News release: January 19th 2013 (Updated June 2013)
for immediate release

BETHANY HOSTS NEW  CONNECTICUT TT ASSOCIATION CLUB


Bethany Parks and Recreation Department, and Coach Dave Strang's NETTA/ CT. Table Tennis Association have joined together to establish the New Haven/Waterbury Table Tennis Club at Bethany to provide weekly recreational and competitive play and instruction for players of all ages and skill levels.

Table Tennis (also called 'Ping-Pong) is the world's most popular
individual Olympic sport – second only to Soccer in worldwide
participation – where strategy and individual technique count more
than strength, height or age.

   The initial club meeting will be on Sunday January 27th at 2:30pm
in the Town Hall Gymnasium at 40 Peck Rd.   (Peck Rd. is just off
Amity Rd – rte 63 in Bethany, 10 mi. north of New Haven, & 12
mi. south of Waterbury).As of mid-JUNE, play is Sun 6:30-10:30pm

    Club Director and Coach Dave Strang of Prospect, many time
Connecticut State Champion in Men's and Senior Men's Singles and
Doubles, and a former National Collegiate finalist, will be joined by
top Junior, Senior and Women's single's players from his club in
Fairfield, who will give demonstrations, play challengers and give
free pointers, followed by open club play and mini-tournaments where players will be matched with players of similar experience and skill.

     Open club Play will continue on Sundays, with additional open play, leagues or clinics on a weekday evening possible later in 2013 - based on participant interest.

     Drop in play on Sundays will cost $10 per participant for a  full
3-4 hour playing session, with reduced fees for players only playing
the first or last hour of each session or making a pre-paid advance
commitment.

The club will feature 6 professional Table Tennis Tables and a 'Newgy'
Table Tennis Robot available for special practice or instruction.

Players may bring their own Rackets or borrow or buy them at the club meetings.

    Spectators are welcome for any regular Sunday club meeting,
including the special Jan 27th club kick-off event, without charge.

  More information is available by calling Coach Dave at (203) 514 –
0757 (recorded message ) or (203) 660-1363 (home/office) or at
realtabletennis.NET. or e-mail nettadave@gmail.com

Bethany TTC on Sundays near Waterbury & New Haven

The New CT TTA club in South/Central CT  meets Sundays -                      (6:30-10:30pm as of June 2013) 

Distances to the  Greater New Haven/Waterbury area TT Club at Bethany, CT:

New Haven 10 miles -via 63 north

Waterbury 12 miles  - via  63 south from rte 8 or I-84

North Haven 15 miles - via Parkway south to exit 59 and 63 north

Bridgeport 24 miles- via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north

Meriden/ Middletown 19 / 25 miles - via 691 exit 3 rte 10 s - rte 42 west to 63 south OR take rte 691/84w to rte.8 south then 63 south - this is 10 miles longer but simpler &  takes the same time -also about a 30 to 40  minute trip.

Fairfield 29 miles - via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north

Newtown 25 miles - via 34 (consult GPS) OR 30 miles via 84 to rte 8s to 63 south

Hartford 35 miles - via 84 sw to 8 south to 63 south

Danbury  39 miles - via 84 east to rte 8 south to 63 south

New Playing Fees for 2013

A modified Playing fee structure will start in mid-January for play at  Fairfield and the new New Haven/Waterbury TTC at Bethany.

The new single playing session fee will be $10 per player, reflecting inflation, costs for other entertainment and recreational activities,  and the current drop-in playing cost at other comparible quality table tennis clubs in the Tri-state area. (Clubs in NYC are often MUCH more expensive, sometimes even for smaller playing courts and shorter time periods)

Fairfield Club fees were originally established at $5 per visit in 1995 when that was a common  Movie admission price, and of course, most other prices for necessities, or entertainment, were MUCH lower than they are today.  

But regular players are encouraged to save time and money by pre-paying with options like 3 visits for $25, reducing the cost to slightly over $8 per session. 

Other options are being considered as well, such as weekly or monthy payment options, which might reduce the the cost (somewhat) more for players who regularly play on consequetive club days the same week, or who consistantly play every week on the same day. or arrangements for family or short duration play, particularly for new, unrated players.

Participation levels, player ages and incomes and initial participation levels at the new club location in Bethany will help determine the possible variety of pre-payment discount options that might be offered either to everyone, or on a case-by-case basis, at Club director Strang's discretion. 

But the '3 for $25' is recommended for most players at this time, though players are also welcome to 'pay as they go' at $10 per visit, hopefully with correct change as often as you can remember to bring it.  

Earlier CT TTA NEWS - from 2008 through 2012 is available at the following page:

 http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/

(Cut and Paste into your browser if link isn't active)

2006-2007 CT TTA NEWS -

 http://netta_ct.tripod.com/news2006_2007.html?start=#imgAnch3

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Top 5 rated active FAIRFIELD TTC PLAYERS 11/01/2012:

1.Rich Dewitt 2219

2.Adis Medunajin 2132

3.David Strang 2070

4.Krzysztof Rydzik 2059

5.Christine Lockwood 2009

Top 10 and Top 20 Rating Lists for CT.TTA are located at:  http://www.realtabletennis.com/Ratings/