Coaching Opportunity!

Wanna Swim with the Big Fish??

The DWMSC is accepting applications for a new head coach for the 2010 – 2011 season.  Please view our ad over at Swim Nova Scotia or here at DWMSC.com.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

2010-2012 Executive

We are pleased to update you on some of the information from tonight’s DWMSC Annual General Meeting.

Firstly we would like to sincerely thank the outgoing executive members for their dedication and contribution over the past years.   A special thank you to Steve Hurlbut (outgoing Registrar) who has been a pillar of the DWMSC executive for many years.  Thank you!

We would also like to welcome the following new and continuing executive members:

Conrad Nadeau – Sponsorship (returning)
Blair King – Equipment (returning)
Michael Sears – Treasurer
Elaine Mattatall – Secretary
Marti Maclean – Registrar
Chris Mercer – Social & Communications
Member at Large – Bill Collins
Past President – Jenn Nearing
Wendy Shulman – President

At tonight’s meeting, there was great energy and interest expressed towards growing the club and it’s membership.  As an executive we serve you, the members and can only improve with your input, feedback, and guidance.

We look forward to working with the executive and are proud to be your new executive.  We ask for your feedback as we move into the 2010/2011 season.

There has been some discussion about securing some lanes at the Sportsplex and continuing to swim over the next month.  If you are interested, please let us know ASAP so we can start the planning process.

This Thursday, May 13 is our last regular practice.  Look forward to ongoing communication as we prepare for next season!

Whalers AGM – May 11th 2010

Good day Whalers!

The 2009-2010 season is nearly over and this past year has seen our
club face challenges related to a considerable decline in membership,
loss of last year’s coaches, and low attendance in the pool. The large
decrease in our membership during the past season raises concern about
the viability of the club heading into next year. We had a challenge
in securing a head coach before the beginning of the season and were
lucky to have Phil Duggan step up to the challenge. Thanks to Phil
for his hard work and efforts this year.

These obstacles did not deter the club and have energized many of us
to ensure that the club continues to grow into the next season and
beyond. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for our swim club is May 11,
and the call for nominations for a new executive is a critically
important part of the AGM process, as we work to renew our club.

To that end the executive is placing the call to all members for
nominations for the following executive positions to be elected at the
AGM. According to the club’s constitution, any member of the club may
nominate themselves or another member (with that member’s agreement).
Terms are for two years and really only need a few hours of your time
per month. And it’s fun!!!.

Some club members have already offered to serve in positions on the executive. For these members, please confirm your interest and intention to let your name stand.

If you feel you know someone or are the energetic person to fill one
of our club leadership positions please consider letting your name
stand for election: send your intentions to Past President: Bill
Collins, bcollins@collinsmgmt.ca stating your interest. Please have
all nominations submitted on or by May 9th.

The 2008-2010 executive positions available for 2010-2012 are:
Jenn Nearing – President
Steve Hurlbut – Registrar
Tami Mosher – Treasurer
Vacant – Social Coordinator
Blair King – Equipment Manager
Conrad Nadeau – Fund raising/Donations
Blair King – Secretary
Bill Collins – Past President
Christopher Mercer – Webmaster

We really need your support and participation at this time, thank you.

A message from our President

I hope everyone is settling well into this year’s swim season. There have been a number of changes and developments I
would like to discuss. First and perhaps most notably we have a new coach in Phil Duggan. Based upon the feedback I have received and my own observation he is doing a fine job. I also want to thank Phil for stepping into this challenging role.

It should also be clear to everyone that our numbers are down significantly this season. Like most Masters swim clubs our numbers have dropped over the last few seasons. Since our club runs on a non profit basis this has a direct impact on our finances.
Thankfully due to some good work in previous years the club has a few dollars to tide us over in the short term. However we will need to
either increase our numbers or look to ways to save money in coming years to ensure the continued financial health of our club.

To this end I am suggesting that we speak to our friends, family, colleagues, etc. to inquire if anyone is interested in master’s swimming (to recruit new members to our club). Interested individuals can then come swim with us for a free practice. In the past this ‘bring a friend’ process has resulted in significant growth of the club. I am hopeful that with your participation it will be so again this year.

It has also been suggested that we host an open house night or perhaps an open house week. This would involve volunteers from the club agreeing to act as hosts/ assistant coaches at each lane to help out those who show up for the event. If successful this could be a way to draw additional new members to the club. Clearly this will not be possible without an adequate number of volunteers. I would ask that those who are interested in volunteering contact me. Should enough volunteers come forward I would like to have this open house towards the end of November.

