Orca Synchronized Swimming Club newsletter February 2007

Orca Synchro newsletter February 2007

Water show Sunday, April 1

Mark your calendars: Sunday, April 1 is the year-end Orca Synchro water show. All our swimmers, from both Thursday and Sunday, will perform a routine. Swimmers must be at the pool by 3:00. The show starts at 3:30. This wonderful show will be supplemented with performances by teams from other Edmonton area synchro clubs.

We are renting more bleachers, one just for the swimmers, three for the audience. But if you want a good seat, come early and bring you own lawn chairs. Don't forget your camera. Invite your family and friends. Remember that it is warm on deck -- dress lightly.

Guarantee your space

To guarantee a space for 2007-08, provide a $70 deposit by April 1. You can reserve for just the fall or for both fall and winter.

Give the treasurer a cheque made out to Orca Synchro and dated September 1, 2007. Indicate the swimmer's name and the preferred class.

Or register online at orcasynchro.org and pay by credit card via PayPal. Coming soon to the website is a calculator to determine your fees based on first year of registration, program chosen, and whether a casino shift was worked in 2005.

Note that swimmers with Star 1 or higher are welcome to swim twice a week, but swimmers with Star 2 or higher are encouraged to swim twice a week.

If your plans for the fall change, contact Janet Schwegel at 952---7454 or treasurer@orcasynchro.org by August 31 for a full refund.

Program change for fall

We're running out of space in the pool, so we're changing program times starting fall 2007. The Sunday once-a-week SynchroKids time will be from 2:00 to 3:30. Current and new Sunday SynchroKids may register only in this time slot.

Current once-a-week Thursday swimmers are also encouraged to come to the new Sunday session. There will be only 10 spaces for Thursday SynchroKids from 6:00 to 7:30. There are currently 16 in that category. If your child is one of them, please register right away for the fall and/or talk to an executive member.

Parent volunteers needed

The Orca board is in need of volunteers in the following areas.

One-time tasks

1. Host the reception following the water show on April 1, 2007. This involves ordering and purchasing food for the reception, setting up the room, and overseeing the reception.

2. Arrange a professional videographer for the water show on April 1, 2007.

3. Arrange decals to be placed on items owned by the Orca club; for example, the swimsuit spinners, whiteboard, and black plastic tables and chairs on pool deck.

4. Rewrite the bylaws, with the support of the executive and the Alberta government's board development program.

5. Prepare receipts for the 2007 children's fitness tax credit.

Ongoing tasks

1. Put photos of Orca swimmers on the website, updating them occasionally.

2. Organize the sizing and purchase of club clothing for swimmers and parents.

The Orca executive look forward to working with anyone interested in helping out.

Upcoming opportunities to watch synchro events

• March 2 - 4: South Trials (Tier 1 - 5) and Provincials (Tier 6 &7) at the Talisman Centre in Calgary

• March 9 - 11: North Trials (Tier 1 - 5) in Lloydminster

• March 22 - 25: Western Divisionals (Tier 6 & 7) in Saskatoon

• April 1: Orca Synchro water show -- see water show article in this newsletter

• April 13 - 15: Wildrose Classic (Tier 1 - 5) in Calgary at the Talisman Centre

For more information on upcoming events see Synchro Alberta's website at www.synchroalberta.com/schedule.htm

Casino

The biannual casino is Orca Synchro's only fundraiser. Our next casino will be in October, November, or December. In May we'll find out the exact date.

We don't require that you volunteer for a casino shift, but we do ask you to work a shift, and we provide incentives. Similar to last time, there will be program fee credits for each shift worked, substantially offsetting or eliminating your program fees in 2008 and 2009.

Our last casino, which was also our first casino, took place in November 2005. We received $85,000 and have about $15,000 left, with plans to spend it by the end of this year. The items we've paid for include:
•  coaches' wages -- $12,000 since Jan. 2006
•  facility rental -- $12,500 since Jan. 2006
•  black plastic tables and chairs on deck
•  blue plastic decking around the pool and in the change rooms
•  storage sheds on deck
•  yoga mats
•  music tape/CD player
•  instructors' manuals
•  whiteboard on deck
•  banner hanging on deck
•  swimsuit spinners -- waiting to be installed by the city of Edmonton
•  telephone line, including a listing soon in the white and yellow pages
•  office supplies
•  advertising
•  swimsuits for the athletes
•  swim caps for use during water show
•  one pair of nose clips for each swimmer
•  bleacher rentals for water shows
•  training for the coaches
•  conference fees
•  an underwater audio system
•  a video camera
•  a television
•  award pins and certificates
•  We have also invested casino money to earn more for the club.

If you have ideas of how we might spend funds next time, please let us know. Among the restrictions, we're not allowed to spend casino proceeds on food or social events.

The casino income is vital for Orca Synchro, especially in keeping everyone's fees low, so please volunteer for a shift when we ask you in the fall.

Summer camp

Last year's summer camps were a big hit. This year's camps will be held Monday, August 27, Tuesday, August 28, and Wednesday, August 29. See the website soon for more details or to register.

