TNT Newsletter
The New Team on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay
November 2006
TNT SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Congratulations to those swimmers of TNT who achieved A – AB Honor Roll status during the first quarter academic marking period of the 2006 – 2007 school year. Special thanks to parents who submitted their swimmers names for this listing.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKS
A warm welcome to Brennan Donze, age 14; Sarah Meehan, age 6; and Haley Pollard, age 9, and, who have recently joined TNT. Brennan swims with level 4, Sarah with level 2, and Haley with level 1. Congratulations girls! You are going to have a lot of fun and learn to swim really fast.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES
Two swimmers from TNT celebrate birthdays during the month of November. Congratulations to Emily Grant who turns 14 on 11/20 and to Alex Daly who turns 7 on 11/23. Another year older and another year faster.
EXTRA SPECIAL
Special thanks to parents of TNT swimmers who provided the following extra curricular highlights of their swimmers. We are super proud of you for your accomplishments in and out of the pool.
Daniel Doucet received a Red Ribbon Week Leadership Award for a continual demonstration of commitment to leadership, service, citizenship and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, at Christ the King Catholic School. He also received a Discipline with Purpose Award for Resolving Problems.
Mackenzie Pargeon a 4th grader at Rockwell Elementary was chosen among 12 other students, grades 3 – 5 to create a web page to be judged at the Regional Technology Fair at Faulkner University in the Spring (07). She is also a member of the tournament winning Comets soccer team.
Thomas Kinsey was selected by his guidance counselor to be on the Youth Grant Allocation Board of 2007. This student board will work with The Community Foundation of South Alabama and learn about non-profit organizations and how foundation money is distributed.
Will Anderson finished second place at the YMCA Harvest Fun Run in the boy’s 10 – 14 age group.
Jordan Doucet played “The Freight Train” while participating in a Musicale presented by the Baldwin County Music Teachers Association on October 22.
Raegan Grant was a top reader in the Accelerated Reader Program for the 1st academic marking period at Christ the King School.
Jordan Doucet, Sahra El Hamaki and Ashley Szydel participated in a Conference on Careers in Science, Math and Engineering for Middle School Girls at the University of South Alabama on October 28th.
Adele Mantiply finished second place at the YMCA Harvest Fun Run in the girl’s 10 – 14 age group.
Savannah Ekelund participated in the Fall Recital of the Baldwin County Music Teachers Association on Saturday, October 28th. She concluded the program by playing “Papillon, Op.43, No.1 by Edvard Grieg.
Jordan Simison was selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program.
Gabrielle Horst won a Page and Palette art contest where she was asked to draw a cat. She will get to meet the upcoming featured author and have her book signed
Phoenix Fisk is Treasurer of her sophomore class at Daphne High School.
Griffin Fisk was recently nominated by her math teacher at Daphne Middle School to attend the 2007 People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, DC. She was also a winner in the T. A. Barron Writing/Art Contest in which she had to write and/or draw about a hero of hers. Griffin also plays right defensive fullback as a member of the Daphne U12 Girls All-Star Soccer Team, which won the state championship tournament in Dothan. Her team was undefeated and there were no goals scored on them during regulation play.
Patrick Parish earned the Accelerated Reader Award at Fairhope Elementary School in the first grading period and the Physical Education Foot Bead Award for running 10 miles. Patrick also competes in the Fairhope Youth Soccer League U8 Division and leads his team, the Crew, in scoring. He also recently completed his first 5K Race in the 19th Annual Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run.
PODCAST FOR SWIMMERS
Finally, a radio broadcast just for swimmers! The weekly Deck Pass is the world's first internet radio broadcast dedicated to the sport of swimming. Every Saturday at 2:00 PM Central standard time, the Deck Pass brings listeners the latest in swimming news and excitement. Interviewing the world's top swimmers and other minds involved with the sport, the Deck Pass will get answers to the questions swimming fans are asking! Check out the Deck Pass website at http://www.deckpass.com/
WAY TO GO!
Congratulations to all who participated and helped to make the Holiday Wreath Fundraiser a big success. Wreaths will be delivered to Debbie Anderson’s house in Quail Creek (19740 Quail Creek Dr) the week of December 4-8. The top 3 sellers will be announced and awarded at the team Christmas party
Fundraiser participants will need to pick up their orders at Debbie’s house and deliver them to their customers. Please do no ask Debbie to make these deliveries to you. Payments for your orders will be due after delivery by December 13th. Please put payments in a sealed envelope and place it in the Anderson Family Folder in the TNT Mailbox.
