Pickleball BC (PBC) AGM Tuesday February 20th 2024: Walter Knecht Formally Announces Stepping Back as President PBC Walter Knecht stepped back from the President's role at the annual PBC AGM last week, but will remain on the Board as a Director through his FY 2024 term. Given the number of initiatives we have in the works this year, including many of his own, this is welcome news! As Estha Parg Murenbeeld, President of the North Shore Pickleball Club (NSPC) aptly stated: "...over a period of 10 years, Walter has built a significant and lasting structure upon the foundations laid by earlier BC founders. BC pickleball players, today and in the future, are thankful for Walter Knecht’s abilities, passion and gift of time in the pursuit of pickleball excellence." As further mentioned on the NSPC website that Estha posted "when pickleball took hold of Walter in the summer of 2013, he insisted on taking us all along for the ride! Beginning on the North Shore, Walter organized indoor and outdoor play (2014), chaired the BC 55+ pickleball games (2015 in North Vancouver and 2016 in Coquitlam), started up and ran the North Shore Picklemania tournament (2016-2018) and established the very successful North Shore Pickleball Club (2017)." Here is a chronology of early "Walter Events" courtesy Kerry Strongman NSPC:
Rod Williams PBC Registrar said "I met Walter around the beginnings of PBC. I was pleased to be asked to work with him on a couple of early projects surrounding ratings and performance recording, before he approached me to get involved with the project to help birth a membership program for all Canadian Pickleball Players. Walter always has asked, expected and recognized that those working on any level of organization in Pickleball provide their best efforts. But we have always known that he has worked even harder than us. He has compiled a large list of successful accomplishments that have helped make our sport a success. And specifically he has helped our Provincial organization operate in a manner that has made us a respected part of our National Organization. He has never lost sight of who is really important in the Individual, Club, Provincial and National hierarchy of our sport, and continues to be a Champion for local organizations and members. As the Founder of Pickleball BC, he has left an indelible mark on our sport." Amongst other more recent accomplishments, these are a few that stand out to us:
Congratulations and thanks to Walter on behalf of our PBC Board of Directors and what we forecast will be our 20,000 members this year! We'll look forward to yet another year of accomplishments with Walter's continued assistance. :) From left (from top on mobile): Walter and a PADS companion; PADS Management and Burnaby Pickleball Club; Walter (his serious look); Provincials 2023 at Vernon Pickleball Complex; Walter with Ben Johns world #1 ranked mens player; PBC full court at the Vancouver Wellness Show 2023 and 2024 Comments are closed.
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