Potluck party bids farewell at Longboat Key Public Tennis Center

The Longboat Key Public Tennis Center wished its seasonal members a fond farewell on April 11. 

“The tennis center started in November 1998, and ever since I’ve been here, we’ve done this end of the year party where we do a potluck and get together,” Kay Thayer said. “So it’s one of those things that we haven’t changed because it’s kind of our ritual. At the end of the year, people bring a dish to share and it works.” 

Thayer has been managing the tennis center since 1999. Another ritual within the ritual is to thank the league captains. 

“We kind of acknowledge them and say thank you for all they do because it is a thankless job. There’s no money involved and they have to direct their teams, which isn’t an easy feat,” Thayer said. “So that’s one reason we like to do this at the end of the year, and just again thank everybody — our members and visitors, Friends of Tennis, those that do so much for us.”