TSA Dues Sent by E-Mail

The TSA dues statements were e-mailed to all TSA reps earlier this week. Please remit payment by the April deadline. If you have any questions please contact me at clbrunk729@aol.com. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Cathy Brunk
TSA Treasurer

Park Village Porpoises need an Assistant Coach

The Park Village swim team is looking to hire an Assistant Coach for the summer swim season. Our pool is located in Cary off of Davis Drive. We offer practices twice a day during the week with no practices on the weekends. Anyone interested in being considered for this position please e-mail Tracey at twasbill@nc.rr.com.

S.W.I.M To Be Held July 12 at Sunset Ridge

SWIM to be Held July 12 at Sunset Ridge

The South Wake Invitational Meet (SWIM) will be held at Sunset Ridge Swim Club on July 12, 2009. This is the 3rd year MOR has hosted this meet and we look forward to providing an opportunity for TSA swimmers to have a championship meet to compete in with their whole team that is fun and geared towards the enjoyment of the swimmers and parents.

For more information, contact Cindie Lawton at bill@lawton.net

MOR IN MAY

The Marlins Of Raleigh Swim Team will again offer its "MOR IN MAY" pre-summer swim clinic April 27-May 16, 2009 at 3 convenient locations including just minutes from Cary at Peace College in Raleigh, Ravenscroft School in North Raleigh, and Riverwood Athletic Club in Clayton.
MOR IN MAY is a pre-summer swim clinic for summer league swimmers offering instruction in all 4 competitive strokes in a fun learning environment by MOR's nationally known professional swim staff. Directed by Coach Jonathan Watson and Coach Cara Cameron who have over 40 years coaching experience between them. Get a head start on the summer season in our heated indoor pools. MOR IN MAY will teach your swimmer technical skills that will establish good habits that will last all summer.
MOR IN MAY gives the best instruction in the Triangle at a better price. Just $80 for nine 1 hour classes. Space at each location is limited so sign up right away by filling out the registration and send in with a check for just $80!
For Registration forms, go to www.marlinsofraleigh.com or call 851-3000 or email coachcara45@aol.com

Swim Coach needed in Apex

Hollands Crossing a growing TSA team with 2 strong volunteer assistant coaches seeks a Head Coach for the 09 season. We have a generous stipend and reasonable schedule. Please forward any and all leads to cristine.clarke@abromitisonlinelearning.com and thanks!

February Board of Directors meeting

This is the usual reminder that our next Board meeting is coming up on Tuesday evening at 7:00. Please note that we will meet at a new location: the University Room at University Club. For those of you whose teams have not swum a meet there, the NC State University Club is located on Hillsborough Street just west of the Beltline.

As always, a limited number of printouts of the meeting agenda and of the previous meeting’s minutes will be provided at the meeting. However, at last month’s meeting, all those hard copies were quickly claimed and some attendees had to do without. You can avoid this problem by printing and bringing your own copy to the meeting with you (hint, hint).

See you then!

January 2009 Meeting Minutes Now Posted

Board Members,

The meeting minutes from last week's January TSA Board of Directors meeting are now posted at the following location:

http://www.tsanc.googlepages.com/Minutes2009-01-27.pdf

Please let me know if you have any questions about this information.

Rick Rudd
Secretary, TSA

Crown Trophy

Crown Trophy (2431 Spring Forest Rd. , Raleigh, phone: 878-6565) and Awards visited the TSA January meeting to express our interest in earning the TSA trophy/medals/plaques/ribbons business. We offer the best prices in the triangle, a wide variety of products (including swim specific items and custom options), FREE engraving, FREE delivery and a FREE perpetual plaque for each TSA team that uses our services. Our store is open M-F (9:30am to 5:30pm) and Sat (9am-12pm). We are open to meeting before store hours or after store hours by appointment. Our belief is that customer service is of the utmost importance and we value our customers everyday. Feel free to visit our website (http://www.crowntrophy.com/) or email us at crownraleigh@gmail.com. We look forward to serving your sports, corporate or religious awards needs.

