Hello Marlins!!

The season is upon us!!! Specialized practices start next week! If you haven't already signed up, please do so ASAP!

This email has a lot of information in it. Please read it to the end. I will have a list of things you need to do at the end of the email. Please address these issues as soon as possible. The board is working very hard. We need your input and responses to get our jobs done. Please help us out by completing requested tasks in a timely manner.

VOLUNTEERING

We had attempted a new way of registering for volunteer slots this year. However, this method does not seem to be working out well. So, we have decided to open up volunteer slots for immediate sign up. Please go into the Swimtopia website and sign up for your volunteer slots. Here is all of the information you need to do this:

Each family on the competitive team is required to work a minimum of three volunteer slots for their first swimmer and six volunteer slots if you have more than one swimmer.  IN ADDITION, WE NEED ALL PARENTS TO SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER SLOT AT THE MOCK MEET (MAY 31).

• we need everyone to go into the website and sign up for your volunteer slots.
• we will not heat your swimmers for any of the swim meets until you have signed up for all of your required slots.
• it works just like declaring if your swimmer will attend a meet.
• go to the CALENDARS AND MEETS TAB and click on it.
• scroll down through the calendar events to the Mock Meet.  
• to the right of the Mock Meet, you will see two green tabs.   One for Meet Entry and one for Job Sign Up.
• please click on the Meet Entry Tab.  This will take you to the page where you declare if your swimmer is attending or not attending the meet.   IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DECLARED YOUR MEET ATTENDANCE, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME.   
• At the top of the page, you will see a box that will indicate how many shifts still need to be filled for this meet.  If you would like to volunteer for this meet, please click on the blue SIGN UP FOR JOB SHIFTS button and it will take you to the sign up page for this meet.  
• Each parent will be listed on the page.   Click under the name of the parent who would like to volunteer on the Sign up for Jobs Tab
• This will take you to the page that lists the job opportunities for this meet.   Please check on the job you would like to do and then click Save Assignments at the bottom of the page.
• Please make sure you pay attention to the first and second half designation on most of the jobs.   If you are a working parent who has trouble getting to the meet on time, please sign up for second half jobs. 
• If you would like to sign up for a slot for an additional parent, go through the same procedure as above.
• when you have finished signing up for the mock meet, you will click on the small blue Back to Swim Meets just under the volunteer box.   It will take you back to the calendar page, and you can select the next meet.
• Remember , you need to sign up for all of your required volunteer slots before the Mock Meet.   You are required to fulfill 3 volunteer slots for the first swimmer and 6 for 2 or more swimmers.

PRACTICES  

The specialized practices begin on Monday!  This is open for returning swimmers, aged 7 or up.   There is a sign up genius to register for these practices.  Please go the the link 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fabaf2ea5ff2-maplewood

Regular practices begin on May 13.  The practice schedule for the month of May is as follows:

May 13 - May 30, 2019

Monday thru Friday

6 & Under 4:00-4:30 PM

7/8 4:30-5:15 PM

9/10 5:15-5:45 PM
11/12 5:45-6:15 PM
13 & Up 6:15-7:00 PM

UPCOMING DATES:

May 11    SHRSL stroke clinic     If you are a stroke judge, or would like to become a stroke judge, you much attend a Stroke Clinic.   The May 11 clinic is held at Maplewood pool.  There are stroke clinics held throughout the league in the month of May.   Please contact me for additional locations.  Please go onto the CALENDAR AND MEETS tab and RSVP if you are planning to attend the SHRSL stroke clinic.

May 18   Parent meeting and Team photos    Please plan to attend the Parent Meeting at 8:00 am.  The team will take the official team photo during the parent meeting.   Individual photos will also be taken after the team photo.   The order form for the pictures is attached to this email.  

May 25 & June 1  In House stroke clinic  There will be sign ups available for the stroke clinics later in the season.   

May 31   Mock Meet  We had our first Mock Meet last year and it was a huge success.   This is a very important meet for new families.  The first swim meet is always very intimidating.  This will give us a chance to run through the process for the swimmer and the volunteer parents.   It is very important that veteran parents attend so that you can share your experience and knowledge with new families.   Plus there will be Eaker's Barbeque food truck available for purchase.   All swimmers will receive free Kona Shaved Ice.   The regular pool will be open at the same time, so friends and family of swim team members can enjoy time at the pool too!   Please make sure that you indicate your attendance at the meet and sign up for a volunteer slot for that meet, which is in addition to your required slots.

FAMILY SPONSORSHIPS

We still have a few family sponsorships available for this season.   The perks include reserved parking space at the home meets!   There are three of those this year!   If you are interested, please complete the family sponsorship form and contact Stephanie Lester    [email protected]

OK, as always, we look forward to hearing back from you!!!  Please let us know if you have any questions.   The board is working very hard.  We appreciate your help and timely response to any requests so that we can do our jobs well and efficiently.

Go Marlins,

Monique

TO DO LIST::

• sign up for volunteer slots
• indicate whether you will attend each swim meet
• use sign up genius to sign up for specialized practices May 6-8
• plan to attend the after school practices in May
• put all of the important dates on my calendar
• attend SHRSL stroke clinic on May 11
• attend parent meeting on May 18