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With my departure (firing) by Bruce Caton I have had some time to reflect upon the situation a great deal. I am currently managing and directing a great facility in Connecticut where I grew up. It was VERY difficult to leave the Pensacola area as I came there to be closer to my mom, and to remain within driving distance of my two fantastic boys that live in Baton Rouge. When I arrived at Roger Scott I came with 110% dedication and committment to doing what I have always done. Create the largest and best junior program in the area, and to quickly meet men and womens teams that could use a high level of energy, passion, and on court professionalism to help to both improve and enjoy their game. I spent the first month reaching out to all area junior tennis players and their families, and very quicky established a junior SELECT program that over 150 kids joined and attended on a regular basis. I was also fortunate to meet some terrific moms and dads, and things were heading in a very positive direction.

Just to set the “record” straight. I was NOT fired due to performance, I was asked toleave because I questioned and went above the Directors head to find answers as to where monies for the largest junior program in the area were going. My desire was to make a living…and be compensated for my efforts and be able to pay the help that I needed to expand the program. I spoke on several occassions to my direct supervisor and when I found out that not a penny of the revenue generated from the program was going to the city of Pensacola I was astounded to say the least. In my 22 years as a director, manager and professional I ALWAYS assisted my staff in their endeavors to grow and be successful. This was not the case at Roger Scott, and for a PUBLIC facilty to not receive more than $180/month for instructional use is absurd. More importantly for someone else to make a considerable amount of money for doing absolutely nothing is even worse. I have no personal agenda with Bruce. He is a terrific person, and well liked by most. This was a question of what was morally, ethically, and even financially what was fair to the city of Pensacola.

Those of you who think this was personal for me with Bruce are wrong. Donna’s article was totally accurate and MANY people in the tennis community…as well as current Roger Scott staff professionals have known about the financial dealings there for a very long time. The difference is that I stood up for what is right, and was fired for bringing all of this to the city’s attention. What is personal for me is that I gave my heart and soul to the Pensacola tennis community, and to be forced to leave the area and my family has been very tough. One thing for sure is that the mindset of the best pros in the area of Pensacola is they do not want to be a part of the situation that exists at Roger Scott. Thats a shame for the community as there are some great pros who would enhance the facility if they were there.

I really hope that everyone will sit back and see this for what it really is. Let the rumors go away…let the personal feelings be put on the back burner…..Roger Scott Tennis Cenetr is a PUBLIC facility…period……and no one person should have the authority and right to use it entirely for their own personal finacial gain and allow the facility to lose money…thats bad business…and bad for tennis. I took this matter all the way to the top of city management, and I really hope that my efforts enable them to see whats right and make some drastic changes. Its just a shame that the community had to lose someone that really wanted to help the facility grow and expand…reach out to the kids in the community…and make the facility profitable.

I appreciate the tremendous support I received when I was there…and when I was fired…and even though I left without saying goodbye to so many of you it was just too difficult for me…especially with your kids…but know the memories I have are mostly great ones…and its just a shame that the “Good Ole Boy” system exists.

Thanks for listening, and thanks Donna for all you do for the tennis community!

Social oppression occurs when people of authority seek to surpress the truth. This country was founded on truth and freedom of expression. When did it become unpopular to tell the truth? When did we decide to hide from information that, while uncomfortable, may provide us with the opportunity to review, analyze, and make hard decisions that are good for the whole? When did a select group of individuals…the same individuals that show up time and again…become the true representation of this community’s tennis voice? When did asking hard questions become an open invitation for personal attack? While I understand that many people have accused me of personally attacking Bruce Caton Tennis, when did our city leaders…Roger Scott’s leader…become off limits to political review…financial review? Is it not our obligation as citizens – taxpayers – to question our leaders – to stay awake and vigilant as citizens? It is, after all, our money, our energy that pays for this facility and again on the courts.

I am the publisher of First Serve Magazine. I have come from a long line of publishers who have grappled with First Amendment rights and the backlash of small minded people. I will not stay in the shadows talking only of things that are about “playing nice”. It is my job to present tennis Pensacola with all it’s wonderful successes, challenging issues, educational opportunities, etc. If that means that I lose some readers, I will be forever sorry for that. And, I will continue to have the courage of my convictions. Pensacola Junior Tennis took a hit with the loss of Scott Robinson, an example of the power wielded by this situation. Children were hurt and parents were unhappy. That is something worth standing up for. Of all the issues presented in the article, this issue was the one closest to my heart – other parents’ hearts. To me, this was unfair oppression.

I do not offer this response as defense. I offer it in hopes that everyone will remember that we all make choices. There were choices to be made all along the way…by our leaders, by Bruce Caton Tennis, by attorneys, by commissions and parks and recreation leaders, by me, by this committee, and, ultimately, by the taxpayers. If we cannot police our own community, what will ultimately happen to this facility and tennis in general? Critical conversations are necessary and change is inevitable. Always there is pressure to oppress the truth when it appears personal or uncomfortable. It is not my desire to alienate and I have been saddened by the vicious response and heartened by those who are willing to go through the uncomfortable places to a place of rational review; and, hopefully, change that benefits us all.

Thank you for listening.”

Many of the old methods of operation are outdated and have to be modified to meet current times and financial circumstances. As a member of the Advisory Tennis Committee I am aware that most if not all of your comments are a bit “behind the curve”. By that I mean those policies and procedures are currently being addressed.

My interest is that the facility operates on a break-even or profitable basis. At the current time we have a competent professional parks director and a capable manager of the facility who have the same interest and are proceeding with changes that will accomplish that goal. Roger Scott is not a victim of outdated “Good Ol’ Boy Politics”, but is a modern state of the art facility that is being administered for the benefit of the taxpayers and tennis playing public.