From: Leslie A. Nicholson

Re: President’s Report

The loss of our friend and former president, Gene Scott, on March 27, 2006, to amyloidosis, an extremely rare heart and lung disease, saddened everyone in the tennis world. He was a driving and guiding force for the US IC over the past 40 years. Please be sure to read our Tribute to Gene Scott on page 2 of the year book. .

Two new members have joined the IC Board this year: Diane Fishburne of South Carolina and James J. Wilson of New York. We are delighted to have their talent and commitment. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding service of my predecessor, Broward Craig. The US IC benefited greatly from his years of service and leadership as Secretary and then as President. Broward has taken on the role of Chairman of the IC Board while Fred Kovaleski, former Executive Vice President, and Charles Ufford have become Emeritus members, joining William (Treddy) Ketcham, Ted Sperry and Dick Sorlien. All of these men made major contributions as members of the Board, and their willingness to continue to give us the benefit of their wisdom and support further strengthens the US IC.

This year, the IC Board made a major effort to enhance our communications with members by having each member personally contacted by a Board member to obtain complete up date contact information, including particularly email.

This project enabled the Board to remind our members that the USIC is part of a worldwide network of IC's founded in 1924. The 34 IC's now spanning the globe share a common goal: to continue, in the spirit of Davis Cup competition, to promote international goodwill and friendship through tennis.

To this end, these IC's work together to organize bi-lateral and multi-lateral national competitions for IC teams consisting of men and women of every age category through 85 & over! The US IC has been a leader in expanding the range of matches with other countries and increasing dramatically the participation of women in these matches. In 2006, the US IC teams of men and women will play bi-lateral matches with Canada, Mexico and France and participate in multi-country matches in Spain, Holland, Monaco, the Czech Republic and the United States. We have also started to promote IC matches within the USA.

Many members participate in these international matches, or have in the past, and make their annual contributions to reflect their appreciation for the enjoyment they have received from playing. Many also continue their IC memberships simply because of the pleasure they receive from supporting the goals of the IC.

Apart from present, past or future match participation opportunities, IC members traveling on their own are welcomed at over 50 renowned Tennis Clubs in the United States and eleven other countries. The names and addresses of these Clubs are listed on pages 9 and 10 of the 2006 year book. The IC year books, in and of themselves, are a benefit to many members who use them to stay in touch with tennis friends here and overseas. Finally, I would note that this year the International IC Council inaugurated a World IC Junior Team Competition for 16 and under boys and girls to expose younger players to IC principles and traditions. Regional play-offs were held around the world with the winning teams, Spain, Uruguay, Mexico and New Zealand, going to Australia in Feb 2006. The US IC’s junior team lost a tough match to Mexico in the finals of the North American play-offs.

IC members are a part of an important tennis tradition and the continued promotion of a sport that we love and which has been good to all of us. During the coming year, we hope to reach out proactively to all of you through the internet. If your email address is missing or incorrect in this year’s book, please notify David Scott at dandrscott@patmedia.net. If you do not use email and your contact information needs to be corrected, please write David Scott at 255 Russell Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. You can be assured that the US IC does not, and will not, share your personal information with any non-IC members.

Details about this year’s matches and coming events can be found on our web site at www.usictennis.org. Stay in touch and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions. My email address is lesnicholsonusic@aol.com.

Respectfully submitted,

Les Nicholson