FROM THE HEART
While we are on the subject of the holiday wreath fundraiser, special thanks and recognition is extended to Debbie Anderson, who made this opportunity, and so many others available to the families of TNT.
Debbie took the initiative to research, organize, and put this fundraiser into action last year, and again this year, providing team families with this tremendous opportunity to meet their fundraising requirements. Her efforts also extend to organizing monthly socials, team outfitting, and too many other areas to be adequately mentioned in this newsletter. Thank you again, Debbie, for everything you do for the swimmers and families of TNT.
DECEMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY
TNT’s 3rd Annual Christmas Party is scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 16, at Christ the King’s Gymnasium from 5:30 – 9:00 PM. This year we are planning to hire a DJ to dance the night away, as well as special arts and crafts activities for the younger children. Please set this evening aside for swimmers and family members to join in for a fun holiday get together with TNT.
HOLIDAY CHARITY PROJECT
Planning is underway for TNT’s 3rd Annual Holiday Charity Project. We will be working in conjunction with Sister Maureen Nolan, Principal of Christ the King Catholic School in order to make the holidays special for needy families. Information about how TNT families can contribute to this year’s project will be distributed soon.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Parents, are you feeling confused about what exactly to feed your child before practice or a meet? Not sure about grams and ounces and need some guidelines on which fluids are better for your child? Here are some quick tips might help.
The best pre-practice, or pre-meet meal should contain primarily carbohydrates. Carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta, breads and cereal are easily digested and absorbed. Rule of thumb: 0.5 - 2.0 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight one to four hours prior to exercise.
Staying well hydrated is a key element in a successful athletic performance. Keep a fluid bottle by the side of the pool when working out and drink between repeats and sets. Choose sports drinks like Gatorade that taste good, stimulate fluid absorption in the body maintain proper fluid balance in the body, and provide energy to working muscles. Avoid carbonated drinks, which can cause stomach bloating and may reduce fluid intake. Avoid caffeine-filled beverages. They are diuretics and contribute to fluid loss. Parents can find a wealth of information about nutrition, as well as answers to wide range of questions in Parent Section of USA Swimming’s official web site: www.usaswimming.org
OFFICIALLY SPEAKING
Becoming a USA Swimming, certified official is important to the success of our program and to the sport of swimming in general, which means that is also important to the success of our swimmers. As contributing members of the local swimming community it is our responsibility to provide the volunteer support and structure required to operate swimming meets, rather than depend on the parents from other programs to do so. You don’t think the meets run themselves, do you?
In the absence of trained volunteers i.e. lane timers, stroke and turn judges, starters, and meet referees, USA Swimming simply could not exist, nor could summer league programs. Even more importantly, as our swimmers reach high school age it is essential that parents position themselves in an official capacity in order to provide the support structure necessary for interscholastic, varsity level swimming. If not us, then who? The football people? I think not.
Getting started on the path to becoming a certified official is a three step process which can be completed in any order: Attending a stroke and turn clinic; taking an online, open book test; and serving as an apprentice for only six meet sessions. Prior to taking the online test and serving as an apprentice though, you are required to join USA Swimming as a non-athlete member.
There are a number of incentives offered to parents to join in their support of their children’s sport. TNT will cover the cost of any parent who becomes a certified USA Swimming official, as well as the cost of the annual USA Swimming membership renewal for those who work the minimum number of 6 volunteer sessions per year. Also, the Alabama State High School Athletic Association pays officials who work at high school meets, including stroke and turn judges, starters, and referees. Additionally, certain host teams waive swimmer entry fees for families who provide meet officials, including the meet at CMSA this weekend. Finally, you get fed by the host team, which often includes copious amounts of some really sumptuous food, especially at the GPAC breakfast buffet.
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
A clinic for Stroke and Turn judges is scheduled to be held at the CMSA meet during warm ups prior to the Saturday morning session from 7:30 – 9:00 AM. All TNT parents who have not already taken the course are encouraged attend. If you have questions or would like to learn more about getting involved, please talk to one of our growing number of certified, USA Swimming officials including Andrea Doucet, Dana Horst, Mark Kinsey, Mary Beth Mantiply, Elena Szydel, or Mike Turnipseed.
