Orca Synchronized Swimming Club
Casino notes

Casino volunteer workers

Fill in the volunteer form

The Orca Synchro casino fundraiser

The proceeds from the casino go toward renting the pool and paying the coaches, not to mention purchasing numerous items that enable us to run our program. As well, casino proceeds keep our program affordable through fractional fees. Plus, for each casino shift you work, a casino shift credit of $60 per fall and winter term in 2008 and 2009 applies towards program fees. In other words, working a casino shift can save you $240 in program fees.

Preference for shifts and positions will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. To start with you can sign up for one shift per registered synchronized swimmer in the club.
But it may be possible to work more than one shift per swimmer. Let the casino co-ordinator know if you'd like to do that. If all the volunteer positions are not filled by September 30, 2007, people who have indicated that they'd like to work multiple shifts will be assigned to those shifts on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once you've volunteered for a shift, the Orca Synchro treasurer/casino co-ordinator will contact you with further details.

We need volunteers to fill 38 shifts, 19 each on our two days. Volunteer positions include:
•  Day general manager, 10:30 to 7:00 p.m.*
•  Day banker, 10:30 to 7:00 p.m.*
•  Two cashiers, 11:00 to 6:45 p.m.*
•  Two chip runners, 11:00 to 6:30 p.m.
•  Evening general manager, 6:00 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.*
•  Evening banker, 6:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.*
•  Two cashiers, 6:15 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.*
•  Two chip runners, 6:15 p.m. to 2:15 a.m.
•  Count room supervisor, 9:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (possibly earlier)*
•  Six more people in the count room, 9:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (possibly earlier)
*These volunteer positions must be filled by an Orca Synchro club member (i.e., a parent or sibling at least 18 years of age), but nonmembers, like grandparents and friends, can fill other positions for your benefit.

Don't worry if you've never worked a casino or this position before. Advisors have been hired to train us for these roles.
Here is a brief description of the position responsibilities. Detailed descriptions are provided below, but you don't need to be familiar with these descriptions to do the jobs!
General manager ensures there are sufficient volunteers in the casino; maintains control of the drop box keys; ensures cheques are signed at end of second day
Banker controls chip and cash floats in the cash cage, assisted by the cash cage advisor that we have hired; busiest during opening, volunteer shift changes, and closing of casino; top priority is to assist cashiers by monitoring their payouts; refills ("fill") dealers' chip trays when players leave with chips to cash in or to reduce the chips in the dealer's tray ("credit")
Cashiers exchange players chips for cash and make change; do not sell chips or cash out loose coins; experience handling cash is an asset; ideally not colour-blind; have their own float, not shared with anybody; require concentration and accuracy
Chip runners transfer 5 lb. racks of chips to and from main bank to table games, escorted by a security guard; very busy at start and end of the day
Count room supervisor records cash counts, with assistance of the count room advisor we have hired
Count room recorder assists count room supervisor
Count room opener/sorter opens drop boxes from the table games and sorts cash
Count room sorter sorts cash from drop boxes
Count room amalgamator sorts the cash from the boxes from the table games; experience handling cash is an asset
Count room counter counts cash by running it through a currency counting machine

To volunteer:

Palace Casino is at West Edmonton Mall, on the north side of the mall, off 90 Avenue, on level 2, at entrance number 9 (north of the Ice Palace skating rink).

