JEFF BAILL OF PLYMOUTH, MINN., HONORED WITH INAUGURAL USTA VOLUNTEER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AWARD

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that Jeff Baill of Plymouth, Minn., has been presented with the inaugural USTA Volunteer Exceptional Service Award (up to 10 years of service) for his outstanding contributions in helping grow tennis at the local level. Baill was honored during an awards luncheon at the USTA Annual Meeting and Conference, March 11-14, at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Baill is a former USTA Northern Section president and is the current vice chair of the USTA Grievance Committee. He served on the USTA Nominating Committee, 2013-14, and was the chairman of the Presidents Committee, 2011-12.

During his time as president of USTA Northern, Baill was instrumental in pushing for the publication of the “Safety, Security and Sensitivity” pamphlet by the USTA. Baill has presented multiple elective programs at USTA national meetings, including: Best Practices for Volunteers, New Attendee Orientation and Nominating Committee Process. Some of these electives were also presented as webinars.

The Volunteer Exceptional Service Award recognizes the most outstanding USTA volunteers. Starting this year, two awards will be given each year, one to a volunteer with more than 10 years of service and one to a volunteer with up to 10 years of service. Nominees in each of these categories must currently be serving on a USTA National Committee.

“As a former USTA Section president, Jeff has been a leader in not only his local tennis community, but also serving on the national level,” said Katrina Adams, USTA Chairman, CEO and President. “It’s people like Jeff who continue to make our game great by giving up their time and volunteering so unselfishly.”

The USTA Annual Meeting and Conference brings together USTA leadership, national staff, national committee members and section volunteers and staff in pursuit of the USTA mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. Along with leadership and committee meetings, the Annual Meeting provides education opportunities for all attendees to develop and enhance their personal and professional skills and learn new ways to promote the game of tennis.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.