TIME TO DO YOUR PART FOR THE UCONN MEET
The Hurricane Sprints UConn meet June 2-4 is about two weeks away, and there are still a number of families who have not signed up to work the meet or provide food for the concession.
 
As of today, the meet is officially full. Fourteen teams are coming, and 3,598 individual swims have been logged into the computer system. To be the superb meet host that we always are, we need all hands on deck to put on a quality meet for our guest teams and coaches.
 
It is critical that every family of every swimmer who is competing at the meet work and provide items for the concession. If your child is swimming the meet, you are required to provide something for the concession and to work AT LEAST the sessions your child is swimming.
 
We are having an especially hard time filling up our Friday evening and Sunday afternoon sessions.
 
To sign up to work a session or make a food or cash donation, you can visit the team website at www.anahurricanes.com and click on “Schedules” and “Volunteer Sign-Up.”
 
When you work the meet, you will earn credits to defray the cost of your YMCA or U.S. summer team fees. Last year the credit was $50 for each session worked. Please note: The credit amount is dependent on how much profit we make on the meet and how many parents work the sessions. This year’s credit will be calculated once the team has calculated the net profit from the meet.
 
For the concession, each family is required to provide food or make a cash donation. If you plan to give a cash donation, you may sign up for it on the website and then leave the donation at the ANA YMCA front desk in an envelope to the attention of Janet Harty. All checks should be made payable to “ANA YMCA Hurricanes” and turned in before Wednesday, June 1.
 
If you volunteer to bring a food donation and know you will not be at the meet until Saturday afternoon (June 3), you should make arrangements to drop it off at the ANA YMCA no later than Wednesday, June 1.
 
If you have any questions or need to make arrangements to leave a food donation, please contact our concession chair, Diane Moore, at dcmooore37@comcast.net
 
If you have any questions or cannot work one of the sessions that your swimmer is in the pool, please contact Janet Harty, meet director, at pjhartyus@yahoo.com.
 
Final note: Everyone who works the meet should wear either a red ANA T-shirt or another red T-shirt. It makes it easy for visiting teams to recognize who we are and know who to turn to in the event that they need assistance. Janet Harty will have some red ANA T-shirts at the meet for those who need one, but please plan to bring a back-up in case she doesn’t have your size.
 
 
LAST CALL FOR UCONN MEET PROGRAM ADS
Tomorrow (May 19) is the final deadline to submit ads for the Hurricane Sprints program.
 
John Silva has posted the ad template on the team website at http://www.anahurricanes.com and there are copies on the bulletin board at the ANA YMCA for ad submissions.
 
We have several ads from local Connecticut businesses and have some interest from the other teams, so let’s make sure the ANA members are well represented!
 
Small text-only ads are available for only $5. Business card-size ads are $20, and other sizes available up to a full-page ad for $160. Ads must be e-mailed to Lynne Bimmler at bimmler@comcast.net, or if you have printed copy please e-mail or call Lynne at 781-942-1399 to arrange for pick-up. Checks should be made out to “ANA Hurricanes Swim Team.”
 
Again, all ads and payment need to be in by tomorrow, May 19.
 
 
HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS
Because so many North Andover families were affected by last week’s flooding, the town is organizing a clean-up effort this Saturday, May 20, from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
 
If you’re interested in exercising your civic engagement muscles to help your neighbors in need, meet at 7:30 a.m. at the North Andover Fire Station next door to Town Hall on Main Street (across from the Dunkin’ Donuts).
 
Teams of 5 to 6 people will be assigned to remove flood-damaged items from homes, wash floors and walls with disinfectant and do general clean-up of property. Gloves and cleaning supplies will be provided as well as directions to the homes that need assistance and guidelines for doing the work.
 
All volunteers should dress in work clothes and wear boots. Youth volunteer groups should have an adult accompany them.
 
 
T-SHIRT ORDERS ARE BEING TAKEN
For the UConn meet, we will be offering the option of ordering a team T-shirt (like the “Breathing is for Normies” shirt the swimmers ordered for Y Districts, but in orange this time.)
 
We will also be selling a commemorative meet shirt. Because the theme for heat prizes this year is a monkey, the meet T-shirt has a monkey on the back and says, “Monkeys Don’t Swim!” On the front is the meet information with the saying, “I’m Not a Monkey!”
 
Both shirts are adorable and were designed by Margaret Bray, Bobby Medaglio and some of the older swimmers. The artwork was graciously donated by Margaret’s uncle, who is a cartoonist.
 
