Meeting Minutes from September 15, 2014 at 7:15 PM

Roll Call: Janet Butterfield, Jim Davis, Lois Dundore, Deb Bennett, Lauren Harris, Kristia Ludwick, Mike Gobrecht
Prior Meeting Minutes: Approved

Report of Officers

• The website and pool record board have been updated with new records set this year.
• Hampden Pool does have a code of conduct for their lifeguards. We agreed to only hire guards that also work for Hampden Township Pool.
• All new Board members have been added to the board@swimhampden.org group.
• Mike did discuss his ideas to address parental concerns raised in the EOY survey: (1) When practice is over, children will not be allowed to leave the fenced-in area of the pool until the ride is visible, (2) Mike will inform the coaches that they need to stay until the last child leaves, (3) Coaches numbers will be published so parents can contact them if there is an emergency and they cannot pick up on time, (4) Practice time will be 8-10 AM. We agreed to have everyone start at the same time and stagger the end times for the younger swimmers (they can certainly stay longer, if multiple swimmers). Coaches will be in the pool area at 7:45. Lane lines and flags will be available at every practice. The coaches will be responsible for setting these up. Coaches will tear down after practice from 10-10:15, (5) A new ‘parent wrangler’ meet volunteer position will be formed next year. This will allow more time for the coaches to do more reinforcement of swimmers, instead of getting the next swimmers behind the blocks, (6) Mike also did have a conversation with the coaching staff about being more engaged with the kids and providing more coaching.
• Jim paid the WSY for coaching.
• We agreed to continue using the WSY laptop and Meet Manager software. So, replacing our laptops with Windows XP will not have to be addressed next year.
• Stroke and turn training will be October 12 from 12-4 at WSY. It will be free. Parents can then move from this to Starter and Referee at a later date.
• Jim reviewed the suggested budget. We agreed to purchase a reel for the lane lines (that we are getting from another swim club). We will also need to purchase flags. Both of these will be added to the 2015 budget.
• Within the next two years, we would like to have a parent volunteer to be the Meet Official. Then we wouldn’t need to pay for this position at our home meets.
• Rates for the 2015 season are the same as last year. However, we will consider a ‘senior rate’ to entice high school swimmers (grades 10-12) to our club: $125 – first swimmer, $75 – second swimmer, $50 – third swimmer, $25 – fourth (and more) swimmer.
• Goals for 2015: Improve parent assessment of coaching (idea to consider is interim feedback – not just at EOY) and Membership growth.
• The next meeting will be October 20 at 7:15 PM in Wegmans.

Unfinished Business

• The by-laws need to be updated. We agreed to do this over the next few months so they can be reviewed at a parent meeting next summer.
• Drew will need to give Jim the refund check we are due from CASL.
• Mike will ensure that Drew gives our stopwatches back to Janet.
• Mike will talk with Jeremy (Hampden Pool Manager) about them paying our guards next summer. HAC would continue to do the scheduling.
• We need to finalize next steps for our two laptops. This does not need to be addressed until after the 2015 season.
• Consider a special rate to entice high school swimmers to our club.
• Lauren agreed to look at more fundraising/promotional ideas (including those submitted via email by Kristi).
• We need to see if Hampden Township will allow a swimmer-only rate for pool membership.
• Janet asked the group to review the list of completed items from last year and choose what you would like to do this year.

New Business

• We agreed to remove the VP position for the 2015 season.