Hello Eager Volunteer Parents!
Thank you for your patience as we iron out a few details to make this year’s volunteering as smooth as possible. We will open the site to sign up for your volunteer slots on Monday afternoon, March 21st. A couple of new and important things to note about this year:- The Volunteer Commitment from each family is SEVEN (7) JOBS this year.
- We've created what we call the “Family Option” of our Gold Level Sponsorship ($1,000). As many of you are aware, the Strawberry Seals Swim Team is a non-profit organization. We operate on a 100% parent volunteer basis and we have an ongoing need to meet an operational budget that supports our coaching salaries, facilities, equipment and events. One way of meeting our budget needs is through sponsorship. With the Family Option, the donating family will be awarded the following perks:
1) EXEMPT FROM ALL VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
This is important to consider before committing to the Volunteer obligations. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact fundraising@strawberryseals.com
2) Two tickets to the Seals Splash
3) Ad in the Directory
4) SEALS his/hers apparel and pool deck "must haves" (two towels, two shirts, two hats, water bottle)
5) Last but not least, the priceless good feeling of knowing that you're helping our team continue going strong!
There are a number of jobs that we need your help with that if taken on, would satisfy in full or in part the Volunteer Commitment for the season. Those jobs are listed with the Board Member's contact information if you are interested in pursuing. These full or part-time positions will NOT be listed on the volunteer signups next Monday. The Board Member responsible for those jobs will coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinators to let them know you have satisfied all or part of your commitment if you take one of these jobs on.
Also listed are the jobs that will be included next week's sign-up. We wanted to give you a chance to review some of the job descriptions before signing up.
We highly encourage you to only sign up for a maximum of 2 jobs/meet and only 1 job for each half of the meet. We know some families like to get their obligations done as quickly as possible and try to consolidate them. While in theory this sounds great, we have found that it consistently leads to breakdowns in making sure that the jobs are truly covered for the time slots that are needed.
We also request that every family reserves at least one of their volunteer obligations for the Champs swim meet at the end of the Season. This is the largest logistical challenge of the year and we really want to make sure we support the host team running it. Please help us make the Seals shine on this one!
We have two new Volunteer Coordinators this year - Marjorie Bukowski and Constance Riedinger. While they are getting help from the veterans, they are new to this role and we ask that you go easy on them. We can't thank them enough for taking on this very important job! If you have questions, you can contact them at volunteer@strawberryseals.com.
Thank you!
Full Ride - 7 Slots
Half Ride - 4 Slots
Additional Support - 1 Slot
Standard Volunteer - 1 Slot
The Head of Stroke and Turn makes sure we have enough qualified judges for both the home meets and away meets. If needed, the Head of Stroke and Turn will step in as judge. This person should have Stroke and Turn experience.
The Head Line-Up Coordinator/Clerk of the Course is responsible for contacting the line-up volunteers before the meet to confirm their volunteer spot. He/she is responsible for distributing the line-up sheets to Line-Up volunteers for the 8&Under and 9-10 age groups. This person gets the line-up sheets from the Computer Desk in the morning and makes sure there is someone in each lane to help the kids get to their proper lanes and in the correct order of the heats. If missing anyone, he/she will work with the Volunteer Coordinator to make sure the position is filled.
The Head Timer is responsible for coordinating lane timers at each swim meet (both home and away meets). The Head Timer should make sure the volunteers are properly notified as to which meet they have been scheduled to time and whether they are scheduled to time the first half of the meet or the second half. The Head Timer gives lane assignments to the lane timers and orients all volunteers prior to the meet to ensure timing procedures are well understood. The head timer confirms that lane timers have all necessary equipment (plungers, meet sheets, clip boards, pencils, etc.) and addresses any equipment issues faced by lane timers. Head Timer also serves as a back-up timer for each event.
The two individuals who sign up for Head Timer can organize how they wish to split the position.
The meet referee is the head official of the meet and must have had experience as a stroke and turn judge. The referee coordinates the stroke and turn personnel, handles any protests or disputes on stroke and turn judgments, and addresses any other matters which effect the conduct of the meet.