All shirts are $10 each. Please e-mail Lynne Bimmler (bimmler@comcast.net) with the quantity and size (from Youth XS to Adult XXL).
 
Orders must be in by next Monday, May 22.
 
Anyone ordering a T-shirt needs to leave payment at the ANA YMCA no later than Wednesday, May 31. All checks should be made payable to the ANA YMCA Hurricanes and left in an envelope at the YMCA Front Desk to the attention of Janet Harty.
 
 
WE WANT YOUR INPUT
The ANA YMCA is hosting a series of focus groups for parents as part of a strategic planning process that is being undertaken by the Merrimack Valley YMCA—of which ANA is a part.
 
The Parent Focus Group will help the Y identify the kinds of programming members are seeking and solicit your input on what the YMCA does well and what it could be doing better.
 
So here’s your chance to be heard. All Hurricanes parents are encouraged to attend one of the following sessions at the ANA YMCA:
 
Wednesday, May 31, at 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m.
 
 
NO REGRETS HERE
Bobby Medaglio, a senior at Andover High School, was awarded an ANA YMCA Hurricanes Swim Team Scholarship at the 2006 team banquet in recognition of the fact that he has competed for the ANA Hurricanes during all four years of high school. The $500 scholarship is funded by the ANA Parent Fund, and swimmers are required to write an essay on what the ANA YMCA Hurricanes experience has meant to them. Here is what Bobby has to say:
 
By Bobby Medaglio
For one who has been swimming as long as I have, it might actually be true to say that swimming is life. Now don’t get me wrong. Swimming is not the only activity I am familiar with. However, when looking at the broad spectrum of my experiences, swimming for the Hurricanes is definitely my favorite. I have been a competitive swimmer here on the Hurricanes since I was only five years old, and I don’t regret a minute of it.
 
When I was little, I used to joke around that the Y was my second home, and as the years went on and practices got longer, this became more and more of a reality. I have literally grown up on the Hurricanes, competitively swimming each and every season all year round since the summer I turned five. In fact, I almost consider the team a part of my extended family.
 
If I had to identify a single reason as to why my experience here was so enjoyable, it would have to be the team atmosphere. No matter what your ability, someone is always there for you, be it cheering during a fifty fly or waiting around to count for a 1650. No matter who you are, there is always someone on the team pushing for you to take off that last second or touch out your opponent. I am firm in my belief that the supportive nature of this swim team is a major factor in the success of many athletes. I know it helped me make my first Y National cut time. Everyone here works together to achieve individual goals, which I think is extremely important.
 
Perhaps the most important aspect of my time as a Hurricane is the knowledge about who I am. Throughout the years, the diverse coaching staff at ANA has taught me valuable lessons pertaining to achieving success. It might seem cliché, but I have found “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again” to be true. Through the Hurricanes I have learned firsthand the value of commitment, even through failures, because success will eventually be achieved through hard work and perseverance. Although these lessons were taught in the context of swimming, I know they will help me succeed in all aspects of life.
 
I’m not going to lie. Swimming hasn’t always been fun. There have been times that I woke up not wanting to go to practice because of the challenging workout from the night before, but come time to leave, I would pack my swim bag. Swimming has held a virtual monopoly on my life, with my schedule being governed by practice times and swim meets. I have woken up at 4 a.m. on Saturday to go to swim meets and at 5 a.m. every weekday to go to swim practice, when most people are sound asleep. Swimming pools have bleached my hair, and, perhaps most irritating of all, I can never seem to escape the odor of chlorine. This said, would I want to change any of it? The answer is no. Swimming has been an integral part of my life, and I would live it exactly the same way if given a chance to change my past. Now, as I enter my 26th and last season as a member of the ANA Hurricanes, it is clear that this team has made me who I am today.
 
As I wrap up my time here as a member of the Hurricanes, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the coaches here during my years at ANA. From Paul Getchell, Paul Bennett, James Sweeney and my mother, Kathy Medaglio, the coaching staff has always been available to guide me both in and out of the pool. I would like to thank my father for the countless hours he spent busing me to and from swim practice and meets, many of which were at ungodly times. Lastly, I want to thank my teammates and their parents who have dedicated their time as well as encouragement on a regular basis.
 
 
LOST AND FOUND
If you want to post something in this section of the Hurricane Watch, please include in your e-mail to Karen Bailey (karen.bailey@tufts.edu) a description of the lost item(s), the owner’s name and contact e-mail and phone number and the date and place it was lost.
 