Rules - Checks and Balances

It seems we have checks and balances across all aspects of the meet officiating: alternating judges from both teams, 2 scorekeepers - 1 from each team, 2 clerk of course - 1 from each team...EXCEPT recorder. There were 2 seperate meets last year which involved the recorder writing down the wrong lanes for the various places. In what such meet, the lanes were not clearly numbered, the other was just a mistake. I'm not sure there's an easy solution, but it seems it would be wise to consider someway to balance the recorder. I'm posting here to solicit ideas and/or alert the rules committee to discuss.

Some followup from last week's Board of Directors meeting

I want to thank everyone for making Tuesday’s Board meeting a success. Even with the last-minute rescheduling caused by the prior week’s snowstorm, turnout was still over 90 percent (68 of our now-74 member teams were able to attend), and we resolved all the business that we set out to cover.

As mentioned during the meeting, all teams have been assigned to a committee except in cases where last year’s Rep indicated in the post-season survey that they would not be returning. Those teams were listed as “exempt” in the committee assignments on the last page of the meeting agenda. However, as we discussed Tuesday, there are other teams who have introduced brand-new TSA Reps since the time of the survey, and all of these Reps are also eligible for the “rookie exemption” should they wish to exercise it. (Remember, rookies may choose to serve as members of their assigned committees even though they are not required to do so.) However, if you do wish to exercise your exemption, you must send me email to that effect! So far, only a single team has done so. Unless I hear from you by next Sunday, I will assume that no more exemptions are needed.

On the subject of new Reps, I wanted to make everyone aware of how you can use the features of the TSA web site to manage the Reps and Alternates for your club. I’ve written a short document that walks through (with screenshots) all the tasks that you might ever need to perform on behalf of your club:

• Adding a new TSA Rep or Alternate
• Changing your contact information and/or password
• Deactivating (Retiring) a TSA Rep or Alternate
• Switching a TSA Rep to an Alternate and vice versa

A link to this document is now also available under the “Information for Clubs’ TSA Representatives” section of the TSA home page for general reference.

Prep clinics for YOUR team, at YOUR time

Curran Aquatic Center invites TSA teams to bring over their swimmers for exclusive summer prep clinics! The kids can get in the water together to swim before the pools open (and the water warms up) to get excited about the summer season.

Contact our Program Manager, Doracy Harrison, for more information and to schedule a time for your club's clinic. Limited slots this Spring!

919.459.4045 x223 or email dharrison@triangleaquatics.org

We've Added 24 New Spots

Thank you to all the TSA reps that have shared information about our swim team prep classes at the Triangle Aquatic Center. We have filled all of our swim team prep classes at the TAC location.

To meet the demand for swim team prep classes we are adding a new location at Impact Athletics with 24 new open spots. We have two outstanding coaches for this location, SEE OUR IMPACT LOCATION COACHES.

TAC LOCATION - All 66 swim team prep slots are full.

IMPACT ATHLETICS LOCATION- 24 new swim team prep spots open.

For more information contact either Susan or Andrea at 919-267-4762 or
CUSTOMER SUPPORT

_____________________________________________________________________

Coaches to Student Ratio / 1:6
Swim Team Prep Classes are 60 minutes and the class is offered as follows:

Sunday, February 8, 2009 thru Sunday, March, 29, 2009 (8 classes) - $100.00

All classes will be at Impact Athletics Pool in Cary.

• Sunday @ 3:00-4:00 p.m. - Swim Team Prep 1 (12 spots / 2 Coaches)
• Sunday @ 4:00-5:00 p.m. - Swim Team Prep 2 (12 spots / 2 Coaches)

_____________________________________________________________________

Board of Directors meeting is tomorrow night

Just a reminder that the TSA Board of Directors meeting that was originally scheduled for last Tuesday will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 at the Triangle Aquatic Center. As before, please bring your own copy of the meeting agenda (and also the minutes of our last meeting) if possible.

