DST Boosters Service Program

RATIONALE

The Booster organization cannot run programs in support of the Delaware Swim Team without widespread parental support. A service program has been developed to encourage volunteers to participate in ways that are manageable within everyone's busy lives. This program is described below. We hope you will find that giving your time to the DST Boosters provides you the opportunity to meet other parents who share your interests. Most importantly, we hope that you discover the close association you will develop with your swimmer through actively supporting their sport is worth the effort invested.

The Boosters thank all those who donated their time tirelessly in the past, season after season. We also thank those who will join us now in helping our swimmers achieve their maximum potential in a positive environment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICE PROGRAM

This program will be implemented on a test-run basis for the 2006-2007 season. No payments will be expected this year, however, it is expected that families serve the requisite number of volunteer hours according to their swimmer’s practice level and report their service hours according to the procedures set forth in this document.

Families of DST swimmers, with the exception of Pups, will be required to provide service to the Boosters organization. Service will be credited as points per hours worked. (Relationship between hours served and points earned subject to change, but initially set at 1:1) Since there is a positive correlation between practice level and benefits received over time, service obligations will be based on practice group assignments. (number of points required per practice level also subject to change)

Pups are not required to earn points, however, families of Minis and Hots must earn 15 points per short course season.

· All other families (Wonders and up) must earn 30 points per short course season.

· Families with more than one swimmer must earn the number of points associated with the swimmer in the highest level practice group. (It is not necessary for families with more than one swimmer to earn the sum of the points associated with multiple swimmers, at this point. This policy subject to change)

· Families of swimmers registered for the long course season (11 months) must earn an additional 2 points.

While strongly discouraged because we have a greater need for volunteers, families may exercise a buyout option in lieu of service. The buyout price shall be $150.00 for Minis and Hots, and $300.00 for Wonders and up. (Buyout prices subject to change in accordance with ultimate point requirement)

CONDITIONS

Families must sign a service agreement at registration. They must either agree to the terms of service or pay the buyout in full at registration in order to complete the registration process.

During the course of the season, it is acceptable for a swimmer’s family to find friends, neighbors, fellow team parents or relatives to work of their service commitment for them (proxys) if agreed to by all concerned parties. Under this circumstance, the family in question will earn the credit, not the friend or fellow team member acting as proxy.

A designated representative of the Booster organization, the Point Coordinator, shall keep track of all points earned by each swimmer’s family. Points will be recorded on a spreadsheet and this spread sheet will be posted a minimum of once monthly, preferably after each event, on the team website at www.delawareswimteam.com

REPORTING POINTS

Volunteer ahead of time for a specific position by emailing Boosters@freestyles.org

Report to the event coordinator for that function at the beginning of the meet/social/other activity. You will be handed an index card. Print your swimmer’s practice group and family name on the index card.

At the conclusion of the event, record hours worked on the card and return to the function coordinator, who will verify completion of the assignment and sign the card. Deposit the index card in the designated drop box. All meet workers must stay for the full session unless released by the meet director.

After each meet /social function/other, the Points Coordinator will enter the data into the service spreadsheet.

The point database/spreadsheet will be updated following each event, sent to the webmaster at least once monthly, and made available to families on-line.

Hours worked at non-DST meets, which DST coaches attend and invite swimmers to as a team, will be credited as follows:

Middle Atlantic Hosted meets: 1) required positions for DST = full credit for hours worked; 2) any other positions at MA meets filled on a voluntary basis = ½ credit

Non-DST hosted meets (helping out any other team on a voluntary basis) = ½ credit for hours worked

Penalty for unearned points

Towards the end of the season, families will be reminded of final opportunities to earn points.

A designee of the Point Coordinator, under the supervision of the Treasurer will compose invoices for families which have not satisfied their point requirement by a specified date after the last short course championship. (TBA) For swimmers enrolled in the 11 month program, a second date after the last long course championship will apply.

