Welcome to a new season of swimming with Valdez Torpedo Swim Club!

Whether you are a new swimmer or an “old fish” with a new commitment to the sport, we are pleased you’ve joined us. Valdez Torpedoes Swim Club is a local organization whose mission is to help young people ages 4-18 learn healthy living through the sport of swimming. The club is committed to helping children develop character qualities of teamwork, commitment, and the benefits of hard work. Competitive participation is encouraged, but not required. Scholarships for participation are available and we are an organization powered by United Way.

Calendar FYI’s

* August 30th – Swim Practice begins

* September 2nd – Board Meeting @ 5:30 pm.

* October 1st and 2nd – Postal Meet!

VTSC Quarterly Schedule

1st Q: Aug 30-Oct. 15

2nd Q: Oct.18-Dec. 3

3rd Q: Jan 10-Feb. 25

4th Q: Feb. 28- April 15

Quarterly Fees

Bronze & Silver - $85

Mercury - $105

Gold - $126

Senior - $146

A registrar will be at the pool Aug. 30 and 31 to register your child and accept payment. You can also put your fees in the green Torpedo drop box located at the HS Pool.

*Discount for families with 3 or more kids involved in VTSC. First two kids pay full price – all other siblings get 50% off skill level fee.

**Pro-rated fees for HS swimmers that join VTSC after the HS swimming season ends in November.

*** Scholarships are available! Please contact Colleen Price at 835-5378 for more details on how your child can qualify.

Swim Times

Bronze: Monday & Wed. 5:30-6:30

Silver: Tuesday & Thurs. 5:30-6:30

Mercury: Mon./Wed. 5:30-6:30 and Friday 2:30-3:30

Gold: Monday thru Thurs. 5:30-6:30 and Friday 2:30-4:30

Senior: Monday thru Thurs. 5:30-7 and Friday 2:30-4:30

Timers & Officials Needed

Timers & Officials are needed for this season’s meets. To become an official, you must shadow an official a few times and then take a test (can be done in a group to make life simple). If you're willing to help in this capacity, contact Ann Norris at 835-2556. Timers will also be needed and sign up sheets will be posted on the VTSC bulletin board at the HS Pool.

You may also contact Colleen Price at 835-5378.

Board Meetings

The Board of Directors for VTSC will hold meetings the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the HS Pool viewing area. All parents are invited to attend.

Fundraising

Stay tuned for our annual wreath sale. Packets will be dispersed to VTSC swimmers mid-October and wreaths should be delivered by Thanksgiving.

Learn To Swim

LTS lessons will be offered again December 6-17th 2010, and April 18-29th, 2011. Coach Overduyn will be teaching these classes. Stay tuned for more info.

VTSC Board of Directors

Leo Overduyn, VTSC Coach

Wendy Balowski – President

Colleen Price – V.P. and Scholarships

Kim Hansen – Secretary

Stephanie Doyel – Treasurer

Kim Keller – Communications

Heather Snelders & Anita Fannin – Publicity

Theresa Randall – Fundraising

Vacant – Registrar

Team Handbooks

If you haven’t been given a Torpedo Swim Club Team Handbook, please

Age Group Championships Homer Alaska

The Valdez Torpedoes recently went to Homer, Alaska for the Alaska state Age Group Championship. We took 16 swimmers and had a great time. Our swimmers competed in many events including relays..

Summer Update

Hi Torpedo Families! As some of you may know, VTSC made a commitment
to pick up trash 3x/year for 3 years, by Mile 11 to the start of the
Keystone Canyon. Usually the Club gets together and makes a fun
afternoon of it, however, this summer appears to be a bit more
complicated! So with all of our busy schedules, the VTSC Board is
asking families to stop at their convenience and pick up trash
throughout the summer. The children under 11 need to stay on the access
road and are not permitted on the right of way along the main
highway. If you have any questions, please reply to me, or call our
new president, Wendy Balowski.

Save the dates: The next Learn to Swim lessons will happen in early-
August before the start of the school year. LTS is for children ages
4-10 that need to learn how to swim. Free!

Silver Salmon Swim Camp will also happen in early-August; dovetailing
with the LTS program. More details to follow with regards to
registration and fees.

VTSC Board members are in the process of hiring a new swim coach since
our dear Coach Jessica Kulm resigned.

And as always, if you want your name deleted from this mailing list,
please reply.

Seeking New Head Coach

Valdez Torpedoes Swim Club, Valdez, Alaska, is seeking a Head Coach - VTSC is operated by a parent volunteer board and serves approximately 70 swimmers throughout the season. Valdez is a remote community with a population of 4200 people who enjoy the many recreational opportunities of the area. Duties: Organize swim program and coach or supervise coaching of all swim levels. Qualifications: ASCA Certified Level 2 coach minimum, background in competitive swimming and coaching ages 6-18, highly developed organizational skills, experience with Age Group swimming, enjoys rural living, positive attitude, experience with HyTek software programs desirable but not required, experience with a Master's program desirable but not required, willingness to submit to a criminal background check if requested, current driver's license, and ability to travel to up to eight meets annually (in and out of Alaska). Contract begins in August 1, 2009, and ends in May, 2010. Facility: 25 yard indoor, six-lane pool. VTSC office on deck. Salary approx: $18,000, with full reimbursement for meet travel. Contact Ann Norris at (907) 835-2556, PO Box 3106, Valdez, AK, 99686. Deadline for application: May 15, 2009.

The Head Swim Coach shall:

A. Establish a competitive swim program for all swimmers.
B. Plan workouts for the improvement and motivation of individual swimmers.
C. Keep attendance of all swimmers.
D. Maintain authority over the swimmers’ behavior and actions at practice and during meets, when said swimmers are under immediate control of the coach.
E. Be responsible for meet entries and supply meet information for all meets.
F. Oversee the keeping of time and record books.
G. Attend all swim meets as approved by the Coach and the Board of Directors.
H. Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and/or provide monthly status report to the Board.
I. Assist the Board in establishing swimmer recognition.
J. Maintain an active involvement in parent communication.
K. Recruit and supervise all assistant coaches and supervise all age groups of swimmers.
L. Provide biweekly coaches’ information meeting at an established time and a monthly coaches’ training meeting.
M. Maintain a valid Alaska driver’s license and valid USA Swim Coach certification.
N. Set up monthly pool schedule with assistant coaches and pool management.
O. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to practice and leave at least 15 minutes after the end of swim practice to comply with the insurance policy.
P. File accident reports per USA Swimming requirements.
Q. Attend a coaches’ workshop during the calendar year for the purpose of self-improvement, at the Club’s expense, upon Board approval.
R. Abide by the philosophy and policies of the Coach Code of Ethics adopted from the American Swim Coaches Association by Alaska Swimming, Inc.
S. Abide by all policies set forth by the Valdez Swim Club including but not exclusive to the Non-Discrimination Policy, Coaches Policy, Coaches Conduct Policy, and the Drug Free Workplace Policy.

Swimming our hearts out

Colleen, Hannah, Jacob and Millie at the Ketchikan, Alaska Age Group Championship.

Having fun in ketchikan

This past weekend the Valdez Torpedoes took four swimmers to Ketchikan, Alaska for Age Group Championships. All swimmers had best times.

WE'RE GOING TO AGE GROUPS

VTSC is proud to be sending four of our swimmers to age groups this year. We wish Jacob, Colleen, Millie and Hannah much luck as they compete this weekend.