Otter Newsletter for Week of January 20, 2008

Congratulations to all who participated in our close meet Saturday against a very strong Lower Paxton Aquatic Club. As a result of the contributions of all those who came, we won and captured the Division 4A championship for the third straight year! Thank you and GREAT JOB to all who participated. Results are available on the team website.

Please note important changes to this week’s practice schedule: There will be NO PRACTICE this Tuesday for any levels due to a home college swimming meet. On Friday, there will be practice from 4:00-5:30 p.m. for the advanced and older levels ONLY. There will be NO YOUNGER PRACTICE that evening.

Team pictures will be Tuesday, January 29th in the pool/arena/ back hallway area. Individual photos for advanced swimmers only will be at 4 p.m. The team photo will be at 4:20 sharp. After the team photo is completed, there will be individual photos for everyone else. Stay tuned for more information regarding practice changes for that evening to accommodate the photo schedule. Picture forms are available in the bulletin board area just outside the men’s and women’s locker room doors.

Upcoming Championship Weekend Information:

Divisional Championships for those that participated in at least three dual meets will be held on Saturday, February 16th at Palmyra High School. The All-Star Meet is the next day, Sunday, February 17th, at Cumberland Valley High School. Participants in the All-Star Meet are chosen based upon their performance at the Divisionals meet. For both meets, the 8 and 10 and unders swim in the a.m.; the 12s, 14s, and unlimiteds swim in the p.m.

1) To sign up to swim at Divisionals, see Jim at practice or email him at jgardner@acschools.org by February 1 . This is an ABSOLUTE DEADLINE! (Sign-up forms will be available at practice beginning Thursday, January 24.) You may choose three events; if one is a relay, you should list a fourth option. You should let Jim know at that time whether you will also be available for the All-Star Meet the next day.

2) To volunteer to work at either meet, email Kathy Wingert at dkwingert@comcast.net. On Saturday, we must provide 5 timers for each session (a.m. and p.m.), as well as 2 stroke and turn officials and 2 ribbon people for each session. We need one starter for either session, and one finish judge for either session. (That’s 18 volunteers!) On Sunday, we are required to provide two timers for each session, as well as a stroke and turn person for the a.m. session. (Five volunteers.) Our team does not get to participate if we do not provide the required volunteers, so please serve your kids and your team by helping. Volunteers get free admission on the day they work.

3) To order commemorative meet t-shirts/sweatshirts for meet day delivery, please take note of the following.

--For divisionals, long-sleeve t-shirts are available for $15.00; sweatshirts are $25.00. The design is viewable on the Palmyra Aquatic club website, www.palmyrasharks.com.

--For all-stars, only short-sleeve t-shirts are available. They are $14.00, and the design is viewable on the CPAL website, www.swimcpal.org. (Click on the 2008 All-Star link on the left hand side of the page.)

To order either shirt as part of our team order, you must sign up and pay (by check only please, made out to “LVST”) by Friday, February 1. There will be an envelope and sign-up sheet on the bleachers of the pool deck from 4:30 until 5:15 each evening beginning Wednesday, January 23. Or, you can order on picture day, January 29, from 4:30-5:45 p.m. with Kathy Wingert, who will be just outside the pool area by the vending machines.

Reminders:

Due to high school and college meets, there are several practice schedule changes in the upcoming months. Be sure to check your paper copies or the complete season calendar now posted on the web.

Weather issue information: In the event of inclement weather, cancellations and postponements will be posted immediately on the team website, www.swimotters.org. This is our fastest and most efficient way of letting everyone know what’s going on. If you do not see anything posted on the home page of the website, you can assume that, at that moment, the event is being held as scheduled. Be sure to refresh your browser if you keep the home page up on your computer. We will also attempt to alert WLBR Radio.