From: Ohio Zone Team [mailto:bpeaden@woh.rr.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 2:59 PM
To: 'zapekp@yahoo.com'
Subject: Ohio Zone Team update 7/15/06

 

This message is being sent to all Ohio Swimming members who have requested to be on the 2006 Ohio Zone Team Distribution list

 

Ohio families,

 

  1. Some of you have called to let me know that one of the days at the Ohio Team hotel (Renaissance Oklahoma City) is full.  After calling the hotel, you are right.  Below are the number of remaining rooms available.  It is odd that as few as 14 rooms remain on Fri-Sat, but none on Thursday.  NOTE: Rooms reserved for Ohio Travel Swimmers, coaches and staff are unaffected – they have a separate block that is reserved for them.  On Monday, I will contact our group sales coordinator at the hotel to sift through the reservations and verify that all rooms reserved under the “Ohio Zone Team” block are set aside for Ohio families with Ohio zip codes.  If the entire block is filled, I will request rooms be added at the special rate (the next available rate is over $200 per night).  But there is no guarantee, it was a real chore getting this block nearly a year ago, and we had to beg for the size of our request.  Remember, travel across the country is high this summer – getting the “special deals” that were abundant since 9-11 is becoming difficult.  As of today, here are the remaining rooms for the weekend:
    Wed Aug 2nd 34 remain
    Thu Aug 3rd 0 remain
    Fri Aug 4th 14 remain
    Sat Aug 5th 14 remain
    Sun Aug 6th 21 remain

    What does this mean for you?  If you do not have a room on Thursday, then you can stay at an alternate location or pay any rate they will provide you (AAA, senior citizen, gvt, etc).  For a listing of other hotels in the area, check the “official OK meet homepage” for a listing of all hotels. 

 

A few questions you have asked:

 

Can we add/update events at the upcoming state meet at Miami University?

Answer: Absolutely! In fact, we prefer you have all your registration materials submitted before you even get to Miami.  That way, you are in the system.  A special “Zone” table will be at the meet where you can quickly add races and update your times.  We suggest you have checks with you or several $5 bills so you can due this without delay.  No credits cards are accepted.

 

My daughter is close to cuts but doesn’t have any yet. She is swimming fast in practice and she thinks she might get a zone cut.  If she does, will I be able to register for the Zone team at Miami?

Yes, bring a copy of the registration forms with you so you can fill them out in the stands.  We will also have several copies at the special Zone table setup at Miami during the meet.  We plan to have someone at the table during Fri-Sat finals, and Sun AM and Sun Finals to accept your registration materials and answer any of your questions.

 

We are not traveling on the plane with the team, but I just found out I can’t leave Ohio that week.  Can I switch my daughter to the travel team?

Yes. As long as you are one of the first 53 swimmers on the list, you can switch over and are guaranteed the spot and the current travel fee.  Beginning with registration #54, you will have to pay a higher travel fee to accommodate the spike in airline prices, which have jumped from $375 to over $500 since our booking.

 

What if the travel team doesn’t reach 53?

If we get, say, 50 registrations for the travel team, the remaining 3 airline tickets of $375 each will be announced for sale at the State meet late Sunday.  Then, they will be sold first-come first-serve to any parents, relatives or coaches that want to join us on our venture to Oklahoma.  If any airline tickets remain on Monday following the state meet, an e-mail will be sent to all families on this distribution list announcing their availability.

 

I noticed the 12-unders swim timed finals in the afternoon. What will they be doing in the mornings and evenings?

Coaches and chaperones will have all swimmers occupied with various activities throughout the weekend. The meet host has special arrangements for “morning movies” at the theatre, poster parties, sporting venues, bowling, putt-putt, and of course one night we’ll have a spirit night to cheer on the 13-14’s and 15-overs at the meet.  One of the reasons we selected downtown as our “Ohio Home” for the trip is because of the cleanliness, safety, attractiveness, and provided meet-sponsored activities happening downtown.  For those of you that have been to OKC, you will appreciate the city.

 

I am taking my son, can I join in any of the social activities?

The answer is always yes, but you will need to be proactive on finding out when and where we are each day.  We will have several 15-passenger vans to transport the team to wherever it is we need to go, so it’s not easy to communicate our plans to the non-travel participants.  And due to the timelines of the meets (and meals we have arranged), we can’t provide you a schedule of what’s going on while in OKC.  Sometimes, two groups will be participating in two separate activities.  But we will do our best to let any families know where we are headed.

 

My daughter is traveling with the team, and I’m going down to watch for a couple days.  Can I check her out for a dinner with me, then return her later that same day?

Unfortunately, no.  Not only would this jeopardize our insurance coverage for the trip, but it would be an administrative hassle for our coaches and chaperones.  We take continuous headcounts of our athletes, so please understand we cannot allow it.  But, while at the meet, please sit with and enjoy the company of your child in the stands as much as you want. 

 

The trip is becoming costly and I’m trying to save a few dollars.  I hear the team has extra caps and shirts for sale, do I really need to purchase the equipment package?

Yes, the coaches will have extra caps.  We will only have a small number of extra shirts, and these will be dedicated to the staff and to fix any “mistakes” that may have occurred in the sizing of your package.  Your package has one cap included.  One of the most popular activities for swimmers is to purchase a few extra caps and trade with the other teams.  This makes for great souvenirs during the winter.  As for the suits and t-shirts, the prices are literally “at cost”, so that Kastaway Swimwear and the Ohio Team make no money.  We really want to generate team spirit, so we encourage all swimmers to get the basic package.  Also, since we are on a “shirt schedule” for the weekend, you’ll want to be in proper dress.  The shirt schedule will be “red-white-blue-choice-choice” on Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon”

 

 

Brent

Ohio Zone Coordinator

 

Ohio Zone Team webpage

http://www.daytonraiders.com/zone_team/2006/2006_ohio_zone_homepage.htm

 

Official Meet Homepage

http://www.extremeaquatics.org/zones2006.htm