NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2006
Dear Members
Now that Christmas and the New Year Celebrations are well forgotten till next year and we are back in the full swing of things we would like to update you on things that are happening at RSC.
We hope that everyone had a great time at this year’s presentation evening with our guest of honour Commonwealth double Gold Medallist Rebecca Cooke. Congratulations to all of this years winners swimmers and volunteers you are all a credit to the club and we are proud to have some many up and coming young swimmers and a growing team of volunteers whose help is invaluable and much appreciated.
Left to right Keith Muggleton (Club Member of the Year) Howard Clarke (Most Improved Swimmer) Henry Newton (Top Boy) Sarah Wright (Top Girl) Rebecca Cooke and Paul Eveleigh.
SWIM 21
We are very fortunate now to have a good team working for RSC and therefore The Committee feel that now is the right time for us to embark on a more committed attempt to attain Swim 21 Accreditation for Runnymede at the Competitive Development Club Level. This scheme is the ASA’s club development model - a planning tool, enabling clubs to help swimmers, coaches and administrators achieve their full potential. It is centred around the needs of the swimmers - striving to provide them with the best possible environment. It is regarded as the back bone of the ASA’s development programme and the more a club puts into the process, the more it will get out of it.
We think that achieving this would be a major step forward to take RSC to a new and better level and ensuring the Runnymede is recognised as a Top Club. There is only one other Club in this area with a Swim 21 Accreditation, Thurrock and it would be fantastic if we could achieve this thus making us more professional and appropriate for swimmers of a certain level. Runnymede would be endorsed with a valuable Sports Club Kite mark and this would inevitably open up the potential to obtain funding.
The amount of paperwork in completing Audit Forms and various modules detailing and formulating all aspects of the Club from Coaching, Management and so on is astronomical and we predict that it will take us approximately 6 months to complete so if we are seen at Club with our heads buried in paperwork this is what we will be doing.
We would also like to bring to your attention that there is a requirement for additional personnel on the management team; either as co-opted non-voting members or as full committee members and if anyone is interested in volunteering their services to assist us in this project we would greatly appreciate it.
Specifically we need a Public Relations Officer, Disability Liaison Officer and a School Liaison Officer, with further possibilities for a Senior Team Manager and a Volunteer Co-coordinator. These are all roles, which are suggested within Swim 21, and although existing Officers could take some of these positions up, there are certain jobs/areas that are too big to be done as a sideline. Our first priority is to find someone willing to take up the role of promoting the club to the Public. This person could write articles to the newspapers, our website and local organisations such as schools, or even better assemble a team of creative people to write articles from Galas and League competitions, and of course write a quarterly newsletter to go onto the website, and for distribution to our membership.
Swim 21 will involve various changes in the actual Management of the Club and these will have to be implemented and put into place, as without these changes we will not be awarded sufficient points to achieve our goal. We would therefore ask for all members to contribute to this by cooperating and helping us in the implementing of all the relevant changes where necessary.
CP COURSE:
One of the main areas of interest for Swim 21 is Good Practice and Child Protection Policies and it is vital that we get as many of coaches and helpers as possible to take part in a relevant course, which covers this subject. I am currently looking into organising a workshop at Runnymede that is run by an ASA tutor and is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved in swimming to learn and understand more about this sensitive and important subject. We need a minimum of 10 people (Maximum 25) and the cost would depend on how many candidates we have on the course. If anyone is interested in doing this course there is a list on the notice board for names, once there is enough people I will ascertain when we can hold the course and confirm the cost.
CHANGING ROOMS
Unfortunately I have to advise that there have been a few complaints about the way in which swimmers leave their bags and belongings all over the changing rooms and reserving cubicles whilst we are in the water which means that members of the public have no facilities available when they require them. This is also a Health and Safety issue as in an emergency situation bags on the floor in the changing rooms are in the way and a hazard. As a result of this the pool staff have requested that swimming club members put all their belongings in their bags and take them on poolside with them so that the changing rooms are clear. This would also help reduce the problem of belongings going astray as happens frequently when people accidentally pick up another person belongings that have become mixed up with theirs. It has also been brought to my attention that some people remain in the showers for a long time thus preventing others being able to use them, I would therefore ask that we could all be a bit more considerate in this matter by allowing our team mates the opportunity to use all of the changing room facilities.
We would also take this opportunity to remind parents of the ASA’s recommended guidelines which are displayed in the changing rooms regarding entering the changing rooms.
SQUAD PROMOTIONS
Congratulations to all those who have recently promoted:
Red Squad: Bethany Goldfinch
Black Squad: Matthew Davis, Jadie Buttle, Sam Cox, Emma Hall and Kelsey Ellerby
And also to our Squad Swimmers of the Month:
December: Rebecca Collins (Red); Ellie Wood (Black) and Matthew Davis (JD)
January: Amy Barrell (RED); Karena Martin (Black) and Jade Jennings (JD)
WELL DONE ALL OF YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
LEAGUE/GALA RESULTS
National Speedo League - Congratulations to everyone in this team you swam outstanding and we finished in an excellent 14th place out of 24 clubs from the London area, our first year in Division 1 and securing our place in the same division next year. This was a superb achievement considering we have a very young team compared with some of the Clubs we were competing against, many of our swimmers had to swim up age groups and held their own against older swimmers.
