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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE VALLEJO AQUATIC CLUB APRIL 2014

S H A R K A T T A C K

New lane lines - $2,792 Monthly pool rent - $3,796

I have been associated with VJO for 12 1/2 years and have been an official for 12 of those years. I got into officiating through a personal invitation to attend a beginner stroke and turn clinic. I understood the need for officials and was

impressed by the dedication of all those individuals. Fortunately, I was a basketball coach and understanding and applying rules came easily to me. Since my children and I have been involved in so many sports, I understand the philosophy of officiating. The goal is to ensure a level playing field for all athletes. Disqualifying a young swimmer for an illegal technique gives feedback to both the swimmer and the coach. So, I have no problem disqualifying a swimmer of any age. But, I also enjoy seeing kids develop into competent and competitive swimmers. In fact, a swimmer I used to regularly disqualify, when he was a 6 year old, is currently a Junior National champion and holds the national record for the 15-16 100 meter butterfly. Officiating in swimming has given me an amazing amount of friends, acquaintances, contacts, etc. Swim meets are fun to work and fun to watch. For a swim meet to run smoothly, it takes about 60-80 volunteers.

This ensures that all areas are adequately staffed, allows for appropriate rest periods, and provides for a safe environment for all participants. If all goes well, most of the volunteers are not even noticed. But I know all the hard work and dedication that each and every volunteer puts into making a swim meet

work. Many hands make for lighter work, so I appreciate every person I see working at a meet. I know that some of you worry about working at a meet and feel that your child is being neglected. My children constantly remember me working at their meets in some capacity. Sometimes they would smile at me during their swim, on the swim block, or at the finish. They always knew where to find me and my money. They still tell me how much they appreciated my interest and participation in what they loved to do. Since children learn from adults, it is vital to teach them the value in volunteerism and giving back to their community. I am proud that my children are giving some of their time as volunteers. Your children will appreciate your participation in something they love to do and will learn from your example.

Meet Debbi TuckerAn official’s role is to provide fairness to all. They also know rules and recognize and call infractions.

Five Reason to Become an Official

✦ You’ll be working with the greatest group of volunteers in all sports.

✦ You’ll be close to the action. The bleachers aren’t comfortable anyway!

✦ High satisfaction; low pay.

✦ It’s a great way to meet future Olympians - unless you already have one in your home.

✦ Great food in hospitality, and you can’t beat the price!

Thank You Pacific Swimming for your support and generosity!

VJO has been awarded a 2014 grant of $2,500 from Pacific Swimming through their Pool Improvement Program. This is the second year VJO has received a grant from Pacific Swimming.

The funds were used to purchase new lane lines. With the funding from both years and additional funding from GVRD Measure K funds, we were able to purchase all the lane line needed to replace the old, deteriorating lane lines.

“For a swim meet to run smoothly, it takes about 60-80 volunteers…”

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We are excited to announce that Vallejo Aquatic Club will host a Silent Auction at our upcoming home meet in April (4/25 - 4/27/2014)

As in the past we are expecting this event to be a very successful fundraiser for our team, but in order to minimize the expense to the team and maximize the profit. We are asking each VJO family to donate one or more items.

All donations may be placed in the large marked container in the shark tank. Please put your donations in one of the bags that are available. If you wish to receive a tax deductible receipt, please place a note with your name, address, phone number, description of the item, and the value of the item in the bag. Online is a list/sign up sheet of the needed auction items. The list/sign up sheet will also be available at the pool. We are planning on having both gift baskets and single items available.

We are also in need of 5 volunteers who are willing to take procurement letters to local venders, make a contact, and follow up afterwards to secure donations.

Sarah Chavez and Julie Everett are Co-chairing the event and would sincerely appreciate any and all offered help. Questions? Email Sarah Chavez srchavez22@gmail.com and/or Julie Everett jeverett2@juno.com

Silent Auction

Save the Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Our goal is to raise $15,000. We can do it! The money will go toward operational costs that are not covered by the monthly dues and the following:

✦An equipment bin

✦Stop watches

✦Chairs (for timers)

✦Underwater video camera

✦General equipment (fins, paddles, pool buoys)

LOOK for you pledge envelopes (in your family folder) to arrive May 1st! If you would

like a packet before then - please email your family

FOLDER name and we will drop one off soon. !

If you have any questions contact Cyndee Bogard,

Swim-a-thon Chairperson email

bcreativedesigns@gmail.com or text/cell: 510-407-5282 !

The return of the rubber ducks…..

Go to our website www.vallejoaquatics.org

• Click the Events tab

• Go to the date Apr 26 - Silent Auction

• Click the Job Signup button to view and choose items to donate or on the board at the pool.

THANK YOU for your donations!

We need YOU for our Home Meet on April 25 - 27, 2014 Please Sign-up to volunteer, NOW!

Remember your 30 volunteer hours commitment. • Go to our website www.vallejoaquatics.org • Scroll down to April 25 - 27 VJO Long Course Meet • Click on the Job Signup button or Signup in the binder at the pool.

We need more people to help in all areas especially as Marshals, Head Timers, in the Computer room and Colorado, Snack bar and

clean-up. We will train you, let us know how you can help. THANK YOU to those who have already signed up! !