When your item has been found, please e-mail Karen so she can remove it from the “Lost and Found” list.
 
 
KEEP IN TOUCH THROUGH THE TEAM WEBSITE
We encourage you to use the team web site as a resource for our YMCA and US swimming programs. You’ll find the ANA Hurricanes at http://www.anahurricanes.com. The ANA site lists practice schedules, meets and directions, meet results and also includes links to the National YMCA Swimming and Diving, Eastern Massachusetts YMCA District, U.S. Swimming and New England Swimming web sites.
 
With a couple of clicks of the mouse, families have a resource available to them 24/7.
 
The site’s webmaster is John Silva. If you have questions, comments or input on the site, you can e-mail John at jasilva397@aim.com.
 
 
CHANGED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS?
If you’ve changed your e-mail address or want to add another e-mail address to the distribution list for the team newsletter, please e-mail that info to karen.bailey@tufts.edu
 
 
NEED TO CONTACT A COACH?
Your first point of contact about your swimmer SHOULD ALWAYS BE his or her practice group coach.
 
Head Coach: James Sweeney – National, Seniors & Juniors
jsweeney@mvymca.org
(978) 685-3541, ext. 18
 
Lead Group Coaches:
Paul Bennett – National, Seniors & Juniors
pbennett@wpi.edu
 
Kathy Medaglio – Tsunamis
r.medaglio@comcast.net
 
Carlton Cronin – Cyclones & Monsoons
photopatti714@aol.com
 
Erin Cammann – Typhoons, Tidal Waves & Monsoons
erincammann@hotmail.com
 
C.J. Cronin – Cyclones
Carlton_cronin@hotmail.com
 
Lynn Avila – Tidal Waves & Typhoons
(978) 685-3541 (ask for the aquatics office)
lavila@mvymca.org
 
Sue Bowker – Tidal Waves & Typhoons
bowkers@bigfoot.com
 
Margaret Bray – Tidal Waves & Typhoons
braymj@gmail.com
 
 
PARENT ADVISORY BOARD
Families with general questions about the program, events, swim meets, their obligations to the program and other non-coaching issues are encouraged to contact a member of the Parent Board:
 
Joe Alwan, president—(978) 409-1227
jalwan@comcast.net
 
Janet Harty, treasurer—(978) 681-5240
pjhartyus@yahoo.com
 
Peter Dodge, member at large—(978) 689-2058
kimandpeter.dodge@comcast.net
 
Sean Doyle, member at large—(978) 771-7344
shmiked@yahoo.com
 
Carolyn Fortin, member at large—(978) 664-2117
Boys3men@comcast.net
 
Jim Frey, member at large—(978) 475-3734
anapab@freyfamily.cc
 
Diane Moore, member at large—(978) 474-9941
dcmoore37@comcast.net
 
Walter Morris, member at large—(978) 470-2244
wmorris@shoreschool.org
 
Susanne Torabi, member at large—(978) 687-6183
bluephoton@verizon.net
 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Complete Calendar listings can also be found at http://calendar.yahoo.com/anahurricanes.
 
May 20-21: U.S. Meet. North Shore Swim Club Team Specialty Meet, MIT, Cambridge, Mass.
 
June 2-4: YMCA Meet. ANA Hurricane Sprints, University of Connecticut.
 
June 17-18: U.S. Meet. Seacoast Swimming Association Team Specialty Meet, Jenny Thompson Pool, Dover, N.H.
 
June 23-25: YMCA Meet. New England YMCA Long Course Invitational, Springfield College, all YMCA and U.S. swimmers who are not attending the training trip.
 
June 23-??: Team Training Trip, details and location TBA.
 
July 8-9: U.S. Meet. MTSC Team Specialty Meet, Springfield College, for those U.S. swimmers who did attend training trip.
 
July 13-16: U.S. Meet. New England Age Group Qualifier, Jenny Thompson Pool, Dover, N.H.
 
* July 20-23: U.S. Meet. New England 12 and Under Age Group Championships, Harvard University.
 
* July 20-23: U.S. Meet. Speedo Sectionals, Buffalo, N.Y.
 
* July 27-30: U.S. Meet. New England Open Championships, MIT.
 
* August 1-4: YMCA Meet. Long Course Summer Nationals, University of Maryland, College Park.
 
* August 7-11: U.S. Meet. Speedo Junior Nationals, Irvine, Calif.
 
* Swimmers must achieve qualifying times to compete in these meets.