[gvttc general] Great Outreach Story - Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Annual Tournament for Charity

Thu Apr 11 17:17:03 EDT 2019

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 <https://www.icloud.com/attachment/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcvws.icloud-content.com%2FB%2FAU-iyZm8ekqQXmNsFg-Y_iJ0nSjfAb68imaGE0H-738sHo0ju5jeEQXw%2F%24%7Bf%7D%3Fo%3DAvN6_F4dINp30l8Hx7atvIKn-F1Uai_WKfEel7DSENul%26v%3D1%26x%3D3%26a%3DCAoggVwSyhNinBXIiWUyipUwUwHYHPzjm-WI9OHF6CmSswoSGxCXt4vyoC0Yl8eGxqotIgEAKggByAD_f757kg%26e%3D1557609423%26k%3D%24%7Buk%7D%26fl%3D%26r%3D3974694D-4076-47DA-B9A0-71FE086EA986-1%26ckc%3Dcom.apple.largeattachment%26ckz%3DEF219F95-3656-4601-8B19-260F986C1C84%26p%3D57%26s%3Dvh9i30JZG416AorfqczEjeTM5SQ&uk=Dwc6jTEvf3PB7DTcd9O0ow&f=Images.zip&sz=21278599>Pongers,

Recently, we had an exciting opportunity to gain more interest for our beloved sport.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield <https://www.facebook.com/ExcellusBCBS/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARCji0pnKOI3LULxoXqIp8AD92mdE4dRbp_tlaT3vQnFKJnkV6C75CiHbZXSNXYgnOu0a14KoFmRerok&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD0LrB8Sf5vJk1zZJse_GEQrTj8PblwKBeqnB4WOHDrNI3QqBLiAbJSBX0Ic1Szzj_mxnLN7RU297a3U3WMqBHrMWqvqBoLQ4ZDDcsuUKbZtt6Lop7Sh23uf3beT17lzsBDQur3DzvYFUbOesjZ_mKoNtpwD8yTF01mC-sIUGmKD4_QHL5er1ybaDdkZkRRH_pzB10XXcoM6Ig4XBv0P00hZS9iLNjzstLAzoDl4-Fmsv-LjXatgRfysFxnwZEmqvpkwl_XmCN9FFtlu3RWG1gMXe54mpwvIJhildGoP60mA6U5E7GBoqKfHPkh_v5SiBzvtUzuFsPiITn4Wmg> has been running a table tennis tournament for now a 3rd year for the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure - Rochester <https://www.facebook.com/tdcrochester/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARAtH-MzN6JqEWCYtMCaLmosyjf2Ok07OHXPucSL_r7disKLnteosy39jgKkjWyO8_sLjZc8ly_LJPka&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD0LrB8Sf5vJk1zZJse_GEQrTj8PblwKBeqnB4WOHDrNI3QqBLiAbJSBX0Ic1Szzj_mxnLN7RU297a3U3WMqBHrMWqvqBoLQ4ZDDcsuUKbZtt6Lop7Sh23uf3beT17lzsBDQur3DzvYFUbOesjZ_mKoNtpwD8yTF01mC-sIUGmKD4_QHL5er1ybaDdkZkRRH_pzB10XXcoM6Ig4XBv0P00hZS9iLNjzstLAzoDl4-Fmsv-LjXatgRfysFxnwZEmqvpkwl_XmCN9FFtlu3RWG1gMXe54mpwvIJhildGoP60mA6U5E7GBoqKfHPkh_v5SiBzvtUzuFsPiITn4Wmg>.   They raised over $1 million last year through all their efforts.

Amazingly, the annual tournament has gained so much steam that finalists come out to entrance music and costumes in front of anywhere between 50-100 viewers with 3 floors looking down.  They had a ref in a full outfit and a scorekeeper.  They played music the entire time and had a live announcer.  The eventual winner, Jason “The King Looper” Kroening came out in a boxing outfit and an entourage with music.  His entourage included a guy that held up a WWF championship belt and another who was holding his last 2 years trophies high in the air.  After a long walk in which included a walk around the table, Jason’s coach (lol) held up two paddles where Jason began punching them to showcase a warmup followed by a card board with a ping pong ball hung down by a spring.  He then used his paddle to simulate the boxing speed bag by hitting the hanging ping pong ball.  Image below is the concept of what they constructed but using a ping pong ball instead.

It was hilarious.  Jason ended up winning his 3rd title in what was a pretty competitive match.  Traditionally, the winner plays the CEO at the end but this year the CEO broke his ankle and they looked for a ringer.

I showed up wearing a chef outfit as they were going to RANDOMLY (YA RIGHT!) select someone in the crowd.  I walked up to the table with a bad paddle and started to warm up by hitting balls off the table and “dinking” the ball high up to the point where Jason started to play it easy on me.  Before starting, I asked if someone had a better paddle ….. They handed me mine.  He quickly knew he was setup but I wanted to make it entertaining so I worked into playing harder and harder.  Jason had REAL game as I’d say he is probably rated around 1400-1500!  What made it really fun and hard for me was that he was trying to win where I was trying to keep the ball in play for him to miss and I wanted to make it close.  I gave him the first game 21-18 (old rules) and then I won the next two.  As some can imagine … yes I lobbed a lot but KUDOS to Jason who could attack 3-4 in a row.  He could chop, generate attack and much much more.  Even the few times I counter attacked from far away … he blocked a few of those to keep the point going.  I was so impressed!  He was a gentleman and was so appreciative to have the opportunity to play.  Jason intends to visit the club in the coming weeks and wants to take it more seriously!  I’m confident we’ll have him and more …. 

After the match, Koen Kron and I did a demonstration warmup and 1 game to 21 that included everything we do.  We had some amazing points and the crowd was totally into it.  We understood that rally’s were important so neither of us tried to serve each other off the table.  This caused many long rallied points.  Koen showcased his ability to loop 10 in a row and I would either block at the table and move him around or lob.  Jeff McNinch had flyers and invited as many as we could to the club.  Many didn’t know we exist but now they do.  We’re working on a continued relationship each year.  This video is from someone watching from the 2nd floor …. really cool!
It was a fantastic opportunity to reach more people and is now the 2nd company we’ve been able to participate with as a club for an annual tournament.  It means the sport is loved and if we keep these up, we should be able to attract more.

Click the link below and see a few of Koen and I playing some points.
https://youtu.be/JG2fIumjISA <https://youtu.be/JG2fIumjISA>

Thought you’d enjoy!  Below are more pictures ….

Sincerely,
Andre Maronian
Prez

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