The Club is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, who give their precious free time to teach, carry out administrative work (like the registers, waiting list, attending meetings), planning, training, learning, and much more! The Committee is drawn from volunteers, for example parents or teachers.  The Committee are nominated by the membership in the run-up to the Annual General Meeting every year.  The only post that is not annually renewed is the role of President.  The President is chosen by the Committee and is recommended for office to the membership at the AGM.  If you would like to play a more active role in the running of the club, or have a skill that you might be able to offer for a particular activity (for example, fund raising) please talk to the Secretary. Here is a quick run down of who is who: Secretary: Paul Highsted Paul learnt to swimwith the Club as a young lad, and moved on to competitive swimming later. Paul's 2 sons are currently swimming with us.  Paul's main role is to be the main point of contact for new and existing members, be the focal point for enquiries and info in reception during club nights, and also to work through the official paperwork, with the help of the Treasurer.  Contact Paul via the club email: broadstairsswim@tesco.net If you can't access the email, please get your written enquiry to us via the swimming pool - address your letter to Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming Club, Ramsgate Pool, Newington Rd, Ramsgate. Chair: Tony Taylor Tony came to the Club as a parent in the distant past - his offspring are now adults and Tony is still here!  TT is also a Level 2 Teacher and a great motivator.  The role of Chair is to keep an overall eye on the running of the Club, facilitate meetings, and has the casting vote if needed at the AGM.  Treasurer: Ian White Ian, known to everyone as 'Chalkie', has been the Treasurer for about 4 years.  He's the one in charge of all the money, standing orders, expenditure, looking for funding opportunities, etc.  He has two daughters who are swimming with  us. Head Teacher: Sue Smith Many of you will remember Sue Smith if you swum with us over the last twenty something years.  As Head Teacher, Sue is in overall charge of the Teachers, waiting list (with Paul and Sue White), and is a good mentor for the Teachers.   Vice Chair/Assistant Secretary: Sue White Sue has two daughters at the Club (funnily enough, the same two daughters as the Treasurer...).  Sue has been with the Club for about 8 years, is a Level 2 Teacher, runs the registers, membership applications and waiting list in the Main Pool.  She also writes the session plans for personal survival and water polo and the newsletters (and looks after this website).  Sue is also one of our Masters swimmers.  Sue works with Tony New and Becky Bexley to co-ordinate badge sales and records. Committee members:  They are responsible for being the voice of the swimmers at Committee meetings.  Parents can bring their comments or concerns to a Parent Liaison Officer or Committee member, in confidence, for the Committee to discuss.  These next four ladies are also your Parent Liaison Officers - feel free to ask them any questions regarding the running of the Club, etc.  Please ask them in the first instance if you have any queries regarding the structure of the lessons and if they don't know that answer, they will find someone who can help.  They are also very likely to be the ones who are lucky enough to get the job of signing awards on behalf of the teachers! Jane Pond - Parent Liaison swum for us and is now volunteering her spare time, as her two children are with us.  Jane is part of the Gala Committee. Debbie Barnett - Parent Liaison has one child swimming with the Club, and kindly arranges the venue for our Committee meetings, presentation evenings, etc. Louise English - Parent Liaison Louise will often be found selling raffle tickets out the front and at galas and presentation evenings.  She also has two children who swim with the Club. We welcome Emma Kemp back to the Committee after a couple of years away, and are looking forward to her support, particularly on the Gala Committee.  Emma has 3 children swimming with us. Tony New  is a regular poolside helper in the teaching pool, and supports the Club in the background too, by being on the Committee, ordering badges and awards in advance of our skills and distance nights and has been part of a major financial contribution from NatWest bank.  He is working towards his Level 1 Support Teachers course later this year, and has come up to the Main Pool with a group of Level 4's for continuity. Becky Bexley can be found out in reception during the 7.30 group and the start of the 8.15 group.  Becky has also helped us to raise a significant amount of money from NatWest Bank and is in charge of keeping the swimmers record of achievement up to date.  Becky has two children who are learning to swim and improving with us. Emma Warren is on the Committee and is also working towards her Level 1 Support Teacher award in 2008, by working in the Teaching Pool.  She is also one of our Masters swimmers and has 2 children swimming with us.  Emma has taken over as our Child Protection Officer from May 2008. The final Committee member is Alan Tilbury is also joining us for the first time in 2008.  We hope you enjoy your time helping the Club. A couple of other people you will see out the front are Matt Lawrence who is now in charge of the kit orders, and Darren Sayer has taken on the role of Registrations Officer from late June 2008, so you will be seeing these guys out the front to help you!  Here's Darren: And now over to the wet side - the people make the lessons happen! Teachers, Poolside Helpers and other volunteers In addition to Tony Taylor, Sue Smith, Sue White, Emma Warren and Tony New, the following teachers are also with us:  Rachel Clifton is a Level 2 Teacher and works with Sue Smith with our young non-swimmers and beginners in the Teaching Pool.  She is qualified in Paediatric First Aid. Darren Gambrill is a Level 1 Support Teacher working in the Main Pool with the improvers in Levels 5/6.  Darren has kindly taken on the job of informing the teachers and poolside helpers of training opportunities, and booking any courses required. Colin StJohn Jefferey and Erica Smallbone are also Poolside Helpers, working towards their first qualification in 2008 or 2009. And lastly but by no means least - our Honorary President: Sheila Watson If you came through the Club as a swimmer, you will remember Sheila as either a poolside helper or at the front desk as our Secretary for about 30 years!  Sheila is now our Honorary President. Click here to have a quick read about the Bay Captains We appreciate the time and trouble that these volunteers give to the Club to make it a happy and safe place for the swimmers to be.