P.O Box 280 Stittsville, ON K2S 1A4

SPLASH

Volume 5; Edition 23 Thursday, April 27, 2006

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open."

Thomas Dewar

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cornwall Spring Meet – Cornwall Aquatic Centre – May 7 – Bronze and Gold 2

Festival of Spring – Nepean Sportsplex - May 12-14– Platinum/Gold1/Silver.

Go Kingfish Long Course Invitational – Monpetit Hall University of Ottawa – May 27-28 - Qualifiers.

KSSC Distance Novice Meet – Kingston Military Community Sport Center – June 4^th – Silver/Bronze/Gold 2

PRACTICE CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS

As per regular schedule.

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GOULBOURN AQUATIC CLUB SIX WEEK STROKE IMPROVEMENT CAMP

Starting on Monday, June 19th and ending on Saturday, July 29th.

SCHEDULE:     Mondays, Wednesdays Thursdays --> 4:00pm to 5:00pm and
                           Saturdays 8:00am to 9:00am (with the exception for Saturday,June 24th 7:30am to 8:30am)

COST:    $205.00

The Stroke Improvement Camp will focus on the technical aspect of swimming for example:

Refine strokes
Focus on starts
Focus on turns

There are a limited number of spots available and will be served on a first come first served basis.

REGISTRATION DATE: Tuesday, May 2nd 5:00pm to 6:00pm in the pool lobby
Wednesday, May 3rd 5:00pm to 6:00pm in the pool lobby

If you have any questions regarding the camp please speak with our Head Coach, Rob or by e-mail at gac3@bellnet.ca

If you have any questions regarding the registration for the camp please contact the GAC office at gac@bellnet.ca

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Fall Pre-Registration for all Bronze, Gold 2, Silver, Gold 1 and Platinum swimmers

Your swimmer's Fall Pre-Registration Package will be available for pick up during the week of May 22nd at the pool.
Fall Pre-Registration will take place the week of May 29. More information to follow.

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Fall Pre-Registration for Minnows and Superfish swimmers

Your swimmer's Fall Pre-Registration will take place next week, on Tuesday, May 2nd and Wednesday May 3rd
from 5:00pm to 6:00pm in the pool lobby. In order to reserve a spot for the fall & winter sessions swimmers need
to pre-register on Tuesday or Wednesday

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COACHES REPORT

Head Coach Rob

The Festival of Spring Swim Meet is coming around soon this will be the largest team of swimmers we have sent to a meet this season. This is also the first time we will have four boys in the 11/12 age group good job Alexander, Joey, Cameron and Daniel awesome relay guys. These boys are also qualified for EOSA great job.

Our training session at Ottawa U last Monday was well attended all swimmers gaining valuable time training long course great work everyone.

The Cornwall development meet in early May has 17 swimmers from our club attending this should be a great meet as it will be held in their new pool.

Summer program information coming soon.

Head Coach

Rob

Tip of the Week: Pushing Yourself to the Limit in Competition

Vendt says the best part about swimming is competing, whether at an Olympic-caliber meet or on a daily basis during workout. He thoroughly enjoys pushing his mind and body to the limit and getting out of the pool knowing he has nothing left to give.

“At USC, we always compete and push each other to the next level. That was great fun for me. To do that day in and day out in practice was something special,” Vendt said.

“Swimming has given me so much, but what I've enjoyed most has been the competition. I've absolutely loved going to meets and feeling the adrenaline rush before a race. That's a feeling you can only get through competition.”

Motivation boosters:
Try using Vendt’s visualization technique and picture yourself doing something great, like having an incredible race or posting an unbelievable time. Vendt says it can get you fired up before a race and help you prepare for success.

Just remember that a perfect race isn’t necessarily winning or posting a fast time, but more about giving everything you have to give.

“It’s knowing that when you touched the wall at the end, there was nothing at all you could have done differently in order to change the time or the outcome,” Vendt says.

Update from the Board of Directors

To The Parents of the Goulbourn Aquatic Club,

On Saturday April 22 a parent meeting was held at the pool for the parents of the Silver and Bronze groups. This meeting was held in order for the Board of Directors to answer to any concerns that parents may have. Many of the questions have answers that we feel are relevant to all families of the GAC and I would like to share them with you

Why are the Financial Statements taking so long? When will we see the Financial Statements?

The year end of the GAC is June 30. The documentation for the years ending 2004 and 2005 were not delivered to Kathy Stewart (our accountant) until the first week of April 2006. This documentation was not available to the current Board. We have just been notified as of this date that Ms. Stewart requires more clarification regarding a grant to the GAC about which the present Board, has no information. If we can deliver this information quickly, the Financial Statements can be available as early as May 15, 2006. They will be available for viewing at our Head Office immediately following presentation to the Board of Directors.

When will we have an election to the Board of Directors?

Elections will be held at a General Meeting of all parents by the end of May or early June. The date will be set immediately upon receiving the Financial Statements.

4. Where are the Bi-Laws?

The Bi-Laws are currently being reviewed for change in order to facilitate elections of Board Members (they do not currently allow for this). They will be posted on our web site prior to the election process.

Why are there Board Members sitting who do not have children in the program?

At the time of my appointment I became the third member without children in the Club. Jennifer Steeves has since resigned and Sheri Ohlman-Coughlans’ term has expired. I had no knowledge of the Bi-Laws at the time of my appointment, but had an opportunity to bring about the election process and took it. I, along with the remaining two Board Members will step down to allow for this necessary change in the GAC. Mary Raphael (treasurer) and Carole Houde (secretary) will be nominated for election.

