ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 05-24-10

“Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

39 SWIMMERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 9^th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON!!

LINDSAY STEARNS COORDINATES LARGEST PARTICIPATION IN YEARS!!

The 9^th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser was the biggest Elite-a-thon in recent memory!! 39 Swimmers spent 2 hours Saturday afternoon swimming to raise money for their own charities!!

The following were the Elite swimmers who participated:

Chris Balbo: Celiac Sprue Association, Megan Balbo: Make A Wish, Caitlin Brown: Arthritis Foundation, Cordelia Burn: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, Eloise Burn: St. Judes, Sarah Burn: Jersey Animal Coalition, Carolyn Delaney: PKU News, Kelly Delaney: PKU News, Will Delaney: PKU News, Katherine Friday: Autism Speaks, Emily Fu: Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter, Clio Galea: tba, Emily Gorham: St. Judes, Jess Gorham: St. Judes, Kevin Greener: tba Elana Horowitz: tba, Abby Hartwig: Association for Rare Disorders Jennifer Huo: tba,Alicia Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Erica Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Karen Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Monica Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Katie Iovel: Make A Wish, Grace Levey: Make A Wish, Alyssa Levy: Valerie Fund, Katie McGrath: Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Ali Morreale: tba, Caroline Nash-Make a Wish, Jason Rossi: American Red Cross, Andrea Shepard: Down the Block, Inc, Katy Shepard: Share Our Strength, Abigail Shvorin: American Cancer Foundation, Delaney Smith: Multiple Sclerosis, Kaitlin Stearns: Bridges, Lindsay Stearns: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, Will Stearns: Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, Caroline Watt: Make A Wish, Adam Weinbrom: tba, Katherine Zhang: Cora Hartshorn Arboretum

14 year old Lindsay Stearns, who has participated in the Elite-a-thon for each of her 7 years on the team, took over coordinating the event this year and mustered a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. If each of the participants raises just $150 each, the total raised will exceed $5,000. This shows what the power of enthusiasm can accomplish!!

In a tradition begun six years ago, Bill swam 2500 meters to raise money for the American Red Cross’s relief efforts in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake Haiti suffered this past winter.

TENTATIVE JUNE AND JULY SCHEDULES NOW POSTED:

Since Elite utilizes 5 separate pools for practices in June and July, tentative schedules are now posted to provide membership with advanced information as to the practice schedule. The link is: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm.

Please be sure to check the 3 week schedule on a regular basis for updated information.

DIRECTIONS TO CROMWELL POOL NOW POSTED:

Elite has contracted with the Cromwell Pool, located in Morristown (off Columbia Turnpike/Columbia Turnpike) to rent their pool during the summer mornings for the Wavebuster Teals-Believers 3 training group. Elite will be renting the Cromwell Pool Monday thru Thursday, from 7:15 am to 8:30 am. In addition, the Wavebuster Teals-Believer 3’s have one scheduled practice a week in the long course pool at Springfield (Sunday mornings 6:30 am to 8:15 am).

The directions, along with directions to Summit Municipal and SPringfiled Municipal are located on the team website at: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm

The summer schedule for the remaining groups will remain the same (with the slight alteration of an earlier start time and 15 minutes longer per practice at MBS for Wavebuster Blacks-Believers 2 on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s. The schedule from June 21 thru July 31 is now posted on the team website under practice schedule. http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm

WAVE BLACKS PARENT MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 26:

In his continuing effort to personally receive feedback from Elite parents regarding the Age Group program, Bill will host a training group specific parents meeting next week for the Wavebuster Blacks-Believers 2 Training Group on Wednesday, May 26 at Newark Academy from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm

Bill meet with the Wavebuster Teals-Believers 3 Training Group last Thursday, May 13 at Newark Academy

Each of these meetings have two purposes: 1) for Bill to receive feedback regarding the program from the Parents; specifically regarding their concerns regarding stroke technique work and 2) for Bill to present an outline (to be adjusted as parents provide information) as to what is being planned for next winter to provide a more structured and efficient way of providing stroke technique to Elite Swimmers on a daily/weekly/monthly and seasonal basis.

SOMERSET PATRIOTS HONOR US (SWIMMERS!!!):

PUT JUNE 28^TH ON YOUR CALENDAR!!!

BUY SEATS IN SECTION 217!!! & PRIOR TO JUNE 8 FOR DISCOUNT;

The Somerset Patriots, a local professional Minor League Baseball team, will be honoring Swimmers this summer with a special night at the ballpark! On Monday June 28, the Patriots will be holding Swim Night at their home park in Bridgewater, New Jersey (just off Route 287 South).

The night will be dedicated to a swim theme. The Patriots will provide a special appearance by a well known swimmer, scoreboard recognition & public address announcement to each NJ swim team that participates, a pre-game parade and multiple opportunities for participate in on-field activities.

Given the complexity of trying to coordinate getting seats together, Elite Swim Club members should buy seats directly from the Patriots in Section 217. That way, Elite parents and children can sit in close proximity to each other!!! Buying the tickets prior to June 8 will provide a discount on the tickets!!!

In recognition of this night, Elite will cancel the 4 pm-6 pm practice at MBS on Monday, June 28 so swimmers and their families are free to attend this event.

WITH MEETS ON THE HORIZON; NEW TIMING COORDINATORS WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU

Parents of Elite swimmers are asked to add the following four email addresses to your e-mail address book to ensure you receive important information regarding Elite Hosted Meets, Timing Information for all other meets and Parent Association Information.  Adding the e-mail addresses will insure that these important e-mails do not go to your junk/spam folder.

Carolyn Balbo -                     cbalbo@comcast.net

Sanjeeta Mukherjee -            sanjumukhe@gmail.com

Sue Duren -                            sueduren@aol.com

Antone Balbo -                      abalbo@comcast.net

TENTATIVE SPRING/SUMMER MEET SCHEDULE POSTED:

The tentative Spring/Summer Meet Schedule is now posted on the team website. The link is: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Meet%20Schedule/homepage.htm.

This schedule is “tentative” in that Elite, will attempt to compete in the non-championship meets (Summer Solstice, Summer Sizzle & Friday Night) but could be shut out of these meets.

Elite will definitely compete in a meet hosted by Tidal Wave of Union in early to mid May (short course & for Wave Teals-Believers 3, Marlin Blacks-Explorers 2 and Marlin Teals-Explorers 1). Elite has already entered Memorial Day meet (meet and event information posted on the website) and will co-host the Tiger Challenge thus guaranteeing participation. All teams are accepted into the championship meets.

PARENTS: PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP SWIMMERS:

Parents are requested to be prompt in picking up their swimmers at the end of practice. Recently, especially after the Wave Golds on weekdays and the Wave Teals on Saturday, swimmers have had to wait 30-45 minutes after practice for their ride.

Bill has asked the coaches to remain at practice until the last child has been picked up (for the obvious safety reasons). Coaches are more than willing to do so occasionally. But Elite coaches have other full time jobs and several are attending school in addition to their primary jobs and coaching. It is unfair to ask the coaches to spend an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for parents to pick up their children virtually every night.

Elite is prompt about ending practice on time. Please help out the coaches by being prompt to pick up your child.

CLOTHING ITEMS PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THRU ESCPO NOW IN: CONTACT ALLISON NASH:

The clothing items previously purchased thru ESCPO have arrived. Parents are encouraged to contact Allison Nash to arrange pick-up at Newark Academy. Allison’s email address is ALLISONRNASH@MSN.COM.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE WEBSITE:

If you have questions about Elite, your first source of information is Elite’s website located at eliteswimclub.org. When in doubt, first check the website!!!