LOCKER ROOM ETIQUETE
TNT is fortunate to have a great facility like the Bounds Family YMCA to call home. We have worked hard to develop a productive, mutually beneficial, and positive relationship with the YMCA staff and members, and want to keep it that way. Because the locker rooms are an area shared by all patrons of the YMCA, it is essential that team parents please talk to their swimmers about treating the locker rooms and those who patronize it with respect. In addition, parents are asked to please review the following policies with their children.
When swimmers arrive at the Y they are to use the locker rooms to change into their swim suits and immediately proceed to the pool deck. Swimmers are never to eat, drink, loiter, or play in the locker rooms. When practice ends, swimmers should shower quickly, making sure to dry themselves thoroughly before entering changing areas. Swimmers are never to leave towels lying on the floor and are expected to leave changing areas clean and dry.
POOLSIDE POPULATIONS
The pool deck is a place where people like to gather when arriving to deposit or pick up swimmers for practices at the YMCA. It is always good to see our families and we are happy to have moms, dads, uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc. visit to watch the swimmers perform. However, please be aware that the pool deck can become a crowded and noisy place, especially during the transition from one practice group to another. For this reason it would be very helpful for spectators to congregate only along the length of the pool, and also to please be sensitive to the noise volume levels during practice, especially when coaches are trying to give swimmers their times or instructions.
PAYMENT POLICY
As you may or may not know, Andrea Doucet volunteers her time to maintain account balances for 47 TNT families, a number that continues to grow monthly. She performs this essential task as her way of supporting the program, helping to insure that each family has an accurate monthly assessment of their debits and credits, while also paying team bills, coach’s salaries, taxes, etc.
Families can help Andrea in a couple of ways when making payments to TNT. Please do not send payments in cash. Cash does not leave a record of payment, often leads to account balance discrepancies, and puts payments at risk if lost or stolen. Families are directed to please make payments to TNT by check or money order, itemizing on the check exactly what the payments are for. Itemizing saves considerable time and confusion when crediting family accounts, and makes life a lot easier for our volunteer bookkeeper.
TAXING DECISIONS
TNT Swimming, Inc. will discontinue the pursuit of its 501 c3 status as a not for profit entity. The IRS informed us that in order to obtain non profit status, TNT would have to discontinue the practice of allowing families 50% credit towards fees for all fundraising in excess of our required amount. It was our decision that the enthusiasm generated by numerous TNT families in paying some or all of their swim fees through our fundraising program was more valuable than being tax exempt. To learn more about how you can credit your family account through TNT fundraisers, please contact Debbie Anderson at Wande1964@aol.com
STICK WITH IT
TNT logo stickers are now available for purchase at a cost of $2.00 each and are suitable for display on just about anything that moves, or doesn’t move for that matter. It is, however, inadvisable sticking the stickers to furniture, family pets, small siblings, etc. So go ahead, show your team spirit by picking some up from Debbie Anderson before they are all gone.
THE GOOD GUYS
TNT thanks those supporters who advertise their business on our web site. Proceeds from advertising sales help us with operational expenses and allows TNT to provide low cost, competitive swimming instruction to children of all ability levels. Please visit http://www.swimtnt.com/advertisers_page_06-07.html to learn more about the services our advertisers offer.
A-Safe Online Backup Service
Bounds Family YMCA
Cricket Realty and Management
Chris Myers AutoMall
Coldwell Banker, Kitty Ruzic - Realtor
Cotton’s Restaurant
KONE, Inc. Elevators and Escalators
Mary Beth Mantiply, Attorney at Law
Primary Transportation Services, Inc
REMAX by the Bay, Judy Niemeyer - Realtor
Shannon Thomas Arndt, Attorney at Law, P.C.
Sledge’s Custom Building, Inc.
Springdale Travel Agency
Steven Kinsey, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Thomas Hospital Infirmary Health System
Threaded Fasteners, Inc.
Waterville USA, Inc.
FEEDBACK
Please direct questions, comments, suggestions, and/or corrections about information contained in this newsletter to Coach Jan Mittemeyer at swimtnt123@aol.com or by phone 599-1019.
