Fighting Fish
Swimming Team

By-Laws

April 1999
REV. 3

ARTICLE I GENERAL
SECTION 1 Team Name
This organization shall be called the Forest Ridge Association Fighting Fish Swimming Team.
SECTION 2 Membership
The Team shall be a member of the Miami Valley Swimming Association (MVSA) and be governed by the MVSA By-Laws.
SECTION 3 Swimmer Requirements
a. The membership of the Team is open to any child five to eighteen years of age whose parents are members in good standing of the Forest Ridge Association (FRA).
b. Membership is open to employees of the Forest Ridge Pool, and swim team staff meeting age requirements.
c. Dues shall be collected at the beginning of each swim season. Participation in swimming meets is possible after payment in full of these dues.
d. The child must be able to swim at least one length of the pool (25 meters) in a form acceptable to the coach. The coach will not teach swimming lessons, only new strokes and stroke improvement.

ARTICLE II OPERATION
SECTION 1 General
a. The Forest Ridge Association Fighting Fish shall be operated under the general guidance of the FRA Board of Trustees.
b. The Secretary will provide Registration forms to the Murmurs staff for publication in the April and May issues of the Forest Ridge Murmurs.
c. The Secretary will provide the Murmurs staff the annual schedule of meets, with home meets highlighted, for publication in the June and July issues of the Forest Ridge Murmurs.

SECTION 2 Transportation
Transportation to and from home and away swimming meets is the responsibility of the swimmer or the swimmer's family.
SECTION 3 FRA Pool
The operation of the FRA pool is at the discretion of the Forest Ridge Association, as represented by the Board of Trustees, and the FRA pool manager. By special agreement between the Board of Trustees and the Team:
a. For home swimming meets the FRA pool shall be closed to open swimming during the swimming meet and for one hour before the swimming meet.
b. An FRA Pool supervisor must be at the pool for each home swimming meet.
c. All capital equipment purchased for the swimming team shall remain the property of the FRA.

ARTICLE III FINANCE
SECTION 1 General
a. The FRA Fighting Fish Swimming Team is responsible to the FRA Board of Trustees for all operating financial matters. During the first season of operation, the FRA advanced the team funds to cover initial operating expenses. Attachment C provides a detailed description of this advance and the financial agreement between the FRA and the Team.
b. The swimming team will operate under a balanced budget. The swimming team Treasurer will submit an operating and capital equipment budget annually to the FRA Board of Trustees.
SECTION 2 Dues
a. Dues are $35 a season per swimmer.
b. No single family shall pay dues of more than $90 per swimming season.
c. Dues are payable to the swimming team Treasurer at the beginning of the swimming season and must be accompanied by a completed registration form.
d. The amount of the dues (item a. and b.) shall be reviewed each season, and any changes will be announced at the beginning of each season.
SECTION 3 Financial Operations
a. The swimming team Treasurer shall maintain informal financial records acceptable to the FRA Board of Trustees.
b. Registration forms and dues shall be mailed to or delivered to the swimming team Treasurer.
c. All collected monies shall be promptly turned over to the FRA Board of Trustees Treasurer.
d. All swimming team expenses shall be according to the annual budget approved by the FRA Board of Trustees. Expenditures shall be accounted for by receipt.

