The Erie Sports Commission held their annual awards event this evening at the Convention Center and EPPA was on their guest list. Erie Sports Commission brings SO many sporting events to the Erie area- some of which you may not even know about. It's hard to believe after talking to people at the event that there are still people who have not heard of pickleball. HOW is that possible? Nights like tonight put us on the map both near and far.
Tonight one of our founding fathers was honored. Mr. "EL Presidente" himself, Bob Borgia received the Erie Sports Commission Volunteer of the Year Award!
I met Bob at Westwood Racquet Club two years back when my group (of four players) would run into his group (of eight to twelve players) every Sunday morning. He encouraged us to join EPPA, to get more involved, to play in a shootout. We ended up entering the first ever Helen Pappas Memorial tournament and we met MANY new competitors and friends. A week later, we went to a Friday night pizza party at Baldwin Park and met even more people to add to our pickleball family. That's the kind of guy that Bob is- one that includes and welcomes others.
Bob pounds the pavement for each and every EPPA shootout to find us enough sponsors to help defray the costs of throwing a top notch event. Bob networks with people in the Erie area to ensure that everyone knows about the EPPA. Bob does NOT want recognition, but he deserves it. Bob would rather cast the spotlight in the direction of his friends and fellow board members- like Tom Wisinski, Jim Perrotto, Renee Majchrzak, Sherry Elchynski, and Elena Arnold. However, without Bob we would not have the organization that we are proud to call the Erie Pickleball Players Association.
Bob is stepping down soon, but we all know that he will help in ANY want that he can. Congrats, Bob on this well deserved honor.
Erie Sports Commission Volunteer of the Year
