Many of us got hooked on pickleball somewhere else. Like Shalda Nelson, who started the movement in Rockford along with a handful of her local golfing friends. She and her husband, Roger, took up the game as snowbirds at The Villages in Florida -- and loved it. “Shalda got us up to speed on the rules and we started chalking courts and playing wherever we could,” says Susan Sallmen. Shalda took the initiative to make the first contact with Jay Sandine at the Rockford Park District and get the ball rolling with an open house at the Guilford Tennis Center in July2009 to introduce pickleball to the public. More than 70 interested folks showed up on a cold, windy evening to see a demonstration and play the game. Shalda and many new, enthusiastic picklers dedicated their time and energy to recruit other players, attend Park Board meetings, participate in many local demonstrations to spread the word and promote this great game! This August we said a great big thank you and good-bye to Shalda Nelson as she and Roger moved permanently to The Villages. Click here to see more photos!