One of the topics we’ll discuss will be our 2009 meet calendar. In addition to the information about previous meet calendars shown in a table on the agenda, I’ve also re-cast that data as a bar chart, which might be easier to grasp visually. And as long as we’re delving into history, some of you may also be interested in TSA’s growth trends and its detailed club membership history, both of which now have complete data covering TSA’s entire history starting in 1971.

See you then!

Bob

Swim Across America-Making Waves to Fight Cancer-Quick Style

Please join the swimming community in helping Richard fight! Please post attached are your local club, Year Round Club or YMCA to get the word out!!!!! Richard is the current Auburn University Swim Coach and is in the battle of his life! Go to your local pool and swim on February 14th as one, as strength is gained in numbers and with each and everyone of you, we can make a difference!!!!!!

Libby George, Durant Typhoons

As most of you have heard, one of America’s most respected and decorated Swim Coaches, Richard Quick, has been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. In the world of swimming, he has "done it all" – coached six US Olympic Swimming Teams, led his collegiate teams to 12 NCAA titles, inspired every swimmer he has coached, and led the swimming community with respect and integrity.
Now it is our turn to give back. Richard and his family have teamed up with Swim Across America in an attempt to combat this disease and raise money towards finding a cure. The swimming community is now tasked with joining forces with Richard as he faces this newest challenge in his life.
WHAT IS SWIM QUICK?
Many people in the swimming community have asked what they can do to help Richard during these difficult days. "Swim Quick" is a fundraising program developed by Swim Across America to answer this question -- and it provides a tangible way for everyone to support Richard. By collectively donating to Swim Across America and swimming together in his honor, we can share with him how much he has impacted our lives.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
Simply go to www.swimacrossamerica.org/swimquick and donate as generously as you can. You can also register to swim in the event. Or, if you are a coach, you can reach out to your team to participate and dedicate a workout in Richard’s honor. Simply tell your swimmers and parents about the program, ask for donations and collect the funds. All checks can be made out to Swim Across America, Inc. and will be put toward the Richard Quick Endowment.
WHEN IS SWIM QUICK?
The event will be held on February 14th, Valentines Day with hundreds of people swimming in his honor and sending him their positive thoughts, prayers and energy while they swim. However, if this day and time doesn’t work with your schedule, you can swim in his honor on any day and at any time that is convenient for you or your team.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Janel Jorgensen, Executive Director, Swim Across America at janel@swimacrossamerica.org or call (888) SWIM-USA. Swim Across America, Inc. is a non-profit organization created over 20 years ago to with the mission of raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment. All checks should be payable to Swim Across America, and can be mailed to One International Place, Suite 4600, Boston, MA, 02110.

Coaching Position: Harrington Grove Swim & Racquet Club

COACHING POSITION:
Harrington Grove
Swim & Racquet Club

TSA SWIM LEAGUE:
Harrington Grove Swim & Racquet Club is looking to hire a responsible individual with swimming knowledge, who is organized, and enthusiastic about coaching our summer swim team (ages 4 –18). Must be available late May through late July for practices and swim meets. Harrington Grove is located in northwest Raleigh off the 540- Leesville exit.
E-mail resumes to: jcountie@nc.rr.com or call
919-846-0287 with questions by March 1, 2009.
Prior coaching experience preferred.

TAC Programs of interest to TSA Pools

I'm pleased to announce some great programs for families and staff at summer pools to prep for the upcoming season!

GuardStart: Junior Guard program for 11-14 yr olds, to be held evenings and as half-day camp in track-outs. They even earn Community CPR and First Aid certification in the course!

Torpedoes (evening/Sat) and Tigerfish (daytime): Monthly swim team prep groups that bridge the gap between lessons and competitive swim team.

Summer tune-ups: Saturday afternoon clinics starting mid-April to help kids gear up for the opening of the summer season. Only $5 each Saturday. Come to one or all!

