Stacey
L. Venker taught
tennis in Oconee County from May 1987 until December 1993. In January
1987, she had approached Randy Haygood, the director of Oconee Parks
and Recreation Department and requested the opportunity to develop a
tennis program at Herman C. Michael Park. Randy was very optimistic
about the idea. Young and confident in her abilities, Stacey planned
her first six week program to begin in May. She created a flyer and
began leafleting the county. Thirty five students enrolled in the various
classes, and her program was launched.
Once again, in 1998, Al
Epting, the director of Oconee Parks and Recreation Department encouraged
Stacey to return to Oconee County. She was optimistic and enthusiastic
about the opportunity to return and develop a tennis program for the
residents of Oconee County. Happily, the optimism was not just the naiveté
of youth, but it was based on actual expertise and success. Since 1988
Stacey had been developing a tennis program as an independent contractor
for Athens-Clarke County at Bishop Park. There was a strong infrastructure
there that would naturally carry over to Herman C. Michael Park.
In addition, over the past
eight years, Stacey has created and developed five different series
of copy righted lesson plans with specific progressions for different
ages and abilities. These lesson plans have been a key to the success
of the tennis program. They are the insurance that all students are
going to receive a fun and educational experience during every lesson.
In the fall 2001, Herman
C. Michael Park is the home of four new, beautiful tennis courts. With
the dedicated effort and vision that Jone Taylor, the current Director
of OPRD has for community tennis, the Oconee County residents are going
to have a long waited dream come true. A beautiful tennis facility and
high quality programming in their county.