This event will take place in June. Exact date and responsibilities to be determined.
Help the organizers to set up Potluck Picnic event. At the end of the picnic make sure field and surrounding areas are as clean as when we started. This may require setting up extra trash and/or recycling bags. If anything left behind, find out how to leave with lost and found at the Recreation Center.
Help with set-up, working with the event leaders to make sure things are running smoothly and clean-up. Event is May 15, from 4:00 – 8:00.
2 people to help with set-up and first half of party pouring wine and coordinating food to the tables with the Chef. 2 people to help with second half of the party pouring wine and coordinating food to the tables with the Chef plus clean-up. (The second half to clean-up may be a late shift).
This event will take place in June. Help the organizer of this event.
Help the organizers set up for the season end banquet.
Help to clean up after the banquet by putting away chairs, tables, emptying garbage, etc.
Help the grill master by prepping BBQ, prepare and display condiments and cook. Each shift is for either first or second half of meet.
Upon completion of the meet, Clean-up Volunteers disassemble timing equipment, sound systems, concessions, and other equipment related to the meet. The equipment is then loaded into the trailers and the Tam facility is policed for trash to ensure that the grounds are restored to its original condition prior to the meet. This job may involve some heavy lifting and will typically take an hour or two to complete. This is best if you have an older swimmer or plan to stay through the end of the meet.
Help sell Seals Clothing at meets. Typically broken up between first and second half of meets.
Runs the Colorado Timing system. Works closely with the starter and the computer operator. Activates lanes for the Colorado scoring system. Some experience and training required.
Makes sure no food is being eaten on the pool deck. Tam High does not allow any food on their pool deck. We must comply and make sure that this policy is followed by all. Shifts are split between first and second half of the meet.
Distribute suits, rosters, clothing to team. Will need to coordinate with the managers of these projects to work out timing and delivery of goods.
Takes DQ slips from the judges over to the referee.
There are 3 timers per lane. The Lane timer may be required to use a stop-watch or a time-plunger to record the swimmers time in the Colorado timing system. A lane timer verifies the proper swimmers are competing in the lane, reports any delays, and records the stop watch times from the lane. A lane timer official typically works half of the swim meet. This job is ideal for volunteers who like to be close to the action, but also requires a fair amount of focus for long periods of time.
Line-up Volunteers usher swimmers to the blocks ensuring that competitors are appropriately placed for events/heats. Line-up Volunteers typically work one half of the swim meet.
Volunteers will assist with unloading trailers and setting up equipment needed for the meet including sound systems, timing equipment, concessions, tables, and other peripheral equipment used at the meet. Meet Setup usually occurs about an hour to an hour and a half prior to the meet.
Affixes ribbon labels onto the appropriate ribbons during the meets. Each swimmer in every heat gets a ribbon. The ribbons volunteer affixes ribbon labels from the computer onto the appropriate ribbons and files them in the ribbons box. Swimmers pick up their ribbons at the next practice.
Picks up time sheets from the timers and brings them to the computer desk after each event. Posts times on the wall for all to see. Delivers DQ slips to team coaches.
Volunteers are involved in the procurement, collection, set-up and distribution of concessions. Snack Bar volunteers work half of the meet. The snack bar is located on the outside of the Tam Pool Facility so volunteers will be unable to view the events during their hours of service.
Break down snack bar at the end of the meet. Work with Head of Snack Bar to be sure all supplies and equipment is managed properly.
An individual Stroke and Turn judge monitors swimmers to ensure that no infractions occur during events. If an infraction occurs, the stroke and turn judge completes forms to notify the referee and clerk of course of the nature of the infraction and subsequent disqualification of the swimmer. This volunteer must go through an orientation (typically a 1-2 hour video and discussion). A stroke and turn judge works half of the meet. This job is ideal for volunteers who look to have a deeper understanding of the strokes, but also requires individuals who can be very focused and take an objective view of the meet.
Checks in volunteers and hands out name tags. Notifies Volunteer Coordinator, in the respective area, of any changes in positions or no-shows. Contacts On-Call Volunteers when there are areas of need.
