volunteers that are required to make a tournament of this nature work. If you have interest in helping here are some people to contact:

   • Estha Murenbeeld
     — food services
   • Ab Troll
     — bar service
   • Chris Schwendener
     — bar service
   • Kim Wilson
     — registration desk
   • Jim Miller
     — Monday, January 11 setup
   • Blair Maclean
     — silent auction with a particular focus on Canuck tickets, Giants tickets, Lions tickets, quality booze, golf items, golf packages, restaurant coupons, etc.
   • Bruce Jamieson
     — our Treasurer

The last point I want to make is, whether or not you are playing in the amateur portion of the event, you are invited to attend the Tournament Dinner to be held, again, at the Capilano Golf & Country Club on Saturday, January 14.

We experimented last year with “The Hairfarmers” for our listening and dancing enjoyment, and they were hugely popular. They will return again this year with their amazing collection of “cover” tunes as we now understand why they have been voted “Whistlers Best Band” every year since 2004. It is always a magnificent dinner in a fabulous setting. And it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the company of your fellow members, and mingle with the PSA pros. Details on pricing will be available at the Tournament Desk during the tournament.

Many thanks in advance for your continuing support of this event — would you believe this is the 8^th consecutive year of hosting a PSA event at Evergreen!

Paul Marley
2012 Tournament Chair

Play, Help, Watch — Be Involved