It is November 1st and it is Brute Squad time! We are ready to get things rolling. The first step for you as a swimmer is to find a counter, and then sign up!
It is that time of year to start thinking about your goals as a swimmer. I want to give you all a chance to share your goals with our coaching staff. We'll post a link soon for you to share your goals with us. It is very helpful for us to know what you are trying to achieve in 2022 (its right around the corner!) and beyond.
This Saturday we will have another Brute Squad workout from 9-10am. There will be no charge for this special coach's hour workout.
As we enter the colder months, the pools are covered to help keep then warm at night. That means that we must uncover and cover the pools daily. At Arroyo, pool setup includes the covers, lane line, and flags. Gates open at 5:45 for setup. Its easy and only takes a few minutes. Please consider coming to your 6AM workout 15 minutes early, or staying a little late after 6:15PM practice (or after Arroyo 6AM) and pitch in! “Many hands make light work.”
Thanksgiving!?! Please mark your calendar, Arroyo will not have practice the day after Thanksgiving: Friday, November 26th.
There was a reported case of a swimmer testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday, Oct 29. This swimmer attended the Civic 11AM practices on Monday-Thursday, was tested later on Thursday, and received the positive result on Friday. The swimmer is recovering and has not attended any practices since Thursday. We have notified those swimmers who shared a lane and may have been exposed. For those swimmers, and for any others who are concerned, testing information and recommendations can be found at: https://healthydavistogether.org/. This person was fully vaccinated, so this is an important reminder to all members that breakthrough infections are possible even when you are fully vaccinated. We want to thank this member for immediately notifying DAM and assisting us in the efforts of contact tracing and notifications. We ask and hope that all DAM members do the same should they have a positive test result.
13th Annual Ross Yancher Brute Squad & Brute Squad Lite
The 13th Annual Ross Yancher Brute Squad Swim OPENS TODAY!
Online entries (entries must be received by Dec 28, 2021.
For the first time in 13 years, ANY DAM or USMS athlete can participate, swim & enter the Brute Squad or Brute Squad Lite! We've added a new Non-Competition Category!
You can do your Brute Squad swim between now and Saturday, Dec 18. During this time, Coach Steve has set aside ONE LANE per WORKOUT, every TUESDAY & THURSDAY. Sign up sheets available at Civic and Arroyo pools - ask the Coach on Deck.
CHECK OUT the cool 2021 Brute Squad GEAR! GRAND OPENING of the BRUTE SQUAD STORE is this later this week, and will remain open through December 27th.
Let's all be Brutes this year!
Lake Berryessa Swim
The Annual Lake Berryessa Swim is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2021!
After a two year hiatus, DAM's annual open water swim at Lake Berryessa will return this summer.
There is a LOT to do to get this event running. We are excited that DAM swimmer Kim Ellsbach has stepped up to take on the role of Race Director this year. Kim has a lot of experience with competetive swimming, and has been involved with our Lake Berryessa swim for many years. Board member Kate Stephenson will also play a big role in the event. Thank you, Kim and Kate!
We are seeking volunteers to assist Kim as co-race director(s). The role is flexible, but we hope to find DAM members who can learn the ropes and become a race director in 2023. If you are interested in helping in this key role, please contact DAM board member Andy McPherson.
We are also excited to have an advisory group of past race directors to help Kim get Berryessa jump started this year. This group includes Stu&Mary Kahn, Trish Price, and Melanie Gentles. In addition, board member Greg Stoner is developing an up-to-date 'How To Run Your Own Lake Berryessa Swim" manual for use in future races. It will use a race "task outline" written by Stu and Mary, and will draw on our years of historical knowledge about the event.
June is a long time away, but for now lets all hope for lots of rain (we need to fill that lake up)! Stay tuned for more in the coming months!
Board Candidate Statements
There are three candidates for the upcoming DAM Board election. Their statements are below. Balloting will begin next week.
Stuart Kahn
In 1997 our family moved to Davis to lead the Aquadart youth program and I have been a swimmer and coach for DAM since then. I was an assistant and substitute coach at DAM for 10 years before taking the head coach position in 2008, which continued through my retirement last April. My 30-year experience serving on aquatic boards of directors include positions with Sierra Nevada Swimming, Pacific Masters Swimming, and US Masters Swimming. During my tenure as DAM head coach, I attended 148 board meetings and am well-versed in club policies, procedures, and local politics. My first interest as a board member will be participating in the recruitment process currently underway for a permanent head coach. I will also propose investigating the creation of a new DAM position encompassing the roles of webmaster, communications director, and office manager. With membership numbers over 500 and nearly 50 coached practices per week, the need for consistent communication and administration is paramount. I am committed to seeing DAM reorganize itself back to full-time leadership and along with my wife, Mary, plan on staying with the club for the foreseeable future.
Dan Sperka
My name is Dan Sperka and I would like to serve on the DAM board for a two year term. I’ve been on the board for the past two years, and I also served two terms from 2011 through 2014. I’ve been heavily involved with DAM’s back-office operations, website, and COVID-era scheduling. I have been a DAM member since 2004, and you’ll find me at Arroyo during the week, and at the Saturday morning Civic workouts. Over the years I’ve met a lot of great people through DAM, had great coaches, and had some great times. Serving on the board is my way of giving back. The past two years have been difficult for all of us. DAM has definitely had its share of troubles. But DAM is a terrific group of people with a deep well of knowledge, experience, energy, and dedication, and together we’ve managed to do all right. I think we are emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever, and I’d like to continue to build on what we’ve done. It has been a privilege to help guide DAM through it all, and I'd like an opportunity to continue serving on the board.
Kevin Waterson
The past four years of serving DAM as a member of the board of directors has been both incredibly taxing and incredibly rewarding. The tireless efforts it takes to run a club of this size are only outweighed by the incredible sense of community this club offers its members. There is no organization to which I would rather give my heart and soul. The many challenges we have had, and will continue to face, are no match for a passionate and hardworking group, and I hope to continue the amazing work of representing DAM members for one more term.
Memorial Service for Scott Allison
Scott's family is hosting a Celebration of Life for Scott this Friday. The event is in-person, but a portion of it will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. More info (and an RSVP) here.
If you don't receive a confirmation email of your lane and station, or can't find it by 3pm Friday, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us (webmaster@damfast.org or djsperka@gmail.com).
