CRA Parent Commitment Policy

CRA is a non-profit organization which counts on its members to volunteer their time to promote unity and to enable the club to thrive. Volunteering during the swimming calendar year of September through August is required. Each returning family, as well as families transferring from another team, will be required to volunteer a total of 20 hours. For families joining the team after December 1st, the obligation will be pro-rated.

It is important for every parent to be involved with the club and their children’s activities. That is why clubs require members to meet team hour quotas. We do not want anyone to miss out on the fun! A lot of our first time parents are a little nervous or confused about the many volunteer opportunities there are in a swim club. There is no need for either. We are all amateurs! Besides, everyone is watching the swimmers, not the volunteers.

USA Swimming is the most volunteer intensive sport on the planet. It takes every parent to create a successful swim club. But just what is that worth to the club? I ran some quick numbers and figured if we had to pay minimum wage for every volunteer hour spent to put on our fundraisers this season we would shell out close to $30,000. Most of us wouldn’t do what we do during our fundraisers for minimum wage, maybe for any wage. It just proves we do things without hesitation for the love of our children we would never do for money.

CRA fundraisers include 2 meets per swim year, candy sales and a fireworks stand. To ensure the continued success of CRA, we rely on the support of our members to fill our many jobs specifically at these fundraisers. These events contribute a substantial portion of our fundraising efforts each year (about $18,000). This allows us to keep our dues reasonable, and our coaches employed. Parents please put these events on your calendar as your attendance is mandatory.

We recognize there may be meet weekends with other commitments, if you are unable to work a scheduled event, you must arrange with a board member other options. In lieu of working your shifts, you also have the option of “buying out” a 4 hour shift for $100. (This arrangement and payment must be made 2 weeks prior to the event.) Each shift that is bought out will earn the equivalent of 4 team points.

As stated earlier, for the 2011-2012 swim season, we are estimating a minimum of 20 hours family commitment from all families. These hours will be logged into our website upon completion of each event. As it is mandatory for all families to work at the fireworks booth, each family will be able to accrue additional hours at other fundraising events to achieve the minimum 20 team point/hour commitment.

At away meets we are required to provide timers and officials. While this does not fulfill the team points/hours commitment, each family is expected to time a minimum of one shift per meet weekend or officiate. Currently, communication to members is through e-mail where members sign up prior to the meet to fulfill this obligation, but it is the member’s responsibility to volunteer.

For and list of committees and the most up to date list of what your job your family has signed up for:

Click Here

Welcome to CRA, we look forward to a great swim season!

Parent Code of Ethics

Parents – I will:

· Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all swimmers, coaches, Board members, and officials during practices and swim meets.

· Place the emotional and physical well being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.

· Forgive individual actions by coaches with which I/we don’t completely agree, while focusing on the overall objective of working to help my child(ren) grow up to be stronger, more self-confident and better adjusted.

· Remember that the sport is for the youth, not the adults.

· Encourage my child to treat other swimmers, coaches, and families with respect regardless of race, sex, creed or ability and set an example by doing so myself.

· Encourage my child to routinely attend practices and, if possible, attend swim meets.

· Bring my concerns to the coaches or board members directly, in a spirit of fundamental mutual interest, and refrain from fruitless discussions of such concerns with third parties.

· Participate in fundraising activities