Lifeguard/CPR classes and recertifications: We have several offerings to help accommodate everyone's schedules, including Cary Academy, Cardinal Gibbons, and college breaks.

Water Safety Instructor: Boost the caliber of the instructors at your pool with American Red Cross WSI certification. They'll be certified in the new release (Mar '09) of the WSI curriculum.

and of course, our Swim Lessons are on-going for daytime, evening, and Saturday options. Other fun and different classes we have are Synchronized Swimming and Discover Scuba!

If you would like more information on the above programs, please email me at dharrison@triangleaquatics.org for flyers or details.

Board of Directors meeting postponed until January 27th

Due to hazardous travel conditions, the January meeting has been postponed until next week. We will meet at the same location (TAC in Cary) at the same time of day (7:00 PM), but we will do it exactly one week later on Tuesday, January 27th.

Possible postponement of Tuesday's Board of Directors meeting

It looks like TSA can't escape weather worries even when the pools are closed. With a threat of winter weather approaching, we may not be able to hold our first Board meeting tomorrow night. Stay tuned to this blog -- I will post a go/no-go decision no later than noon Tuesday.

If we are forced to postpone the meeting, it would be made up exactly one week later (7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 27) at the same location (TAC in Cary). I realize that some of you may have schedule conflicts next week, so if we do end up postponing, please get one of your club's Alternate Reps to come. If you don't have an Alternate Rep, please designate some member of your club to attend.

In the meantime, Leagues & Scheduling chairman Bill Grussemeyer is already accepting your feedback about the proposed team rankings and would like to get everyone's input by the end of Wednesday the 28th regardless of when we hold the Board meeting. So please study the rankings proposal in the agenda and send Bill your comments. If you downloaded a copy of the agenda prior to 5 PM today, please retrieve it again. The original version contained errors in the South League rankings proposal on page 6: the "2008 Rank" column actually contained 2007 rankings, and the "Potential Rank Change" column was therefore also incorrect. A second version of the agenda (marked as such at the top of page 1 and the bottom of page 6) is now available that corrects those errors.

January Board of Directors meeting

A reminder: our first Board meeting of 2009 is coming up tomorrow night (Tuesday, January 20) at 7:00 at the Triangle Aquatic Center. If you can, please print and bring your own copy of the meeting agenda. A limited number of hard copies will be available for those unable to bring their own.

One high-priority issue to think about before the meeting: no one has yet expressed interest in serving as TSA Treasurer for the term spanning this year and next. Our current Treasurer, Nita Dail, no longer has any children swimming in TSA and has therefore opted not to stand for reelection. So before we leave Tuesday night, we must identify someone in the room to serve as Treasurer! Please review the job description on page 3 of the agenda and consider serving in this office; you will see that it is not a very onerous or time-consuming position and that no special qualifications are required.

See you there!

2009 Swim for Smiles Youth Triathlon - Registration Open

First, I want to thank the TSA for so many participants in our 2008 event. Over 100 of the 370 kids who participated in the 2008 Swim for Smiles Youth Triathlon apparently from the TSA. And, a special thanks to Bob Goudreau for allowing us to use your Blog site to get the word out. We ended up raising over $15,000 from that event.

I am writing to tell you about the 2009 event! We opened registration this morning at 11:30am for the 3rd Annual Swim for Smiles Youth Triathlon - to be held, again, in Chapel Hill - on Sunday, May 31st. Last year's event drew more than 370 participants and we sold out of spaces. So, we have expanded to over 400 spots for 2009.

Remember, this is a fundraiser for the UNC Children's Hospital and kids ages 6-17 can participate - we have a short course (100m swim/2.5mile bike/1K run) and a long course (300m swim/5mile bike/3k run) and every finisher gets a medal and we have all sorts of prizes for placing in each age group.

Please consider passing this information on to your swim teams and encouraging them to participate. It's a lot of fun, it's for a great cause and it's truly Kids Helping Kids.

Check out complete details here.

Thank you,

The Swim For Smiles Foundation