Welcome to the International Club of Canada
"Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean "

Welcome to the International Club of Canada

Aims of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada

To promote friendship and sportsmanship in tennis between Canada and other countries by hosting tennis events with other IC countries and supporting tennis development in Canada by providing mentorship for young tennis players.

The first meeting of Active Members of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada was held at the Albany Club in Toronto on Wednesday, August 11, 1965, at 12.30 p.m. Laird Watt, the first president of the Club, was unable to attend and Gilbert Nunns chaired the meeting. In addition to Gilbert those attending the meeting in person or by proxy were familiar names in Canadian tennis history: Peter Barnard, John Bassett, Bob Barnard, François Godbout, Bruce Harrison, Sydney Hermant, Jim Macken, Harry Marpole and Walter Martin. Don Fontana, captain of the Club, agreed to approach the I.C. of the USA for a match in 1966. There were discussions of a black tie dinner, a match against a touring team from England and plans to participate in I.C. matches in Holland. The Canadian I.C. was up and operating. It had officially received “International Club” recognition just six weeks before, at the annual meeting of the Council of I.C.’s held each year during the fortnight of Wimbledon. It joined thirteen other nations with International Clubs, all existing with a common interest in the game of tennis.

The annual match with the USA Club has been the main regular event of the Club since that time, with matches alternating each year between the Donalda Club and various locations in the USA. The Piping Rock Club on Long Island, The Merion Cricket Club in Philadelphia, The West Side Tennis Club on Long Island. In 1971 the matches were divided in an open event competing for the Proctor Cup and a seniors event for the new Lawrence Baker Trophy. Women’s matches were included in the late 90’s and starting in the year 2000 teams will play for the Carole Graebner Trophy. 

There is no doubt that tournaments for the Windmill, Christiane Mercelis, and Columbus Trophies represent the highlights of the I.C. Movement. On these occasions many of the now 42 International Clubs meet in team competition. In these tournaments old friendships across the net and across the nations are renewed, and new ones made. Equally enjoyable are the I.C. Tours where teams of I.C. players tour other countries at the invitation of their I.C.’s, or host visiting teams.

This brief review of the Club’s history would not be complete without an expression of gratitude to the spirit behind the creation of the I.C. Club of Canada, the Late Bruce Harrison and those who have served on the Club’s executive, particularly its presidents: Laird Watt, Walter Martin, John Proctor, Jim Skelton, Frank Mott-Trille, Brian Flood and David Dimmer.

News & Results

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IC Council News

September 2018

2017 IC Business Report

 

Executive Summary


The IC Business Report is designed to provide the IC Council and all ICs of the World with a yearly update of the club’s members, events and general activities.

This year, the IC Council used ‘Survey Monkey’ to collect data in an easier and more efficient format. Consequently, there was an increase in completion rates, with 37 out of 40 ICs completing the new survey, which is a huge improvement on previous years. 

Much like this year, the IC Council will distribute this survey annually, with the purpose of presenting the analysis at the AGM and producing an annual report for all ICs. It is also an effective platform for ICs to give feedback to the IC Council and one where we will be monitoring ‘issues of major concerns and general improvements’. 

It has been noted that each IC should receive its individual responses to the survey. We are manually sending them out this year and will look to automate this upon survey completion from next year. We welcome all feedback and so if there is anything you’d like to suggest, please email both Gustavo Herrero (Honorary Secretary) and Tash Starling (Website & Communications) at the IC Council:

gustavo@herrero.la

ts@ictennis.net
 
This year, 37 out of the 40 ICscompleted the “Business Templates”, resulting in 92.5% data completion.  There were no responses from the following ICs: Brazil, Bulgaria and Romania.  

 Throughout the years, the IC has been going from strength to strength. It continues to build and broaden members, increase activity, promote the objective of good sportsmanship and to enhance the lives of various disadvantaged young people. 

Now in its 94th year, the IC is thriving and we look to continue to; increase activities, broaden the age and gender of members, encourage new nations to join, and enhance such a vibrant international tennis community. 

 

Member Demographics
 
  • A total of 4,406 memberswere reported by the 37 ICs. (This is up on last year’s count of 4,032 members but note data was only collected from 33 ICs in 2016)
  • 74% are male and 26% female. Gender distribution remains fairly stable over the five-year period (26-28% female members)
  • 55% are over the age of 54
  • Age distribution of members has remained fairly stable. The aging process seems to suggest that special emphasis be placed on the recruitment of younger members. (See section 3)
  • 27 of the 37 ICs (73%) recruited new members in 2017 

       

 

*NB: Not all ICs provided full breakdown by age and gender. Therefore total numbers do not sum.

 

Younger Members

  • 70% (26 out of 37 ICs) actively pursue recruiting younger members 
  • Challenges cited include; requires funding, difficulties with families and time, lack of interest and focusing on professional careers 
  • However, various ICs commented that they try to actively recruit through the IC Junior Challenge
  • Additional options are focusing on having a younger Board

Junior Challenge

  • 43% (16 out of 37 ICs) participated in the IC Junior Challenge
  • The main objections stated were; funding and availability of players 
  • This is a number we’d like to look to increase 
Activity overview
 

The actual overall% of member participation is low, and is an area to improve

51% of clubs participated in the same number of events than in 2016 (the previous year), 22% increased and 24% decreased

Committee Members

  • 92% of the clubs (34 out of 37 ICs) have female members on their Committee
  • Only 57% (21 out of 37 ICs) have Committee members under 45
  • However, 81% (30 out of 37 ICs) do hold periodic discussions of succession planning

Areas of Major Concern

 

  • The graph below shows the main areas of concern for all ICs, with the most prevalent areas being; the ability to attract or retain members and the demographics of members
  • Other cited answers include; attracting younger members, lack of women, concentrated membership (age or province), difficulty fielding teams, lack of willingness to travel, large country difficulties and multiple provinces, low participation of members in IC activities and difficulties communicating “what is the IC” to younger audiences

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