A few pointers:
- Orca Synchro practice is cancelled Thursday, November 1.
- Please arrive on time for your shift. If you cannot arrive on time or if you are unable to work your shift, please phone Orca Synchro treasurer Janet Schwegel at 952-7454. You may send someone else to work your shift so that you still receive the credit.
- Bring photo ID with you to the casino.
- When you arrive at the casino, stop at the "cash cage" to report to the general manager. You will be directed to the volunteer lounge. Before starting your shift, ensure your name, signature, position, date, and time of shift are recorded on the Casino Volunteer/Charity Worker Approval and Sign-In form.
- You will be issued a name tag, which you must wear at the casino.
- Dress in business casual clothing -- no jeans, t-shirts, shorts, halter tops, coveralls, or athletic wear.
- Volunteers may not gamble at Palace Casino on our casino dates.
- Volunteers must refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages before or during their shifts.
- Casinos are air conditioned.
- Casinos are nonsmoking.
- The casino is protected by security systems, including guards, cameras, and alarms.
- Parking is available in the mall parking lot. If you ask them when you're leaving, a security person will walk you to your car.
- So your family members have it, the phone number in the volunteer lounge at Palace Casino is 444-2421.
- You may not bring food, drinks, or snacks into the casino.
- There is coffee and tea in the volunteer lounge. If we run low on tea or coffee please call the Palace Casino's restaurant manager at extension 305.
- You may eat at the casino restaurant or deli. Last call at the restaurant is 12:15 a.m.; last call at the deli is 12:45 a.m. Special dietary needs can be accommodated by notifying the kitchen in advance: call Palace Casino at 444-2112. When ordering from the deli or restaurant, write your name and the item ordered on the form provided for Orca Synchro. Orca Synchro pays a gratuity for the service, so you don't need to tip. Meals ordered from the deli or restaurant should be eaten in the deli or restaurant, not carried back to the volunteer lounge. Please don't take food or snacks into the count room or into the bank.
- If you supply a receipt, we can reimburse you for taxi fare to and from the casino and for babysitting fees during the casino. Please bring receipts to the pool or mail them to:
Orca Synchro Treasurer
c/o 7219 - 106 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 4V7

Detailed position descriptions

28. GENERAL MANAGER AND ALTERNATE GENERAL MANAGER (3.3)
28.1 The general manager is responsible for all aspects of the casino.
28.2 In consultation with the games manager, the general manager must ensure the casino is conducted in accordance with the CTCOG.
28.3 An alternate general manager must be on duty in the general manager's absence.
28.4 The general manager's duties are as follows:
a) Operational Functions:
i) enters the appropriate information from the licence into the CasinoTrack system;
ii) ensures all volunteer staff (excluding count room staff) are in the casino facility a minimum of one hour prior to casino opening;
iii) ensures that the count room staff are present a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the shift;
iv) ensures the names of all volunteer staff are entered into the CasinoTrack system;
v) ensures designated volunteer staff is in place and have signed in at the beginning of shift and signed out at end of shift with system access cards on CasinoTrack system;
vi) witnesses interim and final pull of drop boxes;
vii) may perform duties of other volunteer staff or charity workers on a temporary basis (no longer than one hour) as long as all procedures for the position are followed, e.g. assuming duties of other volunteer staff to allow them to take a break or eat a meal;
viii) may fill a position that becomes vacant due to unforeseen circumstances (must be documented on a Discrepancy Report);
ix) may assign another volunteer or charity worker to fill a vacant position for the duration of the licence period (must be documented on a Discrepancy Report); and
x) signs all Discrepancy Reports in addition to the advisor or the games manager.
b) Financial Transactions:
i) counts and verifies the opening cash bankroll and the opening chip inventory received from the casino facility licensee or his designate each day;
ii) witnesses transfer of cash from count room supervisor to banker;
iii) ensures closing cage bankroll, next day's opening float and chips are in secure overnight storage;
iv) ensures the casino facility licensee or designate provides a cheque at the end of the event for the cost of the advisor fees and concession fees;
v) ensures all financial transaction entries into the CasinoTrack system are completed as required;
vi) investigates fully any error, procedural irregularity or other breach of the CTCOG and reports to the AGLC;
vii) reports immediately to the AGLC any volunteer in personal possession of casino chips;
viii) returns remaining chips to the casino facility licensee or designate and enters the information on the CasinoTrack system;
ix) returns and signs, after the close of the event, to the casino facility licensee or his designate, cash equal to the opening cash bankroll received the morning of each day; and
x) after the conclusion of all related tasks, all cash including the opening bankroll and the event proceeds are to be returned to the casino facility licensee. Verification of the return of this cash is to be obtained from the casino facility licensee's designated individual.
c) Security: ensures secure handling and storage of chips and cash at all times during the casino event;

29. BANKER (3.4)
29.1 The banker supervises the cash cage and is directly accountable to the general manager.
29.2 The banker is responsible for the cashiers and the chip runners.
29.3 Specific duties of the banker are as follows:
a) documents all transactions as required and ensures security of all chips and cash in cash cage;
b) ensures cashiers retain personal control of chips and cash for which they are responsible while on duty;
c) receives and counts opening cash bankroll and chip inventory with the general manager;
d) records and maintains a running inventory of the cash bankroll and chip inventory;
e) issues opening inventory of chips to games where required;
f) documents transactions as required and maintains security and control of chips/coin inventory during shift;
g) supplies games with chips/coin as requested on CasinoTrack system;
h) receives excess chips/coin from games as requested on CasinoTrack system;
i) issues opening cash fill and subsequent cash fills to cashiers;
j) obtains cash transfers from the count room supervisor as required;
k) receives inventory of chips/cash from cashiers;
l) counts, amalgamates and records all cash and chips in cash cage at the end of the day;
m) returns remaining chips to the facility operator at the end of the day and enters the information on the Casino Track system; and
n) at the end of the day, transfers cash to the general manager for secure overnight storage or transfer to casino facility licensee.