All unearned points will be billed after the last championship meet at a rate of $25.00 per point. (date TBA based on the meet schedule, penalty rate subject to change) That money will go into the Boosters account for discretionary spending by the board, which may include payment for jobs not filled by volunteers. Failure to pay for unearned points by a specified date in August, results in swimmers becoming ineligible to register for the Fall Season.

If a family has not satisfied their point requirement by the end of their child’s enrollment for the season and a penalty invoice has been issued, there may still be a few limited opportunities to provide service-in-kind in lieu of a monetary payment. This service-in-kind option may include servicing, cleaning and painting the main pool at DSFC, cleaning the supply closet at DSFC, inventory of awards and other meet supplies, servicing of meet equipment, etc. or any other function deemed necessary and appropriate by the DST staff. The service-in-kind required shall match the hours/points needed by the family.

Hardship cases may be appealed to the board and will be reviewed on an individual basis.

FUNDRAISING

Because fundraising efforts can significantly impact attainment of our team vision, participation in board-approved fundraising programs is mandatory.

For any given fundraiser, a minimum sale or participation level per swimmer will be set by the fundraising team in accordance with the considered goals of the Governance board.

All funds raised will go to the Boosters for board discretionary use. Such use might include meet equipment, meet awards, relay fees, reimbursement of officials’ USS fees, training equipment, website improvements, scholarships, travel subsidy, team uniforms (warm-ups, T-shirts), facilities improvements, coaches educational opportunities, picnic, banquet and other social functions.

Families can earn points by serving in various roles relating to planning and coordinating team fundraisers or by bringing in corporate or small business sponsors.

OPPORTUNITES TO EARN POINTS

Service to the Booster Organization at various levels

Table 1. General Opportunities to earn points/hours

Board Member (9 needed)

· set policies, direction, long range plans of Boosters Organization

Meet Director (at least 2 needed)

Team Leader (4 needed)

· oversee fundraising, competition, communication, membership(social)

Coordinator (6 minimum)

· Snack bar, Travel, Awards, Officials, Points, Travel, Meet Volunteers

Officials

· stroke& turn judge, starter, referee

Trained Meet Session Worker

· Colorado

· Computer

General Meet Session Worker

· set-up, breakdown, timer, runner, safety, snack bar or any other meet volunteer position

Webmaster

· Daily updates

Other (see below)

Table 2. Opportunities to earn points as a meet session worker

Table 3. EXAMPLES OF Additional opportunities to earn points

based on hours worked.

Banquet – planning, shopping, set-up, admissions, clean-up

Picnic – planning, shopping, food prep, organized games/activities, photos, clean-up

Ice Cream Social – planning, shopping, serving, clean-up

DE States Pep Rally – planning, food prep, serving, clean-up

Tom Dolan Meet (PV) planning swimmer’s meals, adult social

Chaperones – senior training trips, swimmer’s only travel meets

DVD yearbook – photography, editing, production

Fundraising - organization, collection, distribution, accounting

Check Boosters email

Bulletin Board at DSFC

Team Historian - Check MA top 10, top 25, and USA top 16, top 25 and all-time top 100

lists for DST swimmers and update. Send info to webmaster, newsletter and

bulletin board

Obtain Corporate Sponsor

Donation In-Kind – snack bar, awards, equipment, other (point value to be approved by Board)

Write Script for web or other web improvements

Newsletter editor

Write for Newsletter or Website

Sample Statement Of Acceptance

I am applying for a swim team membership with the Delaware Swim Team and the Booster Organization in support thereof. I understand it will be necessary to comply with all policies and procedures set forth by the DST Office and the Board of Directors of the Booster Organization whether now in effect or adopted later. I accept financial responsibility for any and all costs which my family incurs as a result of the acceptance of this application. I understand that upon acceptance of this application, it becomes a legally enforceable contract.

Signed: ____________________________________ Date of Signature _____/_____/______

Date Accepted: ___/___/___ Signed: _____________________________________________