Essex League/Mini League and Junior Speedo Leagues are all starting shortly so watch the notice board for the team lists and please remember to tick whether or not you are available promptly this will give the coaches ample time to find suitable replacements if you are not available. Please make every effort to attend these galas if you are selected they are important and your team needs you. If you tick that you are available Coaches will expect you to be there at warm-up so if you are unwell on the day or cannot get there for any reason whatsoever please let them know as early as possible, it is extremely frustrating for them to have to reorganise the team to cover for someone who hasn’t turned up and it is also good manners to do so. Please also remember that when you are at a Gala you are a Team and all Team Members are expected to remain on poolside until the end of the Gala, parents and swimmers your cooperation in this is much appreciated in this matter.
Braintree Young Age Gala Well done to this new young team who performed brilliantly at this Gala on the 14th January to win the gala by over 100 points ahead of the nearest rival. Many of the children who swam in this team were competing at their first ever gala and the team included some of our youngest swimmers, all of whom rose to the occasion and outshone all of the other teams winning over 80% of the events. We hope that you all enjoyed it and are looking forward to swimming in another team event soon.
COUNTIES
The first block of counties is almost upon us and we have a busy few weeks ahead coming up with again we have many swimmers qualifying to swim in this years’ Championships. Well done to all those who have made the relevant qualifying times for their respective age groups, you should be proud of yourselves as it is a an outstanding achievement. So good luck everyone and lets bring back lots of medals!
RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
Everyone should by now have renewed their annual membership and paid the relevant fees which were due in December. If you have not would you please let us have your renewal forms and cheques as soon as possible. If anybody has any difficulty with this please do not hesitate to speak to Malcolm or myself so that we can help, this will be done with discretion and confidentially.
BELGIUM
By popular demand and owing to the success of last years trip I have put up details of this years proposed trip to get an idea of how many people are interested in joining us this year. The gala is the 9th and 10th September 2006 and is open to any swimmers and their parents who would like to experience RSC on Tour, please note that we are not willing to take any swimmers under the age of 16 unless they are accompanied by a parent. I anticipate the cost being similar to last year approximately £75 per head but will able to confirm all details once I receive the formal invitation from OZV and know how many people are travelling.
INDIAN NIGHT/FUNDRAISING
RSC has a new fundraising committee known as “M N M” (Maz Nikki & Mandy)
Whose first project is to raise enough money for the Club to purchase a much-needed new Laptop and also to provide materials for 2 students from SEEVIC who will be painting a mural on the clubroom wall in March as part of a Work- Experience project.
The first event they have organised is a charity Indian Night and the Tandoori Parlour on Thursday 16th March 7.30pm till late. Tickets are £ 12.00 per head, which includes buffet meal, and are available from Maz Robinson Nikki Barrell or Mandy Cox. So come along for a good night out and at the same time helping to raise some money for the Club.
If anyone has any other fund raising ideas please let “M N M “ know.
“GIVE US SOME MONEY OR I WILL HAVE TO CHASE YOU ON MY BIKE AND GIVE YOU A KISS”
ATTENDANCE
Squad coaches and our newly elected Parent Representatives (Dot Monte – Black Squad; Gill Baynes – Junior Development Squad) are in the process of monitoring, recording and publishing attendance levels within the club. It is hoped that all swimmers are achieving the squad minimum standard, but looking at the registers it is apparent that some are not training as frequently as required to remain in the respective squad. Please make every effort to attend; you will improve much faster if you train properly!! If anyone has any queries or problems please do not hesitate to bring it to your squad reps attention so that it can be dealt with quickly, they are there to help.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday 21st January - Essex County Age Groups Block A - Blackshots
Sunday 22nd January - Essex County Age Groups Block A - Blackshots
Friday 27th January – Time Trials Black Junior Development and Dolphins
Runnymede 6.30 to 8.15pm
Saturday 28th January – Essex League @ Fulwell Cross 7pm w/up
Thursday 2nd February – Committee Meeting 7.30pm (@ Heathers)
Sunday 5th February – Junior Speedo League @ Southbury Road, Enfield (Coach
booked)
Saturday 11th February – Mini League @ Colchester (Coach booked)
Thursday 16th February – Indian Night 7.30pm Tandoori Parlour
Friday 17th February – Swim School Gala NO TRAINING ALL SQUADS
Saturday 18th February – Pat Carlane Gala @ Runnymede 6pm w/up
THANK YOU
HEATHER DAVIS