Coach's Comments
(Due to some technical errors some of you may not have received the Jan newsletter.  Therefore, some of it is reprinted here!)
Coach’s Comments
Happy New Year!  It’s 2009, a new year.  Even though we’re nearing the end of the season I like to use the new year’s resolution tradition to reevaluate season goals.  Ask yourself these questions:
1. What are my season goals?  This is a good reminder of what you’re working toward.
2. What have I done to work towards my goals? Be specific!
3. How can I do more or be better?  Be specific!
4. Where is there improvement left?  In other words, if you’ve already improved your streamline, what else is there to work on?
5. If you’ve already met your season goal make a new one! (OK, I know, that’s not a questions, but a necessary part of the assessment!)
6. What do I need to change in order to stay or get back on track?  Maybe nothing!  If you’re making good progress toward your goals then you may not need to change anything!

Remember to stay focused as we are nearing championship season!  High Schoolers Districts which is their first championship meet and club states soon.  All kids have the team champs in March!  Masters have the Association (state) meet coming up in April in Bend.

Practice Schedule Changes
Practice schedule will change on the week of Feb 23.
Kids
Novice: Tue/Thur/Fri 5-6:15pm
AGR 1: Tue/Thur/Fri 5-6:30pm
AGR 2: Tue/Thur/Fri 5-7pm
HS: Mon/Wed 4-6pm, Fri 5-7pm, Sat 8-10am
AGR 3 & SR: Mon/Wed 4-6pm, Tue/Thur/Fri 5-7pm, Sat 8-10am

Masters
Mon - Fri 6-7:30am
Tue/Thur/Fri 6-7pm
Sat 8-10am

Kids Krazyness
Upcoming Meets :
-HS Districts 5A and 4A Feb 13 and 14 at Willamalane and Albany respectively.
-HS States 5A and 4A Feb 19-21 at Mt Hood Community College.
-11-14 states Feb 27-March 1 in Corvallis for Qualified swimmers.
-Senior States March 6-8 in McMinneville Oregon. 
-Mini Meet (Novice - AGR 1) on Sat, Feb 21, 10am, at Cottage Grove.
-VCSG (Valley Coast Swim Group) Champs!  March 14-15.  This is an all team championship meet and will be at River Road pool this year.  All kids should attend!
-Senior Sectionals, March 11-14 in Federal Way for Qualified swimmers.

-Look for Lap-a-thon packets to come out this month!  We’ll be doing our annual lap-a-thon on Sat, Feb 28 at Echo Hollow Pool.  This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year!  Kids get people to sponsor them for laps they swim in 1 hour.  We’ll do a raffle for the swimmers that are present.  Make sure to get your packets and go get those sponsors!!!!

Masters Moments
Upcoming Meets & Events:
-Make Sure to renew your Masters Registration.  They have online registration available on the USMS website now.  Or print it out and mail it from the OMS website.  Not only do you get a cool oregon newsletter but you get a magazine too! 
-Kids Lap-a-thon is Sat, Feb 28.  There will still be practice but if you can plan on sponsoring a child toward their fundraising goal! 
-Association State Champs April 17-19 in Bend, OR.  Mark your calendars now!  This is a super fun event for all swimmers of any ability or age.  We usually go out to dinner together one night and hang out at the meet.  Last year we had about 10 swimmers.  Let’s beat that number this year!!
-Great job to all that did the 1 hour swim on Jan 31!  We had some really good swims.  Way to go counters too!

Fundraising
Dear members of Emerald Aquatics,

The Board would like to thank everyone who has given money or made a pledge to this year's annual fundraising drive.  The drive will finish at the end of the month.  So far we have money and pledges of approximately $5,000.  The goal for this year is $6,000.  If you would still like to participate this year please talk with either myself or David Fryefield, John Manotti, Emilie Cate, or Coach Gina.

As I have mentioned before, EA currently has 13 USA swimmers on scholarship (more than twice as many as all the other swim teams in the area combined)  In order to achieve the goals of broad participation and opportunities for youth, EA keeps club fees as low as possible, but must supplement fees with fundraising.  The cost of a scholarship for a USA swimmer is $520 dollars a season, or $1,040 a year. 

So far the following people have contributed or made pledges: Dick Weick, John & Lisa Manotti, Jeanette Kessler, Mark Tribe, Steve Flanagan, Davide Fryefield, and Kyle Hoelscher,  Kurt VanderBogart, Steve Johnson & Debra George, Debi Finch, Megan Sullivan, and Greg Henselmen.  Our thanks to each of these people for their support.

In addition to money, EA is also in need of several items:
1) record board, cost around $5,000
2) team suits for USA swimmers on scholarship, cost $400
3) team banner, cost $100
4) physio balls, cost $50
5) exercise bands, cost $50
6) bosu balls, cost $50. 
If you would like to contribute any of those items please talk with Coach Gina. 

Best wishes,
Steve Johnson, President Emerald Aquatics

Education
In the Register Guard on Tue, FEB 10, Outdoor section front page there was an article on the benefits of swimming over other forms of exercise!  In fact this study suggests that in terms of cardio vascular fitness and disease prevention it is far superior to even running!  Check it out! Go swimmers!



Meet and Event Directors
1. Youth Triathlon, Sat, May 9, 7-11am, Echo Hollow Pool.
    We need some people to help out with pre planning such as organizing prizes, snacks, fliers, marking the course, advertisement, and more!  If you are interested in helping out before the day of the event please contact Coach Gina.

2. Mike Morris Swim Meet, Fri - Sun June 19-21, Amazon Pool
    This year we are meet directors.  Donald Blades is our team representative and has been collecting information and going to meetings already! We need someone (or 2-3 someones) who is willing to head this up.  It takes someone that is organized, not necessarily someone that has done it before.  We will coordinate the efforts of the local teams to put this meet on.  This is one of our biggest events all year.  Please contact Coach Gina.