Venetian eSplash 2-26-2016
In this edition of the newsletter:
- Your Dues Must be Postmarked by 1 March
- Letter to Parents on Venetian Swim Team
- Venetian Mixer a Big Success!
- Future Events and Important Dates
Reminder: Dues Must be Postmarked by 1 March
Dues must be postmarked by March 1 to avoid a $100 late fee. Any dues received after a postmark date of March 15 will be considered lapsed, and the membership will be offered to the waitlist applicants. We are in the position of having a wait list of possibly six years—so don’t miss those deadlines!
If you have moved you must notify us of your new address; and if you need to change or add email addresses on our distribution list, please send a message to vpcamembership@comcast.net with that information.
Letter to Parents About Venetian Swim Team
Dear Venetian Parents,
The Poolsharks swim team offers one of the highlights of our Venetian summer. Not only do our young swimmers improve their basic swimming skills, and gain respect for water safety, they also hone their competitive edge in the best sport available to growing children and young adults. You don’t hear about head injuries or torn ACLs with swimmers because injuries are rarely an issue. Swimming is all about building healthy bodies, not wearing them down. Swimming is a learning sport as well; learning better coordination, endurance, and a mental edge that helps in the water and in the classroom. The Poolsharks cultivate a respectful community with a focus on team sportsmanship and an appreciation for each individual’s accomplishments.
We hope parents of swimmers in all age groups, from 18 all the way down to six and under, will give some thought to joining the Poolsharks for another great season. Some of our sharks didn’t leave the water when Venetian closed down. Kathleen O’Shea, Phin Johnson, Jake and Lola Grace Fjelstule, Theresa and Noah Glasgow, Madeline and Fiona McElroy, and Ellie and Virgina Woodcock–to name a few–found a love of swimming that keeps them working in the off season to stay on top of their game. Many of our Poolsharks represented their high schools at the Georgia High School State Championships, like Tory Brierley who made finals in the 50 Free and 100 Back. Ian Grum didn’t dally around and managed to swim a leg on a relay that set a National Relay Record and took first place in the 400 IM in the Georgia Short Course Championships. Dean Farris will be taking his swimming skills to college this Fall when he swims for Harvard University after participating in the US Olympic Trials. All of these swimmers found their passion for swimming during summer league and many more found a confidence in their swimming skills and lifelong friendships.
The Poolsharks don’t just want you – they need you! Registration is now open for the 2016 season. No one can build a swimming community without swimmers. They’re looking forward to seeing new faces, old faces and faces ready to rejoin the team. If you want your young swimmer to get a jump on the season, just contact coach Sean Minton (sean@daqswim.com), our team coach, as he’s been helping another set of Sharks at DeKalb Aquatics (DAQ). DAQ offers some good opportunities for swimmers to get back in the water early and Sean will be glad to help you decide what’s best for you and your Poolshark. Here are a few of the options offered by DeKalb Aquatics:
- Bronze – Can swim Freestyle and Backstroke 1 full length. (3 days/week)
- Silver – Can swim all 4 strokes. Focus on stroke refinement. (3 days/week)
- Gold – Can swim all 4 strokes. Focus on endurance and racing. (3-5 days/week)
- Gold 2 – Same as above with more focus on technique, and a later practice time. Great option for warm up to summer league! (3-5 days/week)
For more information and more advanced options please go to DeKalb Aquatics’ Web site.
Venetian Mixer a Big Success!
Our first Venetian Mixer was a big success! We had a nice turnout and it was fun to try to recognize each other in business attire vs. pool attire. Ann Hesskamp got the baby in the King cake so she won a $40 gift card to Calle Latina! A big thank you to Decatur CoWorks for letting us use their facility and LiteSheet for sponsoring the food, beverage and door prize. We have had many express that they would like to attend another mixer, so that is in the works. We’ll let you know the date soon!
Future Events & Important Dates
Tuesday, Mar 1: Dues Postmark Deadline
Monday, Mar 14: Board Meeting, Location TBA, 7-8:30 PM
Tuesday, Mar 15: Late Dues/Lapsed Membership Deadline
Saturday, April 23: Spring Work Day
Sunday, April 24: Spring Work Day—Rain Date
Saturday, May 7: Opening Day at Venetian!
Submitted by Vicki Ainslie, communications@venetianpools.org