Questions? Contact our Meet Director John Yee, johnyee@mac.com

F U N D R A I S E R S

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The Far Western Championship held on April 3rd - 6th in Morgan Hill was attended by five of our swimmers: Elina Rosario (14), Sota Kanzan (15), Mirelle Augst (16), Brandon Miguel (17) and Mary Welton (18)!

A new team record was broken by Elina Rosario for the 13-14 100

Breaststroke with a time of 1:08.41 (previously held by Zoe Coles 8 yrs. ago). She also broke her own team record for the 13-14 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:31.07.

Congratulations to the Class of 2014!!

We will be highlighting our graduating swimmers our next edition of the “Shark Attack Newsletter”!

! ! Ateluk “Luke” Arechy ! ! Brandon Miguel ! ! Amanda Radtke! ! ! ! Daniel Sanderson ! ! Talia Peterson ! ! Mary Welton ! ! ! Justin Yee!

The Junior Olympic Championship was held on March 14th - 16th in Concord and was

attended by eleven of our swimmers: Mikaela Gomez (10), Maya Hunter (11), Ethan Rosario (10), Bobby Hilton (13), Nick Bennett (14), Elina Rosario (14), Alyssa Powell (15), Mirelle Augst (16),

Sota Kanzan (15), Brandon Miguel (17) and Daniel Sanderson (18)!

At the meet Mirelle Augst broke her own team record for the 15-16 200 Backstroke with a time of 2:14.98!

The Junior Olympic, or JO meet standard is the qualifying time standard set by Pacific Swimming for Junior Olympic meets that are offered in Pacific in March, July and December.

The Far Western meet standard, also known as the Q time standard, is the qualifying time standard set by Pacific Swimming for the two Far Western Championship meets that Pacific hosts each year in early April and late July. The Far Western meet standard is currently the fastest age group time standards in Pacific used for meet entry purposes. Our swimmers competed with top

athletes in CA, NV, UT and AZ.

Lets kick off spring in a healthy way...Remember to drink water! Even though you are in the water and it does not feel like you are sweating, you actually are. Your body looses a good deal of water during a swimming workout. It is a

good idea to bring a bottle filled with water, not soda or sugary drinks, to the pool for practice. Water is beneficial for hydration, metabolism and also helps energize muscles.

Please bring a plastic bottle with you to the pool as glass is not allowed on deck. Most of your body is made up of water...always good to replenish!! !Don’t forget your snacks...pack some to take to the pool or keep in your swim bag. Swimming burns a lot of calories and swimmers find that they are often hungry. Here are a few snacks that are healthy and easy to keep on hand. Some of the snacks come in small serving sizes already for you at the store! Costco has big boxes with small

serving sizes/packages as well. Or, you could buy in bulk and separate them out in baggies for the week.!Snacks ideas: nuts, energy bars, dried fruit, trail mix, crackers, pretzels, carrots, hummus, peanut butter, string cheese, bananas, apples. Side note: At swim meets, try to avoid too much citrus (acidic foods) or dairy as they are more difficult to digest and can interfere with your performance.! !Have a happy and healthy spring!! ! ! ~ Coach Hillary

SPRING HAS ARRIVED

The Pacific Swimming Zone All-Star Championships was held on March

2nd in Burlingame. Abby Sapida (7) and Maya Hunter (11) swam for the

Zone 3 All-Star Team. Each March, all five zones (1N, 1S, 2, 3, 4) select up to 64 swimmers, 8 boys and 8 girls per age group, 14 & under from the Winter Zone Competitions to compete in

the Pacific Swimming Zone All-Star Meet.

Meet Happenings Saturday, April 26, 2014 - The Favaro Family will be presenting the 2013 Favaro Scholarship to Kelley Henderson Sunday, April 27, 2014 - @ noon the plaque unveiling to commemorate Coach Tuffy’s retirement.

Ted and Glenda Goode started out with the team years ago when their children were swimmers. They have been volunteering as Officials long after their children have grown. You have seen them at most of our meets until recently. We wish to acknowledge and Thank them for their many, many years of service and commitment to the team and to the sport of swimming.! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - — - - - - - - - - - - - - - - —

!We will miss these families as their youngest swimmers graduate and they themselves move onto their next stage in life. If you see them on deck or around town make a point to THANK them for their many years of volunteering with VJO.

Our hope is that you will continue the VJO tradition of family participation and volunteerism.

! We want to recognize a few of our families that have been with VJO for a number of years and have shared their time volunteering with the team. Their youngest swimmer will be graduating from High School in the next few months and we would like to fill and train new families for the positions they held. We will be needing an:!

Activities Coordinator - Organize all social events for the team.!

Hospitality Chair - Head the Hospitality committee for our home swim meets.!

The Welton Family:!

• 14 years with the team!

• Mike has been an official for 12 years and served on the Board as President.!

• Luchi headed the Hospitality Committee and has helped with numerous Potlucks.!

• The family has never missed a home swim meet at Cunningham Pool.!

The Miguel Family:!

• 12 years with the team starting in 2000 (took a short 1 1/2 year break)!

• Rudy has been an Official, Marshal & Head timer.!

• Marylou has been a Head Timer, Activities Coordinator and helped in Hospitality.!

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give.

~ Winston ChurchillWe are also looking for someone to shadow John Yee for Meet Director and Jean Augst for Clerk of Course. !

This is a great opportunity to see how a meet is run.

There are many families who have shared their time and talents with the team throughout the years.

Thank You ALL! You are ALL valued and appreciated!

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