Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2025.  With a new year, brings another (fast approaching) swim team season for our neighborhood and friends. 

I am gearing up up for the NWAL season kick off meeting at the end of this month.  I thought it would mark a good time to reach out to everyone and say hello.  This may be a lengthy ready, but please stick with me as there is really good info here.

Your swim team board had good wrap up meeting at the end of last season.  Many good ideas were shared so I wanted to highlight some of them with yall.  

• One important area that needs attention is fundraising.  We have costly equipment that has been good to us for many years and past life expectancy.  But we are on borrowed time...  We are needing new blocks, new lane ropes, and looking into a timing system and more.  All these things are costly.  Deerfield strives to keep costs down for swimmers thru sponsorships, but that leaves limited funds to put into new equipment.  I would like to see if we have some volunteers that would be willing to join a small committee to brainstorm, plan and execute some strong fundraising efforts in 2025.  The idea would be for fundraising events to not happen during swim season.  As we all know, swim season is fast and furious, and leaves little time for additional focus.  These events would be Feb-March and August-December focused.  PLEASE LET ME OR ANY BOARD MEMBER KNOW IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO HELP HERE.
• The Board is looking into a Tadpole program that would run along side our regular swim season.  This program would be geared for a very small group of our littlest swimmers. This program would require volunteer assistance.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS OR HAVE AN INTEREST IN HELPING OUT.
• The Board would really like to explore new ways to come together and enjoy time with our fellow Dolphin families outside of the pool and swim season.  There were a number of ideas shared, but we are always looking for more.  PLEASE LET ME OR ANY BOARD MEMBER KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ASSIST WITH.
• Lastly (for tonight's email), I am going to make a plea that everyone has heard before, but it is vital to Deerfield Dolphins continued success.  WE NEED YOU TO BE INVOLVED!!  As we prepare for the 2025 swim season, we need all roles filled.  If you have been wondering what a task/role entails, please reach out.  If you want to get more involved, let me know ---- we can find something that compliments your strengths.  If you served a role in 2024 and you will NOT be returning to do in 2025, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP.  I know we have some key spots that will be needed for this year.  On the flip side of that..... If you have an interest in ANY role, please reach out to express that interest so we can explore it with you.  After Covid, I reached out to Jenny Krummel and said I have some more free time, what can I do?  It was a really positive experience to be able to have a season or two where I "dipped my toes in" and shadowed her before taking on the full role. Below is a quick list (totally off top of my head) of positions/roles within our organization.  Please note the time that I am typing this, I know I forgot some.  See something that interests you, PLEASE contact me and we can talk about it.  
  • President/Team Rep (can be done together or separate)
  • Clerk of Course
  • Officials (3 levels - Stroke and Turn, Starter, Referee)
  • Lead set up
  • Concessions lead
  • Concessions set up
  • Grill Master lead
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Merchandise
  • Sponsorship
  • Treasurer
  • Announcer
  • Ready Bench/On Deck lead
  • Ribbons/Awards
  • Lead timer
  • Computers/Scoring
  • Events Coordinator

If you are still reading, I so appreciate it!!  I think we are off to an awesome 2025 season start.  More information will be coming in the next couple of months so stay tuned.  Tell your friends, invite them to join us, ask your work for sponsorship... there are so many ways that you can make a difference to the Dolphins!!  

Final note -- if you know anyone interesting in our assistant coaching roles, please have them reach out to me as soon as possilbe.

Take care all and I can't wait to see everyone by the pool!!!

Erinn Brown