30. CASHIER (3.5)
30.1 The Cashier duties are as follows:
a) receives and counts opening cash fill from the banker;
b) maintains security of the cash and chips for which he or she is responsible while on duty in the cash cage;
c) redeems players' chips for cash;
d) must not sell chips;
e) ensures the general manager, banker or advisor witnesses all player cash-outs over $200;
f) ensures trays are put in cash drawers and drawers are locked when leaving cash cage;
g) exchanges travellers' cheques and U.S. currency for Canadian currency; and
h) at the end of a shift, accounts for and transfers all chips and cash for which he or she is responsible to the banker.

31. CHIP RUNNER (3.6)
31.1 The chip runner duties are as follows:
a) participates in games opening and closing with gaming table personnel;
b) transfers fills from the banker to games and credits from games to banker;
c) verifies the accuracy of these transactions;
d) at final close of games each day, witnesses chip count and verifies on the CasinoTrack system; and
e) may assist the general manager during pull of drop boxes.

32. COUNT ROOM SUPERVISOR (3.7)
32.1 The count room supervisor is directly accountable to the general manager for the supervision of count room procedures and count room staff.
32.2 The count room supervisor must document all transactions as required and ensure security of all cash and chips in the count room.
32.3 Specific duties of the count room supervisor are as follows:
a) ensures count room is secured;
b) records the number of bills, coins and chips (if any) counted by the amalgamator, on the CasinoTrack system;
c) verifies the information entered by the recorder;
d) supplies cash to banker as required;
e) ensures the rake boxes are counted first and chips are transferred to banker before continuing the count; and
f) generates Master Revenue Report and Count Room Drop Box Verification on CasinoTrack system.

33. SORTER (3.8)
33.1 The duties of the sorter are as follows:
a) empties the contents of the drop box and shows open box to camera to ensure it is empty;
b) sorts cash or chips into denominations and places into money bin with a ÒBox ID CardÓ and passes bin to counter;
c) witnesses count by counter; and
d) at final close of games may witness table chip count, if required.

34. COUNTER (3.9)
34.1 The duties of the counter are as follows:
a) counts the contents of the money bin using money counting machine;
b) places contents of drop box back into the money bin along with the ÒBox ID CardÓ and passes bin to the amalgamator; and
c) assists sorting of chips and cash as needed.

35. RECORDER (3.10)
35.1 The duties of the recorder are as follows:
a) enters the table number from the ÒBox ID cardÓ into the CasinoTrack system; and
b) enters the number of bills, coins and chips (if any) counted by the counter into the CasinoTrack system.

36. AMALGAMATOR (3.11)
36.1 The duties of the amalgamator are as follows:
a) receives cash or chips from counter in money bin;
b) verifies all bills are of the same denomination;
c) uses a counting machine to verify contents of the money bin and advises count room supervisor of the amount by denomination; and
d) amalgamates all cash or chips in the count room by denomination into bundles of one hundred after receiving confirmation from the count room supervisor that the totals from both counts match.

Casino purchases list

We also spent money on:
•   coaches' wages
•   coaches' training
•   facility rentals
•   awards: Star pins, certificates, etc.
•   bleacher rentals for water shows
•   athletes' swimsuits
•   athletes' swim caps
•   athletes' nose clips
•   administration: telephone, postage stamps, paper, labels, photocopying, pens, clipboards, and such
•   website domain name registration, service, development, and maintenance
•   advertising in print publications, on roadside signs
•   Synchro Alberta registration fees
•   aquatics conference fees

Casino wish list
for 2008 and 2009, from November 1 and 2, 2007 casino

If you have any questions, contact Janet Schwegel, call 952-7454 or e-mail casino@orcasynchro.org.

Updated November 1, 2007.
Please report errors and updates to webmaster@orcasynchro.org.