FAST has put in place a requirement for our families to contribute a minimum number of volunteer manhours each six months.

We have chosen to do this to help achieve a more-equitable distribution of the considerable workload of running our organization. We also hope that we will be able to accomplish more of our team objectives that in the past have been limited by the workload of a few "doers".

We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with professional coaches and unpaid volunteer administrators. The bulk of our income goes to pay our pool rent and coach salaries. If we were to pay for team administration tasks presently done by our hard-working volunteers, your expenses would easily double. When parents become more involved in the sport, their swimmers enjoy it more and are more successful.

Each family that has a swimmer on our roster for 3 months of a six-month period shall be required to contribute and document 10 hours of approved service. The six-month period shall be September 1 through the last day of February, and March 1 through the end of August. This plan shall go into effect on September 1, 2001. If a family does not have a swimmer on the roster for 3 of the 6 months, no fee is assessed. Donations in excess of 10 hours will not carry over to any successive 6-month period, nor can they be transferred among families. The volunteer hours must be documented by the family and approved before the end of the six-month period. Any family member may perform the work as appropriate for the task.

The FAST board will appoint a Volunteer Hours Coordinator who will be responsible for keeping records of individual family's contributions and for working with our treasurer. At present, Lori Plamondon is our coordinator. When you are performing work for the team, you will need to fill out a volunteer hours form indicating the date, time, your name, the activity. You will need to get a signature from a coach or board member verifying that the activity is approved and that the work was performed. Lori can also recommend activities to our members as appropriate. There is a folder in the file cabinet for signed, completed forms. Most months there will be a sticker on your FAST bill indicating how many hours of service we have documented for your family.

Families contributing less than the 10-hour minimum will be assessed the full $100 on the last day of the 6-month period. This opt-out fee will not be prorated.

These lists are not all-inclusive but are intended to represent qualified activities. We highly recommend that you plan in advance how you will satisfy your obligation to avoid a last-minute rush. Our intent is that approved activities are those which provide a more equitable distribution of work and help FAST achieve its mission. Approved activites are for the team's benefit, not just a few individuals.

Qualified Volunteering Activities:

• Working at FAST-hosted swim meets: staffing positions on the volunteer sign-up sheet, performing work otherwise requested by the Meet Director, such as:
  • Meet set-up or clean-up
  • Supervising Meet Hospitality or Concessions Stand
  • Clerk of Course
  • Safety Marshall
  • Computer Operations, Colorado Timing System Operations
  • Awards Desk
  • Selling Meet Programs
  • Head Timer, Timer or Runner
• Officiating at any meet sanctioned by North Texas LSC or LMSC
• Being a timer at any away meet sanctioned by USA Swimming
• Telephone tree to communicate FAST business
• Accepting a board position and fulfilling the written duties of the position
• Accepting a non-board position appointed by the board and fulfilling the duties of the position:
  • Team Registrations Coordinator
  • Safety Coordinator
  • Volunteer Hours Coordinator
  • Chevrons/Stars Coordinator
  • Monitor to supervise the lobby and seating area during WGAC practices (requires commitment)
  • Team-designated chaperone (e.g. Altitude Camp, travel meet)
• Assisting a board member who has requested help:
  • Pool Parent helper for tryouts and/or new swimmer sign-up
  • Swim Store operations or picking up merchandise
  • Handing out fliers for Membership
  • Newsletter and Billing distribution for the Secretary
  • Fielding or returning phonecalls or email from prospective members
  • Picking up mail from the team P.O. box and other errands
  • Making photocopies as requested by coaches or board members
  • Organizing the pool bulletin board on request of the Pool Parent
• Organizing and preparing for approved team functions (including decorating facilities):
  • Spring Awards Banquet, Christmas Dinner
  • Championships Dinner (a.k.a. "TAGS Dinner")
  • Other team outting approved by the board (e.g. Rangers game, team picnic)
  • Team fundraising event organizer (e.g. Swim-A-Thon, garage sale)
• Attending an LSC, LMSC or TSA meeting to represent and vote for FAST
• Attending an LSC clinic to fulfill a FAST obligation
• Fulfilling team requirements assigned by the LSC or LMSC (eg: TAGS proof-of-times desk or timer; activities for USA-S convention)
• Donating professional services requested by the FAST board (e.g. legal, medical, expert consulting)
• Time spend repairing or purchasing FAST equipment

Ineligible Volunteer Activity

• Attending a FAST swim meet without working a position assigned by the Meet Director.
• Attending a Parent meeting, banquet, dinner, fundraiser, or other team function.
• Attending a board meeting unless you are a board member or your presence is requested by the board.
• Carpooling to practice or meets.
• Performing work not approved by the board
• Providing services which are not needed (eg: 3rd person staffing a 2-person job)
• Time spent soliciting and collecting individual Swim-A-Thon pledges and other individually-credited fundraising donations
• Any paid hours, whether by FAST or another entity.
• Casual effort less than an hour with little inconvenience or commitment required, eg, parent already at pool
• Time spent shopping or preparing items for small meet hospitality donations
• Performing services for a member of the board or coaching staff that are not FAST business.
• Attending a training function for personal education and benefit
• Normal transportation time and breaks