Why is the ‘transition’ taking so long and when will it be complete?

Often, with change comes resistance, this has been time consuming.

Will the Board be looking at the fee structure for the fall and at all levels?

Yes, we have recently set the programs and are now looking at the fee structure for each. It should be noted that fees will not increase for 2006/2007.

Is the ratio of pool time even for the fees at all groups?

This is a good question. The answer is more complicated. We are however, at this suggestion, going to examine whether or not there is a group that is excessively disproportionate.

Will the Club still have a competitive and non-competitive stream?

Yes.

Bronze will consist of Bronze Recreational (12 yrs. & under), Bronze Pre-Competitive and Bronze Competitive. Bronze Recreational will have the opportunity to enter the entry level meets. Bronze Pre-Competitive (the same as the current Bronze program) will train with Bronze Competitive the only difference being meets that each attend and that the fee difference will reflect the cost of the competitive card with Swim Ontario. Bronze Pre-Competitive will have the option at any time of switching to competitive by paying the appropriate Swim Ontario fee.

Gold 2 becomes Gold Recreational (13 yrs. & over) and also has the opportunity to attend entry level meets.

Could the GAC elaborate clearly on the difference between ‘competitive’ and ‘noncompetitive’.

Non-competitive Swimmers (actually referred to as Pre-Competitive by Swim Ontario)

· Included are Bronze and Gold 2 currently

· May compete in Entry Level events only, at sanctioned swim meets (officially recognized by Swim Ontario).

· Times are unofficial and not registered with Swim Ontario’s database

· Pay a Swim Ontario Fee for registration and insurance purposes (approx $25 currently) which is included in our registration fees

Competitive Swimmers

· Included are Silver, Gold 1 and Platinum currently

· May compete in only competitive events at sanctioned meets

· Times are official and are uploaded and maintained on Swim Ontario’s database (swimdirect.ca)

· A competitive fee is paid for registration, insurance and competitive card status (approx. $100 currently) which is included in our registration fees.

**N.B. A non-competitive athlete may pay the upgrade at any time to gain

competitive status.

A competitive athlete may not revert to non-competitive status but may

enroll in non-competitive programs without competing in the entry level

events associated with these programs. Once classified by Swim Ontario

as ‘competitive’, the swimmer must continue to pay the competitive fee,

regardless of enrollment.

What will be the process for election to the Board of Directors?

The election process will consist of the following:

i) i) Call for application to the Board, (by brief bio) submitted to Kathy White by e-mail at gac@bellnet.ca. These can be sent as of this date (April 27^th 2006). Cut-off date to be May 9^th 2006

ii) ii) All bios will be posted on the website May 10^th, (csca.org/gac) and e-mailed directly to the membership for nomination (by e-mail to gac@bellnet.ca)

iii) iii) Receipt & review of Financial Statements by the Board

iv) iv) Bi-Laws to be posted on the website for review by the membership

v) v) Set date for General Meeting of the membership

vi) vi) General Meeting to be held at the Goulbourn Township offices, at which the Bi-Laws will be approved by the membership by a majority show of hands. Elections to the Board.

Will the GAC send all important notices by e-mail?

Yes.

All information regarding the club is posted on the website (see the SPLASH tab on home page) at csca.org/gac.

All important notices will be sent directly to the parents by e-mail (make sure that we have your up to date e-mail address).

Kathy White

President

Goulbourn Aquatic Club - 2006 Long Course Schedule

Spring Invitational P1&P2 & Developmental - April 1^st & 2^nd

Olympic 50m pool – Montreal - Silver/Gold 1/Platinum

OYO Invitational Long Course Sprints – April 2^nd

Nepean Sportsplex- All Silver/Gold 1/Platinum not attending Montreal meet

Cornwall Spring Meet - May 7^th

Cornwall Aquatic Centre – Gold2/Bronze

NKB Festival of Spring - May 12^th & 14^th

Nepean Sportsplex- Silver/Gold 1/Platinum Qualifiers

Go Kingfish Long Course Invitational – May 27^th & 28^th

Monpetit Hall University of Ottawa - Qualifiers

KSSC – Developmental Meet – June 4^th

Kingston- Entry Level (Bronze/Gold 2)

EOSA – Long Course Regional Championships - June 9^th – 11^th

Nepean Sportsplex- Silver/Gold 1/Platinum Qualifiers

Ontario Junior Provincial Championships – July 6^th – 9^th

Nepean Sportsplex- Silver/Gold 1/Platinum Qualifiers

TEAM EQUIPMENT

In stock team equipment can be purchased by contacting Sheri by phone, e-mail, or at the pool on Saturday mornings from 7:30-8:30am. We currently have polyester suits and custom team bags in stock as well as two second had team jackets size 10-12 and 14-16. Please contact Sheri at 836-8235 or e-mail at s_coughlan@sympatico.ca

Parents may have noticed that the GAC caps and Team Suits are fading quickly, this is due to high chlorine levels as well as daily use. The caps are latex and will eventually break down, therefore it is suggested that swimmers keep their Team Caps and Suits solely for swim meet use and purchase training suits and caps for daily use. It is also a good idea to have an extra GAC cap on hand at meets in case of rips and tears.

Goulbourn Recreation Complex

Lifesaving and Leadership Courses for Spring 2006