FUNDRAISING & PARENT PARTICIPATION

  The Berlin Bear-a-Cudas is the swim club of the parent-run Sports Club John-F-Kennedy School (SC JFKS).

  The not-for-profit Berlin Bear-a-Cudas Swim Club is run by a volunteer parent board. The Board organizes all swim classes, arranges and pays for class instruction, reserves pool lanes at the BBB, rents pool   time for all  meets, pays for insurance fees, covers coaching salaries, and handles all financial obligations for the Bear-a-Cudas. The board also coordinates all competitive events with the EFSL, and sometimes arranges some team and individual travel for away meets. All board members are volunteers and do not receive salaries from the club.

  Each family's nominal, yearly team swim fee contributes to the costs of running the swim club. But it is not enough.

  We rely on food donations for the bake sales and swim meet concession stands. We also count on each family to volunteer their time to help run team events.

  Therefore, parent participation with the Bear-a-Cudas Swim Club is a requirement for membership. To help the Berlin Bear-a-Cudas Club and Team run more smoothly, we ask that all families (whether part of the JFKS community or not) please contribute to the team through fundraising and volunteering.

   FUNDRAISING

   The Berlin Bear-a-Cudas must run bi-annual fundraising events such as waffle sales and bake sales to make up the difference between the team's operating costs and incoming swim fees. We also ask that you please contribute food and other items to the concession stand that we run at all home swim meets. The income we generate from these events goes directly back to cover the club's operating costs listed above.

   Some ways you might be asked to help with fundraising are:

  1. Baked goods donations for Bake Sale Fundraisers
  2. Food donations for concession stand at all home swim meets
  3. Sales assistance during school-hour bake sale at JFKS 
  4. Selling waffles or other fundraising items to neighbors, friends, family, etc.
  5. Soliciting donations from local companies

 

   VOLUNTEERING

    All parents of children participating with the Bear-a-Cudas club (regardless of where the child is enrolled at school) must volunteer at least 20 hours per swim season.

   Parental participation is required in a variety of volunteer activities and committees, in order to help the swim team program stay organized and fun. Your help at the swim meets helps make the event run smoothly, and also helps strengthen the team community and spirit. Family involvement is fun for swimmers and families alike.

  Some volunteering roles include:

   "Jobs" each Home Swim Meet, Divisionals and Champs

  1. Sales assistance at Bake Sales (see below)
  2. Board positions
  3. Selling and organizing apparel
  4. Photography at all meets
  5. Web, design or graphic design assistance
  6. Fundraising leadership and management

   Parents should plan on working each home swim meet and sign-up for one committee. Jobs are not difficult, but necessary.  If you are new to the team-- don't worry-- experienced families and board members will help you understand the roles. A description of the swim meet jobs is included in The Handbook so you can choose a position that fits your interests and schedule. 

   When we have the cooperation of all parents, meets run very smoothly and no one should have to work more than one shift. It is your responsibility to sign up for jobs IN ADVANCE.  If you do not sign up for a position in advance, one will be assigned to you.  If you are unable to work as scheduled, it would be greatly appreciated if you would find a replacement worker.  Alternatively, if you choose not to volunteer throughout the season we ask that you contribute at least €5 per volunteer hour to cover your absence.

   Meet schedules and job schedules will be posted well in advance to help our families plan and make arrangements as necessary.