Shark Alert
 September 17, 2011

Welcome to the Sharks’ 2011-2012 fall/winter season!  We welcome back all of our returning families and extend a warm welcome to our new families at both the Skidmore and Burnt Hills/Union practice sites.

Parent Meetings will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24th at 11:15 am at Skidmore College and Wednesday, Sept. 28th at 6:10 pm at Union College.  Parents from any practice site may attend either meeting. These informational meetings are primarily for parents who are new to our team (or whose children have not previously registered for a fall/winter season with the Sharks), although all parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Head Coach Jerry Adams, SSC Board members and Practice Group liaisons will review what to expect during the fall/winter season at Schenectady-Saratoga Swim Club. Questions will be encouraged. Our Team Equipment Managers, Bryce & Ellie Colby, will also be present at both meetings with equipment samples and be available to answer equipment-related questions.

Our Welcome Back Fall Team Picnic will be held on Sunday, October 9th from 3:00-5:30 pm at the Jonesville Firehouse Picnic Pavilion in Jonesville/Clifton Park.  All parents, swimmers and siblings are invited to attend. The Club will supply burgers, hot dogs and drinks and families will be asked to bring a salad/covered dish/dessert.  A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin boards at Skidmore and Union College pools. More picnic information and directions to the picnic site can be found in the picnic flier which will be posted on the SSC website and also distributed to family folders.

Equipment Ordering Deadline is October 1st. Equipment Order Forms may be downloaded and printed from the SSC website and will also be distributed to family folders this coming week.  Any equipment related questions can be directed to Bryce or Ellie Colby at bcolby@nycap.rr.com.

SSC Team Handbooks (the “Blue Book”) will be distributed in person to parents that are new to the team at the Parent meetings.  If you are a new parent and unable to attend a Parent meeting, Blue Books will be placed in the family folders at both Skidmore and Union Colleges following those meetings. To further SSC’s efforts to “go green”, Blue Books will not be distributed to returning SSC families from last year’s fall/winter season.  The Blue Book may be viewed and also downloaded and printed from the SSC website, by clicking on the tab, “SSC Handbook”.

Cardiac Classic Run is Coming! SSC is excited to announce that again this year, the Club will be partnering with Ellis Medicine to provide support services for the Cardiac Classic, which includes a 5K Road Race, Wellness Walk and Children’s Fun Run, and takes place on Thanksgiving morning in Schenectady’s Central Park. This is a terrific community event and SSC is thrilled to be involved again this year! Details regarding SSC’s involvement with the Cardiac Classic can be found in the flyer to be distributed to family folders.   
 
USA Swimming Officials Clinic to be held Saturday, October 1st at Ravena HS. If you are interested in volunteering to become a USS certified official, please sign up to attend this clinic, to be given by JoAnn Faucett, Adirondack District Officials Chair. Becoming a USA Swimming Official is a terrific way to get involved with your child’s swimming. Our Club is in need of more registered officials. Details are available on the Adirondack District website, www.adirondackswimming.org.

Please remember to check your family folders! All SSC families have a family folder, located in the bleachers at their home practice pool (either Skidmore or BH-BL/Union). Announcements and swim meet ribbons are placed in these folders. The family folder box for families who practice at the Main site will temporarily be housed at Union College until renovations are completed at the BH-BL High School pool.

Please remember to continually check our website often for updates and changes! The SSC website, www.schenectadyswimclub.org., is our principal means of communicating information to our families.  Please make sure that you check the website on a regular basis.