Thank you all who were able to make it to the parents meeting yesterday.  We are all really excited about this season.  As I know all too well 5pm can be a hard time to make I am sharing a summary of the points discussed at the meeting.  As always any questions or concerns please let me know.  

It's ALWAYS a Great Day to be a FLYER!! 

Flyers Parent Meeting

May 28, 2024 @ 5pm

1. Welcome & Communication

Currently, we have 168 swimmers and more registering by the hour. We are thrilled to welcome everyone!

This meeting will provide all the basic info about what to expect over the next 9 weeks and I will leave time for questions but there are lots of little details that may not get covered today as well as slight adjustments that may be made in light of our team size that will need to be communicated in future weeks.

1. Check your email regularly for messages from me via Swimtopia (make sure these aren’t going to spam)

2.Download the Swimtopia app (free version is fine) for time-sensitive updates

This app will also give you your swimmer’s info for each meet and allow you to track their times throughout the season

2. Coaches -

• Head Coach: Dillon Delaney a former Flyer and collegiate swimmer
• Assistants - many are previous Flyers and/or current Flyers.

a. Niamh Kastner

b. Louisa Lamerdin

c. Holly Brundage

d.Georgia Aponte

• Junior Coaches:

e. Brooke Quinn

f. Elly Younica

You can learn more about them on the Flyers website under Contact Us. They all work hard to create a very positive environment. They ensure kids are safe and having fun while developing their strokes for competition.

I’ll hand it over to Dillon now:

3. Coach’s Word

• What are practices like? Please let the coaches focus on the swimmers. If you want to talk with a coach please wait until after practice or reach out to them directly via email or phone.
• We will provide kickboards but please purchase fins for your children. Questions, please check with Dillon or one of the coaches.
• Goldfish group – our developmental group. Also will have option for private lessons with coaches as well as some of the life guards. List and contacts for private lessons to be shared.
• Goals for the team:

1. 50% of the team to Champs with all swimmers diving and no DQs at Champs

2. Everyone, including Goldfish to swim in a meet by the end of the season

4. Swim Meets

Some of you may be used to meets and for others, this may be brand new. While there is a competitive element -- the goal is to have fun and for kids to see their progress on display.

• 6 dual meets - Monday nights
• First Meet is June 17^th at the WCP Manta Rays
• Sign in - If your swimmer is participating in a meet, you will need to sign them in by the Friday before the Monday meet.
• Swimtopia - click on the meet in the Upcoming Events section.
• Relays - chosen the night of the meet; stay till the end
• Do not need a team suit, but if you didn’t purchase one, please get your swimmer a plain black suit to wear for meets.
• Home meets -

Swimmers will be on deck, parents in the field.

Arrive 4:45 for warm up

Food truck will be onsite and concessions will be available - drinks, chips, candy.

Summer Awards is a big meet toward the end of the season that brings together all 19 teams in the VPSU league, giving swimmers a final chance to qualify for the Champs meet.

 - July 27 at Queens Lake - Coaches encourage all to attend because it’s a lot of fun and gives kids the experience of a larger meet.

Champs is the championship meet at the very end of the season – August 3^rd at 757swim pool at WISC. Swimmers qualify individually as they compete in regular meets.

Sportsmanship - the Flyers are known for being generous hosts and a kind team…we want to maintain that reputation. All swimmers (and parents) will be expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship.

5. Volunteers are needed for all meets - truly, cannot run without them.

• 4-6 volunteer shifts per family, depending on how many swimmers you have.
• All kinds of jobs. Sign up in Swimtopia the Tuesday prior to each Monday meet.
• Swimtopia has all the details on family volunteer hour commitments and different ways to volunteer.

6. Introductions -

Summer swim requires an enormous team effort and in addition to our coaches, I want you to be able to recognize some faces of those who can help orient you to the team. Please feel free to reach out to any of us at any point with questions or feedback.

• Brian Vereb and Jose Aponte - long-time swim parents, they run our meets and oversee our officials. If you are interested in being trained to be a stroke and turn official, please reach out to them.
• Stephanie Harboe- swim parent and volunteer coordinator; she will be the point person for all volunteers at meets and is a great resource to anyone who wants to hear more about how summer swim works for new families.

• Jeni Mortier - will be serving as Clerk of Course, send her all your 8 & unders at the meets and she’ll take excellent care of them

• Adrienne Thornblom - will be pairing all our Swim Buddies

• Evie Burnet - you can thank for all the fabulous spirit wear and can find her to buy swim caps which will be $15 this year.

• Mel McKinney - our treasurer who will keep all our money straight and bills paid. If you have checks for registration, please give them to her.
• Taryn Dwan - works on sponsorships and fundraising that ensure we have safe equipment.

**We are so very grateful for all the local businesses who have sponsored our team this year. I know the fees might feel like a lot, but these sponsorships enable us to keep them as low as possible**

• Scordo family - Christina and Anthony – Flyers family, owners of Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant;

7. Concessions - family donations – updates on drop off and what to bring coming.

8. Swim Buddies – must register by June 2^nd to get assigned a buddy

• Pairs younger and older swimmers and helps everyone feel connected.
• Swim buddies will be paired before the first meet and given an opportunity to meet.
• Swim buddies cheer one another on during the meet and bring a small gift or treat to swap at each meet (handmade card, snack, gatorade, trinket)

9. Important Dates

• Spaghetti dinner - annual fundraiser - Sunday, June 9th, 3-5 pm.

Grab & go dinners all donated by the Scordo family and Guiseppes! The meals are delicious and all proceeds go to support our team. Every family asked to sell 4 tickets or make a donation of $50. Welcome to sell to neighbors, grandparents, other family friends and eat together that night. For those with Swimtopia accounts purchase dinners with SwimTopia for those that don’t have that please use the Signup genius link found on the calendar of events. Please note pickup will be at Guiseppes this year. 

10. End of season celebration - Monday, August 5^th! Thanks to Lisa Schroth and Stacy Ashworth our Clubhouse is already reserved and they are already prepping and making sure it will be a great celebration!

11. Final Needs

Need scorers! These are needed across VPSU. Not difficult but does require training. Those dates are coming up. We really need a team of people to do this… so that we can divide into shifts and not rely on the same 3 each meet. Grab your friends and get trained together! You will get to watch your kids swim.

Sponsors for the Champs Shirt – please let Lisa Evans or Chris Stratton know if you are interested. Flat rate of $200 gets your logo on the Champs t-shirt and on the digital sponsors page.

This is everyone’s team – ideas, desire to get involved please let us know. We are all ears and a team because everyone pitches in to make the Flyers the best!

1. Questions?

• -Goldfish will be required to fulfill volunteer hours, if that is an issue please reach out to Lisa to discuss but in most cases there are older swimmers in the family so the additional hours will be minimal and we are always looking for volunteers