Dear Sandshark Parents

Dear Sandshark Parents,

Please read the job descriptions carefully. Fulfilling your volunteer role at Open Water is part of your contractual obligation to our swim team; it cannot happen without all hands on deck. Please remember that a fee will be assessed to anyone failing to complete their volunteer role at Open Water. We cannot safely and efficiently run this meet without our volunteers— every meet your child attends is run by volunteers, and this race allows us to give back to all the teams who have supported your child’s swimming through their volunteers’ hours.

To sign up, click on the job sign up link on the NC Open Water Champs meets page. Please note that hours will vary, based upon what your committee head needs.

Small children are welcome—every year, we have plenty of younger siblings running around. It is not a problem; the venue is “kid friendly.” Please note, however, that USA Swimming will not permit them to be in the lake at any time—the lake is our “pool” and only USA members are permitted in it.

We are running races on Friday PM, all day Saturday, and Sunday AM. Committee heads will assign you to your hours, which may be Fri/Sun for some jobs; all day Saturday for others; or in some cases, a combination of part of Saturday and either Friday or Sunday. You may have some say in it; however, our priority is for the meet to work and have all positions covered.

Each family must provide 1 volunteer for approx. 9 or more hours (Saturday runs 6:00 am to 6 PM; shifts may be available, depending on job descriptions. Listed hours are conservative). If you absolutely cannot provide a volunteer, please find someone 18/over to take your spot… many college kids will do it for $75 or so. It is your responsibility to find a sub.

Registration for volunteering closes on April 30; at that point, parents will be assigned to open positions.

We cannot guarantee your choices, but will do the best we can. For example, we need parents from all squads to be on parking/venue control, so all parents have a chance to rotate and see their kids’ races. Most years, we need to move about 15% of our volunteers around.

Finish Line/Shoreline/Medical Volunteers—Volunteers will be assigned to finish line to hand out water and bananas, plus seat top finishers and remove tags. Finish line volunteers may also assist with hospitality/concessions as needed. Medical professionals can be on hand to assist EMS as well.

Awards--Assist with awarding winners, organizing awards, placing winners in their chairs, taking photos during award ceremonies, seeing that sponsors are in place for awards, and coordinating with sponsorship people to ensure proper signs are up., plus adding up Poseidon swimmers’ times (top finishers). Someone needs to coordinate with the timers for results and see that they are posted, too. Venue Set up/ Clean Up/Break Down Volunteers--Set up/break down fencing barriers, finish line area, assembling tents, moving kayaks, signs, other event prep. Clean up the area after the races including: helping gather garbage and any other activities that may be needed to break down after the event. Some break down will be on Saturday; some on Sunday following the final Zones race. Fri and Sunday, set up volunteers will be on call to assist with other jobs during the races. This job is primarily for Fri/Sun volunteers.

Registration—Checks in swimmers, manages Poseidon swimmers, marks bodies with tattoos, communicates with FS Series (timing company) and meet officials regarding race assignment changes and race numbers.

Parking/Dam control—Saturday only. Drives shuttle vans between horse pasture and dam. We shuttle over 1000 people. This job is extremely important to running this meet smoothly. Place signs up ahead of time. Rotate with providing dam control (illegal parking on sides of roads, trash pick up, keeping folks off of dam side of road and preventing parents from entering race set up area, which serves as our deck). We need volunteers from different squads so all parents have a chance to see their kids swim.

Concessions—sells pizza, drinks, and helps with procurement of ice, distribution of bananas and water. Assists hospitality and finish line as needed. Ahead of time, purchase items to be sold and arrange for pizza.

Hospitality: Mans table for sponsors, coaches and meet officials; helps organize catered food to see that it all arrives at venue. Ahead of time, organizes bananas and water for athletes and during the race helps with distribution of them at the finish line.

Water Safety/boats—uses kayaks, paddleboards to guard/possibly rescue as needed swimmers on water. Must follow directions of lead safety person and referees. Communicates via walkie talkie with meet officials. May operate a motorized boat, if qualified.