1. Intro to synchro, 6 to 8 p.m. -- a chance for novices to try synchro out

2. Enrichment, 5 to 7:30 p.m. -- for Star 1 to 3 athletes

3. Choreography, 5 to 9 p.m. -- Star 4 and up athletes will sample choreography

Photos from the December water show

You probably noticed Harry Tostawaryk standing on top of the slide during the December water show. Harry took lots of photos and made multiple copies of each. Ask one of the executive if you'd like to see the photos and take a few for your scrapbook.

You like us!
You really like us!

The results are in from the questionnaire distributed at the December water show. You can read them on the website.

Swimsuit policy

The Orca board has developed a new swimsuit policy. Each swimmer can receive up to two swimsuits per year (September through April) at the discretion of the Orca executive. The parent or swimmer must request a replacement suit. Swimmers do not have to wear the swimsuits to practices, but all swimmers must wear the club swimsuit for water shows in December and April. Suits may take up to one month to arrive after the order has been placed, so new suits should be requested well in advance of the water shows.

A new swimsuit will be issued once a board member has verified that one of the following applies:

1. The swimmer is new to the club,

2. The old swimsuit is worn out, or

3. The swimmer has outgrown the old swimsuit.

Additional suits or a replacement for a lost suit can be purchased from the club. The Lands' End swimsuits are no longer available, so we've switched to Speedos. Let us know how you like them.

Coaches' corner

When learning synchro, it is important that we have the right equipment. This includes great ears for listening and a good attitude!

Nose clips are mandatory. If you lose your nose clip, it is important that you replace it as soon as possible. Swimmers receive one nose clip for free, and we sell nose clips for $3 -- just ask your coach.

As well, long hair should be tied back with an elastic or a cap should be worn.

Goggles may be worn as the chlorine in the pool can irritate the eyes. Also, when synchro skills are more advanced and the swimmers start going upside down, it is nice to be able to see where you are!

Reminders from the coaches

• If your son or daughter will miss a practice, please inform the head coach, Karen Wilson Davis, by calling 482-5342.

• Practice begins promptly at 3 p.m. on Sundays and 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Be on deck ready to swim! Please don't socialize in the changeroom because if you're late, it disrupts everyone on your team.

Orca coaching staff

Head Coach Karen Wilson Davis
NCCP Certified Level 2
Favourite synchro skill: eggbeater
SynchroStars Stars 1 and 2

Coach Mentor Kari Donahue
NCCP Certified Level 3
Kari has been working closely with Head Coach Karen this year

Coach Diane Connors
Candidate for NCCP Level 1 Certification
Favourite synchro skills: body and leg boosts
SynchroKids Star 1 and 2

Coach Sarah Karesa
Candidate for NCCP Level 1 Certification
Favourite synchro skills: support scull
SynchroKids on Sunday

Coach Brea Kvisle
Candidate for NCCP Level 1 Certification
Favourite synchro figures: barracuda, heron
SynchroStars Star 4 and 5 -- shared team

Coach Jordan Keber
NCCP Certified Level 1
Favourite synchro figure: catalina
Jordan has returned to Red Deer for the final practicum of her bachelor of education degree. She has been at the pool both Thursday and Sunday lending a hand to all the teams. She will be missed!

Coach Elizabeth Scott
Candidate for NCCP Level 1 Certification
Favourite synchro skills: unders and leg boosts
SynchroStars Stars 4 and 5 -- shared team

Coach Lindsay McFarlane
NCCP Certified Level 1
Favourite synchro skills: ariana
SynchroKids on Thursday

Coach Laura Cox
Candidate for NCCP Level 1 Certification
Favourite synchro skills: ariana
SynchroStars Stars 5 and 6

Testing dates

• Sun., March 11

• Thurs., March 15

• Sun., March 18 for both Sunday and Thursday swimmers who missed the 11th or 15th -- confirm attendance by calling Karen at 482-5342 by Friday, March 16.

The primary goal of Orca Synchro is for each swimmer to have a strong set of basic skills. The Star program is a developmental skills program that offers instruction in basic to advanced synchronized swimming skills. Swimmers learn synchro skills based on the Star manual.

1. Each athlete learns skills from their appropriate Star level over the course of the term.

2. Coach determines if the athlete is set for Star testing. Should the coach deem the athlete unable to achieve a score of 0.5 higher than the passing mark for every skill, the athlete will not be tested.

The recreational Star program relates to a competitive program so that a swimmer who completes Star tests may challenge a specified competitive tier. For more information on the Star program visit the Synchro Canada website at www.synchro.ca/star_program.htm.

Important dates

Sunday, March 11 -- Star testing

Thursday, March 15 -- Star testing

Sunday, March 18 -- Star testing for both Thursday and Sunday swimmers who could not attend on the 11th or 15th; confirm attendance by calling Karen at 482-5342 no later than Friday, March 16

Sunday, March 18 -- Certificates distributed after practice; parents talk to coaches

Thursday, March 22 -- Certificates distributed after practice; parents talk to coaches

Sunday, April 1 -- Orca Synchro water show for both Sunday and Thursday swimmers

Sunday, April 1 -- $70 deposit due to guarantee a fall space

Monday, August 27 to Wednesday, August 29, in the evenings -- Orca Synchro summer camp. See website soon for more details or to register

Sunday, September 16 and
Thursday, September 20 -- start dates for the fall program