Vol. 1 No. 3
May 1997
General Chairperson's Corner Dick Rankin
There is an old adage that you don't really know what you have until you put it all together. The PVS Board has been experiencing this phenomenon as we wrestled with the development of a PVS Policies and Procedure Manual. One of my pet peeves was frequently I would be criticized for going against PVS Policy only to find out the policy in question existed in some obscure minutes tong before I became involved. The criticism, nevertheless, was valid, Only those volunteers with good long term memories were aware that the problem in question had been brought up before. Therefore, a key goal of one has been to comprehensive written PVS policies and procedures in one volume available to everyone. We are taking the first step at the May House of Delegates Meeting (HOD), when each member club will be provided with loose leaf binder copies of all PVS policies and procedures, Eventually, this manual will be available on electronic media as well.
The boards dilemma over the past months is how to deal with the different styles in the approach to writing. direction. The Board has labored over this only to resolve that it is an issue for another day. The proper first step is to present all policies and procedures in one place. We hope that you will review this manual as it becomes available to you and encourage your comments. I will be establishing an ad hoc group next season to do just that with the objective of revising, adding, subtracting, policy and procedures using a consistent style, format, and language.
USS is the recipient of a large membership increase in every post-Olympic year. Our 1993 USS membership increase was 9+%, which is roughly the same increase we saw during the whole period from 1994 through the 1996 Olympic year, Now already in 1997 we are seeing a 7% increase over a year ago in PVS and an even larger 14% throughout the US. In a period when parents are spending more money to keep their swimmers in the sport, we all need to identify and implement innovative ways to retain that growth. I solicit and welcome your ideas! As I work to push the day-to-day operation of our programs to the functional and operating committees, this is the kind of issue your senior management team will attempt to "sink our teeth into", so we can produce a better product at a reasonable cost.
TOP 16 Records Chairperson Marilyn Somensatto & Jan Wolff
Potomac Valley Swimming has two National Top 16 tabulators - Marilyn Somensatto for 12 and under and Jan Wolff for 13 and over. Corrections, updates, and reportable times must come from these two tabulators to USS, not from the individual swimmers or teams.
This year USS is planing to have a pilot program that will require PV coaches PV tabulators to strictly adhere to reporting dates. In June, USS plans to post on their web page (WWW.USSWIM.ORG) a preview list of short course times that have been submitted. A long course list will be added in October. Their feeling is these lists will help eliminate some of the swims that do not got reported.
PVS coaches should report to Marilyn and Jan as follows:
Marilyn and Jan review all PVS results (and other results that a few coaches supply) and pick up all reportable times possible. However, it is still the responsibility of each Head Coach to see that the times for his/her team have been reported to Jan and Marilyn on the PVS Records and Top 16 Reporting Form by the above due dates.
Please feel free to call Marilyn at 703-978-3241 or Jan at 703-256-3049 with any questions.
Administrative Assistant EVELYN TAYLOR
Potomac Valley Swimming maintains an Administrative Office to support the day-to-day business of PVS and to provide a point of contact for its members. For many years I provided administrative support for PVS as a volunteer, and in 1990 this position was established. PVS was among the first "LSC Permanent Offices" in United States Swimming.
The telephone number for the Office is 301-937-3557, and our FAX number is 301-937-0809. Information about PVS can also be found on the Internet at WWW.UMSA.UMD.EDU/PVS. [Editors note: The home page has now moved to its permanent location, www.pvswim.org] This Internet service is under development, and in the near future will become a valuable tool to the volunteers and members of PVS.
Program announcements, family membership applications, business services, meet sanctions and reports, and response to questions about PVS programs are a few of the responsibilities of this office.
Administrative Vice-Chair Sue Gosline
I was elected by the HOD in May, 1996, with my term starting in September by attending the USS convention. I have worked as the Administrative Assistant at the Arlington Aquatic Club for ten years, as well as maintaining the Records and Top 16 Times for PVS. Along with Arvydas Barzdukas and Ed Somensatto, we organized the Olympic raffle for PVS. I am currently working on the LSC workshop which will be held in April, 1998.
Registrar Mary Ann Henderson
Marty and I have been doing the job of registration since November of 1995. We are responsible for keeping all of the information concerning athletes, non-atheletes, and clubs in PVS. Membership cards are sent to club registrars and each athlete. Membership cards are also sent to all officials and coaches. Coaches receive theirs only after proof of current CPR, First Aid, and Safety Training. This information is sent to USS in Colorado Springs. We are also in charge of verification forms for National and International Meets. To date we have registered 6,009 athletes, 35 clubs, and 583 non-atheletes. In an area where people move so often, it is sometimes difficult to make all of the corrections concerning addresses and phone numbers. It is to your advantage to keep us advised of these changes. A personal "perk" is we are able we are able to stay involved with swimming friends we have made over the past 22 years. We can be reached by phone or fax at 301-292-5899.
Editors Notes Becca Peck
There will be one more addition to this volume of Potomac Valley Voices before the summer break. If you have questions to ask, I encourage you to write to me. I will try and do my best to find the answers and will be printing them in my column as space permits, My fax number is 301-977-2975.