We need to recruit new members now, before people get involved with other winter activities. Please consider acting on this message today!.

Thanks.

See you all in the pool and/or hot tub…:)

Jenn

Monthly Lane Rotation

It is that time again.  Time for the monthly lane rotation.

For people who might not know, at the end of each month we rotate the lanes so people who have been swimming along the wall will have an opportunity to switch lanes.  Below is how the rotation will be starting Sunday November 1st.

Oct Lane	Moves to	Nov Lane
1	–>	2
2	–>	1
3	–>	4
4	–>	3
5	–>	8
6	–>	7
7	–>	6
8	–>	5

Fun Night

The club will be having it’s first fun night of the season this October 25th. This is a good opportunity to have some fun, socialize, and to get to know the new members of the club.  For those still looking to do a workout there will be a swim posted as well.

Halloween Scream – Pentathlon Meet

The Halifax Masters have invited you to a Halloween Scream Pentathlon Meet.  The events are shorter distances to encourage new swimmers to give competing a try.

Hosted By:  Halifax Masters Swim Club
Sanctioned By: Swim Nova Scotia
Date/Time: Saturday October 31st, 2009

• 1:00pm Registration
• 1:45pm Warm-Ups
• 2:30pm Meet Start

Location: Centennial Pool Halifax, N.S. (6 lanes, short course)
Head Referee: Wendy Hudson
Meet Manager & Registration: Bette El-Hawary swimming@sportnovascotia.ca
Entry Fees: $20/swimmer cheques payable to Halifax Masters Swim Club.
Registration: Received electronically to meet manager- form on page 2.
Format:

• All events will be swum as open and mixed, seeded by time.
• Draw prizes & bell prizes.
• Social to follow.

ORDER OF EVENTS

1. 50m Butterfly
2. 50m Backstroke
3. 50m Breaststroke
4. 50m Freestyle
5. 100m Individual Medley

2009/2010 Season

The DWMSC offers coached swimming for recreational and fitness swimmers, triathletes, and competitive swimmers 19 years of age or older.  The club swims (September to June) three times a week at  the Dartmouth Sportsplex (Tuesday & Thursday from 8:30 – 9:30 pm, Sunday 8:15 – 9:30 pm).  Tuesdays and Thursdays are full workouts that include an interesting mix of aerobic and anaerobic sets.  Sundays usually consist of a long warm-up followed by a choice of drills that focus on a particular theme (stroke improvement, starts, turns, etc.) or, alternatively, an aerobic workout.  Our members range in ability from IronMan Triathletes and national calibre competitors to recreational fitness swimmers. You only need to be able to swim at least 4 lengths non-stop. Competitions are optional.  Our club membership is restricted to 65 members.

If you are interested in swimming with the Dartmouth Whalers Master Swim Club, please contact our registrar Steve Hurlbut.

Our executive for the 2009/2010 swim season is…

Jenn Nearing - President

Steve Hurlbut – Registrar

Tami Mosher – Treasurer

Vacant – Social Coordinator

Blair King – Equipment Manager

Conrad Nadeau – Fund raising/Donations

Bill Collins – Meet Manager

Blair King – Secretary

Debbie Liebrock – Past President

Christopher Mercer – Webmaster

Monthly Lane Rotation

At the beginning of every month the lanes rotate so the same swimmers aren’t always swimming in the wall lane.  To make it easier for the coaches, they need the grouped lane swimmers to stay together; not be at opposite ends of the pool.

Lanes 5, 6, 7 and 8 are in one group. They will continually rotate each month.  Lane 5 moves up to lane 6, 6 to 7, 7 to 8 and lane 8 moves to lane 5.  This is done the first practice every month.

Lane 3 and 4 are grouped together and lanes 1 and 2 are grouped together.  To ensure that each lane gets the wall lane every 4th month these lanes flip one month, then rotate the second month.

ie: on Oct. 2, Lanes 1 and 2 should have flipped/switched (1 to 2 and 2 to 1) with each other and Lanes 3 and 4 switched.

On Nov. 2, the current lane 1 moves to lane 3 and lane 2 to lane 4.  Lane 3 goes to one and Lane 4 goes to 2.

On Dec. 2, lane 1 and 2 flip (1 to 2 and 2 to 1) and lanes 3 and 4 flip.

On Jan. 4 (no practice on Jan. 1) lanes 1 and 2 rotate with lanes 3 and 4. (1 to 3 and 2 to 4)

It continues in this method through to June.