ARTICLE IV ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1 Swimming Team Committee
a. The parents or guardians of the swimming team members shall select a committee at the end of each season to serve a two year term. The terms will be staggered such that all terms will not expire simultaneously. See Attachment A for term expiration dates.
b. Previously serving Committee members may be reelected after one year out of the position on the Committee.
c. New Committee members will work with the out going Committee member during the season before the new term for training.
d. The Committee shall be comprised of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer/Registrar, Concessions, Duty Roster, Equipment, Fund Raiser, Swim Records, Awards, Parking, and Team Representative.
e. These By-Laws can be changed by majority vote of the Committee.
f. The current Committee members are listed in Attachment A.
g. Duties of the Committee:
1. Chairperson
Fill all Team Committee positions.
Maintain communications with the coaches and assist with any problems that arise and need parent support.
Act as the meet Director for all home meets.
Attend the FRA Board of Trustees meetings and the MVSA meetings as representative of the Team.
Schedule Team Committee meetings as directed in Section 2 of this article, and as necessary to operate the Team.
2. Secretary (A computer is useful.)
Make copies of the Team Roster, with swimmers' and parents' name, address, and phone number (nominally), and distribute them to team members.
Prepare an article for the April and May Forest Ridge Murmurs recruiting new members for the swimming team and other articles as required by these By-Laws.
Prepare the swim team registration form for the April and May Forest Ridge Murmurs.
Make 200 copies of the registration form to be placed at the FRA pool when it opens for the season.
Prepare the schedule of meets, with home meets highlighted, for the June and July issues of the Forest Ridge Murmurs.
Prepare an end of the season newsletter in August, updating team members and their families on total results, financial status of the team, and plans for next season.
Prepare an article for the September Murmurs compiling the results of the swimming team.
Maintain copies of all Committee and swim meet job descriptions.
3. Treasurer/Registrar (A computer is extremely useful.)
Prepare annual swimming team operating and capital budgets.
Collect dues and registration forms.
Maintain registration forms for the duration of the season.
Compile a roster of swim team members, their addresses, phone numbers, and their parent's names.
Collect concession stand monies at the end of each swimming meet.
Keep a running tally of income and expenses and a running balance of money the swim team has. Format of the records will be coordinated with the FRA Board of Trustees Treasurer.
Turn over all money and receipts to the FRA Board of Trustees Treasurer.
4. Concessions (this position requires two persons)
Store food and supplies from meet to meet and between swimming seasons.
Buy all food supplies for each swimming meet. Operate within the approved budget and provide receipts for all expenditures to the Treasurer.
Set up, run, and take down the concession stand for each home swimming meet.
Count all money earned at each meet and turn in to Treasurer.
5. Duty Roster
Pass out a list of all positions needed to be filled at each home and away swimming meets. See attachment B for a list of needed positions.
Have a list of the positions at the first parents' meeting of the season.
Get a roster of the team members and their parents from the Secretary and fill all positions for home and away meets.
6. Equipment
Keep a running inventory of all equipment owned by FRA for the swimming team.
Estimate the budget for capital equipment and repair expenses and submit to the Treasurer for the annual budget.
Order any additional or replacement equipment the swim needs consistent with the approved budget.
Have capital equipment expenditures approved by the Swimming Team Committee. The Swimming Team Treasurer will notify the FRA Board of Trustees before the capital expenditure.
Maintain and repair any equipment or make arrangements for the equipment to be repaired at the swimming team's expense, consistent with the approved budget.
Set up and tear down equipment for home swimming meets.
Provide for a suitable storage area for all equipment.
7. Fund Raiser
Plan and coordinate any fund raising activities.
Collect all funds raised and turn them over to the Treasurer, in a timely manner.
Account for all funds raised.
8. Swim Records (Requires a computer, software will be provided.)
Record the times of the Fighting Fish swimmers after each swimming meet.
Determine FRA pool and league records for the Fighting Fish.
Maintain meet sheets for one year after each season meet.
9. Parking
Arrive at least one hour before each home meet.
Recruit three assistants for each home meet and provide the names to the Duty Roster Committee member before the meet.
Provide parking direction and control at all home meets.
Be familiar with local parking laws.
10. Awards
Purchase participation awards at the end of the season.
Coordinate with Head Coach for special awards such as most improved.
Purchase coaches' awards.
Order participation ribbons for next season.
Organize the end of season awards banquet.
Budget for the awards and banquet must be approved by simple majority of the Team Committee, consistent with the operating budget.
SECTION 2 Committee meetings
Team Committee meetings will be held once preseason, before home meets, and postseason. Additional meetings will be scheduled by the Team Committee Chairperson as required.
SECTION 3 Coaches
a. The swimming team Committee is responsible for the recruitment and hiring of coaches for the swimming team.
b. The number of head and assistant coaches shall be set by the Committee at the end of each season for the next swimming season.
c. Coaches salaries shall be consistent with the swimming team annual budget and subject to approval by the FRA Board of Trustees.
d. One half the salaries are to be paid by check on 1 July; the second half to be paid by check on 1 August unless that coach's employment has been ended.
e. The Head Coach may elect to hire more assistant coaches than set by the Committee. Then, the Head Coach will notify the Committee by 1 June of the assistant coaches' names and salary. The combined salary of the assistant coaches will not exceed the total salary of one assistant coach as set by the Committee.
f. Coaches will be at all practices or find a suitable replacement.
g. The Committee may end the employment of a coach by simple majority vote.