About Us

What is the Bellingham Pickleball Club?

The Bellingham Pickleball Club is a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting and promoting the sport of pickleball in the greater Bellingham area.

At the BPC, we:

  • Partner with the Bellingham Parks Department to effectively utilized the six dedicated pickleball courts in Cornwall Park,
  • Host Level Open Play, skill development sessions and special events on evenings & weekends.
  • Partner with other organizations, agencies and community groups to expand and improve local pickleball facilities.
  • Manage donation drives to help cover some of the expense of adding additional facilities
  • When possible, host classes, clinics and open play at school gyms.
  • Utilize 4 portable nets for pickleball play on 2 multi-use courts at Cornwall.
  • Loan nets, paddles and balls to members for try-outs and special occasions.
  • Advocate for the sport of pickleball in our community.
  • Continue to improve the BPC website and our Facebook communication.
  • Collaborate with organizations, companies and agencies to promote the development of pickleball.
  • Clean up winter debris at Cornwall Park courts to help keep them in good condition.
  • Coordinate discounts for members with Pickleball Central, Players Pickleball, Armory Pickleball, Volli and other local venues.
  • Use surveys to better understand the member’s preferences, needs and desires.

Have a question or comment for the board? We want to hear from you.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsor Players Pickleball, who is a delight to partner with.  We are thrilled that they are Bellingham-based, and helping to support pickleball locally.  Please join us in supporting them.  If you use this link, they will continue to share their profits with us, and give you a discount as well.

Thank you, Keith Turley, of Imagine Design Studio for building and hosting our website.  You are amazing to partner with!

Meet the Board of BPC

The BPC Board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom.  Members are welcome to attend these meetings, but cannot vote on matters presented.  To receive the Zoom code for the Board Meetings contact us.

Barbara Beer
President

I have been playing pickleball since June of 2021. Although I love learning a new skill, being outdoors, and exercising; it’s the warmth and generosity of the BPC members that I cherish.

The Bellingham Pickleball Club has grown from approximately 230 members in June 2021 to over 650 members today. As the BPC President, my goal is to help put in place policies, procedures, and systems to achieve the Club’s mission. As a growing volunteer organization, we have many challenges to overcome, including developing more opportunities to learn and play pickleball and meet more players, increasing the number of courts available (especially during the rainy season), and streamlining the administrative processes.  

I am confident that with the support of our members we can exceed our ambitious goals.

Marieanne Burley
Vice-President

I moved to Bellingham and started playing pickleball in 2020. The joy that I get from playing pickleball is disproportionately higher than my skill level. As a new board member, my focus will be communication and organization. We are a volunteer organization that has tripled in membership in just 2 short years. Therefore, we need to use our limited resources wisely by putting into place sustainable solutions that meet the member needs. Although that is a simple statement, it encompasses a great deal of work to achieve in a comprehensive manner.  I have committed to a two year term on the board in order to implement some of those solutions. 

Terri Vossbeck
Treasurer

I began playing pickleball in the Spring of 2018 and immediately fell in love with the game.  

As Treasurer of the Pickleball Club for the last 4 years, I have been amazed at how the club has grown.  When you play the game and realize how much fun it is, it’s not surprising that we have exceeded 600 members. 

My over 30 years experience as a bookkeeper provides the background needed for the job of Treasurer.  I enjoy working with the other board members and I am excited to continue doing so.  I appreciate the club trusting me to handle their finances and I am glad to be serving as Treasurer for another year.  

Erica Kulm
Secretary

Pickleball became part of my life in 2016, and I haven’t looked back. It is exciting and rewarding to be at the forefront of the expanding Bellingham Pickleball Club and I look forward to serving on this board for another year. This year, in addition to being Secretary and the leader of the Events Team, I would like to add more activities in the evening for pickleball players that work during the day. With the help of generous BPC members, I feel our club is moving in the right direction related to its membership growth and new offerings for all levels.

David Imburgia
Member-At-Large

I started playing pickleball in 2021. I quickly liked the experience of meeting great new friends, all while playing “chess in sports clothes”. So we understand why Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. I’ve served on quite a few boards in my career, and I know what a challenge it can be. As an at-large member, I hope to add value based on my experiences to continue the valuable work that BPC has done since its founding in 2018.

 

Laura Sanderson
Member-At-Large

I am thrilled to have been introduced to pickleball on Mother’s Day 2022. As a true newbie, I appreciate that the BPC members I encountered were helpful and answered my many questions. There are a lot of new people, like myself, in the BPC  and we’ll need to develop programs, skill lesson plans, communication, and future events. We need to work with the County to make sure we have enough courts and that things are inclusive and easily accessed by all. My goal is to assist in any area that moves the mission of the BPC forward. 

Rong Wei
Member -At-Large

I started to play pickleball in 2020. Over the last three years, with the help from the club and the community, I moved from a beginner to an advanced player. I enjoy playing this game and the friendships that come along with it. As a board member, it is an honor to work with the Skill Development Team to foster a positive learning environment for our members. I work closely with other members, recruiting hosts to provide more skill sessions, helping to advertise and setting up classes. I train people in using the Spond app, and work towards streamlining the process. The tools we are focused on are skills and drills to increase the level and enjoyment of the players, regardless of age or ability.