VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Per the rules of receiving our Gaming Grant funding, complete records of all volunteered hours and donated services or materials must be retained as part of the organization’s gaming records.
Parents or guardians are required to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours prior to the Regional meet. In addition, 2 shifts at each of the Sunfish, Regional, and Provincial meets are required if your child is competing in these meets. For our own Sunfish AB Invitational Meet, 2 shifts per day will be required as the Sunfish are hosting this event and are responsible for 90-95% of the labour for running this event. It may seem like a lot of volunteer hours, but many parents, especially the board/executive members, put in a lot more than the minimum. It takes approximately 180 people to run a swim meet! This is why we have a volunteer requirement and why summer swimming must have the motto: “If everyone does his/her part, no one has to do too much”. The Sunfish do not ask for a volunteer cheque or deposit as some other clubs do. The volunteer hours are on an honor system. If a parent or family is not putting in their required time they will be approached by the board and asked for an explanation at which time corrective actions discipline will be discussed including a possible fee charge.
Volunteer opportunities include participation in deck duties or officiating at swim meets and tournaments. Opportunities are also available for positions behind the scenes such as volunteering to be a group parent or helping with club socials and with fundraising. For the very enthusiastic parent, positions on the executive should be considered. Please fill out a Volunteer Form at the shed by the outdoor pool and indicate the area(s) you would like to work in to help keep Sunfish running smoothly. A description of the various jobs required to run a swim meet as well as a list of major volunteer areas available is printed at the end of this handbook. Please contact any member of the executive if you would like to help in their area. Don't leave your volunteer requirements to the last minute as volunteer opportunities decline over the course of the season and unfulfilled hours will result in other doing all the work and hard feeling between club members.
A Volunteer Record Sheet is issued with this handbook and is also available on the Sunfish website. It is your responsibility to document your volunteer hours throughout the season and submit the record to the club / executive by the Regional Meet held the first week of August.
The BCSSA delegates volunteer responsibilities to each club for the Regional and Provincial meets. In addition to timing, parents of qualifying swimmers will be required to fulfill their share of the meet responsibilities assigned to the Club at those meets. Unless you offer your services in a particular area, the Volunteer Coordinator will assign the duties and communicate the assignments to you. If you are unable to fulfill your assigned duties, it is your responsibility to find a competent and reliable replacement, and to ensure that the job will be done. Please inform the volunteer coordinator of any substitutions.
More infromation can be found in the Sunfish Parents handbook on this web site.
