Three Merokeans Honored by U.S. Tennis Association

Three Merokeans have been honored by the U.S. Tennis Association Eastern Section, which encompasses all of New York State and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, with 2012 Awards of Honor. They are: Jacki Binder, Press Service Award; Lori D'Antonio, Special Service Award, and Melanie Rubin, Long Island Regional Volunteer of the Year.

Press Service Award winner Jacki Binder is not a tennis player but a dedicated tennis volunteer. She serves as Public Relations Chair of the USTA’s Long Island Regional Board, where she has significantly increased awareness and raised the profile of the region in newspapers and local media. She conducts extensive publicity work to support the Region’s Annual Awards Dinner each year and has coordinated internal communications between the Regional Board and member organizations, including tennis clubs and facilities, community organizations, schools and teams.   When not volunteering, Binder is a tennis parent, taking her two children to lessons, tournaments and summer camps.  

Lori D’Antonio, Special Service Awardee,  works behind the scenes to promote tennis on Long Island.  Over the years, she has designed numerous flyers and posters, helping market events for the Long Island Region.   At the Long Beach Tennis Center, where she works, she has helped coordinate 10 and Under Tennis programs, including free introductory sessions and play days.  Through tennis, she has also helped raise funds for Cure Mommy’s Breast Cancer, an organization that supports families of women facing the deadly disease.  

Long Island Regional Volunteer of the Year Melanie Rubin is the community outreach coordinator for the Long Island Regional Board, working hard to bring 10 and Under Tennis to street fairs and community events. In 2012, she coordinated the Region's participation in the Merrick Street Fair, the Bellmore Family Festival, Robbie's Run, the Bellmore Merrick Relay for Life and the Town of Hempstead Family Festival by the Sea.   Whether it’s organizing volunteers or providing information to the public, Rubin has played a huge role in growing tennis participation on Long Island.  When she is not volunteering to grow tennis, she is supporting her children, Noah, a top-ranked junior player, and Jessie, who plays for Binghamton University’s tennis team.